1_O God of my praise! be not silent _In these words, which may be considered as an introduction to the psalm, David declares that he neither could find nor would desire any other than God to stand forward in vindication of the integrity of his heart. For in denominating him _the God of his praise, _... [ Continue Reading ]
2_Because the mouth of the wicked _David here very plainly declares, that he was the more solicitous to obtain help from God, in consequence of justice not being found among men. And though it is probable that he was rashly and furiously assailed, nevertheless, he complains that the mouth of deceit... [ Continue Reading ]
3_And they have encompassed me _He complains, that from all quarters he was assailed with the most hostile and abusive epithets, and that, too, most undeservedly. And, under a beautiful similitude, he shows that the tongues of his enemies were so full of deadly poison, that it was harder for him to... [ Continue Reading ]
4_On account of my love they have been opposed to me _(296) The Psalmist had already solemnly declared, that his adversaries, unprovoked by any injury inflicted upon them by him, and without any just cause, became, through mere diabolical rage, his most implacable foes. Here he confirms the truth of... [ Continue Reading ]
5_But I gave myself to prayer _(297) Some are of opinion, that these words refer to David’s pouring out a prayer for his enemies at the very moment when they were furiously assaulting him, and with this opinion corresponds that which we have stated in Psalms 35:13. But the more plain, and, to me, th... [ Continue Reading ]
6_Set thou over him a wicked person. _(305) Hitherto he poured out his complaint against a vast number of persons; now he seems to direct it against a single individual. Probably he speaks of each of them individually. It is, however, equally probable that he refers in very marked terms to some one... [ Continue Reading ]
7_When he is judged, let him depart guilty _Another imprecation is, that, being summoned to judgment, he might be punished without mercy, and that, though he humbly crave forgiveness, the judge should remain inexorable. This might with propriety be understood to relate not merely to his being judged... [ Continue Reading ]
8_Let his days be few _Although this world is the scene of much toil and trouble, yet we know that these are pledges and proofs of God’s loving-kindness, inasmuch as he frequently, and as a token of his love, promises to prolong the lives of men; not that it is absolutely necessary for us to remain... [ Continue Reading ]
12_Let there be none prolonging mercy to him. _To continue to show humanity and mercy is, according to the Hebrew idiom, equivalent to constant and successive acts of kindness; and it also sometimes denotes pity, or the being moved to sympathy, when, through the lapse of years, anger is appeased, an... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Let his posterity be cut off. _This is a continuation of the same subject, upon the consideration of which the prophet had just now entered, that God would visit the iniquities of the fathers upon their children. And as he had to deal with the whole court of Saul, and not with any single individ... [ Continue Reading ]
And as the destruction which he denounces against the houses and families of the wicked is so extensive, that God punishes them in the person of their posterity, so he desires that _God may remember the iniquities of their fathers and mothers, _in order that their condemnation may be complete; and t... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Because he forgot to show mercy _The prophet comes now to show that he had good reason for desiring such awful and direful calamities to be inflicted upon his enemies, whose thirst for cruelty was insatiable, and who were transported with rage, no less cruel than obstinate, against the afflicted... [ Continue Reading ]
17_As he loved cursing _David still continues to enumerate the sins of his adversaries, and is thus severe in his treatment of them, in order to render it more apparent, that he is strictly conforming to the judgment of God. For as often as we draw near to the tribunal of God, we must take care that... [ Continue Reading ]
Not a few interpreters translate the next two verses in the past form, _he clothed himself with cursing, etc., _which would be tantamount to saying that the enemy was as fond of cursing as of costly apparel, or that he clothed himself with it as with a garment, and that, like an inveterate disease,... [ Continue Reading ]
20_Let this be the work from Jehovah. _That is, let the gain or reward of the work be from God. In pointing out the work as proceeding immediately from God, he intends to show that, though deprived of all human aid, he yet entertained the hope that God would grant him deliverance, and avenge the inj... [ Continue Reading ]
21_And thou, O Jehovah my Lord! _From the pouring out of complaints and imprecations against his enemies, the Psalmist passes to prayers; or rather, after having betaken himself to God as his guardian and deliverer, he appears to take occasion, from this circumstance, to encourage himself in prayer;... [ Continue Reading ]
23_I walk about as a shadow. _These are two very appropriate similitudes: to the first of them I formerly adverted in Psalms 102:12; namely, that the afflicted person, and he who is almost lifeless, is very fitly compared to the shadow of the evening. At sunrise, or when he is shining in noon-day br... [ Continue Reading ]
24_My knees are become feeble. _Though David had the necessaries of life, yet he emaciated himself by voluntary abstinence, to which, as well as to prayer, he gave himself, and therefore we may regard this verse as expressive of his sorrow and sadness. We may also understand it as expressive of his... [ Continue Reading ]
26_Help me, O Jehovah! _The prophet repeats his prayer, because the more we are assailed by the subtilty and deceit of Satan, the more necessary is it for us to strive more ardently, and display the greater boldness. We may, indeed, have the full assurance of God being propitious towards us, yet whe... [ Continue Reading ]
28._They shall curse. _Interpreters are divided in their opinions about the meaning of these words. One class would render them as expressive of a desire or wish: _Let them curse, provided that thou bless: let them arise, and be clothed with confusion _Another class, and with them I readily agree, a... [ Continue Reading ]
30._I will praise Jehovah greatly with my mouth _These words clearly establish the truth of the observation I formerly made, that David does not pray God to curse his enemies, but, by the holy boldness of his faith, sets them at defiance; for he prepares to offer up a tribute of gratitude to God, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover, he also subjoins the form in which he rendered thanks; namely, _that God stood at the right hand of the poor _By this language he intimates, that when God had apparently forsaken and abandoned him, and stood far from him, even then he was always near and ready to render him seasonable and... [ Continue Reading ]