oracle--place of speaking ([Ex 25:22]; [Nu 7:89]), where God answered His people (compare [Psa 5:7]).
3. Draw me not away--implies punishment as well as death (compare [Psa 26:9]). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.
4. The imprecation is justified in [Psa 28:5]. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin.
endeavours--points out their deliberate sinfulness.
5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment.
destroy ... build ... up--The positive strengthened by the negative form.
6. supplications--or, "cries for mercy."
7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity.
8. The distinction made between the people.
their strength--and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion as the occasion.
9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view.
feed them--as a shepherd ([Psa 23:1], &c.).
Psalm 29
Psa 29:1-11. Trust in God is encouraged by the celebration of His mighty power as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions
1. Give--or, "ascribe" ([De 32:3]).
mighty--or, "sons of the mighty" ([Psa 89:6]). Heavenly beings, as angels.
2. name--as ([Psa 5:11]; ).
beauty of holiness--the loveliness of a spiritual worship, of which the perceptible beauty of the sanctuary worship was but a type.
3. The voice of the Lord--audible exhibition of His power in the tempest, of which thunder is a specimen, but not the uniform or sole example.
the waters--the clouds or vapors ([Psa 18:11]; [Jr 10:13]).
4. powerful ... majesty--literally, "in power, in majesty."
5-6. The tall and large cedars, especially of Lebanon, are shivered, utterly broken. The waving of the mountain forests before the wind is expressed by the figure of skipping or leaping.
7. divideth--literally, "hews off." The lightning, like flakes and splinters hewed from stone or wood, flies through the air.
8. the wilderness--especially Kadesh, south of Judea, is selected as another scene of this display of divine power, as a vast and desolate region impresses the mind, like mountains, with images of grandeur.
9. Terror-stricken animals and denuded forests close the illustration. In view of this scene of awful sublimity, God's worshippers respond to the call of [Psa 29:2], and speak or cry, "Glory!" By "temple," or "palace" (God's residence, [Psa 5:7]), may here be meant heaven, or the whole frame of nature, as the angels are called on for praise.
10-11. Over this terrible raging of the elements God is enthroned, directing and restraining by sovereign power; and hence the comfort of His people. "This awful God is ours, our Father and our Love."
Psalm 30
Psa 30:1-12. Literally, "A Psalm-Song"--a composition to be sung with musical instruments, or without them--or, "Song of the dedication," &c. specifying the particular character of the Psalm. Some suppose that of David should be connected with the name of the composition, and not with "house"; and refer for the occasion to the selection of a site for the temple (1Ch 21:26-30; 22:1). But "house" is never used absolutely for the temple, and "dedication" does not well apply to such an occasion. Though the phrase in the Hebrew, "dedication of the house of David," is an unusual form, yet it is equally unusual to disconnect the name of the author and the composition. As a "dedication of David's house" (as provided, De 20:5), the scope of the Psalm well corresponds with the state of repose and meditation on his past trials suited to such an occasion (2Sa 5:11; 7:2). For beginning with a celebration of God's delivering favor, in which he invites others to join, he relates his prayer in distress, and God's gracious and prompt answer
1. lifted me up--as one is drawn from a well ([Psa 40:2]).
2. healed me--Affliction is often described as disease ([Psa 6:2]; ; ), and so relief by healing.
3. The terms describe extreme danger.
soul--or, "myself."
grave--literally, "hell," as in [Psa 16:10].
hast kept me ... pit--quickened or revived me from the state of dying (compare [Psa 28:1]).
4. remembrance--the thing remembered or memorial.
holiness--as the sum of God's perfections (compare [Psa 22:3]), used as name ([Ex 3:15]; [Psa 135:13]).
5. Relatively, the longest experience of divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions.
6-7. What particular prosperity is meant we do not know; perhaps his accession to the throne. In his self-complacent elation he was checked by God's hiding His face (compare [Psa 22:24]; ).
8-11. As in [Psa 6:5]; ; [Is 38:18], the appeal for mercy is based on the destruction of his agency in praising God here, which death would produce. The terms expressing relief are poetical, and not to be pressed, though "dancing" is the translation of a word which means a lute, whose cheerful notes are contrasted with mourning, or ([Am 5:16]) wailing.
12. Though "my" is supplied before "glory" it is better as in [Psa 16:9], to receive it as used for tongue, the organ of praise. The ultimate end of God's mercies to us is our praise to Him.
Psalm 31
Psa 31:1-24. The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards God
1. Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.
2-4. He seeks help in God's righteous government ([Psa 5:8]), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare [Psa 17:2]; , ; ; ; ).
5-6. commit my spirit--my life, or myself. Our Saviour used the words on the Cross [Lu 23:46], not as prophetical, but, as many pious men have done, as expressive of His unshaken confidence in God. The Psalmist rests on God's faithfulness to His promises to His people, and hence avows himself one of them, detesting all who revere objects of idolatry (compare [De 32:21]; [1Co 8:4]).