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ps18.45
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1993-04-19
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EXPOSITION.
"_The strangers shall fade away_." Like sear leaves or
blasted trees our foes and Christ's foes shall find no sap and
stamina remaining in them. Those who are strangers to Jesus are
strangers to all lasting happiness; those must soon fade who
refuse to be watered from the river of life. "_And be afraid out
of their close places_." Out of their mountain fastnesses the
heathen crept in fear to own allegiance to Israel's king, and
even so, from the castles of self-confidence and the dens of
carnal security, poor sinners come bending before the Saviour,
Christ the Lord. Our sins which have entrenched themselves in our
flesh and blood as in impregnable forts, shall yet be driven
forth by the sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit, and we shall
serve the Lord in singleness of heart.
Thus with remembrances of conquests in the past, and with
glad anticipations of victories yet to come the sweet singer
closes the description, and returns to exercise of more direct
adoration of his gracious God.
EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.
Verse 45.--The first clause is comparatively easy. "_The
strangers shall fade away_"--"shall gradually wither and
disappear;" but the second clause is very difficult," _They shall
be afraid out of their close places_." One Jewish scholar
interprets it, "They shall fear for the prisons in which I will
throw them and keep them confined." [Jarchi.] Another, "They
shall tremble in their castles to which they have betaken
themselves for fear of me." Another, [Abenezra] "They shall
surrender themselves from their fortresses." The general meaning
is plain enough. The class referred to are represented as reduced
to a state of complete helpless subjugation. As to the event
referred to, if we keep to the rendering of our translators the
meaning may be, "The Pagans, retired now generally to villages
and remote places, shall gradually dwindle away, and fearfully
anticipate the complete extinction of their religion." This
exactly accords with history. If with some interpreters we read,
"The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid because of their
prisons," then the meaning may be, "that they who only feigned
submission, when persecution for the word should arise should
openly apostatise." This, too, would be found consonant with
fact. The first of these interpretations seems the more
probable.--^John Brown.