This, also, is a psalm of David, and apparently composed under circumstances similar to the former. It is impossible, however, to determine the precise time at which it was written, or the exact circumstances of the psalmist at the time. The circumstances, as far as they can be gathered from the ps... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, I CRY UNTO THEE - In view of my perils; in view of the suggestions of my friends; in view of my temptation to do a wrong thing at their advice, and with the prospect of the advantage which it might seem to be to me. MAKE HASTE UNTO ME - To save me from all this danger: the danger from my enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE - Margin, “directed.” The Hebrew word means to fit; to establish; to make firm. The psalmist desires that his prayer should not be like that which is feeble, languishing, easily dissipated, but that it should be like that which is firm and secure. AS INCENSE -... [ Continue Reading ]
SET A WATCH, O LORD, BEFORE MY MOUTH - That I may not say anything rashly, unadvisedly, improperly. Compare Psalms 39:1. The prayer here is, that God would guard him from the temptation to say something wrong. To this he seems to have been prompted by the circumstances of the case, and by the advice... [ Continue Reading ]
INCLINE NOT MY HEART TO ANY EVIL THING - Hebrew, to a word that is evil; that is, wrong. The connection seems to demand that the term should be thus explained. The expression “Incline not” is not designed to mean that God exerts any “positive” influence in leading the heart to that which is wrong; b... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME - This verse is exceedingly difficult and obscure (compare the margin); and there have been almost as many different opinions in regard to its meaning as there have been commentators on the psalm. A large number of these opinions may be seen in Rosenmuller _in loc_. DeWett... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ... - This passage is no less difficult than the preceding, and it seems almost impossible to determine its exact meaning. What is meant by “judges”? What judges are referred to by the word “their”? What is meant by their being “overthrown”? What is the sense of the words “in stony places”? Doe... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR BONES ARE SCATTERED AT THE GRAVE’S MOUTH - We are, indeed, now like bones scattered in the places of graves; we seem to be weak, feeble, disorganized. We are in a condition which of itself seems to be hopeless: as hopeless as it would be for dry bones scattered when they were buried to rise up a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MINE EYES ARE UNTO THEE, O GOD THE LORD - My hope is in thee. I do not rely on my own power. I do not trust in my armed forces. I know that they are weak, dispirited, scattered - like strewed bones - like the chips and splinters lying around the place where wood is chopped. I look, therefore, so... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP ME FROM THE SNARES ... - See the notes at Psalms 11:6. Compare Psalms 38:12; Psalms 69:22; Psalms 91:3. The secret plans which they have laid against me. AND THE GINS OF THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY - Wicked men; men who seek my destruction. On the word gins, see the notes at Isaiah 8:14. The gin is... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE WICKED FALL INTO THEIR OWN NETS - See the notes at Psalms 35:8. Compare Psalms 7:15. WHILE THAT I WITHAL ESCAPE - Margin, as in Hebrew, “pass over.” While I safely pass over the net or snare which has been secretly laid for me. The word “withal” means, in the Hebrew, “together, at the same... [ Continue Reading ]