This psalm is ascribed to David. The title in the original, לדוד _l__e__dâvid_ - “by David” or, “of David” - is without anything to designate the occasion on which it was composed, or anything to mark the character of the psalm, as distinguished from others. Occasionally in the titles of the psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
PLEAD MY CAUSE, O LORD - The word “plead” means, properly, to argue in support of a claim, or against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life of a criminal, that is, to urge reasons why he should be acqui... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HOLD OF SHIELD AND BUCKLER - That is, Arm thyself as if for the contest. It is a prayer, in a new form, that God would interpose, and that he would go forth as a warrior against the enemies of the psalmist. On the word “shield,” see the notes at Psalms 5:12. Compare the notes at Ephesians 6:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW OUT ALSO THE SPEAR - The word here rendered “draw out” means properly to pour out; to empty; and it is applied to the act of emptying sacks, Genesis 42:35; to emptying bottles, Jeremiah 48:12; to drawing a sword from a sheath, Exodus 15:9; Leviticus 26:33; Ezekiel 5:12. It is applied to a “spea... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE CONFOUNDED - That is, Let them, through Thy gracious interposition in my behalf, be so entirely overcome and subdued that they shall be “ashamed” that they ever made the effort to destroy me; let them see so manifestly that God is on my side that they will be covered with confusion for h... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE AS CHAFF BEFORE THE WIND - As chaff is driven away in winnowing grain. See the notes at Psalms 1:4. AND LET THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CHASE THEM - Drive them away, or scatter them. Angels are often represented in the Scriptures as agents employed by God in bringing punishment on wicked peop... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEIR WAY BE DARK - Margin, as in Hebrew: “darkness.” That is, let them not be able to see where they go; what danger they incur; what is before them. The idea is that of persons who wander in the night, not knowing what is before them, or what danger may be near. The succession of images and fi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WITHOUT CAUSE HAVE THEY HID FOR ME THEIR NET IN A PIT - See Psalms 7:15, note; Psalms 9:15, note. This figure is derived from hunting. The idea is that of digging a pit or hole for a wild beast to fall into, with a net so concealed that the animal could not see it, and that might be suddenly dra... [ Continue Reading ]
LET DESTRUCTION COME UPON HIM AT UNAWARES - Margin, which “he knoweth not of.” So the Hebrew. The meaning is, Let destruction come upon him when he is not looking for it, or expecting it. AND LET HIS NET THAT HE HATH HID CATCH HIMSELF - See the notes at Psalms 7:15. The psalmist prays here that the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MY SOUL SHALL BE JOYFUL IN THE LORD - That is, I shall be joyful, or will rejoice. This is said in anticipation of the interposition of God in destroying his enemies, and in delivering him from danger. It is not joy in the destruction of others; it is joy that he himself would be delivered. Our... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY BONES SHALL SAY - A similar expression occurs in Psalms 51:8 : “That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” The “bones” are here put for the frame; the whole man. See the notes at Psalms 32:3. The idea is, that he had been crushed and overborne with trouble and danger, so that his ver... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE WITNESSES DID RISE UP - Margin, “witnesses of wrong.” The Hebrew is, “witnesses of “violence,”” חמס _châmâs_. That is, they were persons who, in what they said of me, were guilty of injustice and wrong. Their conduct was injurious to me as an act of “violence” would be. THEY LAID TO MY CHAR... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY REWARDED ME EVIL FOR GOOD - They recompensed, or returned evil instead of good. The manner in which they did it he states in the following verses. TO THE SPOILING OF MY SOUL - Margin, “depriving.” The Hebrew word means “the being forsaken,” or “abandoned.” The idea is, that owing to this condu... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR ME - The psalmist now contrasts their conduct with his own. He refers to the recollections of his past life, and to the acts of kindness which he had shown to them in thees of trouble, as more deeply marking the evils of their own conduct now. WHEN THEY WERE SICK - Compare the notes at J... [ Continue Reading ]
I BEHAVED MYSELF - Margin, as in Hebrew: “I walked.” The word “walk,” in the Scriptures, is often used to denote a course of conduct; the way in which a man lives and acts: Philippians 3:18; Galatians 2:14; 1Th 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. It is not improperly rendered here, “I behaved myself.” AS TH... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IN MINE ADVERSITY THEY REJOICED - Margin, as in Hebrew, “halting.” That is, when reverses and troubles came upon me; when, in my journey of life, I seemed to stumble. AND GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER - Not to help me, but to oppose me, and to deride me. YEA, THE ABJECTS GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGE... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH HYPOCRITICAL MOCKERS IN FEASTS - The word rendered hypocritical here - חנף _chânêph_ - properly means people “profane, impious, abandoned.” It refers to such persons as are commonly found in scenes of revelry. The words rendered “mockers at feasts,” it is scarcely possible to render literally... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, HOW LONG WILT THOU LOOK ON? - How long wilt thou witness this without interposing to deliver me, and to punish those who treat me thus? God saw it all. He was able to save him that was thus persecuted and opposed. And yet he did not interpose. He seemed to pay no attention to it. He appeared t... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GIVE THEE THANKS ... - That is, When I am delivered I will publicly express my gratitude and joy. Compare Psalms 22:25; Psalms 18:49. I WILL PRAISE THEE AMONG MUCH PEOPLE - Margin, “strong.” So the Hebrew. The idea here is, “strong in respect to numbers;” that is, when a large body of people... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THEM THAT ARE MINE ENEMIES WRONGFULLY REJOICE OVER ME - Margin, “falsely.” Literally, “My enemies of falsehood;” that is, who are “falsely” my foes; who have no just cause for being opposed to me. Compare Matthew 5:11. David was conscious that he had done them no wrong, or that he had given... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY SPEAK NOT PEACE - They seek a quarrel. They are unwilling to be on good terms with others, or to live in peace with them. The idea is that they were “disposed” or “inclined” to quarrel. Thus we speak now of persons who are “quarrelsome. THEY DEVISE DECEITFUL MATTERS - literally, “they think... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE AGAINST ME - See the notes at Psalms 22:13. AND SAID, AHA, AHA! - See Psalms 40:15; Psalms 70:3. The language is that which we use when we “detect” another in doing wrong - in doing what he meant to conceal. OUR EYE HATH SEEN IT - We are not dependent on the repor... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THOU HAST SEEN, O LORD - Thou hast seen what they have done, as they profess to have seen what I have done Psalms 35:21. Thine eye has been upon all their movements, as they say that theirs has been upon mine. Compare the notes at Psalms 35:17. KEEP NOT SILENCE - That is, Speak; rebuke them; p... [ Continue Reading ]
STIR UP THYSELF - Arouse thyself as if from sleep. See Psalms 44:23. AND AWAKE TO MY JUDGMENT - To execute judgment for me, or to render me justice. A similar petition (almost in the same words) occurs in Psalms 7:6. See the notes at that passage. EVEN UNTO MY CAUSE - In my behalf; or, in the caus... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE ME, O LORD MY GOD - Pronounce judgment, or judge between me and my enemies. Compare the notes at Psalms 26:1. ACCORDING TO THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, “rightly.” Let there be a righteous judgment. The character of God, or the righteousness of God, is the highest standard of equity and justic... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM NOT SAY IN THEIR HEARTS - Let them not congratulate themselves on the result; let them not feel that they have triumphed; let them not, under thy government, come off victorious in doing wrong. AH, SO WOULD WE HAVE IT - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Ah, our soul.” That is, It is just as we though... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE ASHAMED ... - See the notes at Psalms 35:4. THAT MAGNIFY THEMSELVES AGAINST ME - Who seek to exalt themselves over me; to make themselves great by humbling and destroying me. They hope to rise on my ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM SHOUT FOR JOY - That is, Let me be delivered; let my friends see that God is on my side, and that they have occasion to rejoice in his merciful interposition in my behalf. THAT FAVOR MY RIGHTEOUS CAUSE - Margin, as in Hebrew, “my righteousness.” The reference is to those who considered his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MY TONGUE SHALL SPEAK OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, I will praise thee as a righteous God. AND OF THY PRAISE - Of that which is a ground or reason for praise. I will speak continually of that in God and in his doings which make it proper that he should be praised. ALL THE DAY LONG - Continua... [ Continue Reading ]