XCIV. Psalms 94:5; Psalms 94:14, and, by implication, Psalms 94:10, show that this psalm was the expression, not of individual, but of national, sense of wrong and injustice. Yet the poet must, in his own person, have experienced the bitterness of the trouble, from the reference he makes, towards t... [ Continue Reading ]
The original is far more striking in its conciseness. _God of retributions, Jehovah, God of retributions shine forth._ The emphatic repetition of a phrase is a feature of this psalm. (See Psalms 94:3; Psalms 94:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP THYSELF — _i.e.,_ either be exalted, or rise to give sentence.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG... AND. — It is better to omit the italics, and render: _They speak out of utter impudence: all evil-doers boast._ The word rendered “boast” is by modern scholars connected with the Arabian title _Emir,_ a “commander.” They make themselves out _to_ be persons of distinction, or, perhaps, _l... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAK IN PIECES. — Or, _crush._ (See Isaiah 3:15, where the word is in parallelism with “grind the faces of the poor.”)... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGER. — The mention of the stranger as one friendless and helpless (Exodus 22:21), under the tyranny of the great, seems to imply that domestic, and not foreign oppression, is the grievance.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD. — In original, “Jah.” This carelessness of heaven to injustice and crime, which, in the mouth of the heathen (or, perhaps, of apostate Jews), appeared so monstrous to the Hebrews, was a doctrine of the philosophy of ancient times. It appears in the saying of Seneca: “_Stoicus deus nec cor... [ Continue Reading ]
(8-10) The reality of a Divine Providence is proved both from nature and history — from the physical constitution of man and the moral government of the world. The psalmist’s question is as powerful against modern atheism, under whatever philosophy it shelters itself, as against that of his day. Wha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT CHASTISETH. — Or, _He who instructeth._ The thought to some extent anticipates St. Paul’s teaching about the divine education of the heathen, in Romans 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY ARE VANITY — The literal rendering, “for they are breath,” referring not to thoughts, but to man collectively, gives equally good sense, and would, notwithstanding the order of the words, be natural, since the masculine pronoun is used. But the LXX. stands as the Authorised Version, and is... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED. — A far higher note than one of mere complaint, or even of trust in God, is struck here. The beatitude of suffering could not be made altogether plain in the Old Testament, though in Job the spirit of it is nearly reached. Here the poet sees thus far, that he who is the victim of misfortune... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT. — Better, _For;_ literally, _for to righteousness judgment shall turn, and after it all upright in heart — i.e.,_ there shall no longer be the seeming contradiction in things. God’s righteousness will triumph over the injustice under which Israel groans; His ways will be vindicated, so that all... [ Continue Reading ]
RISE UP. — Stand up — _i.e.,_ as _champion._ (Comp. 2 Samuel 23:11, of the exploit of Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite; comp. Psalms 2:2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SILENCE — _i.e._, of the grave, as in Psalms 31:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGHTS. — Properly, dividing — _i.e._, “perplexing” or “anxious” thoughts. (See Job 4:13; Job 20:2.) LXX. and Vulg., “griefs.” We may compare the Virgilian “animum nunc huc celerem, nunc dividit illuc,” imitated by Tennyson: This way and that dividing his swift mind, In act to throw.” DELIGHT. —... [ Continue Reading ]
THRONE OF INIQUITY. — This is an apt expression for an oppressive and unjust government. The word rendered “iniquity” might mean “calamity” or “destruction” (see Psalms 57:1, and comp. Psalms 91:3 : “noisome”), but in Proverbs 10:3 it seems to mean “lawless desire,” which best suits this passage. H... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GATHER — _i.e.,_ possibly, _They crowd into the courts of law to take part in the unjust condemnation of the just,_ or more generally, “They attack the life of the righteous.” LXX., “they hunt.” (Comp. Psalms 35:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]