Bible Commentaries

The marginal reading, "Only good is God to Israel," indicates the real value of the song. Israel has no other good, and needs no other. Yet it is not always easy to realize this, and the psalmist tells how he nearly stumbled in view of the prosperity of the wicked, and how he was restored. The first half describes the perplexing vision of the prosperity of the wicked. The whole psalm was written in the light of the conviction expressed in the last half, but it describes first the things which startled and perplexed the soul. The wicked prosper in life, and death itself seems to have no terror for them. They are satisfied, and more than satisfied, and because of these things men deny the knowledge of God, and turn their feet into the way of wickedness, affirming the uselessness of right-doing to procure benefits.

The psalmist now tells the story of how he was delivered. He attempted to unravel the mystery and find out why men succeeded and were satisfied without God. It was too painful, that is, too difficult, for him. He could not solve the riddle. At least he found the true viewpoint. He went into the sanctuary of God. Then everything changed. He ceased to look at the present only. He saw the end of the wicked. A more spacious outlook, taking in the whole issue of things, corrected all the false seeming of the near vision. Yet the sanctuary was also the place where the nearest things were seen most accurately, seen, that is, in relation to the large things. Again he remembered and recognized his own wrong in misjudging God, but was able to affirm God's presence and care; and out of the consciousness the song of praise was born. To see the issue of the near is to understand the real meaning of the near, and this is ever to bring to the heart of the trusting a thanksgiving and a song.