_David in his prayer complaineth of his fearful case: he prayeth against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complaineth: he comforteth himself in God's preservation of him, and confusion of his enemies._ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, _A Psalm_ of David. _TITLE._ לדוד מש... [ Continue Reading ]
I MOURN IN MY COMPLAINT— _I bathe myself with tears in my complaint._ Chandler. Compare Isaiah 16:2.; Lamentations 1:16. The next words are rendered by Chandler, _and am in the greatest consternation._ He was brought into such immediate danger, that he scarcely knew what method to take to avoid the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY CAST INIQUITY UPON ME— The Psalmist here declares the causes of his consternation and perplexity. It was upon account of _the clamour of his enemies,_ when the conspiracy against him was strong, and the _opposition of the wicked_ (properly, _the presence of the wicked_) was round him, so th... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART IS SORE PAINED.— _Trembles._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID, OH THAT I HAD WINGS! &C.— In the Hebrew, _Who will give me wings like a dove?_ The dove is remarkable for the swiftness of its flight; and therefore the Psalmist, who saw himself in the extremest danger, and knew that his very life depended on his immediate escape, wishes for the swift w... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE WINDY STORM AND TEMPEST— _From the sweeping wind and furious tempest._ Chandler and Mudge.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY, O LORD, &C.— _Confound,_ or _overwhelm them, O Lord, and disunite their counsels._ Chandler. Praying that God would destroy their consultations by dividing them, was the prayer of a wise man, and verified by the event; as the counsels of Achitophel and Hushai were _divided,_ and thereby Ach... [ Continue Reading ]
SORROW— _Injury._... [ Continue Reading ]
WICKEDNESS IS IN THE MIDST THEREOF— _The deepest corruptions and distresses are within it._... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT WAS NOT AN ENEMY, &C.— Among other persons who joined in this conspiracy against David, there was one from whom he expected a quite different conduct, and whose infidelity and treachery were aggravated by the highest ingratitude. He was reproached by one whom he never suspected as an enemy; t... [ Continue Reading ]
LET DEATH SEIZE UPON THEM, &C.— _Death shall exact the debt with usury; they shall descend alive into_ hades. This version is from Cocceius; and Dr. Chandler well remarks, that it preserves the propriety of the original verb, and greatly adds to the force of the expression. The verb is in the future... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH DELIVERED MY SOUL— _He will redeem my soul from their conflict with me, and restore me to peace; for with multitudes they came against me._ Chandler. Houbigant renders it, _He will restore my soul in peace from him who makes war on me, though there are many against me._... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN HE THAT ABIDETH OF OLD— _Even he who reigns from everlasting._ Chandler, after Cocceius. The introducing God as reigning of old, and holding the government of the world from before all ages, has great propriety, and was one of the principal considerations which established David's hope in God,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH BROKEN HIS COVENANT— _He hath profaned,_ and _violated his covenant;_ namely, of allegiance and friendship.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH WERE SMOOTHER THAN BUTTER, &C.— _Smooth and deceitful are the buttery words of his mouth; but war is in his heart: his speeches are softer than oil; but they are drawn swords._ See Chandler and Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST THY BURTHEN UPON THE LORD— _Cast thou thy cares and projects upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee, and bring them to perfection: He will not permit the righteous to be moved for ever._ Chandler. The meaning of the word יהבךֶ _iehabeka,_ seems to be, what is _given_ us from God, our _allotme... [ Continue Reading ]