Section 1 “Author of the psalm.” This psalm is ascribed to David, not only in the title, but in all the versions, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of this. It would not be difficult to show from its contents that the sentiments and style of composition are such as accord with the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PRAISE THEE, O LORD - That is, in view of the merciful interpositions referred to in the psalm Psalms 9:3, and in view of the attributes of God’s character which had been displayed on that occasion Psalms 9:7. WITH MY WHOLE HEART - Not with divided affection, or with partial gratitude. He me... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BE GLAD - I will rejoice, and will express my joy. AND REJOICE IN THEE - I will exult; I will triumph. That is, he would express his joy in God - in knowing that there was such a Being; in all that he had done for him; in all the evidences of his favor and friendship. WILL SING PRAISE TO TH... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MINE ENEMIES ARE TURNED BACK - Who these enemies were, the psalmist does not say. It is clear, however, as was remarked in the introduction, that the psalm was composed: (a) in view of a victory which had been achieved over some formidable enemies; and (b) in view of some dangers still impend... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST MAINTAINED MY RIGHT AND MY CAUSE - My righteous cause; that is, when he was unequally attacked. When his enemies came upon him in an unprovoked and cruel manner, God had interposed and had defended his cause. This shows that the psalmist refers to something that had occurred in the pas... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST REBUKED THE HEATHEN - Not the pagan in general, or the nations at large, but those who are particularly referred to in this psalm - those who are described as the enemies of the writer and of God. On the word rendered “heathen” here - גוים _gôyim_ - see the notes at Psalms 2:1. The word r... [ Continue Reading ]
O THOU ENEMY! - This verse has been very variously rendered and explained. For an examination of the particular views entertained of it, see particularly Rosenmuller, _in loc_. The reference is doubtless to the enemies mentioned in the previous verses; and the idea is substantially the same - that t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LORD SHALL ENDURE FOR EVER - Yahweh is eternal - always the same. Though these cities have become desolate, and the enemy has been permitted to triumph, and nations and people have passed away, yet God is ever the same, unaffected by these changes and desolations, and in due time he will alw... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - The word here rendered world means properly the habitable earth; and then it denotes the inhabitants that dwell upon the earth. The statement here is general, and is suggested by what is referred to in the previous verses. In the particular case on whi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ALSO WILL BE A REFUGE - Margin, an high place. The margin expresses the more exact sense of the, Hebrew word - משׂגב _miśgâb_. It means properly height, altitude; then a height, rock, crag; and then, as such localities, being inaccessible to an enemy, were sought in times of danger as pla... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT KNOW THY NAME - All who are acquainted with thee; all those who have been made acquainted with the manifestations of thy goodness, and with the truth respecting thy character. WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE - That is, all who have any just views of God, or who understand his real charact... [ Continue Reading ]
SING PRAISES TO THE LORD - As the result of these views of his character, and at the remembrance of his doings. The heart of the psalmist is full of exultation and joy at the remembrance of the divine interposition, and he naturally breaks out into these strong expressions, calling on others to rejo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE MAKETH INQUISITION FOR BLOOD - When he “inquires” after blood; that is, when he comes forth with this view, to wit, for purposes of punishment. There is allusion here to such passages as that in Genesis 9:5, “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O LORD - The cry for mercy implies that though God had interposed and granted them surprising deliverances, yet he was still surrounded by enemies, and was still in trouble. See introduction to the psalm, 2, 3. He had been delivered from many troubles, but there were many still p... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY SHOW FORTH ALL THY PRAISE - That I may praise time in the land of the living; that I may finish the work of praise by rendering to thee all that is due. The idea is, that the dead could not praise God, or that his praise could be uttered only by the living; and he calls on God, therefore,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEATHEN - Hebrew, “The nations;” that is, the idolatrous people that were arrayed against him. See the notes at Psalms 9:5. ARE SUNK DOWN - That is, referring to those who had been overcome, as mentioned in Psalms 9:5; or to those who still encompassed him, in respect to whom he was so certain t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS KNOWN BY THE JUDGMENT WHICH HE EXECUTETH - By what; he does in his dealings with men, in dispensing rewards and punishments, bestowing blessings upon the righteous, and sending punishments upon the ungodly. That is, his character can be learned from his dealings with mankind; or, by stud... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED - All the wicked; all who come properly under the denomination of wicked persons. Doubtless the writer had particularly in his eye the enemies with whom he was contending, and in reference to whom the psalm wits composed; and he meant to say that they would be certainly punished. But what... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE NEEDY - The poor; those who are dependent and helpless. SHALL NOT ALWAYS BE FORGOTTEN - That is, by God. He will interfere and save them by destroying their enemies. He will not suffer the wicked always to persecute and oppress the righteous. In due time he will vindicate his own cause; wil... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, O LORD - See the notes at Psalms 3:7. LET NOT MAN PREVAIL - Against thee and thy cause. The war waged against the psalmist he regarded as waged against God, and he calls upon him, therefore, to interpose and vindicate his own cause. The word rendered “prevail” is be strong; that is, let not... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT THEM IN FEAR, O LORD - From this it is evident that the enemies of the psalmist were bold, daring, confident in their own strength, and in the belief that they would succeed. He prays, therefore, that these bold and daring invaders of the rights of others might be made to stand in awe, and to tr... [ Continue Reading ]