_AND DAVID SPAKE UNTO THE LORD THE WORDS OF THIS SONG IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAD DELIVERED HIM OUT OF THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES, AND OUT OF THE HAND OF SAUL:_ David spake unto the Lord the words of this song (cf. Exodus 16:1 ; Deuteronomy 31:30 ), in the day that they had delivered him х_ BªYOW... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE SAID, THE LORD IS MY ROCK, AND MY FORTRESS, AND MY DELIVERER;_ He said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. This redundancy of images was intended to symbolize David's very strong sense of security in God. х_ CALª`IY_ (H5553), my rock.] This word, from which was derived... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GOD OF MY ROCK; IN HIM WILL I TRUST: HE IS MY SHIELD, AND THE HORN OF MY SALVATION, MY HIGH TOWER, AND MY REFUGE, MY SAVIOUR; THOU SAVEST ME FROM VIOLENCE._ The God of my rock, х_ TSUWRIY_ (H6697)]. In this word, Tsur, the leading idea is strength and permanence. There are two words, then, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WILL CALL ON THE LORD, WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED: SO SHALL I BE SAVED FROM MINE ENEMIES._ I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised - i:e., who is a Being of transcendent excellence. SO SHALL I BE SAVED FROM MINE ENEMIES. Some, taking the future for the past, translate the verse, '... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHEN THE WAVES OF DEATH COMPASSED ME, THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN MADE ME AFRAID;_ When (for) the waves of death compassed me, х_ MISHBªREEY_ (H4867)] - breakers, furious billows (Psalms 42:8; Psalms 78:8; John 2:4) [Septuagint, suntrimmoi, dashing waves.] Death is here compared to the sea, whose ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SORROWS OF HELL COMPASSED ME ABOUT; THE SNARES OF DEATH PREVENTED ME;_ The sorrows of hell compassed me, х_ CHEBLEEY_ (H2256) _ SHª'OWL_ (H7585)] - cords, noose of Sheol (Hades) enclosed me. THE SNARES OF DEATH PREVENTED ME, х_ MOQSHEEY_ (H4170) _ MAAWET_ (H4194)] - snares of death, i:e., de... [ Continue Reading ]
_IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UPON THE LORD, AND CRIED TO MY GOD: AND HE DID HEAR MY VOICE OUT OF HIS TEMPLE, AND MY CRY DID ENTER INTO HIS EARS._ In my distress I called upon the Lord - literally, in the distress to me. AND CRIED TO MY GOD - "my," as standing to me in a covenant relation, and whom, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEN THE EARTH SHOOK AND TREMBLED; THE FOUNDATIONS OF HEAVEN MOVED AND SHOOK, BECAUSE HE WAS WROTH._ Then the earth shook and trembled. The imagery of this highly poetical passage is supposed by Dr. Chandler ('Life of David.' 2:, p. 211) to have been borrowed from 2 Samuel 5:20, and by Dean Stanle... [ Continue Reading ]
_THERE WENT UP A SMOKE OUT OF HIS NOSTRILS, AND FIRE OUT OF HIS MOUTH DEVOURED: COALS WERE KINDLED BY IT._ There went up a smoke out of his nostrils. Here is a further expansion of the idea expressed in the preceding verse. х_ `AASHAAN_ (H6227), poetically need for vapour, produced by the snorting... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE BOWED THE HEAVENS ALSO, AND CAME DOWN; AND DARKNESS WAS UNDER HIS FEET._ He bowed the heavens also, and came down. The scene is now removed from heaven to earth. Isaiah wished that God would "rend the heavens, and come down" (2 Sam. 64:1). The figure used in this passage is less bold, but very... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE RODE UPON A CHERUB, AND DID FLY: AND HE WAS SEEN UPON THE WINGS OF THE WIND._ AND HE ROAD UPON A CHERUB. A cherub in the Mosaic system is an ideal creature, which combined all the highest powers and properties of animal existences. It was, in fact, a personification of creation; and hence Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE MADE DARKNESS PAVILIONS ROUND ABOUT HIM, DARK WATERS, AND THICK CLOUDS OF THE SKIES._ He made darkness pavilions round about him, х_ CUKOWT_ (H5521)] - booths; used here for a tabernacle of God (cf. Job 36:29; Psalms 97:2). DARK WATERS, х_ CHASHRAT_ (H2841) _ MAYIM_ (H4325)] - gathering o... [ Continue Reading ]
_THROUGH THE BRIGHTNESS BEFORE HIM WERE COALS OF FIRE KINDLED._ Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled - i:e., at the appearance of His glorious THROUGH THE BRIGHTNESS BEFORE HIM WERE COALS OF FIRE KINDLED - i:e., at the appearance of His glorious majesty.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD THUNDERED FROM HEAVEN, AND THE MOST HIGH UTTERED HIS VOICE._ The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice - namely, against my enemies (see the notes at last clause of 2 Samuel 22:8). The second clause is a mere echo of the first, because "the voice" of God frequent... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE SENT OUT ARROWS, AND SCATTERED THEM; LIGHTNING, AND DISCOMFITED THEM._ He sent out arrows, and scattered them, х_ CHITSIYM_ (H2671)]. Arrows, when applied metaphorically to God, signify sometimes calamities inflicted upon men, such as famine, pestilence, etc.; at other times, lightnings (cf... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE CHANNELS OF THE SEA APPEARED, THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD WERE DISCOVERED, AT THE REBUKING OF THE LORD, AT THE BLAST OF THE BREATH OF HIS NOSTRILS._ And the channels of the sea, appeared. х_ 'APIQEEY_ (H650) denotes the channels of a brook or river; here the bottom of the sea.] This verse... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE SENT FROM ABOVE, HE TOOK ME; HE DREW ME OUT OF MANY WATERS;_ He sent from above. The verb "sent" being followed by the exegetical clause, "He took me," is stated absolutely here and in Psalms 57:3. But where such an explanatory clause is wanting, the object of the verb is mentioned, as in Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE DELIVERED ME FROM MY STRONG ENEMY, AND FROM THEM THAT HATED ME: FOR THEY WERE TOO STRONG FOR ME._ He delivered me from my strong enemy. David's own weakness, contracted with the superior power of his enemies, was the reason of the divine interposition; and this contrast forms the leading idea i... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY PREVENTED ME IN THE DAY OF MY CALAMITY: BUT THE LORD WAS MY STAY._ They prevented me in the day of my calamity, х_ YªQADMUNIY_ (H6923)] - they surprised me (see the notes at last clause of 2 Samuel 22:6). "In the day of my calamity" means during his persecution, when he more than once ran imm... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE BROUGHT ME FORTH ALSO INTO A LARGE PLACE: HE DELIVERED ME, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME._ He brought me forth also into a large place, х_ LAMERCHAAB_ (H4800)] - into the wide place, into the breadth; i:e., He delivered me out of straits. This word is often used (cf. Psalms 4:2) to denote freedom... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS: ACCORDING TO THE CLEANNESS OF MY HANDS HATH HE RECOMPENSED ME._ The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness ... Since I was engaged in a good cause, and, in my devoted adherence to it, acted sincerely and inflexibly on the principles of ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR I HAVE KEPT THE WAYS OF THE LORD, AND HAVE NOT WICKEDLY DEPARTED FROM MY GOD._ For I have kept the ways of the Lord - i:e., I have endeavoured to subordinate my judgment, my passions, and my interest, to the declared will of God. AND HAVE NOT WICKEDLY DEPARTED FROM MY GOD - and, however infi... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR ALL HIS JUDGMENTS WERE BEFORE ME: AND AS FOR HIS STATUTES, I DID NOT DEPART FROM THEM._ For all his judgments were before me - i:e., the divine law (Psalms 19:9) was predominantly present to my mind. I studied and pondered them, that it might become the guide and directory of my whole life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WAS ALSO UPRIGHT BEFORE HIM, AND HAVE KEPT MYSELF FROM MINE INIQUITY._ I was also upright before him. In private, as well as in public, in the wildest and most sequestered solitude, as well as in the populous city, it was my reigning desire, my aim and endeavour, to walk so as to please God. AN... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEREFORE THE LORD HATH RECOMPENSED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; ACCORDING TO MY CLEANNESS IN HIS EYE SIGHT._ Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness - a repetition of what he stated at the beginning of section III. (see the notes at 2 Samuel 22:21). In the interm... [ Continue Reading ]
_WITH THE MERCIFUL THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF MERCIFUL, AND WITH THE UPRIGHT MAN THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF UPRIGHT._ With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful - thou wilt perform mercy and truth to those who are merciful and true to others, as, through the help of thy grace, I have been.... [ Continue Reading ]
_WITH THE PURE THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF PURE; AND WITH THE FROWARD THOU WILT SHEW THYSELF UNSAVOURY._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE AFFLICTED PEOPLE THOU WILT SAVE: BUT THINE EYES ARE UPON THE HAUGHTY, THAT THOU MAYEST BRING THEM DOWN._ The afflicted people thou wilt save - Thou hast shown me, by the course of my personal experience, that thou wilt plead the cause of these who are subjected to unmerited wrongs, and del... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THOU ART MY LAMP, O LORD: AND THE LORD WILL LIGHTEN MY DARKNESS._ For thou art my lamp, O Lord. The light of a lamp was an image in common use among the Hebrews for prosperity; while its extinction betokened calamity (Esther 8:16; Job 18:5; Job 21:17; Job 29:3; Psalms 97:11; Psalms 132:17; Pro... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR BY THEE I HAVE RUN THROUGH A TROOP: BY MY GOD HAVE I LEAPED OVER A WALL._ _ FOR BY THEE I HAVE RUN THROUGH A TROOP: BY MY GOD HAVE I LEAPED OVER A WALL._ For by thee I have run through a troop - i:e., broken through the thickest phalanx of my enemies [Septuagint, dramoumai monozoonos, will I r... [ Continue Reading ]
_AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS PERFECT; THE WORD OF THE LORD IS TRIED: HE IS A BUCKLER TO ALL THEM THAT TRUST IN HIM._ As for God, his way is perfect, х_ TAAMIYM_ (H8549), complete, faultless; Septuagint, _ AMOOMOS_ (G299), blameless]. Amid all the darkness that sometimes shrouds, and the severity that of... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR WHO IS GOD, SAVE THE LORD? AND WHO IS A ROCK, SAVE OUR GOD?_ For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? - "rock" (see the notes at 2 Samuel 22:2). The introductory х_ KIY_ (H3588)] For, intimates that this verse furnishes the ground of the strong assurances which the prece... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND POWER: AND HE MAKETH MY WAY PERFECT._ God is my strength and power; and he maketh my way perfect - in the midst of all my weaknesses and errors, He enables me, by His grace, to perform all the duties and to bear all the trials of my royal station, so as to act in conformity... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE MAKETH MY FEET LIKE HINDS' FEET: AND SETTETH ME UPON MY HIGH PLACES._ He maketh my feet like hinds' feet; and setteth me upon my high places. The hind is the female of the roe (gazelle: see the notes at 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8), and from the frequency of its representation on the ancie... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE TEACHETH MY HANDS TO WAR; SO THAT A BOW OF STEEL IS BROKEN BY MINE ARMS._ He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms, х_ QESHET_ (H7198) _ NªCHUWSHAAH_ (H5154)] - a bow of brass (rather, bronze, a compound of copper and tin (cf. Job 20:24; Psalms 18:35). The bow... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU HAST ALSO GIVEN ME THE SHIELD OF THY SALVATION: AND THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE ME GREAT._ Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation - i:e., thy saving shield, thine almighty defense. AND THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE ME GREAT, х_ WA`ANOTªKAA_ (H6031)] - thy condescending kindness (as sho... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU HAST ENLARGED MY STEPS UNDER ME; SO THAT MY FEET DID NOT SLIP._ THOU HAST ENLARGED MY STEPS UNDER ME; SO THAT MY FEET DID NOT SLIP - i:e., Thou hast given ample room and verge enough, so that, like a pedestrian, I can more freely walk, without the risk of stumbling, in a rugged or precipitous... [ Continue Reading ]
_I HAVE PURSUED MINE ENEMIES, AND DESTROYED THEM; AND TURNED NOT AGAIN UNTIL I HAD CONSUMED THEM._ I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them. This refers to the course of uninterrupted conquest that had attended his arms in the wars undertaken against the enemies of Israel. The language seems... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND I HAVE CONSUMED THEM, AND WOUNDED THEM, THAT THEY COULD NOT ARISE: YEA, THEY ARE FALLEN UNDER MY FEET._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THOU HAST GIRDED ME WITH STRENGTH TO BATTLE: THEM THAT ROSE UP AGAINST ME HAST THOU SUBDUED UNDER ME._ For thou hast girded me with strength to battle. Warriors were accustomed to gird themselves with a broad belt, to keep up their long garments, to bind these and their armour close together,... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU HAST ALSO GIVEN ME THE NECKS OF MINE ENEMIES, THAT I MIGHT DESTROY THEM THAT HATE ME._ Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies. Conquerors sometimes made their captives, especially if they were persons of rank and eminence, lie prostrate on the ground, and then put a foot upon their... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY LOOKED, BUT THERE WAS NONE TO SAVE; EVEN UNTO THE LORD, BUT HE ANSWERED THEM NOT._ They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. David is here speaking of the enemies of Israel, into whose land he carried his victorious arms, and who, in the extremity... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEN DID I BEAT THEM AS SMALL AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH, I DID STAMP THEM AS THE MIRE OF THE STREET, AND DID SPREAD THEM ABROAD._ Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. This language may be only expressive of that contempt in which ancient conquerors were accustomed to indulge in s... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU ALSO HAST DELIVERED ME FROM THE STRIVINGS OF MY PEOPLE, THOU HAST KEPT ME TO BE HEAD OF THE HEATHEN: A PEOPLE WHICH I KNEW NOT SHALL SERVE ME._ Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people х_ MEERIYBEEY_ (H7379)] - from the contentions-not wars, but strifes х_ `AMIY_ (H5971)] -... [ Continue Reading ]
_STRANGERS SHALL SUBMIT THEMSELVES UNTO ME: AS SOON AS THEY HEAR, THEY SHALL BE OBEDIENT UNTO ME._ Strangers shall submit ... as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me - literally, the children of an unknown land. "As soon as they hear" - on the report of my extending course of conquests... [ Continue Reading ]
_STRANGERS SHALL FADE AWAY, AND THEY SHALL BE AFRAID OUT OF THEIR CLOSE PLACES._ _ STRANGERS SHALL FADE AWAY, AND THEY SHALL BE AFRAID OUT OF THEIR CLOSE PLACES._ Strangers shall fade away, х_ YIBOLUW_ (H5034)] - shall wither or fall away; applied primarily in reference to leaves and flowers (Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD LIVETH; AND BLESSED BE MY ROCK; AND EXALTED BE THE GOD OF THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION._ The Lord liveth, х_ CHAY_ (H2416) _ YAHWEH_ (H3069)] - living be Yahweh, according to many interpreters, who consider there is here a transference to God of the acclamation usually made to earthly kings,... [ Continue Reading ]
_IT IS GOD THAT AVENGETH ME, AND THAT BRINGETH DOWN THE PEOPLE UNDER ME,_ It is God that avengeth me, and bringeth down the people under me. The reference is to Saul and other malignant enemies, on whom he did not execute vengeance himself, but left it to Him to whom vengeance belongeth. God had ef... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THAT BRINGETH ME FORTH FROM MINE ENEMIES: THOU ALSO HAST LIFTED ME UP ON HIGH ABOVE THEM THAT ROSE UP AGAINST ME: THOU HAST DELIVERED ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN._ And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies - literally, And bringing me out, leading me forth; i:e., saving me. THOU ALSO HAST LIF... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEREFORE I WILL GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE, O LORD, AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND I WILL SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME._ Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the pagan, х_ BAGOWYIM_ (H1471)] - among the nations. Thank Thee for what?-for my deliverance, and for my advancement to the theocratic t... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE IS THE TOWER OF SALVATION FOR HIS KING: AND SHEWETH MERCY TO HIS ANOINTED, UNTO DAVID, AND TO HIS SEED FOR EVERMORE._ He is the tower of salvation for his king. Here is a repetition of the figure used, 2 Samuel 22:3. "His king," the king whom He Himself chose and appointed. AND SHOWETH MERCY T... [ Continue Reading ]