1. “Author of the psalm” - This psalm also purports to be a psalm of David, and there is nothing in it to lead us to doubt that this opinion is correct. It is ascribed to him in all the versions, and by all the ancient Hebrew writers, and the contents are such as we might expect from him. 2. “The oc... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD - We naturally incline the ear toward anyone when we wish to hear distinctly what he says, and we turn away the ear when we do not. The meaning here is, David prayed that God would be attentive to or would regard his prayer. This form of the petition is, that he would at... [ Continue Reading ]
:Title UPON NEHILOTH - The title of Psalms 4:1 is, “upon Neginoth.” As that refers to a musical instrument, so it is probable that this does, and that the idea here is that this psalm was intended particularly for the music-master that had special charge of this instrument, or who presided over thos... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF MY CRY - My cry for assistance. The word “voice” refers to the utterance of his desires, or to his “expressed” wishes in a time of trouble. MY KING, AND MY GOD - Though he was himself a king, yet he acknowledged his subjection to God as his supreme Ruler, and looked up to... [ Continue Reading ]
MY VOICE SHALT THOU HEAR IN THE MORNING, O LORD - The voice of prayer. Compare the notes at Psalms 3:5. Probably he refers here to a general habit of praying in the morning, though he makes a particular reference to his circumstances at that time. Compare Psalms 55:17. The psalmist felt, doubtless,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU ART NOT A GOD THAT HATH PLEASURE IN WICKEDNESS - The psalmist here refers to a well-known and well-understood characteristic of the Divine Being, that he was holy and pure, and that he could not have any pleasure in furthering the designs of wicked men. This is said with reference to his en... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOOLISH - Referring still to his enemies, as having this character, and urging the fact that they “had” such a character as a reason why God should hear him, and deliver him. The word “foolish” here, הוללים _hôl__e__liym_, is used to denote the wicked, under the common idea in the Scriptures th... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT DESTROY - Thou wilt bring to ruin; thou wilt cause to perish; that is, cause to perish as the wicked are caused to perish, by being punished. The idea is that God could not approve their cause; could not favor them; could not give them prosperity, and that they must be overthrown and puni... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR ME - While it is their characteristic that they are wicked, and have no desire to serve God; and while with such characteristics they can have no hope of access to God, and no reason to suppose that he will hear their cry, I am inclined to enter his house, and I feel the assurance that he... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAD ME, O LORD, IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, conduct me safely in the manifestation of the principles of justice or righteousness which belong to thy nature. David felt assured that his was a righteous cause, and that he might make his appeal to God on the ground of the justness of that cause. S... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS IN THEIR MOUTH - There is nothing in them which can be confided in; nothing in their promises and declarations. They are false and treacherous, and I can, therefore, only appeal to thee. It is easy to see the propriety of this statement, and of those which follow, on the... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY THOU THEM, O GOD - The word here rendered “destroy” is translated by Prof. Alexander “condemn” - “condemn them; literally, make them guilty; that is, recognize and treat them as such.” The Hebrew word אשׁם _'âsham_, means to fail in duty, to transgress, to be guilty; in the Hiphil, the form... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE - Compare the notes at Psalms 2:12. That is, they have occasion to rejoice in thee and in thy protection. The wicked have everything to dread, for they must be cut off; but the righteous have every reason to be happy, for they shall partake of t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU, LORD, WILT BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS - It is one of the characteristics of God that, while he will punish the wicked, he will show favor to the righteous; while he brings deserved punishment upon the one, he will show his favor to the other. WITH FAVOR WILT THOU COMPASS HIM AS WITH A SHIELD - T... [ Continue Reading ]