The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Vol. 3: Psalms XC.-CL.Maclaren, Alexander
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Vol. 3: Psalms XC.-CL.
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. Psalms -- Commentaries
The last part (vv. 15-19) repeats the refrain of ver. 14, but with
a different setting. Here the singer generalises his own experience,
and finds increase of joy in the thought of the multitude who dwell
safe under the same protection. The more usual form of expression
for the idea in ver. 15 is "their _blood_ is precious" (Psalm lxxii.
14). The meaning is that the death of God's saints is no trivial
thing in God's eyes, to be lightly permitted. (Compare the contrasted
thought, xliv. 12.) Then, on the basis of that general truth, is built
ver. 16, which begins singularly with the same beseeching word which
has already occurred in vv. 4 and 14. Here it is not followed by an
expressed petition, but is a yearning of desire for continued or
fuller manifestation of God's favour. The largest gifts, most fully
accepted and most thankfully recognised, still leave room for longing
which is not pain, because it is conscious of tender relations with
God that guarantee its fulfilment. "I am Thy servant." Therefore the
longing which has no words needs none. "Thou hast loosed my bonds." His
thoughts go back to "the cords of death" (ver. 3), which had held him
so tightly. God's hand has slackened them, and, by freeing him from
that bondage, has bound him more closely than before to Himself. "Being
made free from sin, ye became the slaves of righteousness." So, in the
full blessedness of received deliverance, the grateful heart offers
itself to God, as moved by His mercies to become a living sacrifice,
and calls on the Name of Jehovah, in its hour of thankful surrender,
as it had called on that Name in its time of deep distress. Once more
the lonely suppliant, who had waded such deep waters without companion
but Jehovah, seeks to feel himself one of the glad multitude in the
courts of the house of Jehovah, and to blend his single voice in the
shout of a nation's praise. We suffer and struggle for the most part
alone. Grief is a hermit, but Joy is sociable; and thankfulness desires
listeners to its praise. The perfect song is the chorus of a great
"multitude which no man can number."
PSALM CXVII.
1 Praise Jehovah, all nations,
Laud Him, all peoples.
2 For great is His lovingkindness over us,
And the troth of Jehovah endures for ever.
Hallelujah.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account