--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 238 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/238/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 238. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/238/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 238. Psalms · 45 of 57 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/238/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/238/#p-N [¶0] shadow of death--darkness with danger ([Psa 23:4]). [¶1] 17-22. Whether the same or not, this exigency illustrates that dispensation of God according to which sin brings its own punishment. [¶2] are afflicted--literally, "afflict themselves," that is, bring on disease, denoted by loathing of food, and drawing [¶3] 23-32. Here are set forth the perils of seafaring, futility of man's, and efficiency of God's, help. [¶4] go ... sea--alluding to the elevation of the land at the coast. [¶5] 33-41. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, &c.--God's providence is illustriously displayed in His influence on two great elements of human prosperity, the earth's productiveness and the powers of government. He punishes the wicked by destroying the sources of fertility, or, in mercy, gives fruitfulness to deserts, which become the homes of a busy and successful agricultural population. By a permitted misrule and tyranny, this scene of prosperity is changed to one of adversity. He rules rulers, setting up one and putting down another. [¶6] 42-43. In this providential government, good men will rejoice, and the cavils of the wicked will be stopped ([Job 5:16]; [Is 52:15]), and all who take right views will appreciate God's unfailing mercy and unbounded love. ### Psalm 108 ### Psa 108:1-13. This Psalm is composed of Psa 108:1-5 of Psa 57:7-11; and Psa 108:6-12 of Psa 60:5-12. The varieties are verbal and trivial, except that in Psa 108:9, "over Philistia will I triumph," differs from Psa 60:8, the interpretation of which it confirms. Its altogether triumphant tone may intimate that it was prepared by David, omitting the plaintive portions of the other Psalms, as commemorative of God's favor in the victories of His people ### Psalm 109 ### Psa 109:1-31. The writer complains of his virulent enemies, on whom he imprecates God's righteous punishment, and to a prayer for a divine interposition in his behalf appends the expression of his confidence and a promise of his praises. This Psalm is remarkable for the number and severity of its imprecations. Its evident typical character (compare Psa 109:8) justifies the explanation of these already given, that as the language of David respecting his own enemies, or those of Christ, it has respect not to the penitent, but to the impenitent and implacable foes of good men, and of God and His cause, whose inevitable fate is thus indicated by inspired authority [¶11] 1. God of my praise--its object, thus recognizing God as a certain helper. Be not silent (compare [Psa 17:13]; ). [¶12] 2. For the mouth ... opened--or, "They have opened a wicked mouth" [¶13] against me--literally, "with me," that is, Their intercourse is lying, or, they slander me to my face ([Mt 26:59]). [¶14] 3. (Compare [Psa 35:7]; ). [¶15] 4-5. They return evil for good (compare [Psa 27:12]; [Pr 17:13]). [¶16] I give myself unto prayer--or literally, "I (am) prayer," or, "as for me, prayer," that is, it is my resource for comfort in distress. [¶17] 6. over him--one of his enemies prominent in malignity ([Psa 55:12]). [¶18] let Satan stand--as an accuser, whose place was the right hand of the accused ([Zec 3:1], ). [¶19] 7. The condemnation is aggravated when prayer for relief is treated as a sin. [¶20] 8. The opposite blessing is long life ([Psa 91:16]; [Pr 3:2]). The last clause is quoted as to Judas by Peter ([Ac 1:20]). [¶21] office--literally, "charge," Septuagint, and Peter, "oversight" [1Pe 5:2]. [¶22] 9-10. Let his family share the punishment, his children be as wandering beggars to prowl in their desolate homes, a greedy and relentless creditor grasp his substance, his labor, or the fruit of it, enure to strangers and not his heirs, and his unprotected, fatherless children fall in want, so that his posterity shall utterly fail. [¶23] 13. posterity--literally, "end," as in [Psa 37:38], or, what comes after; that is, reward, or success, or its expectation, of which posterity was to a Jew a prominent part. [¶24] 14-15. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered, &c.--Added to the terrible overthrow following his own sin, let there be the imputation of his parents' guilt, that it may now come before God, for His meting out its full consequences, in cutting off the memory of them (that is, the parents) from the earth ([Psa 34:16]). [¶25] 16. Let God remember guilt, because he (the wicked) did not remember mercy. [¶26] poor and needy ... broken in heart--that is, pious sufferer ([Psa 34:18]; ; ). [¶27] 17-19. Let his loved sin, cursing, come upon him in punishment ([Psa 35:8]), thoroughly fill him as water and oil, permeating to every part of his system (compare [Nu 5:22-27]), and become a garment and a girdle for a perpetual dress. [¶28] 20. Let this ... reward--or, "wages," pay for labor, the fruit of the enemy's wickedness. [¶29] from the Lord--as His judicial act. [¶30] 21-22. do ... for me--that is, kindness. [¶31] wounded--literally, "pierced" ([Psa 69:16], ). [¶32] 23. like the shadow--(Compare [Psa 102:11]). [¶33] tossed up and down--or, "driven" ([Ex 10:19]). [¶34] 24-25. Taunts and reproaches aggravate his afflicted and feeble state ([Psa 22:6], ). [¶35] 26-27. Let my deliverance glorify Thee (compare [Psa 59:13]). [¶36] 28-31. In confidence that God's blessing would come on him, and confusion and shame on his enemies ([Psa 73:13]), he ceases to regard their curses, and anticipates a season of joyful and public thanksgiving; for God is near to protect ([Psa 16:8]; ) the poor from all unrighteous judges who may condemn him. ### Psalm 110 ### Psa 110:1-7. The explicit application of this Psalm to our Saviour, by Him (Mt 22:42-45) and by the apostles (Ac 2:34; 1Co 15:25; He 1:13), and their frequent reference to its language and purport (Ep 1:20-22; Php 2:9-11; He 10:12, 13), leave no doubt of its purely prophetic character. Not only was there nothing in the position or character, personal or official, of David or any other descendant, to justify a reference to either, but utter severance from the royal office of all priestly functions (so clearly assigned the subject of this Psalm) positively forbids such a reference. The Psalm celebrates the exaltation of Christ to the throne of an eternal and increasing kingdom, and a perpetual priesthood (Zec 6:13), involving the subjugation of His enemies and the multiplication of His subjects, and rendered infallibly certain by the word and oath of Almighty God [¶39] 1. The Lord said--literally, "A saying of the Lord," (compare [Psa 36:1]), a formula, used in prophetic or other solemn or express declarations. [¶40] my Lord--That the Jews understood this term to denote the Messiah their traditions show, and Christ's mode of arguing on such an assumption ([Mt 22:44]) also proves. [¶41] Sit ... at my right hand--not only a mark of honor ([1Ki 2:19]), but also implied participation of power ([Psa 45:9]; [Mr 16:19]; [Ep 1:20]). [¶42] Sit--as a king ([Psa 29:10]), though the position rather than posture is intimated (compare [Ac 7:55], ). [¶43] until I make, &c.--The dominion of Christ over His enemies, as commissioned by God, and entrusted with all power ([Mt 28:18]) for their subjugation, will assuredly be established ([1Co 15:24-28]). This is neither His government as God, nor that which, as the incarnate Saviour, He exercises over His people, of whom He will ever be Head. [¶44] thine enemies thy footstool--an expression taken from the custom of Eastern conquerors (compare [Jos 10:24]; [Jud 1:7]) to signify a complete subjection.