I. THE NATION'S CRY TO _GOD (1-3 ). TRADITIONAL INVOCATION. ISRAEL. "Let God arise." I. Enemies scattered (1-2). 2. Elect gladdened (3 ). II. THE NATION'S CALL TO PRAISE (4). SPECIAL INVITATION. Th» Psalmist's Summons to Israel. "Sing ye to God." "Rider through the deserts" acclaimed. Ill. RELATION OF PAST TRIUMPHS (5-14). I. The Divine Ministry (5-6). Mercy and Might. 2. The Divine March (7-10). The "going forth"' of God. Selah. Departure from Egypt and Entry into Canaan. 3. The Divine Mandate (n-14). Command of Jehovah. History. Conquest of C¼naan, Portrayal and Promise,
IV. REVELATION OF PRESENT TRIUMPH (15-18). The Saviour seated in the Sanctuary-Dwelling-place of Jehovah-God. The Ark. The Divine Habitation ( Central thought of the psalm). i. The Mountain of God (15-16). ii. The Messengers of God (17-18). V. REPRESENTATION OF PROSPECTIVE TRIUMPHS (19-31). r. The Divine Ministry (19-23). Mei;cy and Might. Selah. 2. The Divine March (24-27). The "goings" of God. Arrival at Zion and Entry into the Sanctuary. 3. The Divine Mandate (28-31): Command of God. Prophecy. Conquest of the World. Pryer and Prediction. VI. THE NATIONS' CALL TO PRAISE (32-34). UNIVERSAL INVITATION. The Psalmist's Summons to Gentiles. "Sing ye- to God." "Rider upon the heavens" acclaimed. Selah. VII. THE NATIONS' CRY TO GOD (35). GENERAL INVOCATION. "Blessed be God." Gentile Response. SUPERSCRIPT.-A psalm of David. A song. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician; relating to Shoshannim (=Lilies). PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Processional psalm composed by David, no doubt for the occasion of the Ark's translation to Zion; 2 Sam. vi.; I Chron. xv. Compare and see notes to Ps. xxiv. As the psalm celebrates also the deliverance from Egypt, it seems to have been appointed (see subscript) for public use at the spring festival of Passover. This "Dedication Ode" has· been called "one of the masterpieces .of the world's lyrics." As Israel's God-inspired national marching song it has a unique place among the world's national compositions. Alternative title, "The Goings of God." PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Celebrates God's final triumph and universal sovereignty displayed in the person and reign of Messiah. The quotation of 18 by Paul (Eph. iv. 8) confirms the interpretation of the psalm as ,typical of Christ's victory in resurrection, ascension and coming personal return to rule over the entire earth. Christ's present session in the heavenly sanctuary is full guarantee of blessing yet in store for the Church, for Israel and for the gentile nations. Verses 21-23 refer to tl1e destruction of the "Beast" and his armies (Rev. xix.). Restored Israel is here seen under the terms of the new covenant, again beginning their triumphant progress with their
Divine Leader at the head; then, as entering upon their inheritance in Christ and safely dwelling in the land, sheltered by the wings of redeeming love (13). Many other prophetic details may be gathered by close study of this deeply instructive psalm. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-The rebellious run from the presence of God (2) but the righteous rejoice in it (3). El (the Mighty One) scatters His enemies (1) whether they be kings (14) or peoples (30). In the plenitude of His power, God rides in places where all human resources fail (4). He enriches as well as emancipates those who were once enslaved (6). The presence of God spells power to deliver the saints and to destroy the sinners (8). He supplies abundant water for His people even in the arid wastes (9). Israel's history is an illustration of God's provision for the poor and His aid for the "affiicted," (10). Whep. the Lord gives the word, His people are to publish it (11). God expresses His love for His people by dwelling among them (16). In the Millennium He purposes to be accessible to men; He has chosen the lowly hill of Zion, not the high peaks ·of Bashan (16). About Zion there will be abundant glory, but no fringe of fire as at Sinai (17). The joy of the crown follows the journey of the cross (18). Even now the ascended Christ has precious gifts for men, 18 with Eph. iv. 8. God Himself prepares my daily "load"; burden or blessing, either is a "benefit" (19). Our God is the Bearer of burdens (19), therefore see Iv. 22; 1 Peter v. 7; Phil. iv. 6-7. Our God is the "God of deliverances" (20). Deliverance of the elect people necessarily involves destruction of their enemies (20-21). In the worship of God the human voice has the precedence of all instrumental praise (25). The spirit of praise is the spirit of power. Praise awakens praise (25). Bless God in public as wel as in private (26). The nations that delight in war shall be scattered (30). The voice of the Lord is the voice of power (30); c£ John :v. 25-"--28. The redeemed will share the Redeemer's triumph (33). Trace in 33-35: (a) the Source of Power; (b) the Voice of Power; (c) the Place of Power; and (d) the Gift of Power. Can you join in the closing benediction (35c)? God is guardian of the friendless and forlorn (5). VERSE NOTES 1. Based upon Num. x. 35; words appropriate to the setting forward of the ark from the house of Obed-edom.
2-3. Verbs perhaps to be rendered as futures. The ark represented the presence of God. 4. "Jah," cf. 18 and Exod. xv. 3. 6. As marg. Sense is, "He brings the exiles home"; "dwell," br. have made their dwelling ... " 7-8. C£ Judges v. 4-5. 9. Br. " ... rain on Thy heritage, and strengthenedst it when ... " IO. "congregation," or community. n. "the word," i.e. the command that results in victory; "publish," here by singing not by preaching. 12-14. Contain further allusions to Deborah's song. 13-14. The elliptical construction creates a difficulty, but the meaning is clear if we bear in mind the proċheti.c significance. Read, "Though ye may lie among the sheepfolds (or, hurdles) the wings of a dove (are there) covered with silver, and her pinions with green-tinted gold." The dove is a double type, (a) of the Holy Spirit (John i. 32), and (b) of Christ Himself (Lev. i. 14). The general sense of the verse, therefore, is that wlierever God's people may be, they are sheltered by the wings of redeeming love. Silver speaks of redemption; green-tinted gold of divine glory seen in the revival of nature; c£ Rev. iv. 3. 14- "Almighty"= Shaddai; title occurs elsewhere in the Psahns only at xci. 1; "therein" = on her account, i.e. Israel's. (b) i.e. they were scattered like snowflakes. 15. Br. "The mountain of God, is it Bashan? A mountain of peaks is Mount ::t}ashan"; prob. re£ to Hermon, the grandest of Palestine's mountains and at the northern boundary of Bashan, Deut. iii. 8. It has three summits of nearly equal height. 16. "askance" = enviously; (b) i.e. Zion, which among mountains is com paratively insignificant. (c) Sinai had been God's temporary abode, Exod. xxiv. 16; on Zion He will dwell perpetually. This choice of God is a parable of His methods when dealing with men, r Cor. i. 26-29. 17. Br. as primitive text, " ... are twenty thousand, even myriads; Jehovah among them hath come from Sinai into the Sanctuary." 18. For a good parallel c£ 2 Cor. ii. 14 R.V.; (be) br. as A.V.; qtd. by Paul (Eph. iv. 8) in a divinely inspired adaptation; he omits (c) which refers to Israel and will have fulfilment when Christ comes again. Verse primarily refers to the ascent cl the ark to Zion (formerly Jebus ), a literal "going up," c£ Ps. xlvii. 5. Jehovah is addressed as represented by the ark. 19. Or, as A.V. Many ancient versions read," ... beareth us," c£ Isa. xlvi. 3-4; verse may be also read, "B_lessed be Jehovah (so primitive text) day by day, Who loadeth us (with blessings); God Himself is our salvation." (b) "God" = El (Mighty One); so 20a (twice) 24b and 35b. "al "H b 1 d d Cl• s vat1on, e . p ur. = savmg ee s; issues or, escapes. 21. (c) "Yea, God shall ... " In ancient times warriors were accustomed to let their hair grow long in connection with a vow of consecration to their cause. 22. A.V. wrongly inserts "my people"; re£ to the enemies; c£ sim. language, Amos ix. 2-3. 23. LXX etc. have "bathe thy foot ... " 24-27. Describes the solemn procession of thanksgiving to the tent and later
the temple. The same processional' order is seen in i: Chron. xv. First the Levites (1Cr19), then the alamoth (maiden singers with timbrels) and over them the leaders named, with their psalteries (20); and, lastly, the sheminith (men singers with harps) and their leaders (21). 25. (b) i.e. the damsels being on either side; "timbrels"= tambourine or hand drums; used while dancing along, c£ Exod. xv. 20. 26. Jacob regarded as the fountain head of the nation; cf. Isa. xlviii. r. 27. (a) "little," for Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob's sons and smallest of the tribes innumbers and territory; hr. "their conqueror," i.e. of the enemies (23); (b) " •.• Judah, their close compacted band"; names of the tribes mentioned here have typical and prophetical significance. 29. "out of Thy temple," probably belongs to end of 28; then read, "Up to Jerusalem shall kings ... '' 30. (a) re£ to the crocodile or hippopotamus, symb. of Egypt; "bulls" re£ to the leaders, "calves" to the peoples themselves; but cf. Jer. xlvi. 20-21, = mercen aries. These are repr. in their proud defiance and comfortable security respectively. 3 r. "princes," i.e. as ambassadors; (b) i.e. in token of submission and supplication, Egypt and Ethiopia often coupled in Scripture. 34. "excellency," or majesty. 35. hr. "Terrible is God out of thy sanctuary (lit.= sanctuaries); Gentile response to Israel's summons (32-34), acknowledging the terrible power of the God (El) of Israel; "power," Heb. plur. = abundant power. Book Two. III. Dominion of the Enthroned Redeemer: lxi.-lxxii. 2. The .Restored Kingdom, lxix.-lxxii. (i) The Foundation. The Cross, lxix. (ii) The Faithful One, bcx. (iii) The Faithful Ones, lxxi. (iv) The Fruition. The Crown, bcxii.
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