XCI. There are no data for ascertaining either the author or the date of this psalm. The variety of the figures employed seems to indicate a general view of life and its possible perils. It may have been a time when both war and pestilence were raging, but we cannot recover it. Whoever first breath... [ Continue Reading ]
HE... I. — The especial difficulty of this psalm, its abrupt changes of person, meets us at the outset. The text literally rendered, runs: “_He sitting in the hiding place of the Most High; In the shadow of the Almighty he lodgeth, I say to Jehovah, My refuge and my fortress, My God, I trust in Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
SNARE OF THE FOWLER. — The image of the net has occurred frequently before. (See Psalms 10:15, &c) Here, as in Ecclesiastes 9:12, it is used generally of any unexpected peril to life. NOISOME PESTILENCE. — _Literally, pestilence of calamities, i.e.,_ fatal. (See Psalms 57:1, where the same word “ca... [ Continue Reading ]
FEATHERS... WINGS... — For this beautiful figure, here elaborated, see Psalms 17:8, Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
TERROR BY NIGHT. — Possibly a night attack by an enemy. (Comp. Song of Solomon 3:8; Proverbs 3:23.) Comp. Milton: “To bless the doors from nightly harm.” In this case the arrow flying by day would refer to dangers of actual battle. But it is quite possible that the latter may be merely the Orienta... [ Continue Reading ]
DARKNESS... NOONDAY. — Night and noon are, in Oriental climates, the most unwholesome, the former from exhalations, the latter from the fierce heat. DESTRUCTION. — From a root meaning “to cut off;” here, from parallelism, “deadly sickness.”... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL NOT COME NIGH THEE. — _It, i.e.,_ no one of the dangers enumerated. The pious Israelite bears a charmed life. Safe under Divine protection, he only sees the _effect_ of perils that pass by him harmless.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU... my. — The difficulty of the change of person is avoided by the Authorised Version, but only with violence to the text, which runs, “For thou, Jehovah, my refuge; thou hast made the Most High thy habitation.” It is best to take the first line as a kind of under-soliloquy. The poet is assuring... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELLING. — Literally, _tent:_ an instance in which the patriarchal life became stereotyped, so to speak, in the language. (See Note, Psalms 104:3.) Even we speak of “pitching our tent.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGELS. — The idea of a special guardian angel for each individual has possibly been favoured by this verse, though it had its origin in heathen belief: “By every man, as he is born, there stands A spirit good, a holy guide of life.” MENANDER. Here, however, it is not one particular individual, but... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR HANDS. — Literally, _on,_ as a nurse a child. There is a Spanish proverb, expressive of great love and solicitude: “They carry him on the palms of their hands.”... [ Continue Reading ]
LION... ADDER... YOUNG LION. — These are used no doubt, emblematically for the various obstacles, difficulties, and danger which threatens life. (For “adder,” see Note, Psalms 58:4; “dragon,” Psalms 74:13.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SET HIS LOVE UPON ME. — Or, _clung to me _... [ Continue Reading ]
(14-16) Another abrupt change of person. The conclusion of the psalm comes as a Divine confirmation of the psalmist’s expression of confidence. (Comp. Psalms 50:15; Psalms 50:23, with these verses.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_16_)_ LONG LIFE. — The promise of a long life, while in accordance with the general feeling of the Old Testament, is peculiarly appropriate at the close of this psalm, which all through speaks of protection from danger that threatened life.... [ Continue Reading ]