PSALM XXVII _The righteous man's confidence in God_, 1-3; _his ardent desire to have the spiritual privilege of worshipping_ _God in his temple, because of the spiritual blessings which he_ _expects to enjoy there_, 4-6; _his prayer to God for continual light and salvation_, 7-9; _has confiden... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:2. _WHEN THE WICKED - CAME UPON ME_] Near as I appeared to you to be in danger of losing my life, I was safe enough in the hands of the Lord; and those who thought to _have eaten me up, stumbled_, failed of their purpose, and _fell_; the Philistine lost his own life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:3. _THOUGH A HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME_] I am so confident of the Almighty's protection, that were I _alone_, and encompassed by a host, I would not fear. I am in the hand of God; and while in that hand, I am safe.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:4. _ONE_ THING _HAVE I DESIRED_] If I am grown too old, and from that circumstance unable to serve my country, I shall then prefer a retirement to the tabernacle, there to serve God the rest of my days. There I shall behold his glory, and there I may _inquire_ and get important answe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:5. _HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS PAVILION_] בסכה _besuccoh, in his_ _tabernacle_. I would make his temple my residence; I would dwell with God, and be in continual safety. _Pavilion_ comes from _papilio_ and παπιλιων, a _butterfly_. It signifies a _tent_ made of cloth stretched out on pol... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:6. _NOW SHALL MINE HEAD BE LIFTED UP_] We shall most assuredly be redeemed from this captivity, and restored to our own land, and to the worship of our God in his own temple. There shall we offer sacrifices of joy; we will sing praises unto the Lord, and acknowledge that it is by his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:7. _HEAR, O LORD_, WHEN _I CRY_] This is the utmost that any man of common sense can expect - _to be heard when he cries_. But there are multitudes who suppose God will bless them whether they _cry or not_; and there are others, and not a few, who although they _listlessly pray_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:8. WHEN THOU SAIDST, _SEEK YE MY FACE_] How much labour and skill have been employed to make sense of this verse as it stands in our translation! The original words are the following, from which our Version has been forcibly extracted: - לך אמר לבי בקשו פני את פניך יהוה אבקש lecha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:9. _HIDE NOT THY FACE - FROM ME_] As my face is towards thee wheresoever I am, so let thy face be turned towards me. In a Persian MS. poem entitled [Persic] _Shah we Gudda_, "The King and the Beggar," I have found a remarkable couplet, most strangely and artificially involved, which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:10. _WHEN MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER FORSAKE ME_] Or, more literally, "For my father and my mother have forsaken me; but the Lord hath gathered me up." My parents were my protectors _for a_ _time_; but the Lord has been my Protector _always_. There is no time in which I do not fall unde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:11. _TEACH ME THY WAY_] Let me know the gracious designs of thy providence towards me, that my heart may submit to thy will. _AND LEAD ME IN A PLAIN PATH_] In the path of righteousness, because of mine enemies, who watch for my halting.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:12. _DELIVER ME NOT OVER UNTO THE WILL OF MINE ENEMIES_] _To_ _their soul_ _benephesh_; their whole soul thirsts for my destruction. Let them not be gratified. They have suborned witnesses against me, but they are false witnesses: unmask their wickedness, and confound their counsels.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:13. I HAD FAINTED, _UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED_] The words in italics are supplied by our translators; but, far from being necessary, they injure the sense. Throw out the words _I had_ _fainted_, and leave a _break_ after the verse, and the elegant figure of the psalmist will be preserved... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 27:14. _WAIT ON THE LORD_] All ye who are in distress, _wait on_ _the Lord_. Take me for an example. I waited on him, and _he_ _strengthened my heart_; wait ye on him, and he _will strengthen your_ _heart_. You cannot be unsuccessful; fear not. _Wait, I say, on the_ _Lord_; wait for his... [ Continue Reading ]