_GIVE EAR TO MY PRAYER, O GOD; AND HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM MY SUPPLICATION._ Psalms 55:1.-Introduction (Psalms 55:1); prayer grounded on his deaperate condition (Psalms 55:2); such is the wickedness in the city that his own intimate acquaintance turned against him (Psalms 55:9); his confidence in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_ATTEND UNTO ME, AND HEAR ME: I MOURN IN MY COMPLAINT, AND MAKE A NOISE;_ Development of the prayer generally set forth in the introduction; two strophes (Psalms 55:2, and Psalms 55:9). I MOURN IN MY COMPLAINT, х_ 'AARIYD_ (H7300)] - literally, 'I wander about;' or, as Hengstenberg says the Hiphi... [ Continue Reading ]
_BECAUSE OF THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY, BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSION OF THE WICKED: FOR THEY CAST INIQUITY UPON ME, AND IN WRATH THEY HATE ME._ Because of the voice of the enemy - reproaching (Psalms 55:12) and cutting me like 'a drawn sword,' while outwardly uttering 'smooth' things (Psalms 55:21). FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
_MY HEART IS SORE PAINED WITHIN ME: AND THE TERRORS OF DEATH ARE FALLEN UPON ME._ My heart is sore pained within me - literally, is agitated. THE TERRORS OF DEATH ARE FALLEN UPON ME - as the enemy threatens my life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FEARFULNESS AND TREMBLING ARE COME UPON ME, AND HORROR HATH OVERWHELMED ME._ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me ... And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Referred to by Jeremiah 9:2. The "dove" is specified not so much for its swiftness, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_LO, THEN WOULD I WANDER FAR OFF, AND REMAIN IN THE WILDERNESS. SELAH._ Lo, (then) would I wander far off - literally, 'be distant in fleeing.' AND REMAIN - Hebrew, lodge, or pass the night. IN THE WILDERNESS - far from human society, which, though ordinarily desirable, has now become so corrup... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WOULD HASTEN MY ESCAPE FROM THE WINDY STORM AND TEMPEST._ I would hasten my escape - not only would I gladly go, but I would hasten my escape (Hengstenberg). FROM THE WINDY STORM - as the dove flies from the storm to her place of rest and refuge (Isaiah 32:2). Drusius and Maurer take the Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
_DESTROY, O LORD, AND DIVIDE THEIR TONGUES: FOR I HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE AND STRIFE IN THE CITY._ Destroy, O Lord - literally, devour, namely, the enemies; not, as the English version, their tongues; cf. "they," Psalms 55:10, and Psalms 55:15, "Let them go down quick (i:e., alive) into hell." The allus... [ Continue Reading ]
_DAY AND NIGHT THEY GO ABOUT IT UPON THE WALLS THEREOF: MISCHIEF ALSO AND SORROW ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT._ Day and night they go about it - at all times. UPON THE WALLS THEREOF ... IN THE MIDST OF IT - in all the space of the city, alike in the exterior circumference and in the interior area. "The... [ Continue Reading ]
_WICKEDNESS IS IN THE MIDST THEREOF: DECEIT AND GUILE DEPART NOT FROM HER STREETS._ Wickedness is in the midst thereof in contrast to DECEIT AND GUILE DEPART NOT FROM HER STREETS WICKEDNESS IS IN THE MIDST THEREOF - in contrast to DECEIT AND GUILE DEPART NOT FROM HER STREETS (_ MEERªCHOBAAH_ (H7339... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR IT WAS NOT AN ENEMY THAT REPROACHED ME; THEN I COULD HAVE BORNE IT: NEITHER WAS IT HE THAT HATED ME THAT DID MAGNIFY HIMSELF AGAINST ME; THEN I WOULD HAVE HID MYSELF FROM HIM:_ For. In proof of the depth and universality of the corruption in the city, he instances the treacherous conduct of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT IT WAS THOU, A MAN MINE EQUAL, MY GUIDE, AND MINE ACQUAINTANCE._ But it was thou, a man mine equal - literally, 'a man according to my rank' or 'estimation.' Friendship binds only equals; these it unites in the closest bonds. The Septuagint and Muis take it 'one like-minded' (Philippians 2:20)... [ Continue Reading ]
_WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER, AND WALKED UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN COMPANY._ WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER - literally, 'We who together made secret intimacy to sweeten.' Compare Psalms 64:2. The secret counsel (Hebrew, sod) together stands in contrast to the public fellowship in devotion. AND... [ Continue Reading ]
_LET DEATH SEIZE UPON THEM, AND LET THEM GO DOWN QUICK INTO HELL: FOR WICKEDNESS IS IN THEIR DWELLINGS, AND AMONG THEM._ Let death seize upon them So the Qeri' reads-literally, 'Let death deceive upon them,' - i:e., take them by surprise х_ YASHIY_ (H5377) _ MAAWET_ (H4194), from _ NAASHA'_ (H5377)... [ Continue Reading ]
_AS FOR ME, I WILL CALL UPON GOD; AND THE LORD SHALL SAVE ME._ -Third strophe. His confident hope, resting upon the grounds stated in the previous prayer. Verse 16,17. AS FOR ME ... EVENING, AND MORNING, AND AT NOON, WILL I PRAY (_ 'AASIYCHAAH_ (H7878), from _ SIYACH_ (H7878)) - literally, 'meditat... [ Continue Reading ]
_CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD, AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN THEE: HE SHALL NEVER SUFFER THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE MOVED._ The Psalmist's confidence in the Lord suggests the encouraging self-exhortation to cast his burden upon the Lord. His spiritual and higher nature addresses his lower and weaker nature (Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT THOU, O GOD, SHALT BRING THEM DOWN INTO THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION: BLOODY AND DECEITFUL MEN SHALL NOT LIVE OUT HALF THEIR DAYS; BUT I WILL TRUST IN THEE._ Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days - literally, 'men of bloods and of deceit shall not halve their days' (Psalms 102:... [ Continue Reading ]