PSALM XVII _David implores the succour of God against his enemies; and_ _professes his integrity and determination to live to God's_ _glory_, 1. _He prays for support, and expresses strong confidence in God_, 5-9; _describes the malice and cruelty of his enemies, and prays_ _against them_, 10... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:2. _MY SENTENCE COME FORTH FROM THY PRESENCE_] Thou knowest my heart, and my ways; judge me as thou shalt find; let me not fall under the judgment of man. _LET THINE EYES BEHOLD THE THINGS THAT ARE EQUAL._] Thou knowest whether I render to all their due, and whether others act justl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:3. _THOU HAST PROVED MINE HEART_] Thou well knowest whether there be any evil way in me. Thou hast given me to see many and sore trials; and yet, through thy mercy, I have preserved my integrity both to thee and to my king. Thou hast seen me in my most _secret_ retirements, and knowe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:4. _THE PATHS OF THE DESTROYER._] Some render, _hard_ or _difficult paths_, the sense of which is given above. But the passage is exceedingly obscure. My old _Psalter_ translates and paraphrases as follows: - _Trans_. _That my mouthe speke noght the werkes of men, for the_ _wordes o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:5. _HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS_] David walked in God's ways; but, without Divine assistance, he could not walk _steadily_, even in them. The _words of God's lips_ had shown him the steps he was to take, and he implores the strength of God's grace to enable him to walk in those st... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:6. _INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO ME_] David prayed from a conviction that God would hear: but he could not be satisfied unless he received an answer. In a believer's mind the petition and the answer should not be separated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:7. _SHOW THY MARVELLOUS LOVINGKINDNESS_] David was now exposed to imminent danger; common interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work _miracles_ for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no _claim_ to such miraculous interpositions; he expects al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:8. _KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF THE EYE_] Or, _as the black of_ _the daughter of eye_. Take as much care to preserve me now by _Divine influence_, as thou hast to preserve my _eye_ by thy _good_ _providence_. Thou hast entrenched it deeply in the skull; hast ramparted it with the forehea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:9. FROM _MY DEADLY ENEMIES_, WHO _COMPASS ME ABOUT._] This is a metaphor taken from huntsmen, who spread themselves around a large track of forest, driving in the deer from every part of the circumference, till they are forced into the nets or traps which they have set for them in so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:10. _THEY ARE ENCLOSED IN THEIR OWN FAT_] Dr. _Kennicott_, Bishop _Horsley, Houbigant_, and others, read the passage thus: עלי חבלמו סגרו _alai chablamo sageru_, "They have closed their net upon me." This continues the metaphor which was introduced in the preceding verse, and which i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:11. _THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US IN OUR STEPS_] Instead of אשרנו _ashshurenu_, "our steps," Dr. _Kennicott_ and others recommend אשרינו _ashreynu_, "O lucky we, at last we have compassed him." He cannot now escape; he is sure to fall into our hands. _THEY HAVE SET THEIR EYES BOWING... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:12. _LIKE AS A LION_ THAT _IS GREEDY OF HIS PREY_] I believe the word _lion_ is here used to express _Saul_ in his strength, kingly power, and fierce rapacity. See the observations at the end of the Psalm. Psalms 17:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:13. _ARISE, O LORD, DISAPPOINT HIM_] When _he_ arises to spring upon and tear me to pieces, arise _thou_, O Lord; disappoint him of his prey; seize him, and cast him down. _DELIVER MY SOUL_] Save my life. _FROM THE WICKED_, WHICH IS _THY SWORD_] Saul is still meant, and we may unde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:14. _FROM MEN OF THE WORLD_, WHICH HAVE] ממתים מחלד _mimethim_ _mecheled, from mortal men of time_; temporizers; men who shift with the times, who have no fixed principle but one, that of securing their own secular interest: and this agrees with what follows - which have _their porti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 17:15. _AS FOR ME_] I cannot be satisfied with such a portion. _I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE_] Nothing but an evidence of thy _approbation_ can content my soul. _IN RIGHTEOUSNESS_] I cannot have thy approbation unless I am _conformed_ to thy _will_. I must be _righteous_ in order that my _h... [ Continue Reading ]