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Studies in the Psalms Vol 2 Part 2 - Only The Word

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STUDIES IN PSALMS<br />

several dist<strong>in</strong>ct psalms, probably written by two or three psalmists,<br />

is clear from <strong>in</strong>ternal evidence.<br />

Ps. 92 is <strong>in</strong>tensely persona.1: as witness <strong>the</strong> phrases hmt<br />

made me glaoLI will r<strong>in</strong>g out my joy (ver. 4)--cmy horn-I am<br />

ano<strong>in</strong>ted-w<strong>in</strong>e eyes-my lurk<strong>in</strong>g f oes-my wioked assailantsm<strong>in</strong>e<br />

ears (vers. 10, 11). It is at <strong>the</strong> same time thoroughly<br />

experimental: which is evident, not only from <strong>the</strong> above expressions,<br />

but also from <strong>the</strong> writer’s thankfulness (ver. l), and from<br />

his persuasion that he has been blessed with some <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to<br />

Jehovah’s works and plans (ver. 5), as well as from that sense<br />

of nearneas to God which leads him to designate him My Rock<br />

(ver. 15). <strong>The</strong> writer of <strong>the</strong> psalm is probably a k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

l<strong>in</strong>e olf David: which accounts for his expectation that his horn<br />

will be exalted, <strong>in</strong> spite of his unscrupulous foes (vers. 10, 11).<br />

He is not only a k<strong>in</strong>g, but an enthusiastic musician: understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

what it is to sweep <strong>the</strong> str<strong>in</strong>gs (ver. l), and appreciat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

differences <strong>in</strong> musical <strong>in</strong>struments, as his selection of <strong>the</strong> deeptoned<br />

lyre to accompany his poetic soliloquy <strong>in</strong> his royal chambers<br />

sufficiently <strong>in</strong>dicates. Out of <strong>the</strong>se observations emerges <strong>the</strong><br />

natural conclusion, that its writer was K<strong>in</strong>g Hezekiah.<br />

Ps. 93 forms a strik<strong>in</strong>g contral&. It is by no means personal;<br />

but public, lofty, grand. It propounds a <strong>the</strong>sis worthy of <strong>the</strong><br />

most far-see<strong>in</strong>g prophetic gift: for it tells of noth<strong>in</strong>g less than<br />

an especial asfsumption of sovereignty by Jehovah himself, who<br />

on <strong>the</strong> basis of his ancient rule and be<strong>in</strong>g makes a new Div<strong>in</strong>e<br />

advance to manifested k<strong>in</strong>gship over <strong>the</strong> earth. <strong>The</strong> psalm is<br />

but brief, call<strong>in</strong>g sen-streams to witness to <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e Maj.esty,<br />

and claim<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e Testimonies and Temple-worship<br />

are confirmed by Jehovah’s Royal Proclamation. <strong>The</strong> two most<br />

remarkable th<strong>in</strong>gs zbout this short psalm are: first, that it gives<br />

<strong>the</strong> key-note of <strong>the</strong> (series; <strong>in</strong> which, be it noted, Jehovah is proclaimed<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g three times, which key-note is carried over to <strong>the</strong><br />

abbreviated Sabbath Service of Song which we may assume to<br />

be formed by Pss. 98, 99; so that four times <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> double series<br />

is this Proclamation made; second, ano<strong>the</strong>r remarkable th<strong>in</strong>g is<br />

that K<strong>in</strong>g Hezekiah-himself a k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> royal, covenant l<strong>in</strong>e of<br />

David-should have given so much prom<strong>in</strong>ence to such a <strong>the</strong>me,<br />

if he prepared this Service of Song, a <strong>the</strong>me to give currency<br />

to which looks greatly like an act of self-effacement on his part,<br />

as though nei<strong>the</strong>r he nor any of his descendants could be regarded<br />

as <strong>The</strong> Com<strong>in</strong>g K<strong>in</strong>g. Not only, <strong>the</strong>n, does this paalm demand a<br />

lofty prophetic gift for its production, but it requires a prophet<br />

146

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