LXIX. If we cannot identify the author of this psalm with any other known individual, we must certainly set aside the traditional ascription to David. Psalms 69:10, cannot by any ingenuity be worked into his known history. Psalms 69:20 does not give a picture of David’s condition at any time, for he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS... — For this common and obvious figure of a “sea of troubles” comp. Psalms 18:4; Psalms 18:16; Psalms 32:6; Psalms 42:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRYING. — Better, _calling, i.e.,_ on God in prayer. For a similar picture of utter dejection comp. Psalms 22:15. The following English lines have caught the feeling of these verses: “How have I knelt with arms of my aspiring Lifted all night in irresponsive air, Dazed and amazed with overmuch desi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WOULD DESTROY ME... — Properly, _my exterminators._ It seems a piece of hypercriticism to object to this as too strong a word. It is a very allowable prolepsis. At the same time the parallelism would be improved by adopting, as Ewald suggests, the Syriac reading “my enemies without are mor... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FOOLISHNESS. — This does not conflict with a true Messianic application of the Psalm, but is fatal to that which would see in the author not an imperfect type, but a prophetic mouthpiece of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THEM. — We again meet the feeling so common in the Psalms (see especially Psalms 44:17), that the sufferings of any member of Israel must bring dishonour on the name of Jehovah and on His religion. Here, however, it seems to touch a higher chord of feeling and to approach the true Churchmans... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE. — Better, _for._ FOR THY SAKE. — It is plain from Psalms 69:9 that these words can only mean that the reproach under which the psalmist (or the community of which he was the spokesman) laboured was borne in the cause of religion. (Comp. Jeremiah 15:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
MOTHER’S CHILDREN. — See Note Song of Solomon 1:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THINE HOUSE — _i.e., for_ thine house. Hosea 8:1, shows that house might stand for congregation, but very probably we are to understand zeal for the restoration or repair of the Temple, or more likely regard for its purity and honour. So at least one applied the words long after, John 2:17 (where... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WEPT... — The expression _I wept_ (or _lamented_)_ my soul with fasting_ is hardly intelligible, though perhaps we might say _I wept out my soul with fasting._ The LXX. and Psalms 35:13 suggest an emendation to “I humbled my soul with fasting.” TO MY REPROACH. — Quite literally and better, _... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE GATE... — The place of public resort where justice was administered. (See Psalms 9:14 Note.) AND I WAS THE SONG. — Literally, _and songs of those drinking strong drink,_ but we must supply the pronoun.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT. — A better arrangement of the clauses of this verse is: But as for me my prayer (is) to Thee Jehovah in a time of grace, God in the abundance of Thy (covenant) mercy Hear me with the faithfulness of Thy help. For the favourable or gracious time comp Isaiah 49:8. Whatever the sin of Psalms 69... [ Continue Reading ]
PIT. — Properly, _well._ A stone usually covered the wells (Genesis 29:10), which explains the phrase, “shut her mouth.” Is this merely figurative; or have we here a reminiscence of some terrible crime, analogous to that of Cawnpore?... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM FULL OF HEAVINESS. — Rather, _I am sick._ The word here used (with its cognates), as well as that rendered _pity_ in the next clause, are favourite words with Jeremiah, as also are the figures of the next verse. (See Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
GALL. — Heb., _rôsh, i.e., head._ (Comp. _poppy heads._ See Deuteronomy 32:32.) In Hosea 10:4 it is translated _hemlock,_ but is most probably the _poppy_ (_papaver arenarium_), which grows everywhere in Palestine, and answers all the conditions. The rendering, _gall,_ comes from the LXX. VINEGAR.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEIR TABLE. — The form of this imprecation is, of course, suggested by the figurative language immediately preceding. Life had been made bitter by rancour and enmity, and the psalmist hurls back his curses, couched in the terms which had arisen to his lips to express his own misery. AND THAT W... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR EYES. — The darkened eyes and trembling limbs (comp. Nahum 2:10; Daniel 5:6) are expressive of terror and dismay.... [ Continue Reading ]
HABITATION. — The derivation is from a word meaning _circle,_ and a better rendering is therefore _encampment_ or _village._ Nomadic tribes pitch their tents in an enclosed ring. The derivation of the English _town_ is precisely similar. The desolation of his homestead was, to the Arab, the most fri... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TALK... — Better, _and respecting the pain of thy pierced ones, they talk._ (For the construction of this verb _talk,_ see Psalms 2:7.) We naturally think of Isaiah 53:4, and of the Cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
ADD INIQUITY — This may be understood in two different senses: (1) _Let sin be added to sin in thy account, till the tale be full._ (2) _Add guilt for guilt, i.e., for each wrong committed write down a punishment._ AND LET THEM NOT... — _i.e.,_ let them not be justified in thy sight; not gain their... [ Continue Reading ]
It is doubtful whether these verses give the talk of the enemies just mentioned, or whether the psalmist himself, after a pause, resumes his imprecations. The former supposition certainly adds a fresh force to the prayer of Psalms 69:29; and it is more natural to suppose that the string of curses, o... [ Continue Reading ]
BOOK OF THE LIVING — OR LIFE. — This image, which plays so great a part in Christian poetry (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 21:27. Comp. Philippians 4:3; Luke 10:20), is derived from the civil lists or registers of the Jews. (Exodus 32:32; Jeremiah 22:30; Ezekiel 13:9 [ Continue Reading ]
SET ME UP ON HIGH. — Or, _lift me up, i.e.,_ into a secure place out of the reach of enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HATH... — Literally, _showing horns and dividing the hoofs,_ marking at once _clean_ animals, and those of fit age for sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
The pre-eminence of _praise_ above _sacrifice_ is not infrequent in the Psalms. (Comp. Psalms 50:14.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE. — Rather, _afflicted._ AND YOUR HEART... — Better, _may your heart live._ (See Psalms 22:5.)... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD. — This and the following verses evidently bring the psalm within the circle of literature, of which Isaiah 65:17 _seq.,_ is the noblest example — the literature inspired by the hope of the restoration and of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]