1._Judege me, O Jehovah! _I have just said, that David betakes himself to the judgment of God, because he found neither equity nor humanity among men. The Hebrew word which is rendered to _judge, _signifies to undertake the cognisance of a cause. The meaning here, therefore, is as if David called up... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Prove me, _(568) _O Jehovah! _The more that David observed himself basely and undeservedly pursued with calumnies, the more powerfully was he excited by the vehemence of his grief fearlessly to assert his rectitude. Nor does he merely clear himself of outward sins; he glories also in the uprightn... [ Continue Reading ]
3._For thy goodness is before mine eyes. _This verse may be viewed as one sentence, or divided into two parts, but with almost the same sense. If the former reading is adopted, both the verbs will be emphatic, after this manner: ”Because thy goodness, O Lord, has been ever before mine eyes, and I ha... [ Continue Reading ]
4._I have not sat with vain men. _He again declares the very great dissimilarity which existed between him and his adversaries. For the contrast is always to be observed, that wicked men, by all the harm and mischief they wrought against him, could never drive him from the path of rectitude. This ve... [ Continue Reading ]
5._I hate the assembly. _The Psalmist protests again how greatly he abhorred the ungodly. Formerly he denied that he had any fellowship with them; now he still more explicitly declares that he fled from their company with loathing, for that is the meaning of the phrase, _I hate. _It is indeed true,... [ Continue Reading ]
6._I will wash my hands in purity. _Referring, in these words, to the ordinary use of the sacrifices, he makes a distinction between himself and those who professed to offer the same divine worship, and thrust themselves forward in the services of the sanctuary, as if they alone had the sole right t... [ Continue Reading ]
7._That I may make men to hear, etc _In these words, he shows that he referred the sacrifices to their proper use and design, which hypocrites were far from doing. They neither know, nor do they consider, for what purpose God appointed the services of worship, but think it sufficient to thrust thems... [ Continue Reading ]
8._O Jehovah! I have loved, etc _In this verse he confirms what he had said before, that he came not into the sanctuary in a careless manner, but with serious devotion. Irreligious men, although they often resort to the sacred assemblies, frequent them merely as lurking places, where they may escape... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Gather not my soul with wicked men. _Having now affirmed his innocence, he has recourse again to prayer, and calls upon God to defend him. At first sight, indeed, it appears strange to pray that God would not involve a righteous man in the same destruction with the wicked; but God, with paternal... [ Continue Reading ]
10._For in their hands is maliciousness. _The Hebrew word זמה _, zimmah, _signifies properly _an inward stratagem, _or _device. _But here it is not improperly applied to _the hands, _because David wished to intimate, that the wicked, of whom he was speaking, not only secretly imagined deceits, but a... [ Continue Reading ]
11._But I will walk in mine integrity. _In this repetition there is to be remarked a circumstance which more clearly illustrates David’s righteousness; namely, that, in the midst of so many temptations, he steadily held on his way. He saw many become suddenly rich by gifts, as we still see those who... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse may be explained in two ways. Some are of opinion that David declares how carefully he had studied uprightness among men; but I rather think that he celebrates the grace of God towards him, and, at the same time, vows his gratitude. By the use of the metaphor, therefore, he tells us that... [ Continue Reading ]