Psalms 11:2

_FOR, LO, THE WICKED BEND THEIR BOW, THEY MAKE READY THEIR ARROW UPON THE STRING, THAT THEY MAY PRIVILY SHOOT AT THE UPRIGHT IN HEART._ For, lo. The argument follows whereon the friends of the godly justify their advice, "Flee" - namely, the preparations which "the wicked" have made against the godly. Compare the counsel of the disciples (John 11:8) and of the Pharisees (Luke 13:31) to Jesus to flee. Also, the unbelieving suggestions of Job's wife (Job 2:9). Also, Paul's noble resistance to the entreaties of friends who wished him to shun the dangers before him (Acts 21:13). In addition, see...

2._Surely, behold! the ungodly. _Some think that this is added as the excuse made by those who desired David to save himself by flight. According to others, David expostulates with his countrymen, who saw death menacing him on all sides, and yet denied him shelter. But, in my judgment, he here continues his account of the trying circumstances in which he was placed. His design is not only to place before our view the dangers with which he was surrounded, but to show us that he was exposed even to death itself. He therefore says, that wherever he might hide himself, it was impossible for him to escape from the hands of his enemies. Now, the description of so miserable a condition illustrates the more strikingly the grace of God in the deliverance which he afterwards granted him. With respect to the words, _they have fixed their arrows upon the string, to _Shoot Secretly, or _in darkness,...

Verse Psalms 11:2. _FOR, LO, THE WICKED BEND_ THEIR _BOW_] Perhaps these are more of the words of his advisers: Every thing is ready for thy destruction: the arrow that is to pierce thy heart is already set on the bow-string; and the person who hopes to despatch thee is concealed in ambush....

FOR, LO, THE WICKED BEND THEIR BOW - These are to he regarded as the words of the persons referred to in the previous verse, who had advised the persecuted psalmist to flee to the mountains. In this verse reasons are suggested for that advice. The reasons are, that the enemy was preparing for an attack, and that at an unexpected moment the attack would be made unless he should effect his escape. Apprised of the danger, he might now make good his escape, and avoid the peril which was impending. The common weapon in war, as in hunting, was the bow and arrow. The process of preparing for the use of the bow consisted in bending it, and properly adjusting the arrow. The Hebrew word used here is “tread;” “the wicked tread upon the bow;” that is, with a view to bend it. The bow was made of steel, or strong wood, or pieces of ivory framed together, and it often required great strength - beyond t...

EXPOSITION ASCRIBED to David in the "title," this psalm is almost universally allowed to be his. It "has all the characteristics of the earlier Davidic psalms." No allusion enables us to assign it to any particular occasion; but, on the whole, it would seem to belong most probably to the period of David's residence at the court of Saul, when he had provoked the jealousy of the courtiers, and calumnious accusations were being continually brought against him. At such a time his friends and companions may well have lost heart, and advised him to "flee away to the mountains." But David flees to God (Psalms 11:1), and trusts in him for deliverance from his persecutors (Psalms 11:4). Psalms 1

FOR, LO, THE WICKED BEND [THEIR] BOW,.... Are devising mischief, and making preparations to accomplish it; THEY MAKE READY THEIR ARROW UPON THE STRING; of the bow, and are just about to execute their wicked designs; THAT THEY MAY PRIVILY SHOOT AT THE UPRIGHT IN HEART; such as David, and those that were with him, were; they were men whose hearts were upright before God, and were of upright conversations before men, and so became the butt of the malice and resentment of wicked men; against these they formed evil purposes, delivered out bitter words, which were like sharp arrows of the mighty; threatened them with ruin and destruction, and took methods to bring about their designs and make good their words, in the most private and secret manner. Hence some of David's friends thought it most advisable for him to make his escape; adding,...

Psalms 11 __ 1. Faith's resources in the day of trouble (Psalms 11:1) 2. The recompense for the righteous and the wicked (Psalms 11:5) Psalms 11:1. Their refuge is the Lord, in Him they trust as we, His heavenly people, know Him as our hiding place in the time of trouble. That coming day of trouble is the time “when the foundations are destroyed.” It is the time of apostasy and confusion. But their comfort is “Jehovah is in His holy temple, the Throne of Jehovah is in heaven.” Psalms 11:5. But faith also reckons with the day of retributio

XI. YAHWEH THE SURE REFUGE. Psalms 11:1. The problem stated. The wicked are bold: the righteous cannot meet their attack. They can but flee like a little bird (the habitual meaning of the word translated bird). The mountain (LXX) is preferable to your mountain. An eagle might be poetically described as lord of the mountain, not so a little bird, which seeks refuge there. The reason for this despair is that while the very foundations of social order have been shaken, the righteous have made no head against prevailing evil. After all what hath the righteous done or effected? (_mg.)._ The answer (Psalms 11:4), Yahweh is in His heavenly Temple. But far from dwelling apart, He proves or tests the righteous. He rains burning wood on the wicked (so emend the senseless word snares in...

THE WICKED. the lawless ones. Hebrew. _rasha. '._ PRIVILY. in the darkness. THE UPRIGHT. upright ones....

PSALMS 11 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE Faith's Brave Answer to the Counsels of Fear. ANALYSIS Stanza, Psalms 11:1-3, Counsels of Despair, with an Expression of Surprise Refused. Antistanza, Psalms 11:4-6,Confidence in Jehovah Triumphantly Affirmed. Refrain, Psalms 11:7, The Righteous are Sure of Jehovah's Love and Long to Behold his Face. (Lm.)[93] By David. [93] Some cod. (w. Sep., Vul.): PsalmGn. 1 In Jehovah have I taken refuge: how say ye to my soul,[94] [94] See Intro., Chap. III., Soul. Flee to a mountain like[95] a bird; [95] So it should be (w. Aram., Sep., Syr., Vul.)G