_To the chief Musician, _etc. I cannot bring myself to restrict this Psalm to Doeg, as the great body of interpreters do, for the context will clearly show that it speaks of Saul, and of the counselors who ceased not to inflame the king — himself sufficiently incensed against the life of one who was... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Who imagine mischief’s in their heart_. Here he charges them with inward malignity of heart. And it is plain that the reference is not to one man merely, for he passes to the plural number (in a manner sufficiently common,) reverting from the head to all his associates and copartners in guilt. In... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Keep me, O Jehovah! _To complaints and accusations he now again adds prayer, from which it appears more clearly, as I observed already, that it is God whom he seeks to be his avenger. It is the same sentiment repeated, with one or two words changed; for he had said _deliver me_, now he says _keep... [ Continue Reading ]
6._I said to Jehovah_. In these words he shows that his prayers were not merely those of the lips, as hypocrites will make loud appeals to God for mere appearance sake, but that he prayed with earnestness, and from a hidden principle of faith. Till we have a persuasion of being saved through the gra... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Grant not, O Jehovah! the desires of the wicked _(228) We might render the words _Establish not_, though the meaning would be the same — that God would restrain the desires of the wicked, and frustrate all their aims and attempts. We see from this that it is in his power, whenever he sees proper,... [ Continue Reading ]
9._As for the head, etc_. There may be a doubt whether, under the term head, he refers to the chief of the faction opposed to him; for we call suppose an inversion in the sentence, and a change of the plural to the singular number, bringing out this sense. (229) “Let the mischief of their wicked spe... [ Continue Reading ]
11._The man of tongue_, (232) _etc_. Some understand by this the _loquacious man_, but the sense is too restricted; nor is the reference to a reproachful, garrulous, vain and boastful man, but the man of virulence, who wars by deceit and calumny, and not openly. This is plain from what is said of th... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I have known; that God_, _etc_. There can be no question that David here seals or corroborates his prayer by turning his thoughts and discourse to the providential judgments of God, for, as I have already said, doubtful prayer is no prayer at all. He declares it to be a thing known and ascertain... [ Continue Reading ]