Psalms 59:3

_FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR MY SOUL: THE MIGHTY ARE GATHERED AGAINST ME; NOT FOR MY TRANSGRESSION, NOR FOR MY SIN, O LORD._ For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul - (1 Samuel 19:11.) THE MIGHTY - `the strong;' the same Hebrew as in Psalms 59:9; Psalms 59:17. ARE GATHERED AGAINST ME. So in David's Psalms 56:6. NOT FOR MY TRANSGRESSION, NOR FOR MY SIN, O LORD. He appeals to the all-knowing _ YAHWEH_ (H3068) to establish his innocence, since the earthly king will not believe his protestations. Compare...

1-7 In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man....

Verse Psalms 59:3. _FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR MY SOUL_] For my _life_. See the passages referred to above....

FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR MY SOUL - They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Judges 9:32; Judges 21:20; Psalms 10:9. The word “soul” here means “life.” They lie in ambush that they may kill me. THE MIGHTY ARE GATHERED AGAINST ME - Strong men; hostile men; cruel men. Saul would employ on this occasion not the weak, the cowardly, the faint-hearted, but men of courage and strength; men who were unscrupulous in their character; men who would not be likely to be moved by entreaty, or turned from th

EXPOSITION LIKE Psalms 56:1 and Psalms 57:1, this is a cry for deliverance out of great peril, with a final expression of confidence (verses 16, 17) that the deliverance will be granted. From the psalm itself there is some difficulty in determining who are the enemies against whom aid is sought, since, while the bulk of the allusions suggest domestic enemies, there is distinct mention of the "heathen" in two places (Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:8). Hence it has been argued by critics of note that the entire complaint is against foreign foes, and the complainant either the nation (De Wette), or a late king of Judah (Ew

FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR MY SOUL,.... As the men did that watched his house, when Saul sent to kill him; so the Jews sought and lay in wait to take away the life of Christ; and very often was it the case of the Apostle Paul, that he was in danger of his life, through the lying in wait of the Jews; so Satan makes use of cunning devices, stratagems, and wiles, to ruin the souls of God's people, if possible; and false teachers lie in wait to deceive them. The emphasis lies upon the word "soul", which is so precious, and the redemption of which has cost so much, even the blood of Christ; THE MIGHTY ARE GATHERED AGAINST ME; or, "dwell by me"; see Psalms 56:6; around his house, the soldiers that Saul sent; and such were the enemies of Christ, Psalms 69:4; the chief priests, Scribes

Psalms 59 Gentile Enmity Against Israel _ 1. Surrounded by nations (Psalms 59:1)_ 2. Their judgment anticipated (Psalms 59:9) Another Michtam of David when he was persecuted by Saul. While in previous Psalms we saw prophetically the remnant of the last suffering from their own ungodly brethren and the Antichrist, here the nations are their enemies. The word “heathen” should always be translated “nations.” They will surround Jerusalem. This is mentioned in Psalms 59:6. They are like the dogs, the term used for Gentiles in the Word. The godly pray for deliverance and in faith sing of His power--” I will sing aloud of Thy m

LIX. The Ps. seems to be directed against Jewish and not foreign enemies. It might well be a prayer for the downfall of the aristocratic Sadducees. On the other hand in Psalms 59:5 and Psalms 59:8 the Psalmist prays against heathen. But a slight change gives the word we need, viz. proud (_cf._ Psalms 9:17). PSALMS 59:6 is a variant of Psalms 59:14; it is in its right place after Psalms 59:13....

SOUL. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. TRANSGRESSION. rebellion. Hebrew. _pasha'._ SIN. Hebrew. _chata'._ LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

The Psalmist prays for deliverance from the enemies who are bent on taking his life, pleading his innocence, and appealing to God to punish all injustice....