Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Psalms 129:1.-Though many and deep have been Israel's afflictions, the righteous Lord hath cut the cords of the wicked (Psalms 129:1); past deliverances give anticipation of the doom of Zion's haters (Psalms 129:5). The Jews he... [ Continue Reading ]
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. MANY A TIME HAVE THEY AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH; YET THEY HAVE NOT PREVAILED AGAINST ME. The repetition connects the repeated afflictions of God's people by the enemy with their invariable deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]
The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. THE PLOWERS PLOWED UPON MY BACK; THEY MADE LONG THEIR FURROWS. The stripes laid on Israel's back are compared to the furrows made by the plow. Compare the image, . The antitypical Israel saith, "I gave my back to the smiters" (). How... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS: HE HATH CUT ASUNDER THE CORDS OF THE WICKED. The righteousness of God is His people's ground of hoping deliverance. Israel's true standing is on the righteousness of faith: then at once, when she recognizes... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. LET THEM ALL BE CONFOUNDED AND TURNED BACK THAT HATE ZION - (.) Faith anticipates future triumphs over the enemy from those vouch-safed in times past. The Spirit of prophecy announces, through the Psalmist, the sinners' doom according to... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: LET THEM BE AS THE GRASS UPON THE HOUSE-TOPS, WHICH WITHERETH AFORE IT GROWETH UP - (Psalms 37:2; Isaiah 37:27.) Grass, on the flat roofs in Eastern houses, readily takes root but, having no depth of soil, speedily... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. WHEREWITH THE MOWER FILLETH NOT HIS HAND, NOR HE THAT BINDETH SHEAVES HIS BOSOM. The mower takes the WHEREWITH THE MOWER FILLETH NOT HIS HAND, NOR HE THAT BINDETH SHEAVES HIS BOSOM. The mower takes the stalks into h... [ Continue Reading ]