_A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060._ David, being in great distress and danger by the malice of his enemies, addresses himself by prayer to God, his tried refuge, and seeks help and protection from him. He appeals to God for his integrity, Psalms 17:1. Prays still to be upheld therein, and preserved from the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear the right, O Lord_ Hebrew, צדק, _tzedek, righteousness_, that is, my righteous cause, or me, who, notwithstanding all their accusations, and slanders, am righteous in my conduct toward them and all men. _Attend unto my_ cry My fervent prayer, attended with strong cries. _That goeth not out of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my sentence_ Hebrew, משׁפשׂי, _mishpati_, my _judgment_, that is, judgment in my cause, or on my behalf: _come forth from thy presence_ From thee, and from thy tribunal, to which I bring my cause. Do not suspend or delay it, but speedily examine my cause, and give sentence in it. _Behold the th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast proved mine heart_ Or _searched_, or _tried_ it, by many temptations and afflictions; by which the sincerity or hypocrisy of men's hearts is discovered, and especially is manifest to thy all-seeing eye. _Thou hast visited me in the night_ Thou hast been present with me in my greatest priv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Concerning the works of men_ That is, the works which men generally practise: observing how unreasonable, wicked, and pernicious they are, not only to others, but also to themselves, I have been resolved to take more care in the ordering of my actions. This he says, to show that he had been as care... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hold up my goings_, &c. As by thy word and grace thou hast hitherto kept me from the paths of evil men, and led me into thy paths, so I pray thee enable me, by the same means, to persevere therein, and in an abhorrence of all wicked courses. Let me not only be restrained from doing that which is ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have called upon thee_ It hath been, still is, and shall be, my constant course, to apply myself to thee for assistance and deliverance. _For thou wilt hear, O God_ Though thou mayest delay for a season, I am well assured that thou wilt hear and answer me.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Show thy marvellous loving-kindness_ Namely, in preserving and delivering me: which, if thou dost, I must ever acknowledge it to be an act of _kindness_, or free grace and mercy, yea, and of _marvellous kindness_, because of my extreme and pressing dangers, out of which nothing but a miracle of div... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep me as the apple of the eye_ Which thou hast marvellously fenced on every side, and which men use their utmost care and diligence to preserve. _Hide me under the shadow of thy wings_ Protect me from my enemies, visible and invisible, as a hen protects her chickens from birds of prey. There seem... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are enclosed in their own fat_ They live in great splendour and prosperity, while I am exercised with many sore troubles. A similar phrase occurs Job 15:27; Psalms 73:1. Dr. Dodd considers it as “a poetical, or proverbial speech, to signify haughtiness, as caused by wealth or great prosperity;... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have compassed us in our steps_ In all our ways. We go from place to place: we flee for safety to rocks, caves, and woods; but whithersoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us. See an instance of this 1 Samuel 23:26. _They have set their eyes_ Namely, upon or against us. They hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, O Lord, disappoint him_ Hebrew, קדמה פניו, _kadmah panaiv, prevent his face;_ that is, Go forth against him, and meet and face him in battle, as enemies are wont to do. Or, prevent the execution of his mischievous designs against me: stop him in his attempt, and give him the first blow. _The... [ Continue Reading ]
_From men which are thy hand_ Wherewith thou dost correct me. _From men of the world_ Who prosper in, and set their hearts upon, this vain and transitory world, and neither have, nor choose, nor desire, any other portion or felicity: who are actuated by the spirit of the world, walk according to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for me_ I do not envy their felicity, but my hopes and happiness are of another nature. _I will_ (or, _shall_) _behold thy face_ I do not place my portion in earthly and temporal pleasures, as they do, but in _beholding God's face:_ that is, in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which i... [ Continue Reading ]