Psalms 17:4

_CONCERNING THE WORKS OF MEN, BY THE WORD OF THY LIPS I HAVE KEPT ME FROM THE PATHS OF THE DESTROYER._ Concerning the works of men - i:e., their ordinary actings, which are naturally and essentially corrupt (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21; Psalms 51:5). David's language undesignedly coincides with that attributed to him in 1 Samuel 24:9, "MEN'S words." Where men's words or acts are spoken of, unless some epithet mark them to be regenerate men, they are thought of only as evil, so universal is man's corruption. So Hosea 6:7. Compare my note,...

4._As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips. _Interpreters explain this verse in different senses. Some thinking that the letter ב, _beth, _which commonly signifies _in _or _by_, is taken for _against, _render it thus: As for the works of men which they practice against thy word. But I rather incline to the opinion of others who consider that there is here commended a right judgment of the actions of men which is formed according to the rule of the word of God. There are some shrewd and ingenious persons who carefully mark the works of men, but they do not judge of them according to the word of God. What we have as yet said does not, however, fully give us the sense of the passage. We must still consider what the Psalmist means when he speaks of _the paths of the destroyer. _(349) Some think he refers to the men of his own company, who, if he

1-7 This psalm is a prayer. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. The psalmist had been used to pray, so that it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty. And he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would notice his prayers. Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue, will be a good evidence of our integrity. Aware of man's propensity to wicked works, and of his own peculiar temptations, David had made God's word his preservative from the paths of Satan, which lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very comfortable in the reflection, when we are in trouble. Those that are, through grace, going in God's paths, should pray that their goings may be held up in tho...

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 of thi lippes I haf keped hard wayse._ _Par_. _That_ es, that nothing passe of my mouthe bot at falles to the louyng of _the; noght til werkes of men_, that dos o gaynes thy wil; als to say, I spak _noght_ bot gude; and _for the wordes of thi_ _lippes_, that es, to ful fil the _wordes_ that thi prophetes saide; _I_ _kepe hard waies_ of verteus and of _tribulacioun_, the qwilk men thynk hard; and for thi thai leve the _hard_ way til heven, and takes the soft way til hel; but it es

CONCERNING THE WORKS OF MEN - In respect to the works or doings of men. The reference is here probably to the ordinary or common doings of mankind, or to what generally characterizes the conduct of men. As their conduct is so commonly, and so characteristically wicked, wickedness may be spoken of as their “work,” and it is to this doubtless that the psalmist refers. In respect to the sinful courses or “paths” to which men are so prone, he says that he had kept himself from them. This is in accordance with what he says in the previous verse, that he had given no occasion by his conduct for the treatment which he had received at the hands of his enemies. BY THE WORD OF THY LIPS - Not by his own strength; not by any power which he himself had, but by the commands and promises of God - by what had proceeded from his mouth. The reference is doubtless to all that God had spoken: to the law whi...

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is termed "a prayer"—"a Prayer of David." It consists, no doubt, mainly of a series of petitions (Psalms 17:1, Psalms 17:2, Psalms 17:6, Psalms 17:7, Psalms 17:8, Psalms 17:9, Psalms 17:13, Psalms 17:14); but contains also a number of verses which have no precatory

CONCERNING THE WORKS OF MEN,.... Of wicked men, as to what respects and concerns them, or in the midst of them; in the midst of a wicked generation of men, and their filthy conversation; who appear to be so, BY THE WORD OF THY LIPS; the law of God, the Scriptures of truth, the rule and standard of faith and practice, which show what works are good and what are not; by the use, help, and benefit of this; I HAVE KEPT [ME FROM] THE PATHS OF THE DESTROYER; such is the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning; antichrist, whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon, both which signify a destroyer; false teachers, and all wicked men: the "paths" of such are their wicked principles and practices, their damnable errors and heresies, their sins and lusts, which make up the broad road that leads to destruction: these the psalmist "kept" or "observed" a, for the words "me" and "from" are not in the or...

Psalms 17:1. _Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips._ Good men are often slandered and misunderstood; and, at such times, the first verse of this Psalm will well fit their lips: «Hear the right, O Lord.» And, at all times, it is a great blessing when a supplicant can say to God, «Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.» It must be a dreadful thing to pray with lips that do not speak the truth. When men's thoughts are far away from their prayers, and they are muttering pious words but their heart is absent, what a mockery it must be in the sight of God! A dead prayer, who will own it? It is like the child that was overlaid in the days of Solomon, which neither of the two mothers would own to be hers, Beware of dead prayers. You may dress them up as finely as you like; but, if there is no life in the

Psalms 17 The Prayer of Christ Against the Enemy _ 1. The Righteous Intercessor (Psalms 17:1)_ 2. Prayer for deliverance (Psalms 17:6) 3. The deliverance (Psalms 17:13) Psalms 17:1. This Psalm is blessedly linked with the foregoing one. We hear Christ interceding for the saints in whom is His delight (16:3). He pleads His own perfection. He is righteous; His prayer does not come from feigned lips. Not David, but Christ alone could truly say, “Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me. T

XVII. THE PRAYER OF A GODLY MAN FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HIS FOES. These foes are not foreign enemies but worldly Jews who persecute their pious and innocent neighbours. The cry for Divine help is made in Psalms 17:1 and is repeated in Psalms 17:6; Psalms 17:13. PSALMS 17:1. In Psalms 17:2 follow _mg._ Psalms 17:3_ b_. With slight alteration of the text translate Thou shalt find no evil thought in me; my mouth shalt not transgress. Such self-complace