V. Psalms 5:7 makes the inscription to this psalm suspicious. (See Note.) The address, “my king,” also denoting the theocratic relation of Jehovah to His people, seems more natural in. an invocation supposed to come from the entire faithful Israel — an invocation for help against the idolatrous par... [ Continue Reading ]
MEDITATION. — From a root cognate with the word translated meditate in Psalms 1:2, with primary sense of _mutter_ or _murmur._ Here “whispered prayer,” in contrast to “words” in first clause, and to “voice of my cry” in the next. It echoes clause 1: “while unto thee will I pray” corresponds to “medi... [ Continue Reading ]
The daily morning sacrifice sees the Psalmist in the Temple. The word “direct,” or, better, _prepare,_ is the same employed in Leviticus 1:8; Leviticus 1:12; Leviticus 6:12, of the priest laying out the wood for the sacrifice, or the parts of the offering itself, and suggest that the author may hims... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL EVIL. — Better, _the wicked man is not thy guest._ For the same thought, see Psalms 15; and for the opposite, of God coming to dwell with the godly, Isaiah 57:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLISH. — Literally, _shiners_ — _i.e.,_ displayers of self; or, perhaps, _self-praisers, boasters._ SHALL NOT STAND. — As distinguished men before kings (Proverbs 22:29); as angels in the court of the heavenly King (Job 1:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
LEASING. — See Psalms 4:2. BLOODY. — Margin, literally, _of bloods and deceit._ So LXX. and Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOUSE... TEMPLE. — These words must certainly be taken literally, and not, as Hupfeld suggests, metaphorically, or in a spiritual sense with reference to Psalms 5:4. The reference to worship hardly allows the rendering _palace,_ though the derivation of the Hebrew word permits it. No doubt either ex... [ Continue Reading ]
ENEMIES. — Literally, _those watching for, or lying in wait._ Aquila and Jerome both give “those lying in ambush.” God’s guidance and protection would enable the good man to avoid their snares, and to walk straight in the way of righteousness. To walk in God’s way is to walk in safety.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR MOUTH. — See margin. WICKEDNESS. — Properly, _an abyss,_ from root “to fall,” hence in parallelism with “open sepulcher” in next clause. This is an instance of introverted parallelism, “mouth” answering to “tongue.” (See _Bible Educator,_ iii. 50.) AN OPEN SEPULCHRE. — At once _dangerous... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY. — Literally, _make_ or _count guilty._ TRANSGRESSIONS. — Literally, _revolts,_ thus being in close synonymous parallelism with the next clause. Or else, as in margin and in ancient versions, LXX., Vulg., and Syriac, “Let them fall from their counsels:” _i.e.,_ “let their plots fail.” On t... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE. — From root meaning primarily _bright._ Proverbs 13:9 : “The light of the righteous rejoiceth.” SHIELD. — Heb., _tsinnah._ The long large shield fit for a giant (1 Samuel 17:7; 1 Samuel 17:41), which could protect the whole body. Luther, when asked at Augsburg where he should find shelter... [ Continue Reading ]