I. PLAINTIVE SUPPLICATION (1-8). David contemplates himsel£ The dominant note is depression. I. Prayer (1-3 ). The Cry and its Cause. 2. Plight (4-5). The Foes and the Fears. 3. Plaint ( 6-8 ). The Cry and its Cause. Rest desired . II. PORTENTOUS DENUijCIATION (9-r5). David contemplates his foes. The dominant note is indignation. 1. Prayer (9-11). The Cry and its Cause. 2. Parenthesis (12-14). The Friend and his False-heartedness·. (The Arch-traitor-central point of psalm). 3. Prayer (15). The Cry and its Cause. Retribution discerned. ill. PATIENT ANTICIPATION (16-23). David contemplates his God. The dominant note is consolation. 1. Prayer {16-19). The Appeal and the Assurance. 2. Parenthesis (20-21 ). The Friend and his False-heartedness.
DISCLOSURES CONCERN ING THE ENEMY REPROBATE 145 3. Persuasion (22-23). The Appeal and the Assurance. Reliance displayed. (a) Men addressed (22). (b) God addressed (23) .. SUPERSCRIPT.-Maschil of David. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician; uponJonath-elem-rechokim. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Written by David most probably during the period of Absalom' s rebellion, ċ Sam. xv.-xvii. Ahithophel is doubtless the false friend referred to. He was the mainstay of the revolt. It is instructive to trace die motive of Ahithophel' s treachery, for the record shows some of the evil fruits of David's great sin. See I Chron. iii. 5; 2 Sam. xi. 3 withxxiii. 34, 39. Eliam (or Ammiel) father of Bathsheba was son of Ahithophel and Uriah's brother officer in the king's bodyguard. Ahithophel nursed a sense of wrong towards the corrupter of his grand-daughter and the murderer of his grandson by marriage. David thus placed a powerful weapon in the hands of his enemies. His only safe course lay in prayer; committing his cause to a faithful and merciful God, 2 Sam. xv. 31. For subscript see R.V. m.; connects with 5-8. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATI0N.-Here we see the deep soul exercise of the much persecuted Jewish remnant in the last days which precede the nation's final deliverance from the power of Antichrist. Further details concerning the latter's character come into view. He is here seen as (a) a Professor of the worship of his fathers' God (14) though an atheist at heart, liii.; (b) a Profaner of his solemn covenant (20), cf. Dan. ix. 27; (c) a Persecutor of the godly remnant (3). His doom is also predicted (15, 23); cf. Rev. xix. 20. This psalm ,also fore shadows the experiences of our Lord, who when on earth fathomed the depths of human baseness, cruelty and ingratitude to an extent that none else ever did. Judas the apostate, in many salient features, foreshadows the Antichrist as the lying deceiver yet to come. PERSONAL .APPLICA'.TION.-A psalm of tru$t amid trouble and treachery. Our troubles may be caused by ourČelves or by others, as a result of our failure or as the result of our faith. In either case God alone is our true resource. Even Christians are sometimes caught in a maze of mingled emotions. The Redeemer is the true refuge of the restless (2); c£ Matt. xi. 28-30. Security is not always fowid in solitude; wickedness may be found in the wilderness (6). God may not grant us the wings of a dove to escape troubles, but K
we may have the wings of an eagle to soar above them; (6) with Isa. xl. 31. Note the sevenfold form of rampant evil (9--11). The attitude of an unfaithful friend is worse to bear than the antagonism of an unremitting foe (12-13). If tempted to flee from the foe, fly to the faithful God (6, 16). David, like Daniel, prayed three times a day (17). A word of comfort is here for saints in war-stricken countries (18). There is peril in prosperity (19). Material plenty often brings spiritual poverty (19). Changes challenge the character of our Christianity (19). In our change let us tum to the Changeless One (19). "No change Jehovah khows." If God does not remove the burden He gives strength to bear (22). The righteous are some times moved on, but never from, their foundation (22). David's advice was born of experience (22); c£ 1 Peter v. 7. "I will put my trust in Thee," is the saint's watchword for all time (23). Scorn to be disloyal to your King (12-14). VERSE NOTES 2. "moan," or, am distracted;³£ Isa. xxviii. 14; Ezek. vii. 16. 3. I.e. hurling insults, calumnies and threats is like casting stones or firebrands " · k d" upon an enemy; wic e = aw ess one. 4. "sore pained," or, writhes. 7. Cf. Jer. ix. 2. 9. Jerusalem having become as Babylon (Babel), he prays for a confusion of counsels, Gen. xi. "k dn " H Iii" d " li b d l ·II. wic e . ess, s. .w. . 2 = eep practices; streets, t. roa p aces, 1.e. the place of public concourse at the city gates, where justice was administered and business transacted. 12. (b) Br. "might have ... " 14. Br. "we were wont to take ... to walk ... "; habitual intimacy and confidential intercourse in private, and fellowship in the public worship of God; "throng," i.e. of worshippers. 15. This prayer is a prediction; cf. the death of the apostates in the wilderness, Num. xvi. 31-35, and c( Rev. xix. 20. 19. The Heb. ·text is not corrupt as some allege. Read, "God shall hear, and answer them (i.e. with judgment), even He that sitteth enthroned eternally. Selah-(the men) who keep not their oath (i.e. of allegiance to David), and who fear not God." The "selah" points on to the character of "them" in first line. 22. Note how the name of the covenant-keeping God, Jehovah, shines out in this section in marked contrast wicli 20, 21; c£ xxxvii. 5; l Peter v. 7. 23. I.e. by a premature death. Ahithophel destroyed himself, 2 Sam. xvii. 14, 23. Absalom came to an early end and his body was cast into a pit; Judas hanged himself, and Antichrist's doom is foreseen, Rev. xix. 20.
DISCLOSURES CONCERNING THE ENEMY REPROBATE 147 Book Two. II. Disclosures concerning the Enemy Reprobate., lii.-lx. 2. The Afflicted and their Refuge, lvi.-lx. (Michtams). The Almighty Invoked.
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