This psalm is entitled “A Prayer of David.” By whom the title was prefixed to it, is not known; but there can be no doubt of its appropriateness. It is, throughout, a prayer - fervent, earnest, believing. It was evidently uttered in the view of danger - danger arising from the number and the designs... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THE RIGHT - Margin, as in Hebrew, “justice.” The prayer is, that God would regard that which was “right” in the case, or that he would vindicate the psalmist from that which was wrong. It is the expression of his confident assurance even in the presence of God that his cause was right, and that... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MY SENTENCE - Hebrew, “my judgment.” The allusion is to a judgment or sentence as coming from God in regard to the matter referred to in the psalm, to wit, the injuries which he had received from his enemies. He felt that they had done him injustice and wrong; he felt assured that a sentence or... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST PROVED MINE HEART - In this verse he refers to his own character and life in the matter under consideration, or the consciousness of his own innocence in respect to his fellow-men who are persecuting and opposing him. He appeals to the Great Searcher of hearts in proof that, in this respec... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING THE WORKS OF MEN - In respect to the works or doings of men. The reference is here probably to the ordinary or common doings of mankind, or to what generally characterizes the conduct of men. As their conduct is so commonly, and so characteristically wicked, wickedness may be spoken of as... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS - He had been enabled before this to keep himself from the ways of the violent by the word of God Psalms 17:4; he felt his dependence on God still to enable him, in the circumstances in which he was placed, and under the provocations to which he was exposed, to live a... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE CALLED UPON THEE FOR THOU WILT HEAR ME, O GOD - The meaning of this is, “I have called on thee heretofore, and will do it still, because I am certain that thou wilt hear me.” That is, he was encouraged to call upon God by the conviction that he would hear his prayer, and would grant his reque... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW THY MARVELOUS LOVING-KINDNESS - The literal translation of the original here would be, “distinguish thy favors.” The Hebrew word used means properly “to separate; to distinguish;” then, “to make distinguished or great.” The prayer is, that God would separate his mercies on this occasion from hi... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF THE EYE - Preserve me; guard me; defend me, as one defends that which is to him most precious and valuable. In the original there is a remarkable strength of expression, and at the same time a remarkable confusion of gender in the language. The literal translation would be, “... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE WICKED THAT OPPRESS ME - Margin, “That waste me.” The margin expresses the sense of the Hebrew. The idea is that of being wasted, desolated, destroyed, as a city or country is by the ravages of war. The psalmist compares himself in his troubles with such a city or country. The “effect” of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE ENCLOSED IN THEIR OWN FAT - The meaning here is, that they were prosperous, and that they were consequently self-confident and proud, and were regardless of others. The phrase occurs several times as descriptive of the wicked in a state of prosperity, and as, therefore, insensible to the ri... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US - Myself, and those who are associated with me. It would seem from this that the psalmist was not alone. It is to be observed, however, that there is a difference of reading in the Hebrew text. The Masoretic reading is: “us;” the Hebrew text is “me,” though in the other ex... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE AS A LION - Margin, “The likeness of him” (that is, “of every one of them”) is “as a lion that desireth to ravin.” The meaning is plain. They were like a lion intent on securing his prey. They watched the object narrowly; they were ready to spring upon it. THAT IS GREEDY OF HIS PREY - “He is c... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, O LORD - See the notes at Psalms 3:7. DISAPPOINT HIM - Margin, “prevent his face.” The marginal reading expresses the sense of the Hebrew. The word used in the original means “to anticipate, to go before, to prevent;” and the prayer here is that God would come “before” his enemies; that is,... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM MEN WHICH ARE THY HAND - Margin, “From men by thy hand.” Here the rendering in the common version would be still more harsh than in the previous verse, since it is at least unusual to call men “the hand” of God, in the sense that they are his instruments in accomplishing his purposes. The more... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ME - In strong contrast with the aims, the desires, and the condition of worldly individuals. “They” seek their portion in this life, and are satisfied; “I” cherish no such desires, and have no such prosperity. I look to another world as my home, and shall be satisfied only in the everlasting... [ Continue Reading ]