This psalm is without a title, as is the case with the first, second, tenth, and some others. Of course it is impossible to determine on what occasion it was composed. There is some plausibility in the supposition that Psalms 70:1 might have been placed before it, or in connection with it, as a kind... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEE, O LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST - See the notes at Psalms 25:2. Compare Psalms 22:4; Psalms 31:1. LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO CONFUSION - Let me never be ashamed; that is, Let me not be so disappointed in the trust that I repose in thee as to have occasion to feel ashamed that I have done it.... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - See the notes at Psalms 31:1. The first three verses of this psalm seem in fact to have been taken, with slight variations, from the first three verses of Psalms 31. AND CAUSE ME TO ESCAPE - That is, from impending dangers; from the power of my enemies. INCLINE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU MY STRONG HABITATION - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Be thou to me for a rock of habitation.” That is, a rock where I may safely make my abode, or to which I may resort and feel safe. In Psalms 31:2, this is, “Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.” The idea is the same. See th... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME, O MY GOD, OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED - It is, of course, not possible now to ascertain who are particularly referred to here. If David was the author of the psalm, they may have been any of the numerous enemies that he had in his life. OUT OF THE HAND OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND CRUEL MAN... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU ART MY HOPE, O LORD GOD - The ground of my hope and my expectation is in thee. (1) I have no other help; no other defense; but (2) I “have” confidence; on thee I “do” rely. THOU ART MY TRUST FROM MY YOUTH - From my earliest years. The meaning is, that he had always trusted in God, and had... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THEE HAVE I BEEN HOLDEN UP FROM THE WOMB - From the beginning of my existence. The “idea” in all this is, that, since God had sustained him from his earliest years - since he had shown his power in keeping him, and manifested his care for him, there was ground to pray that God would keep him stil... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM AS A WONDER UNTO MANY - The word here rendered “wonder” - מופת _môphêth_ - means properly a miracle, a prodigy; then things that are suited to excite wonder or admiration; then, a sign, a token. See the notes at Isaiah 8:18. The meaning here is, that the course of things in regard to him - th... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MY MOUTH BE FILLED - This is an appeal to himself, in view of the goodness of God, to praise him always. See the notes at Psalms 35:28. WITH THY PRAISE - With the expressions of praise. AND WITH THY HONOR ALL THE DAY - With such expressions as shall promote thy glory, and make thy honor known.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST ME NOT OFF IN THE TIME OF OLD AGE - When old age comes with its infirmities; its weaknesses; its trials. When my strength fails me; when my eyes grow dim; when my knees totter; when my friends have died; when I am no longer able to labor for my support; when the buoyant feelings of earlier year... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MINE ENEMIES SPEAK AGAINST ME - That is, they said substantially, as it is stated in Psalms 71:11, that God had forsaken him, and that therefore, they would arise and punish him, or treat him as an outcast from God. AND THEY THAT LAY WAIT FOR MY SOUL - For my life; or, to take my life. The marg... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, GOD HATH FORSAKEN HIM - That is, God has given him over; he no longer protects him; he regards him as a wicked man, and we shall therefore, not only be “safe” in our attempts upon his life, but we shall be “justified” in those attempts. PERSECUTE AND TAKE HIM - It can be done safely now; it... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME - See the notes at Psalms 22:11. O MY GOD, MAKE HASTE FOR MY HELP - See the notes at Psalms 40:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE CONFOUNDED AND CONSUMED - See the notes at the similar passage in Psalms 35:4. The sentiment in this verse is the same; the language is slightly varied. See also Psalms 40:14, where the same sentiment occurs.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL HOPE CONTINUALLY - I will always cherish hope; I will not give up to despair. I will trust in God whatever may be the number, the power, and the confidence of my enemies. None of these things shall make me despair, for as long as I have a God, I have every ground for hope. No man should d... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MOUTH SHALL SHOW FORTH THY RIGHTEOUSNESS ... - See the notes at Psalms 71:8. The word “righteousness” here refers to the righteous character of God, particularly as manifested in his behalf; the word “salvation” refers to what God had done to deliver him from his dangers. FOR I KNOW NOT THE NUMB... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL GO IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD GOD - In my future journey through life; in my trials; in my duties; in my conflicts; in my temptations. Admonished in the past of my own weakness, and remembering how often God has interposed, I will hereafter lean only on his arm, and not trust to my own stren... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME FROM MY YOUTH - See Psalms 71:5. That is, God had guided and instructed him from his earliest years. He had made known to him his own being and perfections; he had made his duty plain; he had led him along the dangerous path of life. AND HITHERTO HAVE I DECLARED - I have... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ALSO WHEN I AM OLD AND GREY-HEADED - Margin, “unto old age and grey hairs.” This does not necessarily mean that he was then actually old and grey-headed, but it would imply that he was approaching that period, or that he had it in prospect. The time of youth was past, and he was approaching old... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS ALSO, O GOD, IS VERY HIGH - See the notes at Psalms 36:5. The purpose of the psalmist is to exalt that righteousness as much as possible, and he, therefore, compares it with that which is high - the heavens - the highest thing of all. The literal rendering would be, “even to the hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU, WHICH HAST SHOWED ME GREAT AND SORE TROUBLES - Or rather, who hast caused us to see or experience great trials. The psalmist here, by a change from the singular to the plural, connects himself with his friends and followers, meaning that he had suffered with them and through them. It was not m... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT INCREASE MY GREATNESS - Thou wilt not merely restore me to my former condition, but wilt enlarge my happiness, and wilt do still greater things for me. AND COMFORT ME ON EVERY SIDE - literally, “Thou wilt turn thyself; thou wilt comfort me.” The word also means to surround; to encompass... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL ALSO PRAISE THEE WITH THE PSALTERY - Margin, as in Hebrew, “with the instrument of psaltery.” The Hebrew word is נבל _nebel_. In Isaiah 5:12 it is rendered “viol.” See the notes at that passage. It is rendered “psaltery” in 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; and elsewhere. Compare th... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LIPS SHALL GREATLY REJOICE ... - My lips will seem to be happy in the privilege of celebrating the praises of God. AND MY SOUL, WHICH THOU HAST REDEEMED - Compare Psalms 34:22. The word soul here seems to be employed to denote “the soul” properly, as we understand the word - the immortal part. T... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TONGUE ALSO SHALL TALK OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS - Thy righteous character; the truthfulness, the goodness, the fidelity which thou hast manifested in delivering me. The word rendered “talk” means properly to meditate; then, to think aloud, to talk to oneself; and the idea may be, that his mind would... [ Continue Reading ]