_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 ]