I. APPEAL. REQUEST FOR AUDIENCE (1-3). II. ARGUMENT. REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE (4-7). "For." 1. Jehovah's Repugnance to the Wicked (4-6). 2. Jehovah's Reception of the Worshipper (7). Loving-kindness shown. III. APPEAL. REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE (8). IV. ARGUMENT. REASONS FOR CONCERN (9). David's Risks among the "Watchers." V. APPEAL. REQUEST FOR VENGEANCE (10ac). VI. ARGUMENT. REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE (10d-12). 1. The Wicked have rebelled against Jehovah ( 10d). 2. The Worshippers shall rejoice in Jehovah (n-12). Favour shown. SUPERSCRIPT.-A psalm of David. SUBSCRIPT .-For the Chief Musician, upon N eginoth; relating to the Sheminith.
PRIMARY Assoc1ATION.-This psalm is ascribed to David and it almost certainly belongs to the period of Absalom' s rebellion, but rather later than the preceding psalm. There the psalmist pleads witli the rebels; here he pleads against them because they remain unrepentant despite his loving appeals. The time for repentance having passed, nothing can follow but righteous judgment. A morning hymn. On Hebrew word "Neginoth", see Ps. iii. notes. "Sheminith," = eighth or octave, i.e. bass-the male choir. ·PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Looks forward to the days of the faithful Jewish remnant upon the eve of the outpouring of God's judgment against the apostate nation and their Gentile abettors, guilty of the persecution of the true people of God. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Note the strong contrast between the ungodly and the godly in their talk and walk. David started the day with prayer and meditation; do we? Pray as you meditate, and meditate as you pray. "An infant has no language but a cry, but it is enough for a mother and for God (2 ). A look may say more than words." When we have prayed, do we "watch" for the answer? An "ordered" prayer does not mean a formal prayer, nor docs it indicate a hurried extempore one. Our thinking builds our character, see Prov. xxiii. 7; Phil. iv. 8. Do we really pray to God like David (2 ), or with ourselves like the Pharisee (Luke xviii. II)? David prayed (a) early, (b) audibly, (c) thoughtfully, (d) earnestly, (e) orderly, (f) expectantly, and (g) reverently (7). His was a definite request-for guidance. The holiness of God necessitates the judgment of evil. They can truly rejoice, who can take refuge in the Lord. Whoso takes refuge in Him soon learns to love His name. VERSE NOTES J. Not only our words, but our thoughts should be acceptable to God, xix. 14. 2. "cry" Heb. word used specially of a call for help; "King ... God," c£ lxxxiv. 3. King David acknowledges Jehovah as his Sovereign Overlord. 3. "in the morning" repeated for emphasis; "order" = arrange; note suggestive use of the word, Gen. xxii. 9; Lev. i. 7-8; Exod. xi. 4, 23, etc., and c£ Ps. cxli. 2; "keep watch," i.e. for the answer, cf. Hab. ii. I; Micah. vii. 7, marg. 4-5. C£ the ideal of the King's court, Ps. ci. 4. "God"= El, Mighty One. Note significant use of the title here. Power without goodness is the heathen conception of deity. Not so is our God, Who is both mighty and good. (b) rather as margin. Divine holiness is a consuming fire which the wicked cannot endure, xxx. God cannot entertain as privileged guests,
entitled to protection according to the laws of oriental hospitality, such as are here classed as evil, 5-6; c£ David's prayer, 2 Sam. xv. 31,and God's answer, xvii. 14-23. 5-6. Note classes of evildoers mentioned. "b ,, " d c. th · th arrogant, or oasters; stan . . . i.e. no p ace 1or em m e presence of God, c£ Absalom and his lying promises, 2 Sam. xv. 3-5. 6. "speak lies," lit. "actors of a lie;" (b) lit. "men of bloodshed and deceit," i.e. those who do not shrink from murder and that by treachery; cf. Ahithophel's character, 2 Sam. xvii. 1-4. " ( h) " ul . d " h " ul. d " ( ) UC. ut . . . emp . ; m tltu e, ctr. t e m tttu e 10 ; xear, i.e. true reverence; "worship" =· primarily to prostrate oneself-the oriental attitude of reverence or supplication; then, signifies the corresponding attitude of heart. David worships facing the Sanctuary, outward symbol of Jehovah's presence among His people. Against the Davidic authorship of this and similar śsalms, critics have urged the use of the words "House of God" and "Temple. • But the argument does not stand for the former term is used of the Tabernacle, Exod. xxiii. 19; xxxiv. 26, etc.: also of the Tent pitched by David for the Ark on Mt. Zion, 2 Sam. xii. 20. The Heb. word for temple is applied to the Sanctuary at Shiloh ( 1 Sam. i. 9; iii. 3) and doubtless remained in use for the Ark-Tent. Note close juxtaposition of the words in Ps. :xxvii. 4-6. By the use of the inspired terms in these passages, the Holy Spirit thus makes them fit into the prophetic programme yet to be fulfilled in the experiences of the remnant. 8 ... Th b Th · h al . m y . . . i.e. ecause ou art ng teous; enenues = an unusu word, see marg., or "them that watch me;" "plain" Heb. = both "level and straight." 9. "no faithfulness," c£ marg. (b) cf. marg.; "throat" here regarded as an organ of speech. Smooth words cover deadly designs. 10. Cf. 2 Sam. xv. 37; "thrust them out (or down)"; c£ xxxvi. 12; "rebelled," = revolt against the king (God's anointed) is rebellion against God Him.sci£ II. Render " So shall all them that take refuge in Thee rejoice, They shall ever shout for joy while Thou protectest them, And they that love Thy name exult in Thee." (Kirkpatrick). "name" stands for God's revealed character. 12. "shield" = buckler, i.e. a large shield protecting the whole body and usually double the size of the ordinary shield.
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