A Comprehensive Commentary. The Book of Psalms

Transcription

1 A Comprehensive Commentary of The Book of Psalms together with references for further study from the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and other doctrinal texts by General Authorities of the Church Written and compiled by Paul Nolan Hyde Parrish Press Orem, Utah

2 Copyright 2013; 2015 by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. All rights reserved. First Electronic Edition Copyright 2015 Parrish Press, Orem, Utah 1842 South 50 East Orem, Utah

3 Preface This project began as an attempt to provide my children and grandchildren something of their ancestor s love and understanding of the scriptures. I began producing volumes many years ago which I was pleased to call Paraphrastic studies. I wrote one of these studies for each of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul. Eventually, however, I began to sense that there was much that I knew about the New Testament that my translations could not communicate. I therefore thought to write a comprehensive commentary on the entire New Testament, beginning with Matthew and concluding with the book of Revelation. As I published each of the nine volumes, I included the paraphrastic studies, where I had them, in conjunction with the commentary for each book in the New Testament. I began this project in 2005 and completed the final volume in The whole effort was a delight to my soul. A year before I retired from the Church Educational System, in 2003, I thought to produce an 1830 formatting of the Book of Mormon using the present text of the 1981 edition. This was a relatively easy task, given the technology available to me. I distributed these to my colleagues at the Orem Institute of Religion, members of my family, and a few other interested parties for the cost of printing and binding them. Sometime in the early spring of 2007, I was impressed to begin a verse by verse commentary on the Book of Mormon, a task that I had not presumed to attempt, inasmuch as there are no translation difficulties that abound in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, there were instances of nineteenth-century word usage and syntactic issues that I thought a commentary might help to clarify. As I began, however, I discovered that there was much more that I could communicate to my children of my understanding of the ancient record of the Nephites, material that I had gleaned as I taught the scriptures during my thirty-five year career with CES. This labor eventually produced five volumes of moderate size. As I published each segment of the commentary, I enclosed the 1830 formatting of each book in the Book of Mormon that I had devise several years before. The last volume also appeared in late By the time that I was fully engaged with writing commentaries on both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, I had become infatuated with the idea that I might be able to expand the commentaries to include the other volumes of scripture as well. Thus, in the winter of 2010 I began writing commentaries on the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Once I finished with the Pearl of Great Price, I began to move ahead with the book of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament. In the late fall of 2014 I finished the last of the commentaries on the Old Testament, for a total of thirty-three printed and bound volumes. With these volumes and the others produced over the past ten years, I have completed commentary on every verse of the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My procedure for writing the Commentary was similar to that used in creating the original paraphrastic studies. The same reference texts were employed. For difficult words in Greek, Hebrew, 3

4 and English I resorted to the works of James Strong and other lexicographers for linguistic insight. I consider the contributions made by conservative Protestant scholarship (as recorded in the New International Version) and conservative Catholic scholarship (as related in the New Jerusalem Bible). I resorted to the considered thought of Adam Clarke, one of the most prominent and prolific commentators on the sacred manuscripts available at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who, I believe, was a man of great faith. I consulted with the Joseph Smith Translation at appropriate times (including in another column an indication that a JST change had been made for any given verse), and frequently to the writings of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, as I contemplated the possible meanings of each word and phrase. From time to time I resorted to Smith s Bible Dictionary and Discovering the World of the Bible by LaMar Berrett for some of the more arcane information that I thought would illuminate the text. I have attempted to maintain a steady course throughout my commentaries, treating each verse as unique, and where appropriate, duplicate notes and the text rather than use cross-references within the volume. Some may find this a waste of paper and ink, but I frankly dislike having to rifle through pages or volumes trying to find the first instance of the note or commentary. The duplications are easily ignored; fumbling through pages cannot be. It is in the best interests of the reader, however, to contemplate the reasons why such duplications exist in the biblical text in the first place. They are purposeful and I have attempted to point out their purpose as I have progressed through each volume. My numbering system for the notes used in the body of the commentary was adapted from historical linguistic texts with which I am familiar and which I had found quite useful. The pattern used is Chapter.verse.word; thus note would contain material referring to the fifth word in the book of Hosea 3:4, for example. I make no comprehensive promises regarding the preciseness of my word count in any particular verse, but it will be close enough to eliminate any distressing confusion. Inasmuch as I began this series with the Gospel of Matthew, there will be times when I will make reference to my own work in that first volume. Sometimes there will be no more than a reference, MT-C ; other times I may quote directly from the original text. In either case my sole motivation will be to facilitate the flow of ideas rather than to multiply words. There are enough words already. References to the Commentaries on other books of the New Testament are abbreviated as follows: Matthew MT-C Mark MK-C Luke LK-C John JN-C Acts AC-C Romans RM-C 1 Corinthians 1 CO-C 2 Corinthians 2 CO-C Galatians GA-C Ephesians EP-C Philippians PP-C Colossians CL-C 1 Thessalonians 1 TH-C 2 Thessalonians 2 TH-C 1 Timothy 1 TM-C 2 Timothy 2 TM-C Titus TT-C Philemon PL-C Hebrews HB-C 1 Peter 1 PE-C 2 Peter 2 PE-C 1 John 1 JN-C 2 John 2 JN-C 3 John 3 JN-C Revelation RV-C 4

5 References to the Commentaries in the books of the Old Testament are as follows: Genesis GE-C Exodus EX-C Leviticus LV-C Numbers NM-C Deuteronomy DT-C Joshua JO-C Judges JD-C Ruth RU-C 1 Samuel 1 SM-C 2 Samuel 2 SM-C 1 Kings 1 KG-C 2 Kings 2 KG-C 1 Chronicles 1 CR-C 2 Chronicles 2 CR-C Ezra ER-C Nehemiah NE-C Esther ES-C Job JB-C Psalms PS-C Proverbs PV-C Ecclesiastes ES-C Song of Solomon SS-C Isaiah IS-C Jeremiah JR-C Lamentations LM-C Ezekiel EZ-C Daniel DA-C Hosiah HS-C Joel JL-C Amos AM-C Obadiah OB-C Jonah JH-C Micah MH-C Nahum NA-C Habakkuk HB-C Zephaniah ZP-C Haggai HG-C Zechariah ZE-C Malachi ML-C I have also made reference to the other standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The references to the Book of Mormon are articulated in bold and italics lettering using the following abbreviations: 1 Nephi 1 NE-C 2 Nephi 2 NE-C Jacob JA-C Enos EN-C Jarom JM-C Omni OM-C Words of Mormon WM-C Mosiah MS-C Alma AL-C Helaman HE-C 3 Nephi 3 NE-C 4 Nephi 4 NE-C Mormon MM-C Ether ET-C Moroni MR-C The abbreviation TPW-C refers to the material found on the Title Page of the Book of Mormon and in the Testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The references to Sections that are in the Doctrine and Covenants are indicated as DC-C followed by the section number and verse (OD1-C and OD2-C are self-explanatory); The Pearl of Great Price references contained herein use the following abbreviations: MO-C, AB-C, SM-C, SH-C, and AF-C. In some cases I have taken on what some would consider controversial material. I make no apologies for so doing. I have found that my children are best served when an issue is approached head on, the differing points of view presented, and the rationale given as to why one school of thought ought to be preferred over another. Sometimes the decisions are logically founded; others the result of doctrinal points that are unique to theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In most cases I have not argued authorities, even though I could have inserted multiple references to the writings of scholars with whom I am familiar. I have chosen to have my sources on any particular issue to remain anonymous in the text of the commentary for several reasons. First and foremost, this work is my commentary, what I believe and hold to be true. In the end, that is what my children wish to know. Secondly, I did not wish to have my children accept or dismiss a particular view merely because of who had been the author of it. Many wonderful insights have been made by scholars both inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wherein I have found one view to be preferable over another has not been a partisan matter, but rather a matter of the mind, heart, and spirit cooperating together in an attempt to understand what must be the truth. Thirdly, I have been quite clear who my authorities have been. It is my fondest 5

6 desire that my children would become as familiar with their writings as I have. Were I to cite all of my sources with extensive quotes from each, there would be no need for them to open any of the books that I have come to love. That, in part, is why I included the third column containing crossreferences to the various doctrinal works in the Commentaries. Exceptions to this practice should be noted as being of extreme importance. In addition to the text of the Standard Works, together with my own commentary, I inserted a column of references for further study. The citations are taken from three major sources: the Conference Reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from April 1980 to November 2002 (abbreviated as CR followed by the year, month and page number); the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (four volumes, abbreviated EM followed by the volume and page number); and A Scripture Index (a compilation of scripture references cited in various texts published by General Authorities of the Church). For those not familiar with the abbreviations used in A Scripture Index. I include them below: TPJS Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith GD Gospel Doctrine MA Mediation and Atonement FWR Far West Record DHC History of the Church (7 vols.) TSWK Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball MF Miracle of Forgiveness FPM Faith Precedes the Miracle MD Mormon Doctrine PM Promised Messiah MM Mortal Messiah (4 vols.) MLM Millennial Messiah DNTC Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vols.) JC Jesus the Christ AF Articles of Faith DS Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) AGQ Answers to Gospel Questions (5 vols.) As with each of the volumes previously published, I include two lists. The first, bound in front of the Commentary, is a listing of all of the words and phrases upon which I have made extensive remarks, a kind of sequential table of contents. I have also arranged this list alphabetically and have placed it at the end of the Commentary as a kind of index. A comprehensive alphabetical index for the entire volume appears as the last section of this book. Needless to say that all of the errors in the material submitted herein to the reader are the product of my own limitations as a scholar; all of the brilliance which may appear here is the product of minds and hearts filled with the fire of the Spirit of God, from whom all truth and beauty ultimately derive. A Note on the Electronic Edition Not only did my children and other family members receive bound copies of commentaries, but there were a number of friends and neighbors who had expressed an interest in them. There were requests from others who desired copies of what I had done, but I was not in a position to provide them with hard copies. Inasmuch as I had all of the volumes in computer files, I thought to compile each of the commentaries in some format that could be read on a smart device. I opted to use the Adobe Acrobat, turning all of the work into PDF files. I have used these on my tablet for many years and have found them useful and far easier to cart about with me. In the early spring of 2015, my neighbor David Dollahite arranged for a meeting with Jack Welch and Marny Parkin regarding the possibility of BYU providing a dedicated web site so that there would be greater public access to my 6

7 work. Thus began the present enterprise of editing and standardizing all that had done during the last ten years. My commentary on the Gospel of Mark is the second of these electronic volumes. Within a year or so I hope to have all of the books available in the same format. PNH Orem, Utah November

8 Sequence of Specifically Noted Words and Phrases in Psalms ungodly sinners scornful ungodly chaff ungodly sinners ungodly rage imagine vain thing Zion Psalm David Absalom Selah Selah Selah chief Musician Neginoth Psalm David leasing Selah Selah chief Musician Nehiloth Psalm David leasing chief Musician Neginoth Sheminith Psalm David Shiggaion David Cush Benjamite Selah pate chief Musician Gittith Psalm David man angels chief Musician Muthlabben Psalm David Zion Zion Higgaion Selah Selah chief Musician Psalm David chief Musician Sheminith Psalm David chief Musician Psalm David chief Musician Psalm David poor his Zion Jacob Israel Psalm David Michtam David saints reins my flesh hell Holy One corruption David equal apple fat chief Musician Psalm David Saul buckler horn sorrows cherub judgments statutes buckler hinds steel strangers strangers David chief Musician Psalm David statutes commandment judgments redeemer chief Musician Psalm David Jacob sanctuary Zion offerings burnt sacrifice Selah chief Musician Psalm David Selah preventest chief Musician Aijeleth Shahar Psalm David Israel Bashan potsherd darling Jacob Israel meek Psalm David Psalm David Jacob Selah Selah Psalm 8

9 David Israel Psalm David Psalm David tabernacle tabernacle Psalm David rock draw their anointed Psalm David Lebanon Lebanon Sirion Kadesh hinds Psalm Song David chief Musician Psalm David saints Psalm David Maschil guile Selah Selah Selah comely harp psaltery Psalm David Abimelech taste saints guile Psalm David shield buckler abjects chief Musician Psalm David Psalm David meek saints but bay Psalm David chief Musician Jeduthun Psalm Selah Selah chief Musician Psalm David burnt offering sin offering chief Musician Psalm David Israel Amen chief Musician Maschil Korah hart Jordan Hermonites Mizar altar chief Musician Korah Maschil Jacob Selah chief Musician Shoshannim Korah Maschil inditing king sword thy God myrrh aloes cassia ivory palaces queen Ophir Tyre chief Musician Korah Song Alamoth Selah Selah Selah chief Musician Psalm Korah Jacob Selah Abraham Song Psalm Korah Zion Tarshish Selah Zion Judah Zion chief Musician Psalm Korah heels Selah Selah Psalm Asaph Zion Selah Israel sacrifices burnt offerings bullock goats statutes conversation chief Musician Psalm David Nathan Bathsheba hyssop sacrifice burnt offering Zion Jerusalem sacrifices burnt offering bullocks altar chief Musician Maschil Psalm David Doeg Edomite Saul Ahimelech Selah 9

10 Selah chief Musician Mahalath Maschil Psalm David Israel Zion Jacob chief Musician Neginoth Maschil Psalm David Ziphims Saul Selah chief Musician Neginoth Maschil Psalm David Selah Selah chief Musician Jonathelemrechokim Michtam David Philistines Gath bottle chief Musician Altaschith Michtam David Saul Selah Selah psaltery harp chief Musician Altaschith Michtam David chief Musician Altaschith Michtam David Saul Israel Selah Jacob Selah chief Musician Shushaneduth Michtam David Aramnaharaim Aramzobah Joab Edom valley of salt twelve thousand Selah Shechem Succoth Gilead Manasseh Ephraim Judah Moab Edom Philistia Edom chief Musician Neginah Psalm David Selah chief Musician Jeduthun Psalm David Selah Selah Psalm David Judah chief Musician Psalm David whet chief Musician Psalm Song David Sion chief Musician Song Psalm Selah Selah house burnt offerings burnt sacrifices rams bullocks goats Selah chief Musician Neginoth Psalm Song Selah Selah chief Musician Psalm Song David JAH Selah Sinai Israel lien Salmon Bashan Sinai Selah Bashan timbrels Israel Benjamin Judah Zebulun Naphtali Jerusalem Egypt Ethiopia Selah Israel Israel chief Musician Shoshannim Psalm David Israel sackcloth ox bullock Zion Judah chief Musician Psalm David psaltery harp Israel Psalm Solomon Tarshish Sheba Seba Sheba corn Lebanon 10

11 Israel Amen David Jesse Psalm Asaph Israel sanctuary Maschil Asaph Zion sanctuary synagogues prophet chief Musician Altaschith Psalm Song Asaph Selah dregs Jacob chief Musician Neginoth Psalm Song Asaph Judah Israel Salem tabernacle Zion Selah Jacob Selah chief Musician Jeduthun Psalm Asaph Selah Selah sanctuary Jacob Joseph Selah Moses Aaron Maschil Asaph Jacob Israel Ephraim Egypt Zoan Jacob Israel manna Israel Egypt Zoan Egypt Ham Israel Israel tabernacle Shiloh tabernacle Joseph Ephraim Judah Zion David Jacob Israel Psalm Asaph temple Jerusalem saints Jerusalem Jacob chief Musician Shoshannimeduth Psalm Asaph Israel Joseph cherubims Ephraim Benjamin Manasseh Egypt sea river chief Musician Gittith Psalm Asaph Jacob Psalm timbrel psaltery statute Israel Jacob Joseph Egypt Meribah Selah Israel Egypt Israel Israel Psalm Asaph Selah Song Psalm Asaph Israel Edom Ishmaelites Moab Hagarenes Gebal Ammon Amalek Philistines Tyre Assur holpen Lot Selah Midianites Sisera Jabin Kison Endor Oreb Zeeb Zebah Zalmunna chief Musician Gittith Psalm Korah tabernacles Selah Baca Zion Jacob Selah chief Musician Psalm Korah Jacob Selah saints Prayer David token holpen Psalm Song Korah

12 Zion Jacob Selah Rahab Babylon Philistia Tyre Ethiopia Zion Selah Psalm Song Korah chief Musician Mahalath Leannoth Maschil Heman Ezrahite Selah Selah prevent Maschil Ethan Ezrahite I I David Selah saints saints Rahab Tabor Hermon Israel David oil hand arm David Selah Selah Selah David Prayer Moses Psalm Song sabbath psaltery harp horn unicorn oil Lebanon provocation temptation fathers tempted proved work forty years generation idols Zion Judah saints Psalm Israel harp Psalm trumpets cornet cherubims Zion Jacob Moses Aaron priests Samuel them Psalm Psalm David froward Prayer pelican owl Zion Zion Zion Jerusalem Psalm David Moses Israel wine Lebanon conies leviathan psalms Abraham Jacob Abraham Isaac Jacob Israel Canaan strangers prophets Joseph Israel Egypt Jacob Ham Moses Aaron Ham Egypt Abraham Egypt Red sea Red sea Moses Aaron saint Dathan Abiram Horeb Egypt Ham Red sea Moses Baalpeor Phinehas Moses Canaan Israel Song Psalm David psaltery harp Shechem Succoth Gilead Manasseh Ephraim Judah Moab Edom Philistia Edom chief Musician Psalm David them them Psalm David LORD Lord LORD rod Zion

13 LORD Melchizedek Lord I in The sought His and He the He he He that He all They and He he holy The a his Blessed that His the Wealth and Unto he A he Surely the He his His until He his his horn The he the Israel Egypt Jacob Judah Israel Jordan Jordan Jacob Israel Aaron Israel Aaron saints Jerusalem Israel Aaron tabernacles altar statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes bottle statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes statutes prevented prevent statutes statutes juniper Mesech Kedar Israel David Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel David Jerusalem David Israel Zion Jerusalem Israel Zion Solomon Zion Jerusalem Israel Zion Israel Israel David Israel David Jacob Jacob Ephratah tabernacles ark priests saints David s David Zion priests saints David David Aaron s Hermon Zion Zion Jacob Israel Egypt Egypt Pharaoh Sihon Amorites Og Bashan Canaan Israel Israel Aaron Levi Zion Jerusalem Egypt Israel Red sea Israel Pharaoh Red sea Sihon Amorites Og Bashan Israel Babylon Zion Zion Jerusalem Jerusalem Edom Jerusalem

14 Babylon Psalm David gods chief Musician Psalm David chief Musician Psalm David Selah gins Selah Selah Psalm David gins Maschil David cave Psalm David Selah Psalm David man strange psaltery David strange David s Psalm saints Jacob strangers Zion Jerusalem Israel harp Jerusalem Zion Jacob statutes Israel horn saints Israel saints Israel Zion timbrel harp saints saints psaltery harp timbrel dance organs

15 A Commentary on the Scriptures by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. The First Book of Psalms: The book of Psalms is considered part of a larger section of the Old Testament usually referred to as the Wisdom Books that includes Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The books of Wisdom and Sirach from the Apocrypha are also grouped with the first five in other versions of the Bible. 0.1 There are as many opinions about the nature, organization, and authorship of the book of Psalms as there are commentators. Much of that which has been written is no more than unfounded speculation. Our knowledge surrounding the compilation of the book is fragmentary at best, and we know even less regarding the motives that led the compiler to do as he did. At some point, however, some sort of method must be selected in order to make a consistent presentation of the sentiment, theology, and spirit of prophecy that the book of Psalms represents. That which follows in these introductory remarks seems to me to be the most felicitous, that which contributes a faithful reading of Psalms without the polemics of academia clouding the matter. Ps. AF 243 JC 73 PM 307 EM 2:765, 766 EM 3:1166, 1172 EM 4: For the most part, Psalm is poetry, and because of that literary form, the text is subject to intense and varied interpretation. The semantic complexity of the Hebrew lexicon lends itself to this poetic approach to prayer and devotional music. Translation is extremely difficult as a result, and most versions in English do not and indeed cannot present the full weight and measure of the original as it would have affected the reader whose native language was ancient Hebrew. My own attempts to elucidate the text appear in my Paraphrastic Studies of the 150 pieces found in the book of Psalms. These are bound separately in another volume of this series of commentaries. These broad translations amount to almost 320 pages of text. Needless to say, the present work differs significantly from the Paraphrastic Studies, even though the interpretive spirit of the two are similar. 0.3 I have chosen to follow the ancient Hebrew division of the Psalms into five books. Book I includes Psalms 1 to 41; Book II addresses Psalms 42 through 72; Book III contains Psalms 73 to 89, inclusive; Book IV embraces Psalms 90 through 106; and the final book, Book V contains Psalms 107 through 150. Scholars vary in their explanations as to why these particular groupings were made. For many academes, Book I contains those Psalms that were addressed to Jehovah, while the Psalms of Book II are directed to Elohim. No one seems to be prepared to explain the distinction, whether speaking theologically or stylistically. The contents of these first two Books are generally considered to have been composed quite early in comparison to the other three Books, even though there are views to the contrary. There seems to be a consensus among the scholars that the divisions were made in similitude of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. While this is certainly a winsome theory, there is little evidence offered to show how each Book correlates with is Mosaic counterpart. 0.4 As to the author of the Psalms, there is considerable diversity among the learned. Clearly many of the hymns are attributable to King David, the son of 15

16 Jesse. Seventy-three are ascribed directly to him by the subscriptions. Some Psalms are attributed to Asaph (12), the sons of Korah (11), Heman (1), Ethan (1), Moses (1), and Solomon (1), although scholars are mixed in their assertions as to whether these indicate the authors or the persons to whom the Psalms were dedicated. There are no less than fifty of the Psalms which bear no proper name at all. While these facts are associated with the King James version of the Bible, the Septuagint and the Syriac versions of the Psalms vary considerably in the ascriptions. Little is lost in simply referring to the book as the Psalms of David, remembering that there is the possibility that hymns devised by other inspired men may have been included as well. 0.5 The subscriptions of the Psalms often refer to what scholars now call classifications of Hebrew poetry. Hence, terms like mizmor (45), shiggaion (1), miktam (6), shir (28), maskil (3), tephillah (4). tehillah (1), and lehazkir (1), frequently appear in the subscriptions. Needless to say, there has been extensive discussion regarding the precise meaning and applicability of each. The Psalms are often more simply catalogued into three main sorts: hymns, entreaties, and prayers of thanksgiving. Some Psalms are considered to be royal and others messianic. Although all of the Psalms could be used in public worship, the book of Psalms after all is a hymn book, yet it seems clear that many of them were more likely to be used during private devotions. Many of the subscriptions also refer to the kind of voices, musical instruments, and other directions that should be followed when particular Psalms were sung. Hence, terms like neginah, neginoth, nehiloth, alamoth, and sheminith. The Hebrew term that is generally translated as psalm derives from roots that can refer to a viol, lute, or a large harp. 0.6 However the Psalms may have been understood in the days when they were first presented to the children of Israel, it is clear that for the Christians who lived in the Meridian of Time, the hymns frequently were cited as being instructive for the believers who worshipped together in the Church of Jesus Christ. No less than 93 separate passages have been cited from Psalms in the text of the New Testament, and some of these were quoted multiple times by various authors. 0.7 Hebrew poetry generally does not lend itself to phonetic rhyming. The structure of a Psalm, the rhyme as it were, is established by the semantic values of phrases. That is to say, the Hebrew poets rhymed ideas rather than sounds. Hence, there is considerable repetition of ideas. Interestingly enough, however, the words chosen for any particular phrase were consistently polysemous, creating a texture of thought that deepened as the various meanings of any given word were contemplated by the reader. Thus, a simple reading of a Hebrew poem was virtually impossible. From time to time, the poets imposed additional constraints upon their works. Alphabetic poems occur throughout the Psalms and these are extraordinarily difficult to compose; translation to good effect in the same style is almost impossible. 1.0 This Psalm is sometimes viewed as a preface to the whole of the book of Psalms, although only its position seems to justify the notion. 1.1 To be in the world and yet not of it, that is the duty of the man of faith. Putting off the natural man includes the essence of the observation being made here. We should probably sense the same spirit of blessedness as that which is Chapter 1 1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Ps. 1 DHC 2:405 Ps. 1:1 2 MD

17 intended in the Beatitudes (see MT-C ) ungodly The Hebrew word which is here translated as ungodly derives from roots that mean morally wrong, bad, guilty sinners The Hebrew word which is here translated as sinners derives from roots that mean criminal, offender, forfeit, lack, lead astray, condemn scornful The Hebrew word which is here translated as scornful derives from roots that mean make mouths at, scoff, have in derision, intercede, interpret. 1.2 The sons and daughters of God are, at their core, beings of light and truth. For this reason it is impossible for a man to find happiness in wickedness. He may find some satisfaction in his disobedience, but there is no joy in connection with disobedience. The words of the Lord God are infused with light and truth, and thus nourish the soul of anyone who devotes his heart and minds to a study of them. The disciple understands that the revelations contain the mind and will of God, and thus something of His personality and character, perfections that we have been commanded to emulate. 1.3 Note that the tree has been purposefully placed where it can best be nourished. The man of God perceives the blessings of the Lord in every aspect of his life. Where others may perceive afflictions and disappointments, a man fully nurtured by the Holy Ghost sees the hand of God working in his own life and in the lives of those around him. A faithful man, one who has been edified by his study of the scriptures, is a blessing to those around him. Just as the fruit from the tree by the river strengths those who partaken of it, so also does a righteous man nourish and bless all those with whom he comes in contact. 1.4 A man without God has diminished in spiritual stature. In the premortal existence, all who were sided with the Father and the Son against Lucifer were given the opportunity to receive a physical body through birth. Alas, many of these have forgotten their eternal heritage and find themselves dwindling in their spiritual sensitivity. They become desiccated through sin and transgression, hardly more than shadows of their former glorious selves ungodly The Hebrew word which is here translated as ungodly derives from roots that mean morally wrong, bad, guilty chaff The dry detritus that remains after a harvest has been winnowed. Wheat can represent either the saints of God who ultimately separated from the wicked at the last days, or it may very well represent the wholesome aspects of a man s character which are preserved as he is purified from all sin. As in the wheat, so also for the chaff. Either this represents the wicked who will cast away into a justifiable punishment, or it represents those aspects of a man s character that are unworthy of a child of God. Most likely we are to understand the allusion in both senses. 1.5 Who can ascend to the mountain of God and stand before Him without spot and shame? Certainly not the wicked who fear justice. The saints will be gathered together through the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The sinners will not seek the company of the saints, until they are determined to rid themselves of the natural man ungodly The Hebrew word which is here translated as ungodly derives from roots that mean morally wrong, bad, guilty sinners The Hebrew word which is here translated as sinners derives from roots that mean criminal, offender, forfeit, lack, lead astray, 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Ps. 1:3 EM 4:1487 Ps. 1:5 TPJS 17 DHC 1:315 17

18 condemn. 1.6 The straight and narrow path of righteousness leads from the world of fallen men to eternal life and salvation. All other roads lead to darkness and death ungodly The Hebrew word which is here translated as ungodly derives from roots that mean morally wrong, bad, guilty. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Chapter Occasionally, scholars will include this second Psalm as part of the preface of the book of Psalms begun in the first chapter. We can perceive no warrant for this assertion. Attempts to place this particular Psalm chronologically in the life of David have not been compelling, although most consider it to be a coronation hymn for the installation of the kings of Israel. Portions of this Psalm are quoted in the New Testament in reference to the royal appointment of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. 2.1 The following verses can be immediately applied to king David in his day as the sovereign of the Kingdom of Israel. In this he serves as an archetype of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who will one day reign upon this earth in glory. The Apostles Peter and John cited this and the following verse in reporting their confrontation with the chief priests and elders of Israel to the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. It took the form of a prayer offered in that meeting of the congregation (see AC-C ). This verse is quoted as follows: 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Ps. 2 DHC 2:405 AF 81 MD 39, 490 JC 46 EM 1:83 EM 3:1172 Ps. 2:1 JC 345 CR 01-O 112 Ps. 2:1 2 DNTC 2:56 Ps. 2: 1 12 MA 13 Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (Acts 4:25) In their prayer, the disciples will identify the heathen as King Herod Agrippa and Pontius Pilate. Herod, no doubt was considered such because he was more an Idumean rather than a Jew, an appointee of the Roman government. He had Jesus brought before him and, after a period of mockery, sent him back to Pilate. The machinations of the leadership of the Jews included putting Jesus out of the way so that he might be silenced forever. In this they would be frustrated in both the long and the short term rage The Greek word which is translated in Acts as rage derives from roots which mean snort, make a tumult; grate the teeth, gnash. The Hebrew word here which is translated as rage is from a primitive root which means tumultuous imagine The Greek word which is translated in Acts as imagine derives from roots which mean take care of, revolve in the mind, be of interest, concern, importance. The Hebrew word that is used here derives from roots which mean murmur (in pleasure or anger), ponder vain thing The Greek word which is translated in Acts as vain things derives from roots which mean empty The Hebrew word used here derives from roots which mean worthless, empty. All of the cogitations of the leadership of the Jews were to no avail, being illadvised from the beginning. 2.2 This verse is also cited by Peter and John in their prayer before the saints. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. (Acts 4:26) 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Ps. 2:2 PM 182 CR 89-A 87 18

19 Within the magnificent prayer offered by the Apostles were several essential truths encapsulated. First, that Jesus of Nazareth, he who was born of Mary in the city of Bethlehem, was literally the only begotten Son of God the Eternal Father in the flesh. Second, that this same Jesus had been foreordained in the councils of Heaven before the earth was framed, as the Messiah, the Anointed One, who would bring about the redemption of all creation. Thirdly, neither the Jews nor the Gentiles were sensitive enough to realize with whom they were dealing, and even when only a hint of illumination began to dawn upon them, they immediately rebelled and rejected any spiritual prompting contrary to their preconceived notions. As some of the most unlikely bedfellows that might be imagined, the corrupt political and ecclesiastical luminaries of the day, together with a multitude of suborned members of the covenant people, the Lord Jesus Christ was condemned and crucified contrary to all known and accepted law. 2.3 The Romans and the Jews would do all within their power to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ in its infant state. In some instances they would attempt to compromise the faith of the saints with intense persecution, simply because they declared themselves disciples of the Savior of mankind. As the afflictions intensified, the leadership among the Jews did much to distance themselves from the Christians, even to the point of disavowing formerly held volumes of prophetic utterance that sustained the claims of the disciples. 2.4 For all of their oppressions, the Christian Church survived for a time. Although it did disappear after a while, according to the prophecies of the Apostles and prophets, yet it has in these last days come forth out of the wilderness and is spreading forth into every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The efforts of the Lord s antagonists have been and will continue to be a vain exercise. 2.5 All of the factions that opposed the primitive Church of Christ have suffered distress and destruction in the process of time. When the Lord God of Heaven weighs the wicked in His balance, the truth is revealed and the punishment affixed. Needless to say, those on the receiving end of this process do not fare well. 2.6 Needless to say, all of the forgoing could be equally applied to David, the son of Jesse, who received the Kingdom of Israel when Saul apostatized from the path of righteousness. David, in this manner, serves as an archetype for the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, with the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of kings and the Lord of lords Zion In the days of king David, mount Zion was the prominence upon which the city of Jerusalem was built. The term has greater application in the whole history of the earth. The establishment of Zion has been the desire of every prophet since the days of Adam and Eve. Enoch, Melchizedek, and a few others have been notably successful in bringing their people into such a state of grace. One of the missions of this present dispensation is to prepare a people to receive the Lord Jesus Christ at his glorious advent in the flesh to reign upon the earth unopposed by devil or man for a thousand years. Zion will be unified in heart and mind, keeping the commandments of God and elimination poverty of all kinds from their midst. 2.7 From David s point of view this was perfectly true. Through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful are redeemed from death and hell. 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou Ps. 2:4 MD 432 Ps. 2:7 DNTC 2:127 19

20 They are called after his name and are born again as sons and daughters of the Lord God of Israel. David was a disciple of Jesus Christ and looked forward to his mortal ministry as the Son of God in the Meridian of Time. In the larger venue of time and eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ is who is meant here. That he is the Son of God, the Messiah sent into the world to bring about the redemption of mankind is clearly the message of the New Testament, and the Apostle Paul used this verse in Psalm 2 to prove his point first to the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia (see AC-C ) and then in his epistle to the Hebrews (see HB-C 1.1 6). The Lord Jesus Christ is to be Lord of lords and King of kings. None of the angels of Heaven, no matter how bright and glorious, have attained this prominence in the Kingdom of God; only the Son whom the Father brought into the world of men through physical birth in the town of Bethlehem. 2.8 While one might make an argument for the scattering of Israel and the fact that the covenantal people may be found in every part of the world today, yet it seems clear that the reference here is particularly directed at the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior has taken it in hand to help bring about the immortality and eternal life of mankind, regardless of the faithfulness of the ancestors of the children of men. The posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have received the promise that they will all be given the opportunity to accept the fullness of the Gospel no matter where or when they might live, whether in mortal life or in the world of spirits. The whole of humanity, however, will be presented with the truth as well, the principles of happiness being taken unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. At the second coming of Christ, the peoples of the earth who are found honorable will dwell upon the earth with their King. For a thousand years this kingdom will persist, more than thirty generations of faithful saints prepared for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God. After the Millennial reign, the earth will pass through something like unto death and resurrection and will be glorified. This exalted sphere will serve as the eternal home of the righteous sons and daughters of God. 2.9 We may understand this as the effect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring about a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This is not tyranny, but tender mercies. The Apostle John apparently made reference to this verse while writing to the saints who pertained to the seven churches of Asia. [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter s vessel. DNTC 3:141 JC 46 PM 143, 469 MM 1:4 EM 3:1172 Ps. 2:8 JC 345 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:26 27) Those who attain eternal life, who are kings and priests unto the most high God, will have dominions committed to their charge. The only effective power in all of eternity derives from righteousness. Thus, any erstwhile king must rule according to the mind and will of God or he cannot rule at all. The hearts and minds of the children of men can only be shaped through the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost will only dwell in the presence of a desire for righteousness Inasmuch as the King of kings and the Lord of lords will one day rule and judge all of the children of men, those who are in positions of power and authority must look to the example of the Messiah. They must rule with the spirit of Christ; they must judge according to the will of God 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 20