I. EXPERIENCES OF DIVINE FAITHFULNESS (1-4). 1. Oft-recurring Distress (1-2a). 2. Oft-repeated Deliverance (2b ). 3. Oft-recurring Distress (3 ). 4. Oft-repeated Deliverance (4). II. EXPRESSIONS OF ISRAEL'S FAITH (5-8). Verbs as futures. r. Confusion of the Godless (5 ). 2. Comparison with the Grass (6-8). Fate of the Foe-contrasted with the Felicity of the Faithful. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Song of the Degrees ( or, Ascents). PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Probably by Hezekiah; see notes intro ductory to the group.
PROPHETIC .ANncIPATION.-The godly remnant takes a retro spective view of the national history showing it to be one of repeated suffering ( on account of sin) but repeated deliverance in the over ruling mercy of Jehovah. The purpose is to emphasise what will then have· been a recent great manifestation of divine power for the salvation of Israel. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-No enemy can prevail against those who are the Lord's (2) whether an individual, or Israel, or the Church (Matt. xvi. 18). Jehovah Himself is the great Emancipator (4). The ban not the blessing shall be the portion of all that hate Zion. Ploughing is necessary preparation for an eventual harvest. Gashed trees exude pretious gum; endured sorrows yield hallowed joy. The survival of the saints is sure. VERSE NOTES r. I.e. from the beginning of the national history-the bondage in Egypt. (b) Probably a liturgical direction. 2. The existence of the Jews to-day proves the truth of second line. 3. Metaphor for cruel maltreatment (Isa. I. 6); the figures of a slave under the lash and a field under tillage are blended. 4. "cords," c£ Job xxxix. IO. The figure is probably of a draught ox harnessed to the plough rescued after suffering harsh treatment and enduring hard toil ( two aspects of bondage). Points to Israel's rescue from successive oppressions and particularly to a recent great deliverance such as Hezekiah experienced. May be rendered "Jehovah the righteous has cut ... " 5. Br. "Put to shame ... shall be all that ... " C£ 2 Chron. xxxii. 2r. 6. Br. "They shall be as ... " On the flat roofs of oriental houses plants quickly spring up, but as quickly wither away for lack of moisture (c£ Matt. xiii. 8) before reaching maturity. There is a reference doubtless to Isa. xx:xvii. 27. There is neither seed nor crop (7); fig. of short-lived success. 7. "bosom"= the loose fold of the eastern garment at the bosom often used as a receptacle; even children are sometimes carried in it. 8. C£ Ruth ii. 4. Last line is perhaps the reapers' response.
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