I. HUMAN CORRUPTION (1-3). 1. Sweeping Accusation (1). 2. Divine Inspection (2). 3. Solemn Conclusion (3 ). IL HEARTLESS OPPRESSION (4-6). I. Strong Expostulation (4). 2. Divine Interposition (5). 3. Scornful Denunciation ( 6); ill. HOLY ASPIRATION (7). I. Sublime Manifestation. 2. Divine Restoration. 3. Sanctified Exultation. SUPERSCRIPT.-David' s. PRIMARY Assoc1ATION._:The writer is David; the historical occasion is not so clear, but the mention of Zioh and of the "cap tivity'' seems to suggest that it belongs to the period between the taking of the stronghold ofJebus ( 1 Chron. xi.) and the bringing back of the Ark from its captivity, the event referred to, 7 (1 Chron. xv.-xvi.). For this sense of" captivity" c£ Judges xviii. 6; 1 Sam. iv. 10-11; vii. 14, and Ps. lxxviii. 6o-61. The" restoration" began with the return of the Ark to Beth-shemesh and Kirjath-jearim, but was not completed until it was brought to Zion with great rejoicings, I Sam. vi.-vii. 2; I Chron. xiii. 1-3; xv. 25; 2 Sam. vi. 12-14; c£ Ps. liii. David doubt-
less altered Ps. xiv. to make it more suited to the public service of the sanctuary; see title and subscript to !iii. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Here we find the oppressed remnant of the last days encouraging themselves in the remembrance of divine deliverances in the past history of the nation. They also express their intense longing for the manifestation of the Messiah as their Salvation. The universal corruption of those days accompanied by a practical denial of God will parallel that of the antediluvians. The ambiguous term for "captivity" seems designed by the Spirit of God to cover not only past events but future circumstances. The greatest of all "fools" is the person referred to in 2 Thess. ii. 4. PERSONAL APPLICATION.- Universal corruption follows the denial of God. He also is an "atheist" who, while·not denying the exist ence of God, yet denies Him a· place in the ordering of his life, c£ Luke xii. 16-20. The "fool" has many followers, 1a with 1b. Man is astray from God and become "abominable," 3. Prayerlessness is practical atheism, 4c. Where there is no God, there can be no good, I, 3. God desires men to "understand" and "seek Him," 2. Character is reflected in conduct. Do we long for the Coming of Christ, 7? God can soon put His fear into the heart of the· self-confident atheist, 5. VERSE NOTES 1-3. Quoted Rom. ii. 10-12 in proof of the universal depravity of man; supplemented by further quotations from other Old Testament passages; "fool," Heh: ''nabal" denotes moral perversity rather than mere ignorance or weakness of reason; s.H.w. Isa. xxxii. 5-6 (A.V. = vile person-villany ). Nabal seems to have been just such a man, I Sam. xxv. 25 (R.V. m.); 36-38; note repeated "my" I Sam. xxv. II; Luke xii. 17-18. "said in his heart," i.e. deliberate conclusion, the basis of his conduct; "no God" (c£ x. 4), not mere theoretical denial of God's existence, but a practical disbelief in His moral government; see Jer. v. 12; Zeph. i. 12; Rom. i. 28 ff. 1. (c) Br. "They corrupted their doings, they made them abominable, there was none doing good"; c£ Gen. vi. 5, 11-12. Re£ no doubt prim¥y to antediluvians. 2. C£ Gen. xi. 5; xviii. 21; fig. anthropopatheia (see App. III); br. "that did seek God"; witness of conscience and of creation both rejected. 3. "All were turned aside, together had they become tainted"; "filthy," a word which in a material sense is applied to a state of putrefaction, is here used in a moral sense, s.H.w. Job xv. 16; note positive and negative aspects. 4-6. Man's corruption exemplified in the oppression of God's people. 4. "Were nos all ... made to kno w?" i,e, taught by sharp expeti¦nce §o know
ANALYTICAL STUDIES !N THE PSALMS their error. Verse 5 is the answer; c£Judges viii. 16 where "taught" lit. "made to know." (b) i.e. they live by devouring God's people; re£ is to oppressors of Israel from Egyptians (Exod. i.-x.) down to the Philistines (1 Sam. vii. 2-3 ); (c) "call not ... " c£ Exod. v. 2. 5. God's intervention in the overthrow of the Egyptians was repeated many times in the history of Israel. David may also have in mind, l Sam. vii. IO; see Exod. xiv. 24-25. 6. David taunts the enemy, " You would have frustrated if possible the counsels of the affiicted, but ... " 7. "bring back ... captivity" Heb. idiom for "restore prosperity,"· see Job xiii. 10, but also used in sense given, see note under "Primary Association." (c) or, "Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad." The early rejoicing of Israel in connection with the return of the Ark to Beth-shemish, etc. was short-lived. I Sam. vii. 2 with vi. 13; more complete I Chron. xv. 25-28. Prophetically points to the out-gathering from the nations of Israel's Dispersion and their return to Palestine under the righteous rule of Christ, their acknowledged king.
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