_A.M. 2986. B.C. 1018._ Neither the author nor the occasion of this Psalm is certainly known; but the rabbins have a rule, (which, however, will not always hold good,) that every Psalm which has not any title prefixed to it is to be ascribed to the same author who composed the preceding. It is prob... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why standest thou afar off_ As one unconcerned in the indignities offered to thy name, and the injuries done to thy people? _Why hidest thou thyself_ Withdrawest thy presence and aid, and the light of thy countenance which was wont to shine upon us? Why art thou as a person concealing himself, so a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked in his pride_ The pride of his heart which makes him forget God, despise the poor, and oppress others: Hebrew, בגאות, _begaa-vath, in his exaltation; doth persecute the poor_ With great earnestness and burning fury, as the verb דלק, _dalak_, here used, signifies: as if he had said, The u... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked boasteth himself of_ Hebrew, הלל, _hillel, glorieth_, or, _praiseth himself, upon, concerning_, or, _because of his heart's desire_ נפשׁו תאות, _naphsho taavath_, the _concupiscence_, or, _lust of his soul_, which latter word is added to denote the vehemence and fervency of his desire. H... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked, through the pride of his countenance_ By which he scorns to stoop to God, or to own any superior, but makes himself his last end, and his own will and lust his only rule; and is full of self-confidence and a conceit of his own self-sufficiency and permanent felicity. He says the pride o... [ Continue Reading ]
_His ways are always grievous_ The whole course of his conduct is vexatious to all that are within his reach, but especially to the poor, who cannot defend themselves, and to just and good men, whom he hates and persecutes. _Thy judgments_ Either thy laws, which are often called judgments, or rather... [ Continue Reading ]
_He hath said in his heart_ He thinks and persuades himself; _I shall not be moved_ From my place and happy state: _I shall never be in adversity_ Because I am not in adversity, I never shall be in it. His present prosperity makes him secure for the future. Compare Revelation 18:7. “Prosperity,” say... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mouth is full of cursing_ Of oaths and blasphemies against God; of reviling and execration of other men, especially of those that are good, and those that stand in his way, and hinder his wicked designs; and, perhaps, also of oaths and imprecations against himself, by which he endeavours to gai... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages_ Not within the villages, but in the ways bordering upon them, or leading to them, as robbers used to do. _In the secret places_ That he may avoid the shame and punishment of men; which is the only thing that he fears. _His eyes are privily set_ Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
_He croucheth and humbleth himself_ Like a lion (for he continues the same metaphor) which lies close upon the ground, partly that he may not be discovered, and partly that he may more suddenly and surely lay hold on his prey. “When the lion means to leap,” says the Jewish Arabic translator, “he fir... [ Continue Reading ]
_He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten_ Namely, _the poor_, (Psalms 10:10,) or, _the humble._ He forgets or neglects their oppressions and prayers, and doth not avenge their cause, as he hath said he would do. _He hideth his face_ Lest he should see. He takes no notice of their sufferings, l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lift up thy hand_ To rescue the poor, and to smite their oppressors; _forget not the humble_ Show, by thy appearing for their vindication, that thou dost remember and regard them. _Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?_ Why dost thou, by giving them impunity, suffer and occasion them to despise th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast seen it_ Or, But thou hast seen it, and therefore they are horribly mistaken, as they will find to their cost; _for thou beholdest_ And not as an idle spectator, but with an eye of observation and vindication; _mischief and spite_ All the malicious, spiteful, and injurious conduct of wick... [ Continue Reading ]
_Break thou the arm of the wicked_ That is, their strength, the instrument of their violence and cruelty. Deprive them of all power to do mischief. _Seek out his wickedness_ Search for it, and punish these wicked atheists; _till thou find none_ Till no such wickedness be left in the world, or at lea... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is king_ To whom it belongs to protect his subjects. Therefore thou wilt save the humble, and punish the oppressors; _for ever and ever_ Therefore his people's case is never desperate, seeing he ever lives and reigns to help them, and, therefore, he will help them in his time, sooner or la... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast heard the desire of the humble_ And, therefore, wilt still hear it, being unchangeable, and the same for ever. _Thou wilt prepare their heart_ By kindling therein holy desires by thy Holy Spirit, strengthening their faith, collecting their thoughts, and raising their affections to things... [ Continue Reading ]