I. ASSURANCE OF JEHOVAH'S FAVOUR (r-3). II. APPEAL TO JEHOVAH'S GRACIOUSNESS (4). III. ARRAIGNMENT OF DAVID'S FOES (5--9 ). I. The Adversaries; their Conspiracy (5). Words quoted. 2. The Archtraitor; his Hypocrisy (6). Scene. The Sufferer's Sickroom. 3. The Adversaries: their Conspiracy (7-8). Words quoted. 4. The Archtraitor; his Treachery (9). Scene. The Rebels' Council Cliamber. IV. APPEAL TO JEHOVAH'S GRACIOUSNESS (10). V. ASSURANCE OF JEHOVAH'S FAVOUR (n-12). DOXOLOGY (13). (END OF BOOK ONE). SUPERSCRIPT.-A psalm of David. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Written by David perÄaps at the period of Absalom' s rebellicm, like the preceding psalms, but some would refer the group to the time of David's last sickness, when Adonijah sought to seize the kingdom. Although the historical record's are silent oh the point, there are indications supported by the language of several psalms that David suffered a serious illness between the time qf his great sin with Bathsheba and the outbreak of Absalom' s revolt. It is otherwise difficult to account for his apparent laxity in attending to his official duties, whiÅh Absalom' s words seem to imply (2 Sam. xv. 3) and the strange failure of his natural courage which led to his flight from the capital at the very first sight of open rebellion. Note that this last psalm of Book I begins, like the first, with a beatitude; moreover the last two psalms, like the first two, both contain a beatitude. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Portrays Messiah as the Suffering One. Verse 4 sees Him as the Sin-bearer; the true force of" I have sinned" here may be gathered by the use of the san1e Hebrew word, e.g. by Jud.ah, Gen. xliv. 32 = "bear the blame (sin)." Note that verse I does not teach (as commonly supposed. from the language of A.V. and R.V.) deliverance from calamity as a reward for n1ere benevolence
IIJ The words are so1newhat enignâatical, ''who considereth (or, under standeth as to) the Weakened One," i.e. Messiah. Taken thus, the teaching is quite clear and in perfect harn1ony with the rest of the ,psalm as well as with the preceding one; c£ cii. 23, 2 Cor. xiii. 4. Faith discerns the glory of Christ under the veil of His sufferings and there is especial blessing for those of the godly remnant who shall understand the mystery of Messiah cn1cifi.ed through weakness (r-3). PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Blessed is the man who even to-day understands the holy mystery of the crucified Christ (I). That God makes the bed of His saints in sickness is a striking. thought, but that He changes their sickness into health is more the meaning of the text (3 ). The saint often needs healing no less than the sinner (4). ''Jãsus Christ maketh thee whole,'' Acts ix. 33-34. A faithless friend is worse than a frä foe, a treacherous ally worse than a tenacious adversary (9 ). Christians must not ·be surprised if they are called to share with their Lord the sorrows of false friendship (9); c£ John xv. 20. God delights in the obedient saint (n). What sort of friends are we to Christ? c£ John xv. 14. The Divine existence is an eternal present (13)å Let us bless the Lord God of Israel; He who is faithful to His ancient people, will be faithful to all His people (13). VERSE NOTES I. "Blessed ... ," hr. "Happy ... who considereth (or rather, understandeth as to) the weak (or, Weakened <;)ne)"; "poor" not same Hebrew word as in xl. r7. 2. "blessed ... "= "mde happy in the land"; (b) read as A.V. 3. (b) lit. "Thou has turned his lying down," i.e. changed his sickness into health. "Enemies" ( 2) and "sickness" (3) are both referred to in 5-9. I h .d " "h " b "b , even , ave sai . . . ; ave mercy ... , r. e gracious to me ; "Heal my soul," equivalent to the New Testament phrase "make whole," refers to the healin of the whole man, body and soul. 6. "he' = "one ( of them) . . . "; verse refers to hypocritical professions of sympathy, the while he is gathering matter for malicious retail to others. 8. Lit. "a thing of Belial clingeth ... ," cf. Shimei's taunt, 2 Sam. xvi. 7. (b) i.e. now that he has taken to his bed, he will never leave it. 9. (b) i.e. violently spumed me. Words are quoted by Christ of the treachery of Judas, John xiii. 18. Note that the fate of Ahithophel was very similar to that of Judas. B "b " " · th ro. r. e graetous unto me ; raise me up ... , t.e. contrary to e expectation of the enemy (8); (b) i.e. in his official capacity as chief judge of the nation.
II4 II. c£ xxxv. 27; 2 Sam. xv. 26. 12. "integrity" is not synonymous with sinlessness; see Appendix VIII; (b) ctr. 5b, the expectation of his enemies. 13. Doxology. Not original part of the psalm, but marks the close of Book I, c£ 1 Chron. xxix. IO-II, 20. "Amen and amen,"= the response of the congregation in- the temple services.
Book Two. Israel's Ruin and Redemption, Pss. xlii.-lxxii. Prophetically, much of this Book is occupied with the faithful remnant of Israel driven out of the land, crying out for God and solacing themselves with the future. There is a special reference to the last days, when the distressed remnant, having fled to the mountains (Matt. xxiv. 16), appeal to God for deliverance. Deprived of the covenant blessings, but not destitute of faith, they longingly await Messiah's coming to rescue the nation. Compare Peter's second epistle, where we find this apostle and a remnant in exile, Jews outcast for Christ, suffering but awaiting the advent of the Lord. We must ever remember that God's relation ship with Israel as a nation is connected with His dwelling-place in the sanctuary, hence to be driven out of Jerusalem is a loss of immense significance. Having lost the covenant title as a nation, the faithful ones are led at last to cast themselves whol y ugon the mercy of God. In Book II, therefore, the covenant name "Jehovah ' is dropped in favour of "Elohim," by which title God is displayed in His own essential nature. When "Jehovah" is used, there is generally a speãal reference to the future of Israel, when covenant relationship is restored. "Remnant" psalms furnish expressions of faith which will be the comfort and stay of loyal hearts in the days of trial preceding their deliverance. Three persons are prominent: (a) the King (Messiah) typified by David, Solomon, etc.; (b) the ten-homed and the two-homed "Beasts" of Rev. xiii., typified by Absalom and Ahithophel respectively. It is noteworthy that in this the "Exodus" book of the Psalter, most if not all the illustrations are from Exodus, as those of Book I were from Genesis. Redemption is seen in its twofold character: I. Redemption by Blood-the Ransom Paid. This buys back the con demned_ slave, giving life. 2. Redemption by Power-the Release Perfected. This breaks off the cruel shackles, giving liberty. Book II, therefore, begins with the sufferings of the moaning remnant, and ends with the splendours of the Messianic reign. The first nine psalms form an epitome of the latter day history of Israel. Analysis. I. DELIVERANCE OF THE EXILED REMNANT, XLII-LI. I. The Redemptive Power, xliii.-xljx. From External Evil. Eight Korahite Psalms. 2. The Restored People, 1.-li. From Internal Evil. II. DISCLOSURES CONCERNING ENEMY REPROBATE, LII-L:X. 1. The Apostates and the Remnant, lii.-lv. (Maschils). The Antichrist Identified. Instruction concerning the Lawless One. Il5
II6 2. The AfHicted and their Refuge, lvi.-lx. (Michtams). The Almighty Invoked. Inspiration for the Loyal Ones. ID. DOMINION OF THE ENTHRONED REDEEMER, LXI-LXXII. 1. The Returned IGng, lxi.-lxviii. 2. The Restored Kingdom, lxix.-lxxii. Book Two. I. Deliverance of the Exiled Remnant, xlii.-li. r. The Redemptive Power, xlii.-xlix. Deliverance from external evil. This section consists of eight Korahite Psalms and may be subdivided as follows: i. The Distress, xlii.-xliv. ii. The Deliverer, xlv. Permanence of His Glory. iii. The Deliverance, xlvi.-xlviii. iv. The Desolators, xlix. Passing of their Glory. NOTE.-The Korahites:were the posterity of Korah (Num. xvi.), who with his company suffered condign punishment for rebellion. His children however were spared (Num. xxvi. n), divine judgment being tempered with mercy. The descendants were appointed sentinels of the camp of the Levites, and warders of the sacred tent erected by David on Mt. Zion. (1 Chron. ix. 17-19; xxvi; Neh. xi. 19). They were also leaders of Israel's praise in the temple services, i: Chron. vi. 22-27. Heman, one of David's three principal musicians, was a Korahite and his sons became leaders of fourteen out of the twenty-four courses of temple musicians, 1 Chron. xxv. 4-31; see further allusions, 2 Chron. xx. 19; xxix. 14. Psalms dedi cated to these" Sons ofKorah" arÜ all characterised by a deep spiritual tone, Divine loving-kindness so markedly displayed in_ their history, becomes a constant theme of their praise. Their very presence in the sanctuary was a conÝual w_itness to Israel of the grace of God. Psalms xlii. and xliii. are best taken together as they form a preface to Book II, and are so closely linked in structure and language that in some ancient versions they appear as one. Absence of any title to xlii. suggests the same connection.
This book has 150 chapters