Studies

in

The Book of Psalms:

being

a critical and expository commentary, with doctrinal and practical remarks on the entire psalter

by

william s. plumer. d. d., ll. d.

author of “the bible true,” “the grace of christ,” “the church and her enemies,” “the law of god,” “vital godliness,” “jehovah-jireh,”

“words of truth and love,” &c., &c.

philadelphia

j. b. lippincott & co.

edinburgh: a. & c. black

1872

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by

WILLIAM S. PLUMER,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

TO many tried friends;

to my spiritual children;

to the churches i have served;

to my beloved students;

and

to all who hope with me

to sing

The Song of Moses and the Lamb;

these

Studies in the Book of Psalms

Are Affectionately Dedicated

by their servant in christ,

William S. Plumer

Studies in the Book of Psalms

Introduction

1. The Wonderful Character of the Psalms

THE Psalms are wonderful. They have been read, repeated, chanted, sung, studied, wept over, rejoiced in, expounded, loved and praised by God’s people for thousands of years. The most ancient of these productions is now [1866] three thousand three hundred and twenty-six years old. The least ancient of them is two thousand four hundred and fifty-three years old. The difference in date between the most ancient and the most modern of them is eight hundred and seventy-three years. They were all written in Asia, so that we in this Western World can have no national pride respecting them. Yet pious people here and all over the earth have found and can find no compositions more suitable for delineating their devout emotions, and for expressing their pious sensibilities than those of inspired Psalmists. If to any man these songs are unsavory, the reason is found in the blindness and depravity of the human heart. Hengstenberg: “The Psalms are expressions of holy feeling, which can be understood by those only, who have become alive to such feeling.”

Horne: “Composed upon particular occasions, yet designed for general use; delivered out as services for Israelites under the law, yet no less adapted to the circumstances of Christians under the Gospel, the Psalms present religion to us in the most engaging dress; communicating truths which philosophy could never investigate, in a style which poetry can never equal, while history is made the vehicle of prophecy, and creation lends all its charms to paint the glories of redemption. Calculated alike to profit and to please, they inform the understanding, elevate the affections, and entertain the imagination. Indited under the influence of Him to whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their fragrancy; but these unfading plants of paradise become, as ...