Notes
Book I
1. The word man is generic and includes both men and women.
2. The Hebrew word letz means “to mock, to scorn.” In modern Hebrew, letzen means “a clown.”
3. Verse 1 can be translated “has not walked … has not stood … has not sat.” The only person who ever lived that way on earth was Jesus Christ, and in Him, we have the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).
4. See Gen. 18:19; Ex. 33:12; 2 Sam. 7:20; and 2 Tim. 2:19 for other examples of this meaning of the word know.
5. The word for “Son” is bar, which is Aramaic, and not the familiar ben, which is Hebrew. But the Spirit is speaking to Gentile nations outside the nation of Israel.
6. The “communal laments” are 36; 44; 60; 74; 79—80; 83; 90; 112; 137.
7. In the Psalms, the Lord is also called “God of my salvation” (27:9), “God of my strength” (43:2), “God of my mercy” (59:17), “God of my praise” (109:1) and “God of my life” (42:8).
8. For other “intrigue” psalms, see 17; 25; 27—28; 31; 35; 41; 52; 54—57, 59; 63—64; 71; 86; 109; 140—141. These involved the plots of either King Saul or Absalom.
9. C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (Fort Washington, PA: Harvest, 1964), 30.
10. Dorothy Sayers, Christian Letters to a Post-Christian World (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1969), 14.
11. Since they deal with similar themes, Ps. 9 and 10 have parallel statements. See 9:10/10:1, 18; 9:20–21/10:12, 18; 9:13/10:4, 12–13; 9:19/10:11; 9:6/10:16.
12. See Double-Speak by William Lutz (1989) and The New Double-Speak (1996), both published by HarperCollins.
13. Eugene Peterson, Earth and Altar (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1985), 111.
14. For a comparison of Matt. 5—7 and Ps. 15, see appendix 70 of The Companion Bible, by E. W. Bullinger (London: Lamp Press, 1950).
15. Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead, comp. Lucien Price (New York: New American Library, 1964), 223–24.
16. Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason (Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University, 1998), 2.
17. C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1958), 63.
18. Edward O. Wilson, The Future of Life (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003), chapter 1.
19. Some interpret the picture as the bridegroom leaving the marriage pavilion after consummating the marriage, rejoicing that now “two had become one.” Either way, David saw the sunrise as a time of joy as he faced the day and also as a time of determination to reach the goals set for the day.
20. This may explain why Ps. 19 is appointed in the church lectionary to be read on Christmas Day.
21. M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), 15.
22. For other important “one thing” statements in Scripture, see Josh. 23:14; Eccl. 3:19; Mark 10:21; Luke 10:42; 18:22; John 9:25; Phil. 3:13.
23. David said “I have sinned” more than once (2 Sam. 12:13; 24:10, 17; 1 Chron. 21:8, 17; Ps. 41:4; and 51:4). For others who also said “I have sinned,” some of them insincerely, see Ex. 9:27; 10:16; Num. 22:34; Josh. 7:20; 1 Sam. 15:24, 30; 26:21; Matt. 27:4; Luke 15:18, 21.
24. C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1950), 81.
25. Elisabeth Elliot, ed., The Journals of Jim Elliot (Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 1978), 174.
Book II
1. Expositor’s Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1909), vol. 3, p. 170.
Book III
1. A. W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1955), 38.
