BOOK 5 This book, which seems originally to have been joined with Book 4, contains forty-four Pss., the vast majority of which are of late date. The contents of these Pss. are a surer guide to the period to which they belong than is the case in the other books, as many of them give either direct re... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS MERCY _endureth_ FOR EVER] evidently a well-known refrain: cp. Psalms 136. MERCY] better, 'lovingkindness.'... [ Continue Reading ]
REDEEMED] perhaps from exile.... [ Continue Reading ]
LANDS] i.e. foreign lands.... [ Continue Reading ]
The v. might refer to wanderings on the way from Egypt, but the reference to 'a city of habitation' (Psalms 107:7) points rather to return from Babylon to Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIT] RV 'sat.' IRON] perhaps metaphorically: cp. Psalms 105:18. The reference is evidently to captivity, i.e. slavery.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF GOD] as declared by His prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
BANDS] i.e. their state of subjection: cp. Psalms 2:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Isaiah 45:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
A new illustration. Read, probably, 'Sick men, because of the way of their transgression,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT] RV 'sendeth.' The phrase is noteworthy as heralding, unconsciously perhaps, the Word (John 1:14). 23-30. A striking description of mariners in a storm.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE AT THEIR WIT'S END] RM 'all their wisdom is swallowed up.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR DESIRED HAVEN] RM 'the haven of their desire.' The word rendered 'haven' is an Assyrian loan-word, and properly means an 'emporium' or 'mart.' It is found here only.... [ Continue Reading ]
General instances of God's kindness in various districts. Some suggest that this is a later addition to the Ps. It has great likenesses to Job and Isaiah 40-66.... [ Continue Reading ]
BARRENNESS] better, RV 'a salt desert'—perhaps thinking of Sodom: cp. Job 39:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Isaiah 41:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN] better, 'and when'; but the v. is abrupt and the connexion obscure.... [ Continue Reading ]
Quoted from Job 12:21; Job 12:24. It interrupts the connexion, and by some is omitted. 41. Cp. Job 21:11 : 'He set the needy on high from (above) affliction, and established (for him) families as a flock.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Hosea 14:9, a closing admonition.... [ Continue Reading ]