ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH PSALM

Bishop Nicholson supposes that David was the author of this Psalm; and that he composed it on his inauguration or entrance upon the kingdom; and by it he gives us an example of a good king.

There are three chief parts in this Psalm: - I. A doxology, ver. 1; repeated, ver. 9.

II. His profession how to perform the regal office, ver. 2, 3, 10.

III. His rebuke of foolish men for mistakes occasioned: - 1. Partly by their pride when they rise to great places, ver. 4, 5.

2. That they do not consider whence their preferment comes, ver. 6, 7.

3. That they judge not rightly of afflictions, ver. 8.

I. The doxology or thanksgiving.

1. He doubles it to show that it should be frequently done: "Unto thee do we give thanks; unto thee," &c.

2. His reason for it: "For that thy name is near," - thy help is always at hand. "The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him." 3. Of which he had experience in his exaltation to the kingdom, which he calls God's "wondrous works." II. How the office of a good king is to be discharged.

1. I will judge uprightly.

2. To rectify disorders. They had need of a just and upright king. 1. The land and its inhabitants were disorganized. 2. He was the only stay and support of the state: "I bear up the pillars." III. His rebuke of bad men.

1. They were fools, and dealt unjustly.

2. Wicked, and vaunted their wealth and power.

3. They used their power to oppress.

4. They were obstinate in their oppression of the poor. He refers to their false judgments.

1. They supposed that their authority and influence came by their own merit; and for them they were accountable to none.

2. They did not consider that God was the author of power, &c.

3. Their third mistake was, they imputed afflictions to a wrong cause, and did not consider that they came from God.

To show this, the Psalmist uses an elegant comparison, comparing God to the master of a feast, who invites and entertains all kinds of men at his table; who has a cup of mixed wine in his hand, by which he represents the miseries of this life. To all God reaches this cup; and every one drinks of it, some more, some less.

1. "In the hand of the Lord there is a cup." He apportions the afflictions of men.

2. "The wine is red." The high-coloured feculent wine, i.e., afflictions.

3. "It is full of mixture," not all sour, nor sweet, nor bitter. The strength of it is tempered by God to the circumstances of his creatures.

4. "He poureth out of the same." He gives to all, some even to his own children ALL must drink of this cup.

5. But the lees or dregs of it "all the wicked of the earth shall wring out." Those who are incorrigible have afflictions without benefit; they wring the dregs out. On them God's judgments fall without mitigation.

He concludes the Psalm with: - 1. A repetition of his thanks: "I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob." 2. A protestation of his duty: 1. "I will cut off the horns of the wicked." 2. "I will exalt the horns of the righteous." Those who exalt themselves shall be abased: those who humble themselves shall be exalted.

Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento, (Hae tibi erunt artes) pacisque imponere morem; Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos. VIRG. AEn. lib. vi., ver. 851.

"But, Rome, 'tis thine alone, with awful sway To rule mankind, and make the world obey, Disposing peace and war thy own majestic way: To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free: These are imperial arts, and worthy thee." DRYDEN.