1._Why boastest thou of thy wickedness? _The success which crowned the treachery of Doeg must have tended considerably to stagger David’s faith; and he seems to have adopted the strain of holy defiance with which the psalm commences, in order to arm himself more effectually against this temptation.... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Thy tongue reckons up mischiefs _David is not to be considered as here venting a flood of reproaches against his adversary, as many who have been unjustly injured are in the habit of doing, merely to gratify a feeling of revenge. He brings these charges against him in the sight of God, with a vie... [ Continue Reading ]
The term בלע _, balang, _in verse fourth, which has been translated _destruction, _I prefer understanding in the sense of _hiding _or _concealment. _He seems to allude to the drawing back of the tongue when we swallow; and under this figure, to describe the deceitfulness of Doeg’s words, by which he... [ Continue Reading ]
5_God shall likewise destroy thee for ever. _From these words it is made still more evident that his object in dwelling upon the aggravated guilt of Doeg, was to prove the certainty of his approaching doom, and this rather for his own conviction and comfort, than with a view to alarming the conscien... [ Continue Reading ]
6_The righteous also shall see, and fear _(280) He here adduces, as another reason why the ruin of Doeg might be expected, that an important end would be obtained by it, in so far as it would promote religion in the hearts of the Lord’s people, and afford them a refreshing display of the Divine just... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Lo! this is the man that made not God his strength _Some think that these words are given as what should afterwards be proverbially applied to Doeg; but they would not appear to have been intended in that restricted signification. They merely express the improvement which the people of God would... [ Continue Reading ]
8_But I am like a green olive-tree _(283) We have seen that David was enabled, by the exercise of faith, to look down upon the worldly grandeur of Doeg with a holy contempt; and now we find him rising superior to all that was presently afflictive in his own condition. Though, to appearance, he more... [ Continue Reading ]
9._I will praise thee, etc_. He concludes the psalm with thanksgiving, and shows that he is sincere in this, by the special acknowledgement which he makes of the fact that this had been the work of God. Such is the corruption of the human heart, that out of a hundred who profess gratitude to God wit... [ Continue Reading ]