I. THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD {r-2). "Jehovah-EL" II. THE INFIRMITY OF MAN (3-rr ). Frailty and Failure. r. Declaration (3 ). 2. Demonstration (4).
RECOGNITION OF COVENANT RELA1'ION$1Ul> 3. Declaration (5-6). 4. Demonstration (7). 5. Declaration (8). 6. Demonstration (9 ). 7. Declaration (rnac). 8. Demonstration (rod). 9. peclaration (n). III. THE INTENSITY OF MOSES (12-17). Based upon I and II. r. In Appeal for Divine Comprehension (r2). "Teach us." Computation of our days. Guidance. 2. In Appeal for Divine Restoration (13). "Thy Servants." 3. In Appeal for Divine Compensation (14-15). "Satisfy us." Consolation all our days. Gratification. 4. In Appeal for Divine Restoration (16.). "Thy Servants." j. In Appeal for Divine Commendation (17). "Be kindly disposed to us." Confirmation of our works. Graciousness. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Prayer of Moses the man of God. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-This is probably the oldest of all the Psalms and was written by Moses almost certainly during the thirty eight years of Israel's penal wanderings in the wilderness. The psalm is properly understood only i£ Israel's experience at that time be kept in view. Consider, for example, verse 10.' While it is true that life at best is very brief, for the people of God the closing years of life are not necessarily "labour and sorrow." On the contrary see Prov. iv. 18, Ps. xcii. 14. Israelites condemned to "rail" in the wilderness would all be from sixty to eighty years of age towards the ·close of the wandering period, Num. xiv. 29-35; xxvi. 63-65. At the announcement of the divine judgment, the effect upon the sinners is well described as "panic-stricken" (7b), and verse 9 has· special force in the circumstances. Other significant points cannot fail to be noticed. Jehovah's connection with the nation is apparent and Moses looks to Him to renew relations so broken, and that blessing and beauty may again be upon them as a people favoured by God. "Man of God" (title); seven persons in the Old Testament are specially so designated and four are unnamed. In the New Testament Timothy is the only one thus called. It is a title given by the Spirit of God to a man raised up in a time_ of crisis to represent Him. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-Again we hear the voice of the godly p
AN AL YTICAL STUDIES IN THE PS.ALMS remnant in the last days under a realisation of national sin and necessary discipline, turning to Jehovah in earnest entreaty for restoration. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-A psalm of man and his Maker. God is an eternal habitation for the soul, but man, alas, seldom takes advantage of the open door ( r). Though so lofty God is not in accessible (i). He is a timeless Be.ing; moments with Him can do the work of centuries (4). Death and decay result not from finite be.ing, but from s.in ( 7-8). The same sun that strengthens the sick can smite the strong; the same light that solaces the saint can strike the sinner (8). Secrets cannot be shut out from the searchlight of the div.ine gaze (8). How different (12) are the efforts of men to "kill time" in a ceaseless round of senseless amusements. Satan encourages men to banish all thought of God's righteous anger against sin (n-12). The only joyful life is one satisfied with the love of God (14). The creature can never be satisfied apart from his Creator (14). Moses prays that the divine discipline may prove effectual-a worthy example (16). To glory in the possession of things apart from God is pride (roe), cf. 1 John ii. 16. God is said to repent when, having vindicated His justice in punishing the sin, He so deals with the sinner as to restore him to gladness instead of sadness. God does not change. It is His unchanging principle to treat men according to their attitude to Him. It is the sinner who by true penitence changes his relation to God, see 13. VERSE NOTES 1. "Lord," Heh. Adonai = a title having special ref. to the earth, see Appendix II; hr. "Thou (emph.) hast been a habitation for us"; "habitation," s.H.w. only xci. 9 and Deut. xxxiii. 27. (b) i.e. in successive generations. 2. Mountains were regarded as the most ancient parts of the earth; (b) "or" = ere; "world,"= the habitable earth; (c) lit." Tho11 art El {Mighty One)" = God of power. 3 ff. The emphasis is not so much upon the brevity of human life as upon the fact that it is at God's absolute disposal; hr. "Thou makest man (enosh = frail man) return to dust"; emphasises the dissolution of the body into its constituent elements. (b) refers to the creative fiat which replaces the old generation by a new; death and life are in continual alternation; "children of men,"= lit. sons of Adam. 4. "For," i.e. though one should outlive even Methuselah it is nothing compared to eternity. For converse of this line see 2 Peter iii. 8. (c) i.e. to the unconscious sleeper. To God time has no existence; all is an eternal present.
RECOGNITION OF COVENANT RELATIONSHIP 5. (a),i.e. like a building suddenly swept away in an Eastern cloudburst. 7. "troubled " = lit. dismayĚd. or, panic-stricken; see notes. 9. The lives of Israel's "men, of war" closed under a cloud, the sentence of death because of unbelief, Num. xiv. 29; (b) "a sigh " or, a moan. IO. See note under "Primary Association"; br. "travail and vanity." rr. (a) "anger," i.e. against sin; (b) i.e. "According to the (present) dread so is the (coming) wrath." "S " th b "· th . this uld all b o = so en ... ; num er, m e circumstances co actu y e done. "R "h hall · c th " etum or, tum; ow ong, 1.e. s we wait ror y turrung ; the expostulation not of impatience but of wistful yearning, cf. Deut. xxxii. 36; "repeJ;1.t," see note under "Personal Application." 14. Israel still in the dark night of trouble deeply desires the dawn (prophetically). 15. I.e. let the joy of restoration be proportionate to the depth of humiliation, Isa. lxi. 7. This prayer was partially answered in the great triumphs God gave the th . "afffi d " c£ H "h bl th natlon upon err entrance mto anaan; cte us, . s. .w. um e ee, Dent. viii. 2, 3, 16. 16. "work,"= working; i.e.letit be manifested in deliverance. "their children," cf. Nwn. xiv. 31, 33. CCC "L d " k f 17. ravour or, p easantness, 1.e. graciousness; or as .I; wor o our hands " is a phrase characteristic of Deuteronomy, where it appears seven times. While the ordinary undertakings of daily life may be included, service for God is also in view. May there not be, too, a hint of their special work in the building of the Tabernacle? Exod. xxxv.-xxxvi.
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