XXVI. A priestly or Levitical psalm (see Psalms 26:6), calm and regular, composed of twelve verses, each verse a distich. The writer has nothing to reproach himself with; he can appeal to the strict tribunal of God without fear. The protest against apostasy is evidently made not for himself alone,... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE ME — _i.e._, do me justice, “vindicate me.” I SHALL NOT SLIDE. — Rather, _I have trusted in Jehovah without wavering. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_2_)_ TRY. — Rather, _purify,_ according to the right reading. LXX., _try by fire. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_3_)_ FOR THY LOVINGKINDNESS... — God’s favour was before him as an encouragement, and God’s truth formed the rule of his life.... [ Continue Reading ]
DISSEMBLERS — _i.e._, hypocrites.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL DOERS. — With idea of violence; from a root meaning to _break in pieces. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_6_)_ I WILL WASH. — First a symbolical action (Deuteronomy 21:6 _seq.;_ Matthew 27:24), then a figure of speech (Job 9:30; Ezekiel 36:25). The Levitical authorship or, at all events, the Levitical character of the psalm appears from comparison of this with Exodus 30:17 _seq._ SO WILL I. — Better,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY... — Literally, _to make to hear the voice of praise. _... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER NOT. — Better as in margin. The psalmist prays that he may be spared to worship in the sanctuary, when doom falls on evildoers and carries them off. The LXX. and Vulg. have “destroy not.”... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FOOT STANDETH. — It seems more in accordance with the general drift of the poem to take this verse, _When I stand in an even or level place_ [_i.e.,_ when I am rescued from the difficulties which now beset me] _I will praise Jehovah in the congregation._... [ Continue Reading ]