I. FIRST AITITUDE OF THE PSALMIST (1-5). Worship of Jehovah. I. The Excellence of Praise (1-3). 2. The Explanation for Praise (4). 3. The Exclamation of Praise (5). II. FLOURISHING OF THE GODLESS (6-8). Passing Prosperity of the Lawless Ones. III. FALL OF THE ENE.M,IES (9). Their Perdition. "Thine." IV. FAVOUR TO THE PSALMIST (10). His Restoration. (Central Thought). V. FALL OF THE ENEMIES (II). Their Perdition. "Mine." VI. FLOURISHING OF THE GODLY (12-15a). Permanent Prosperity_ of the Loyal Ones. VII. FINAL AVOW AL OF THE PSALMIST (15bc). Witness to Jehovah. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Psalm; Song for the Sabbath Day. PRIMARY AssocrATION.-Writer and occasion unknown. Closely connected with the next psalm by use of figure "anadiplosis"
RECOGNITION OF COVENAN T RELATIONSHIP (rhetorical repetition) for emphasis, c£ xcii. 9 with xciii. 3; found also in Pss. xciv. and xcvi. According to the Talmud this psalm was sung at the libation of wine accompanying the sacrifice of the first lamb of the Sabbath burnt offering, Num. xxviii. 9-10. Sabbath Rest, xcii.; Sovereign Rule, xciii. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-The coming and universal reign of Messiah anticipated by the godly remnant. The "Sabbath" typifies the millennial rest of Messiah's reign. Note Jehovah's millennial title Hi h" ost g . · PERSONAL APPLICATION.-lt is "good" to give thanks to God as being (a) due to Him and (b) a salutary occupation for man (1). Morning and evening are naturally suitable times for praise and prayer (2). In the Millennium all that is responsive to man's hand is made to praise God (3). In darkness as in light, God's love works for His own (2). The victory of righteousness ever gladdens the hearts of the_saints (4). Men who turn their backs upon God become mere sensuous animals, unreceptive and unresponsive to spiritual things (6). The faithless flourish only to fall (7). While God's foes perish, His favoured ones prosper (9-10). They who would flourish like the palm must have root in the sanctuary (13). With the people of God, age should produce ripeness in spiritual fruit (r4). Elohim is eternally elevated above evil (8). Some lives have gone dry like withered trees fit only for firewood (r4). The righteous are for fruit, the wicked for fuel (r4), c£ xc. 6. If God is, that which is right shall be (15). "Higgaion"-three subjects are worthy of our deep meditation, namely (a) the Judgment and the Justice ofJehovah (ix. r6); (b) the Works and the Word of Jehovah (xix: 14); (c) the Favour and the Faithfulness of Jehovah (xcii. 3). VERSE NOTES 1. (b) lit. "to psalm," or make melody. 2.• Lovingkindness and faithfulness are the attributes which move God to make and to keep His covenant with His people, lxxxix.1. The two line division in this verse, as often in the Psalms, is rhythmical not logical, yet here the distinction seems quite appropriate. 3. Br. "With decachord and with psaltery, with meditative music (lit. higgaiol!, see Ps. ix. 16) on the harp." Higgaion is from Heb. "hagah," to speak to oneself, to soliloquize. 4. "work," or working; "works," hr. doings; i.e. in providence, so 5.
6 "this" · th h d · ,.e. e trut expresse m next verses. 7-8. The verb tenses seem to indicate a particular event rather than a general truth, denoting the rapid rise and rapid ruin of certain lawless ones. Prophetically may refer to Antichrist and the Beast, in which case the prophetic time of this psalm is imrnediatdy after Christ's advent in glory and overthrow of these national enemies. This seems to be confirmed by the words "For, lo ... " (9). 8. "But Thou (emph.), 0 Jehovah (art enthroned) on high for evermore." 10. (a) MetaJ?hor from animals tossing their heads in consciousness of vigour and victory; (b) symbolic of renewed power by the Spirit. The psalmist was caused to triumph over his foes. II. Br. "Mine eyes have gazed on (the defeat of) them that lay in wait for me. Mine ear heard of (the destruction of) them that rose up against me to do evil.'' · 12. Note strong contrast to 7; fruitfulness of the palm and the fragrance of the cedar are famous. Both trees are stately and evergreen, noted for longevity and luxuriance. The palm is graceful, the cedar sturdy. The palm is an endogc;n; it is found in barren soil watered deep at the roots. The cedar is an exogen and is fow1d amid mountain snows and storms, its roots embedded in the rocks. 13. C£ Psalm i.; omit "they are" and replace semi-colon by a comma at end of line (a). 14. (a) Like the palm which then bears the heaviest clusters of dates; (b) like the olive, Judges ix. 9. 15. (a) i.e. to witness by their prosperity to the faithfulness and justice of Jehovah; "Wlfighteousness" = perversity.
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