We  have  thus  an  introductory  and  a  concluding  verse,  and
two  main  divisions.  All  the  significant  numbers  of  the  Old
Testament  we  here  find  brought  into  nse.  The  whole  Psalm
has  twelve  verses :  the  main  body  is  complete  in  ten  ;  the  first
division  of  this  main  body,  containing  the  description  of  the
fulfilment  of  the  duties  of  the  covenant  (comp.  Ps.  xxv.  10,  such
as  keep  His  covenant),  in  seven,  the  number  of  the  covenant ;
and  the  second  division,  containing  the  prayer  for  the  blessing
of  the  covenant,  in  three,  which  is  the  number  of  the  Mosaic
blessing.
The  situation  of  the  Psalmist,  and  the  occasion'  of  the
Psalm,  have  been  almost  without  exception  misunderstood  by
recent  expositors.  Thus  De  Wette  remarks  :  "  The  prayer  in
ver.  9  has  no  special  reference,  but  means,  that  when  God
sits  in  judgment  and  inflicts  punishments,  He  will  exempt  the
Psalmist  from  these;"  and  Ewald  concludes  from  the  same
verse,  "  that  the  Psalm  was  composed  on  the  occasion  of  a
pestilence."  The  situation  is  not  that  of  one  who  fears  misery ;
it  is  that  of  one  ^y\\o  finds  himself  already  in  misery:  the  prayer
is  not  one  for  preservation  from  misery,  but  for  deliverance  out
of  misery,  and  for  defence  against  utter  destruction,  against
that  annihilating  punishment  which  belongs  only  to  the  icicked;
while  of  the  righteous  it  is  said,  "  God  afflicteth  me  sore,  but  He
does  not  giA-e  me  over  to  destruction."  There  is  not  a  word
throughout  the  whole  Psalm  of  general  judgments  or  pestilences.
