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