1._Hear my prayer, O Jehovah _! It is evident that the oppression of his enemies must have been extreme, when David laments his case in such earnest and pathetic terms. The introductory words show that the grief he felt was great. His reason for speaking of the justice and faithfulness of God in con... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And enter not into judgment_, (249) _etc_. I have hinted already why he proceeds to pray for pardon. When overtaken by adversity, we are ever to conclude that it is a rod of correction sent by God to stir us up to pray. Although he is far from taking pleasure in our trials, it is certain that our... [ Continue Reading ]
3._For the enemy hath persecuted my soul_. Having acknowledged that he only suffered the just punishment of his sins, David comes now to speak of his enemies; for to have begun by speaking of them would have been a preposterous order. Their cruelty was shown in their not resting satisfied but with t... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And my spirit_, etc. Hitherto he has spoken of the troubles that were without, now he acknowledges the feebleness of his spirits, from which it is evident that his strength, vas not like that of the rock, imperturbable or without feeling, but that, while overwhelmed with grief as to the feeling o... [ Continue Reading ]
6._I have stretched forth my hands to thee_. Here appears the good effect of meditation, that it stirred David up to pray; for if we reflect seriously upon the acting’s of God towards his people, and towards ourselves in our own experience, this will necessarily lead out our minds to seek after him,... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness_. In this verse he again prays that God would show him his favor visibly and effectually. The expression cause me to hear, may seem not very proper, as the goodness of God is rather felt than heard; but as the mere perception of God’s benefits, without a belie... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Deliver me, O Jehovah! from my enemies_. This prayer is to the same effect, his enemies being so earnestly bent upon his destruction as to leave no outgate for him. The verb כסיתי, _chisithi_, some render _to hope_: the proper meaning is _to cover_, and I am unwilling to depart from it. The expla... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Teach me that I may do thy will_. He now rises to something higher, praying not merely for deliverance from outward troubles, but, what is of still greater importance, for the guidance of God’s Spirit, that he might not decline to the right hand or to the left, but be kept in the path of rectitu... [ Continue Reading ]
11._For thy name’s sake, O Jehovah! etc_. By this expression he makes it still more clear that it was entirely of God’s free mercy that he looked for deliverance; for, had he brought forward anything of his own, the cause would not have been in God, and only in God. He is said to help us _for his ow... [ Continue Reading ]
12._And in thy mercy_, _etc_. In this verse he repeats for the fifth or sixth time that he looked for life only of God’s free mercy. Whatever severity may appear on the part of God when he destroys the wicked, David affirms that the vengeance taken upon them would be a proof of fatherly mercy to him... [ Continue Reading ]