I. CONDEMNATION OF DOEG (1-5). The Deceiver .Addressed. 1. His False-heartedness Denounced (1-3). Selah. 2. His Fate Described (4-5 ). Selah. II. CONTEMPLATION BY THE RIGHTEOUS (6-7). I. Their Reverence for God-The "Strong One" {El) (6a). 2. Their Ridicule of"Geber"-The "Strong man' (6b-7). ill. CONFESSION OF DAVID (8-9 ). The Deliverer Addressed. I. His Faith Declared (8). "me." 2. His Fervour Displayed (9). "Thee." SUPERSCRIPT.-Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul and said unto him, "David is come to the house of Ahimelech." SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician; relating to Mahalath. PRIMARY AssocIATIOl':l.-Writer and occasion clearly indicated in tide; see I Sam. xxi.-xxii. Doeg as chief of Saul's herdsmen was a man of importance and of substance. With malicious intent he reported facts which seemed to support Saul's unjust suspicion that David was plotting against his life. The results to Ahimelech' s family were fatal. Subscript indicates that David later handed his composition to the precentor for liturgical use, probably in further celebration of his victory over the Philistine. "Mahalath" according to ancient vocalisation should read "m'holoth" = dancings or the great dancing, in reference to Goliath's death, I Sam. xviii. 6-7. It was "the great dancing" that led to the jealousy of Saul, the slander of Doeg and the 1nassacre of the priests. In the psalm there appears to be a double reference, to Goliath and to, Doeg. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATI0N.-See Book Analysis above. "Maschil"
DISCLO SURES CONCERNING THE ENEMY REP ROBATE 141 points to special instruction for the last days. Behind the historical Doeg we see the more sinister figure of Antichrist, whose true character is displayed in these psalms; c£ Dan. xi. 36; Isa. xxx. 33; lvii. 9; Rev. xiii. In Book I the character of Christ is s_een by way of contrast. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-A Psalm of the Tqngue-the treach erous and the truthful. Moral indignation against evil is better than meditated indifference. Mercy characterises the Mighty One (El) (I). Note contrast between the malice of man and the mercy of God (I). Some men boast in devilish mischief, others in divine mercy (1). Human guile does not disannul divine goodness (1). Deceit is really a confession of defeat (2). Malice is a matter of motive; truth may qe told with malicious intent (2). The malicious tongue is often denounced in Scripture, see e.g. James iii. Watch your tongue! "A razor is for shaving not for slaying; the tongue is for use not abuse." The heart is a fountain, language is the flow, James iii. 11. Praise best suits the saint's tongue (9). VERSE NOTES r. "mighty man," se_e Appendix X. (4); or, "O thou hero!" (ironically); "continually" lit. all the day; God= El. 2. (b) Br. "O thou worker of deceit!" 3. Ctr. of Christ, xlv. 7; "more than," br. "rather than." 4. The statement was true, but the interpretation false. 5. Doom of the miscreant's house described in forcible figures; "thy dwelling place," lit. tent, or tabernacle. Ahimdech was cut off during his ministry in the Tabernacle, so God repays in kind; the word "tent" being applied also to Doeg's dwelling, see xlix. II ; c£ I Sam. xxi. 7. 6. Not the malicious satisfaction of the evil-minded, but satisfaction at the vindication of divine justice; c£ ii. 4. What the righteous see (6); what they say (7). 7. Note the negative followed by the positive aspects of sin; "man" Heb. = strong man, here ironical; akin to the Heb. word in 2; "abundance," see I Sam. xxii. 7-9 with viii. II, 12, 5; "wickedness,' !ieb. = sing. form of that trans. "mischiefs" (2) = deep practice; (b) connects with xlix. 6. 8. Ctr. the fate of the evil-doer in 5. The olive is an evergreen and its fruit contains the oil wpich is in Scripture typical of the Holy Spirit; "house" in ctr. with "tent" (5 ). 9. (b) For sun. use of this phrase, c£ xxii. 3 r; xxxvii. 5; "saints" = favoured ones.
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