5 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God.

6 He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. "I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. When

my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple" Jonah 2: 2, 7.

God's majesty shown in the answer to the prayer. vv. 7–15.
Then the earth shook and trembled. At Christ's Death,
7.
The earth did quake, and the rocks rent" S. Mat. 27:51.
At His Resurrection,-"There was a great earthquake" S.
Mat. 28:2. Comp. Ex. 19:16, 18; Hab. 3:10; Zech. 14:4;
S. Mat. 24:7; Rev. 6:12; 16:18.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. Verse 12. Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire" Is. 30:27. "Our God is a consuming fire" Heb. 12:29.

"Oh that thou

9 Verse 11. See Ex. 20:21; Deut. 4:11. wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down" Is. 64:1.

10 And he rode upon a cherub.

II His pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. Verse 9.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed. Verse 8. See Ex. 9:23.

"God thundereth mar"The LORD shall cause

13 The Highest gave his voice. vellously with his voice" Job 37:5. his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones" Is. 30:30.

14 He shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen. "The LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided Ex. 14:21. See Ex. 15:8. "The overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high" Hab. 3:10.

6 Temple, i. e. heaven. See Pss. 11:4; 29:8. There may also be a reference to the Holy of Holies, for at the second cry of our Lord "The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" S. Mat. 27:51. 7 "This verse begins a long prophecy of the foundation of the New Dispensation, the key to which is given by the words of Haggai. Hag. 2:6, 7. See also Heb. 12:26-29."-J. H. Blunt. 2 Sam. 22:8 reads, "The foundations of heaven moved and shook. 8 Coals, i. e. the lightnings. 9 Dark under his feet, i. e. from thick clouds. o Came flying; in 2 Sam. 22:11,-"was 12 "Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled" 2 Sam. 22:13. 13 Last clause not in 2 Sam. 22:14. 15 "The channels of the sea appeared" 2 Sam. 22: 16. Displeasure, K. J. nostrils.

seen."

69:1,2,15

thy chiding, O LORD: at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.

16 He shall send down from 16 on high to fetch me: and shall take me out of many waters.

144:7

54:7

37:17,24

4:1 31:9

17 He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me: for they are too mighty for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my trouble: but the LORD was my upholder.

19 He brought me forth also 118:5 into a place of liberty: he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.

58:11
7:8

119:2

1:2 37:32

20 The LORD shall reward me after my righteous dealing: according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me.

21 Because I have kept the ways of the LORD: and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth.

22 For I have an eye unto all 119:30, his laws and will not cast out his commandments from me.

101, 102

7:11

37:38

101:5

:

23 I was also uncorrupt before him and eschewed mine own wickedness.

:

24 Therefore shall the LORD reward me after my righteous dealing and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the holy thou shalt be holy and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.

:

26 With the clean thou shalt

16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

7-16" Then the broad earth roll'd and reel'd,

17

And the trembling mountains peal'd,
Swell'd from far His fury's smoke;
Forth the vengeful flashes broke,
Kindling coals of wasting wrath
All along His downward path;
While the low'ring heav'ns He bow'd,
Trampling in the thick dark cloud.

On the cherub's wings He pass'd,
On the pinions of the blast:
Darkness deep around Him went:
Clouds and waters were His tent:
Rush'd the storm before His light,
Hail, and coals of fiery flight:
Broke from heav'n His thund'ring ire
Hail, and coals whose flight was fire.

From His shafts the guilty fled,
From His lightnings hid their head:
Bare the waves deep channels lay;
Earth's foundations rose to day,
At Thy breath Almighty Lord,
At Thy wrath's rebuking word:
Then, 'mid many waters' roar,
He, from heav'n, my head upbore."

Bp. Geo. Burgess.

The righteous sufferer delivered. vv. 16-24.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house " S. Mar. 3:27.

18 See 2 Sam. 8:1-14; 19:9, 14.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth Is. 42:1.

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. Verse 24. Pss. 15, 24. See 1 Sam. 26:23. 21 And have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me acording to my righteousness. Verse 20.

Direct ascription to God. VV. 25-29,

26 Lit. With the pure thou showest thyself pure; and with the perverse thou showest thyself froward.

17 See title.

If ye

18 "Prevented"; used in the sense of getting before with hostile intent. 21 "As the wicked doeth ; these words are not in the Heb. 22 And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them" 2 Sam. 22:23. 23 Eschewed, i. e. shunned. 25 Holy, lit. gracious, or merciful. Shalt be, lit. showest thyself.

101:7

112:4

be clean and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness.

27 For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity: and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.

28 Thou also shalt light my 132:18 candle: the LORD my God shall make my darkness to be light.

13:3

27:3

12:6 19:8

119:140

29 For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men: and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.

30 The way of God is an un35:1-3 defiled way: the word of the LORD also is tried in the fire: he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.

91:2

69:30

31 For who is God, but the LORD or who hath any strength, except our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength of war: and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like 91:14 harts' feet and setteth me up on 107:41 high.

144:1

34 He teacheth mine hands to

:

fight and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel.

20:5,6 35 Thou hast given me the 89:22 defence of thy salvation: thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving correction shall make me great.

17:5

66:8

shalt 36 Thou

make room

37:32 enough under me for to go: that
my footsteps shall not slide.
37 I will follow upon mine

44:8

will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; then will I also walk contrary unto you Lev. 26: 23, 24.

27 Lit. For thou savest the afflicted people, and bringest down high looks. "He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden." "He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts" S. Lu. 1: 48, 51.

28 Lit. For thou dost light my candle; the LORD my God enlighteneth my darkness. "In the days when God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness" Job 29:2,3. "Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" I S. Pet. 2:9. See Mic. 7:8; Prov. 13:9.

29 Lit. For by thee I can rush against a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" S. Jo. 16:33. "Who hath broken down the middle wall of partition" Eph. 2:14. See 1 Sam. 30: 8, 15, 17; 2 Sam. 5:7.

The glory of the complete

victory is declared to belong to God. vv. 30-42.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him" Prov. 30:5. "He is

31 Who is a rock save our God? Verses 1, 47. the Rock, his work is perfect" Deut. 32:4. See Deut. 32: 31, 39. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God" I Sam. 2:2.

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Verse 39. "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me "Is. 45:5

33 And setteth me upon my high places. So it is said."As light of foot as a wild roe" 2 Sam. 2:18. "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places" Hab. 3:19.

34 Lit. So that mine arms can bend a bow of brass.

(Direct address to God. vv. 35-40).

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Lit. Thou hast made room for my steps under me, and my ankles have not slipped. Cont. Pss. 35:6; 73:17. "When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened" Prov. 4:12. 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

27 2 Sam. 22:28 reads literally, "Thou lowerest thine eyes on the lofty"; ("making them feel the immeasurable distance they lie beneath thee."-Dr. Kay, 28 "Thou art my lamp, O LORD " 2 Sam. 22:29. The lighted lamp is an image of prosperity; see I Kin. 11:36; 15:4; 2 Kin. 8:19. The lamp whose light is quenched,-of adversity; see 2 Sam. 21:17; Job 18:6; 21:17; Rev. 2:5; 18:23. 30 Comp. Song of Moses, Deut. 32. Buckler, see v. 1. "God is my strength and power" 2 Sam. 22:33. 35 "Thy right hand also shall hold me up; 99 not in 2 Sam. 22:36.

32