AND THE WORD I. THE MEANING OF THE SKIES (1-6). "EL" the Creator-God. His Grandeur. 1. The Power of the Witness (r-4). 2. The Path of the Sun (5-6). "in them," Heb. "bahem." II. THE MESSAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES (7-n). "JEHOVAH" the Covenant-God. His Grace. r. The Power of the Word (7-ro). 2. The Path of the Servant (n). "in them," Heb. "bahem." III. THE MEDITATION OF THE SOUL (12-14). Response to the Witness ofl and II. "GOEL" the Kinsman-Redeemer. His Guarantee.
RECORD OF THE DIVIN REDEEMER 1. The Prayer of the Writer (12-14b). 2. The Profession of the Saint (14.c). S UPERSCRIPT.-A psahn of David. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Occasion of this psalm is unknown. The shepherd king had studied the book of nature and the book of the Law, and the contemplation of both led to deep exercise of soul. It is interesting to note that many of the Heb. words used in the first six verses are ancient astronomical terms used elsewhere in Scripture in connection with the sun and the heavens. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-The great witnesses for God before the advent of Christ are seen pointing on to Him; c£ Heb. vi. 1 (A.V.m). The psalm begins with the Creator and ends with the Redeemer, the Sun of Righteousness who will arise with healing in His wings for Israel, Mal. iv. 2. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-God has His testimony in the skies, the Scriptures and the _soul. The witness of His works and of His Word are complementary not contrary, modern critics and scientists with their theories notwithstanding. "Jehovah" is seen seven times in the psalm. In the skies we trace the path of the sun, in the Scriptures the path of the Son. The sun is a type of the Son (a) Light-photic rays; (b) Love-thermic rays; (c) Life-actinic rays; absence of the sun spells darkness, desertion and death. Note the seven-fold service of the Scriptures to the soul, 7-11. There is grace to purge, to preserve and to perfect, 12-13. Note the appeal and the assurance (14). The words of the mouth should match the meditation of the heart. "My Rock" answers to I; "My Redeemer'´ answers to II. Resulting from the two-fold witness come consciousness of sin and cognizance of the Saviour, 12-14. God's Word is better than the best, 10. Sovereignty and service both combine in the Christ of God. Love for the Lord (xviii.) involves love for the Word (xix.). VERSE NOTES 1. The words of bth the Nicene Creed and the "Apostles' Creed" ascribe the work of creation to God the Father alone. Scripture does not, Col. i. 16; John i. 3; "declare," c£ Rom. i. 20. 2. Day and night; each has its own message. 4. "Their line,"-the measuring line marks out limits; see quotation from the LXX, Rom. x. 18. The witness of nature and the witness of the gospel are
both universal. The witness of the heavens is (a) Initiatory (1), not a complete revelation of God; (b) Incessant (2); (c) Inarticulate (3), yet real; (d) Inclusive (4), the whole world. 5. Two similes; {a) the Bridegroom exquisite in his apparel and (b) the Chm;Rion ,Ñtant _in his ability. !'o us, Christ is both. " . ,, 7. law, see on 1. 2; for the vanous synonyms, c£ Ps. CXIX.; wise, c£ 2 Tim. iii. 15; "simr,le," i.e. inexperienced. 8. "right,' or eÒuitable; "enlightening," and (ro), c£ I Sam. xiv. 24-29. 9. "ordinances,' i.e. judicial decisions or regulations. ro. "honeycomb," lit. as marg. i.e. the purest and sweetest honey. Here are riches to be coveted and a repast to be enjoyed. A Possession and a Pleasure, IO; a Protection and a Profit, II. 12Ó13. The ceremonial law provided atonement foÔ sins of ignorance (error), Lev. 1v., v.; Num. xv. 22 ff., but for presumptuous sins there was none, Num. xv. 30-31; Deut. xvii. 12-13. The rebellious sinner was cast upon the forgiving mercy of God alone. 13. "transgression,Õ' i.e. the deadly sin of rebellion or apostasy. Psalms xx. and xxi. are a closely related pair. In structure and contents they are similar and both are liturgical, the former a prayer, the latter a praise. The former breathes the spirit of expectation, the latter of exultation.
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