XXXIV. This psalm consists of a string of pious sayings of a proverbial kind, all beautiful in themselves, but combined with no art beyond the alphabetical arrangement, and even this, as in Psalms 25, not strictly carried out. A common authorship with that psalm is marked by the same omission of the... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE. — See Note on Psalms 9:12. The LXX. and Vulg., “the meek.” It means here those who have learnt patience in the school of suffering.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE LIGHTENED. — The Hebrew verb means properly “to flow,” but by a natural process, as in the common phrases “_streams_ of light,” “_floods_ of light,” acquired in Aramaic the sense of “shining.” Such must be its meaning in Isaiah 60:5, almost the echo of the thought in the psalm, the thought of a... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS POOR MAN. — Better, _this sufferer_ — _i.e._, either the writer, or Israel personified.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD is an expression which has given rise to much discussion. From comparison with other passages it may be (1) any commissioned agent of God, as a prophet (Haggai 1:13). (2) One of the celestial court (Genesis 22:11). (3) Any manifestation of the Divine presence, as the flame in t... [ Continue Reading ]
TASTE. — Comp. Hebrews 6:4; 1 Peter 2:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUNG LIONS. — See Note, Psalms 17:12. The young lion is the emblem of power and self-resource. Yet these sometimes lack, but the earnest seekers after Divine truth and righteousness never. Instead of “lions,” the LXX. and Vulgate have “the rich.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Come, ye children ... — A common proverbial style. See Proverbs 1:8, and _passim._ (Comp. also 1 John 2:1, &c)... [ Continue Reading ]
DESIRETH LIFE. — Better, _the man delighting in life._ These gnomic sayings are echoes from the book of Proverbs. (See especially Proverbs 4:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DO GOOD. — Negative goodness is not sufficient. Practical good must be added.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES. — A verse quoted in 1 Peter 3:12. (See _New Testament Commentary_). This psalm had a deep hold on the national mind. With the expression, “his ears to their cry,” we may compare the phrase, “to have a person's ear.”... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CUT OFF. — Notice the fear, so intense and recurring to the Semitic mind, of the extinction of race. (Comp. Psalms 21:10; Job 18:17, &c) This verse, according to the sense, should certainly change places with Psalms 34:15. This would disarrange the acrostic, bringing _pe_ before _ayin;_ but, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
BROKEN. — See John 19:36, _N. Test. Commentary. _... [ Continue Reading ]
DESOLATE. — Better (as in margin), _shall be found guilty,_ or _condemned. _... [ Continue Reading ]
REDEEMETH. — Comp. Psalms 25:22, which begins with the same letter, out of its place, and the same word.... [ Continue Reading ]