PSALM VII _The psalmist prays against the malice of his enemies_, 1, 2; _protests his own innocence_, 3-5; _prays to God that he would vindicate him, for the edification_ _of his people_, 6-8; _prays against the wickedness of his enemies_, 9; _expresses strong confidence in God_, 10; _threate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:2. _LEST HE TEAR MY SOUL LIKE A LION_] These words seem to answer well to _Saul_. As the _lion_ is _king_ in the forest; so was _Saul_ king over the land. As the _lion_, in his fierceness, seizes at once, and tears his prey in pieces; so David expected to be seized and suddenly destro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:3. _IF I HAVE DONE THIS_] David was accused by Saul of _affecting the kingdom_; and of _waiting_ for an opportunity to _take_ _away the life of his king, his patron_, and his _friend_. In his application to God he refers to these charges; meets them with indignation; and clears himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:4. _YEA, I HAVE DELIVERED HIM_] When, in the course of thy providence, thou didst put his life in my hand in the _cave_, I contented myself with cutting off his skirt, merely to show him the danger he had been in, and the spirit of the man whom he accused of designs against his life;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:5. _LET THE ENEMY PERSECUTE MY SOUL_] If I have been guilty of the things laid to my charge, let the worst evils fall upon me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:6. _ARISE, O LORD, IN THINE ANGER_] To thee I commit my cause; arise, and sit on the throne of thy judgment in my behalf.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:7. _FOR THEIR SAKES THEREFORE RETURN THOU ON HIGH._] Thy own people who compass thy altar, the faithful of the land, are full of gloomy apprehensions. They hear the charges against me; and see how I am persecuted. Their minds are divided; they know not what to think. For _their sakes,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:8. _THE LORD SHALL JUDGE THE PEOPLE_] He will execute justice and maintain truth among them. They shall not be as sheep without a shepherd. _JUDGE ME, O LORD_] Let my innocence be brought to the light, and my just dealing made clear as the noonday.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:9. _THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WICKED_] The iniquity of _Saul's_ conduct. _BUT ESTABLISH THE JUST_] Show the people _my_ uprightness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:10. _MY DEFENCE_ IS _OF GOD_] I now leave my cause in the hands of my Judge. I have no uneasy or fearful apprehensions, because I know God will save the upright in heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:11. _GOD IS ANGRY_ WITH THE WICKED _EVERY DAY._] The _Hebrew_ for this sentence is the following: ועל זעם בכל יום _veel zoem_ _becol yom_; which, according to the _points_, is, _And God is angry_ _every day_. Our translation seems to have been borrowed from the _Chaldee_, where the wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:12. _IF HE TURN NOT_] This clause the _Syriac_ adds to the preceding verse. Most of the versions read, "If ye return not." Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that the two verses should be read in connection, thus: "God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:13. _HE HATH ALSO PREPARED FOR HIM THE INSTRUMENTS OF_ _DEATH_] This appears to be all a prophecy of the tragical death of _Saul_. He was wounded by the _arrows_ of the _Philistines_; and his own _keen sword_, on which he fell, terminated his woful days!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:14. _HE TRAVAILETH WITH INIQUITY_] All these terms show the pitch of envy, wrath, and malevolence, to which Saul had carried his opposition against David. He _conceived mischief_; he _travailed_ with _iniquity_; he _brought forth falsehood_-all his expectations were blasted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:15. _HE MADE A PIT_] He determined the destruction of David. He laid his plans with much artifice; he executed them with zeal and diligence; and when he had, as he supposed, the grave of David digged, he fell into it himself! The metaphor is taken from pits dug in the earth, and sligh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:16. _SHALL COME DOWN UPON HIS OWN PATE._] Upon his _scalp_, קדקד kodkod, the top of the head. It may refer to _knocking the_ _criminal on the head_, in order to deprive him of life. Had _scalping_ been known in those days, I should have thought the reference might be to that barbarous... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 7:17. _I WILL PRAISE THE LORD ACCORDING TO HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS_] I shall celebrate both his justice and his mercy. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. The _name_ of God is often put for his _perfections_. So here, שם יהוה עלין _shem Yehovah Elyon;_ "The perfections of Je... [ Continue Reading ]