I. THE LAWLESS; HIS EVIL-DOING (1-4). Rebellion. I. His Guiding Principle (1-2). Character. 2. His General Practice (3-4). Conduct. II. THE LORD; HIS LO VING-KINDNESS (5-n). I. The Psalmist's Acknowledgments (5-9). Praise. i. God's Attributes (5-6a ). ii. God's Activities (6b). iii. God's Attributes (7a). iv. God's Activities (7b-8). v. God's Attributes (9a). vi. God's Activities (9b). 2. The Psalmist's Appeal (10-n). Prayer. i.Request (Positive) (10). ii. Request (Negative) (n). ill. THE LAWLE?S; THEIR END (12). Ruin. SUPERSCRIPT.-" (A psalm) of David the servant of the Lord." PRIMARY AssocrATI0N.-W İiter is David, historical occasion unknown. Only other psalm with this title is xviii., c£ xxxv. 27. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Here are found instructive truths for the saints of all ages, but particularly suited to the circumstances of the godly remnant in the last days.
IOI PERSONAL APPLICATI0N.-As a message for to-day we may note: (a) the Wickedness of the Wicked ( 1 -4) ; the Gracioness of God (5-9); (c) the Confidence of the Christian (10-12); or, the Sinner, the Saviour, and the Saint, respectively. Contemplate the total contrast between the character of God and that of the godless. The wicked deny God's providence and defy His powers ( 1). Words are an index to the heart (3); c£ Luke vi. 45. God's changeless char acter is displayed in His creation (5). Summits, sea and sky all declare His greatness and goodness (5-7). He is Protector of and Provider for all peoples (7-8). Let us drink deep of the "river of His pleasures," delighting in the things that delight Him; so shall our souls be truly satisfied (8). God is the true source of light and life (9). The overthrow of the wicked will be complete and final (12). VERSE NOTES 1 " 'h"H b cl ha transgression = revo t; sait , e . = utters as an ora e. somew t difficult verse. If the A.V. is correct, the sense is that the action of the wicked speaks to the psalmist as surely as a divine message, the truth given in the next line. But LXX and other. ancient versions read "his heart" in which case the meaning is that sin is the oracle of the wicked; i.e. he is servant to it, and its suggestions hold a place in his heart that God's word holds in the heart of the servant of Jehovah. Sin is thus a "lying spirit" within the lawless heart, persuading it thit there is no need to be in terror of God's judgments; "fear" = terror; cited, Rom. iii. I 8. 2. (b) br. as margin; "found" = detected with a view to punishment. 4. "Upon his bed"; c£ the time for repentance for sin, iv. 4; for recollection of God, I.xiii. 6, not for the ripeninµ of evil; (b) indicates deliberate choice . • 5. "is in" = ( reacheth) to; God s lovingkindness is immeasurable. 6. (a) i.e. God is immovable and unchangeable. in His faithfulness to His character and covenant; ''God'' = El. 6. (b) i.e. inexhaustible and unfathomable; c£ Rom. xi. ,33. 7. "God," a significant change of title, for His loving-kindness extends beyond the people of the covenant to all peoples. 8. (a) as marg. or, lap up; (b) "river" lit. torrent. 12. The doom of those mentioned in 1-4 is foreseen by the eye of faith.
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