Psalm 126
Psa 126:1-6. To praise for God's favor to His people is added a prayer for its continued manifestation
1-3. When the Lord, &c.--The joy of those returned from Babylon was ecstatic, and elicited the admiration even of the heathen, as illustrating God's great power and goodness.
turned again the captivity--that is, restored from it ([Job 39:12]; [Psa 14:7]; [Pr 12:14]). Hengstenberg translates: "When the Lord turned Himself to the turning of Zion" (see Margin), God returns to His people when they return to Him ([De 30:2], ).
4. All did not return at once; hence the prayer for repeated favors.
as the streams in the south--or, the torrents in the desert south of Judea, dependent on rain ([Jos 15:9]), reappearing after dry seasons (compare [Job 6:15]; [Psa 68:9]). The point of comparison is joy at the reappearing of what has been so painfully missed.
5-6. As in husbandry the sower may cast his seed in a dry and parched soil with desponding fears, so those shall reap abundant fruit who toil in tears with the prayer of faith. (Compare the history, [Ezr 6:16], ).
Psalm 127
Psa 127:1-5. The theme of this Psalm, that human enterprises only succeed by the divine blessing, was probably associated with the building of the temple by Solomon, its author. It may have been adopted in this view, as suited to this series especially, as appropriately expressing the sentiments of God's worshippers in relation to the erection of the second temple
1-2. suggest the view of the theme given.
3-5. Posterity is often represented as a blessing from God ([Ge 30:2], ; [1Sa 1:19], ). Children are represented as the defenders (arrows) of their parents in war, and in litigation.
Psalm 128
Psa 128:1-6. The temporal blessings of true piety. The eighth chapter of Zecariah is a virtual commentary on this Psalm. Compare Psa 128:3 with Zec 8:5; and Psa 128:2 with Le 26:16; De 28:33; Zec 8:10; and Psa 128:6
with [Zec 8:4].
1. (Compare [Psa 1:1]).
2. For thou shalt eat--that is, It is a blessing to live on the fruits of one's own industry.
3. by the sides--or, "within" ([Psa 48:2]).
olive plants--are peculiarly luxuriant ([Psa 52:8]).
5. In temporal blessings the pious do not forget the richer blessings of God's grace, which they shall ever enjoy.
6. Long life crowns all other temporal favors. As [Psa 125:5], this Psalm closes with a prayer for peace, with prosperity for God's people.
Psalm 129
Psa 129:1-8. The people of God, often delivered from enemies, are confident of His favor, by their overthrow in the future
1-2. may Israel now say--or, "oh! let Israel say" ([Psa 124:1]). Israel's youth was the sojourn in Egypt ([Jr 2:2]; [Ho 2:15]).
3-4. The ploughing is a figure of scourging, which most severe physical infliction aptly represents all kinds.
5-6. The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing ([Ru 2:4]), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.
Psalm 130
Psa 130:1-8. The penitent sinner's hope is in God's mercy only
1-2. depths--for great distress ([Psa 40:2]; ).
3. shouldest mark--or, "take strict account" ([Job 10:14]; ), implying a confession of the existence of sin.
who shall stand--([Psa 1:6]). Standing is opposed to the guilty sinking down in fear and self-condemnation (Mal 3:2; [Re 6:15], ). The question implies a negative, which is thus more strongly stated.
4. Pardon produces filial fear and love. Judgment without the hope of pardon creates fear and dislike. The sense of forgiveness, so far from producing licentiousness, produces holiness ([Jr 33:9]; [Eze 16:62], ; [1Pe 2:16]). "There is forgiveness with thee, not that thou mayest be presumed upon, but feared."
5-6. wait for the Lord--in expectation ([Psa 27:14]).
watch for, &c.--in earnestness and anxiety.
7-8. Let Israel, &c.--that is, All are invited to seek and share divine forgiveness.
from all his iniquities--or, "punishments of them" ([Psa 40:12], &c.).
Psalm 131
Psa 131:1-3. This Psalm, while expressive of David's pious feelings on assuming the royal office, teaches the humble, submissive temper of a true child of God
1. eyes lofty--a sign of pride ([Psa 18:27]).
exercise myself--literally, "walk in," or "meddle with."
2. Surely, &c.--The form is that of an oath or strongest assertion. Submission is denoted by the figure of a weaned child. As the child weaned by his mother from the breast, so I still the motions of pride in me ([Mt 18:3], ; [Is 11:8]; ). Hebrew children were often not weaned till three years old.
soul--may be taken for desire, which gives a more definite sense, though one included in the idea conveyed by the usual meaning, myself.
Psalm 132
Psa 132:1-18. The writer, perhaps Solomon (compare Psa 132:8, 9), after relating David's pious zeal for God's service, pleads for the fulfilment of the promise (2Sa 7:16), which, providing for a perpetuation of David's kingdom, involved that of God's right worship and the establishment of the greater and spiritual kingdom of David's greater Son. Of Him and His kingdom both the temple and its worship, and the kings and kingdom of Judah, were types. The congruity of such a topic with the tenor of this series of Psalms is obvious
1-5. This vow is not elsewhere recorded. It expresses, in strong language, David's intense desire to see the establishment of God's worship as well as of His kingdom.
remember David--literally, "remember for David," that is, all his troubles and anxieties on the matter.
6. These may be the "words of David" and his pious friends, who,
at Ephratah--or Beth-lehem ([Ge 48:7]), where he once lived, may have heard of the ark, which he found for the first time