This, also, is a psalm of David. The occasion on which it was composed is not indicated in the title, but the contents of the psalm leave no room to doubt that it was written at an early period of his life, in the time when he was subjected to persecution - most probably in the time of Saul. The psa... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME, O LORD, FROM THE EVIL MAN - That is, evidently from some particular man who was endeavoring to injure him; some personal enemy. All the circumstances mentioned agree well with the supposition that Saul is intended. PRESERVE ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN - Margin, as in Hebrew, “man of violenc... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IMAGINE MISCHIEFS IN THEIR HEART - Here the language is changed to the plural number in the Hebrew, implying that while there was one man who was eminent in his wickedness and his wrong-doing, there were many others associated with him, acting under his direction. The word “mischiefs” in the H... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SHARPENED THEIR TONGUES LIKE A SERPENT - Compare the notes at Psalms 64:3. The idea here is, that since the tongue of the serpent “seems” to be sharp, pointed, adapted to penetrate (and probably the original reference in the image was derived from that idea), the wound inflicted is by the... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP ME, O LORD, FROM THE HANDS OF THE WICKED ... - See the notes at Psalms 71:4. This is a repetition of the prayer in Psalms 140:1. WHO HAVE PURPOSED TO OVERTHROW MY GOINGS - To thrust me down as I go; to defeat my plans; to destroy me. They endeavor to prevent my accomplishing what I had designe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROUD HAVE HID A SNARE FOR ME - Haughty; arrogant; oppressive men. See Psalms 35:7, note; Psalms 57:6, note. AND CORDS - Strings; twine; as those do who lay a net to catch birds, and who design to spring it upon them unawares. THEY HAVE SPREAD A NET BY THE WAYSIDE - Where I may be expected to... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID UNTO THE LORD, THOU ART MY GOD ... - In all these dangers from open war, in all these perils from a crafty enemy lying in ambush, my only refuge was God; my hope was in him alone. From all these dangers, seen and unseen, I knew that he could defend me, and I confidently believed that he would... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD THE LORD ... - literally, “Yahweh, Lord, the strength of my salvation” The word rendered “God,” in the original, is יהוה _Yahweh_. The address is to Yahweh as the Lord; that is, as the supreme Ruler - who presides over all things. Him the psalmist acknowledged as “his” Lord and Ruler. The phra... [ Continue Reading ]
GRANT NOT, O LORD, THE DESIRES OF THE WICKED - That is, in the matter under consideration. Let them not accomplish their desire in my destruction. Let them not succeed in their designs against me. The prayer, however, “may” be used more generally. It is proper to pray that the desires of the wicked,... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THE HEAD OF THOSE THAT COMPASS ME ABOUT - Luther renders this, “The calamity which my enemies design against me must fall upon their own heads.” The passage stands in contrast with Psalms 140:7 : “Thou hast covered my head,” etc. As for his own head, it had been protected in the day of battle... [ Continue Reading ]
LET BURNING COALS FALL UPON THEM - Let them be punished, “as if” burning coals were poured upon them. See Psalms 11:6, note; Psalms 18:12, notes; Psalms 120:4, note. LET THEM BE CAST INTO THE FIRE - Punished as if they were cast into the fire and consumed. INTO DEEP PITS, THAT THEY RISE NOT UP AGAI... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT AN EVIL SPEAKER - literally, “A man of tongue.” That is, a man whom the tongue rules; a man of an unbridled tongue; a man who does not control his tongue. See the notes at James 3:2. BE ESTABLISHED IN THE EARTH - Be successful or prosperous; let him not carry out his designs. It is not desi... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL MAINTAIN THE CAUSE OF THE AFFLICTED - See the notes at Psalms 9:4. The psalmist here doubtless refers primarily to himself, as having a confident belief that the Lord would maintain “his” cause, or would defend “him.” At the same time he makes the statement general, implyin... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL GIVE THANKS UNTO THY NAME - Unto thee. (1) they will have occasion to do it; (2) they will be disposed to do it. They will not be unmindful of the favors conferred upon them; it will be a characteristic of them that they “will” be thankful. THE UPRIGHT SHALL DWELL IN T... [ Continue Reading ]