Anxious purpose delayed may prove afflictive.
"Remember for David [i.e. so as to fulfill the promise made to him] all his trouble" (see 2 Samuel 6:8-15; 1 Chronicles 22:1-19.). This psalm may belong to the period of Solomon, but it is better to read it in the light of the memories and feelings and hopes of the restored exiles. It is a plea for the fulfillment of the promises made to David in the experiences of the restored nation; and it is a poetical way of saying that the anxieties of the exiles for the honor of Jehovah and Jehovah's worship were only fitly represented by the anxiety of David in the olden time. The key-note of the psalm is given in the first sentence, "Lord, remember David." "Fulfill in us thy promises to him; for we are like-minded towards thee and thy service." The point immediately before us is, that affliction is a comprehensive term, and may include providential hindrances. It should be borne in mind that, as David purposed to build a temple for God, and could not accomplish his purpose, so the restored exiles purposed to rebuild the temple, and could not accomplish their purpose because of the opposition of the Samaritans. The psalm represents the fretting of the pious part of the nation at this enforced delay.
I. DIVINE HINDRANCES, CAUSING DELAY, MAY BE NECESSARY. It is true that God deals with the individual, and has personal interest in each individual; but he is the Father of a family, and must keep supremely in view the interest of the whole. The wish of one is always considered, but delay may be necessary in order to get things worked round so that the wish may be met without injury to others. Man's purposes are formed without full knowledge, so they often must be qualified.
II. DIVINE HINDRANCES, CAUSING DELAY, MAY BE AFFLICTIVE. That depends greatly on the disposition of those who form the purposes. A king, like David, who was constantly getting his own way, would find it especially hard to be hindered. The exiles, who were full of enthusiasm for God's house, must have found it very hard to have their work arrested. All the harder because their purpose was such a manifestly good one. It may be urged that no severer strain ever comes into a good man's life than enforced delay in accomplishing his pious purposes. In agony a man may say, "God will not let me do the good I would."
III. DIVINE HINDRANCES, CAUSING DELAY, MAY BE EDUCATIVE. They may educate humility, by convincing us that we are not absolutely necessary; and submission, by compelling our wills to wait on God's will; and hope, by assuring us that God being in the delay will surely be in the issue to which it leads.—R.T.