I. RECOGNITION OF JEHOVAH'S OMNISCIENCE (1-5). "Thou hast searched." II. REACTION OF DAVID'S OWN SOUL (6). REVERENT A WE. Ill. RELATION OF JEHOVAH'S OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNI POTENCE (7-r6). r. Recognition of His Omnipresence (7:.12). 2. Recognition of His.Omnipotence (13-16). IV. REACTION OF DAVID'S OWN SOUL (17-r8). REJOICING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. V. REPROBATION OF JEHOVAH'S OPPONENTS (r9-22). VI. REACTION OF DAVID'S OWN SOUL (2324). RESPONSIVE APPEAL. "Search me." SUPERSCRIPT.-A Psalm of David. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Closely linked with preceding psalm. The same divine promise is in David's mind, cf. 2 with 2 Sam. vii. 18, I Chron. xvii. 16. Note also 17-18 as referring to the divine purposes. I Sb suggests īat the precious promise was the one thought which occupied him the night after Nathan had announced it and it is not unlikely that the main outline at least of this meditation was sketched out then uhder the guidance of the Spirit of God. Regarding the so-called "Chaldaisms" found here, see notes at head of this group. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-This is viewed by many as a Messianic meditation upon the mystery of His manhood. Verses 15-16 may y
be applied to Christ's mystic "Body" the Church as well as to His physical body which God had "prepared" Hitn. PERSONAL APPUCATION.-Notable instances of God's omniscience and omnipresence in Scripture are Hagar {Gen. xvi.), Jacob at Bethel, Achan and Jonah; cf. 2 Cor. v. 10-1r. "Thou God seest me" may be a dread or a delight, it may paralyse action or prompt it. We are hemmed in and held fast by the Lord (5). Do not forget that the One who knows all about us, loves us. During our prenatal period God prepares and plans (16). God is our guide and guard (13). Man is the masterpiece of God's creation (14). The problem of the existence of evil has perplexed saints of all ages (19); c£ Job xxi. 7 ff. Evil is not a mere abstract idea, it is embodied in evil men (19). _People who keep the key of their heart do not pray as 23. Ma.p.y secret sins hide under a cloak of zeal for God (23-24). Christians should not take too much for granted lest they fall into a habit of carelessness; we should ponder our ways and examine our hearts, submitting ourselves entirely to the scrutinising gaze of ·our God (24), r Cor. xi. 30-3 r. Contrast the way of sorrow with the way of life (24). VERSE NOTES r. "searched" describes a process of minute investigation; "known," i.e. the result in a knowledge that embraces the whole man in action and in reposªinner as wdl as outer life. 2. "Thou" (em:ph.). 3. As margin; "my path," lit. my walking. 4. I.e. before the thought is framed in words, He knows it. 6. (b) "(So) exalted (that) I ... "; refers to its inaccessibility. 7. Question does not express desire to escape, but the impossibility of it. 8. "Ifl should ascend ... If I should make Sheol my couch." 9. "If I should take ... " i.e. fly with the swiftness of light from east to west; "h "· th Mdi h t e sea, 1.e. e e terranean = t e west. 10. There is no place in the universe where one c-in escape the control and authority of God, or His protection. 11-12. "lf I say, 'Only let darkness cover me and the light about me be (as) night,' Even ... " (b) "But," render" And.'' Darkness is the friend of fugitives. 13. "For it was Thou that didst acquire my reins" (lit. kidneys). As important excretory organs the kidneys symbolise reception of good and rejection of evil, hence corresponds to later idea of conscience; "For" indicates the,reason of God's intimate knowledge; "cover," as margin. 15. "frame," i.e. bony framework; "curiously wrought" indicates fashioning with great skilbnd care; s.H.w. Exod. xxviii. 8; "in the lowest," or "in under parts of earth," for the body is "formed ... of the dust" (Gen, ii. 7).
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