PSALM 140 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was composed by David upon occasion of those slanderous and reproachful speeches and treacherous dealings which David had from his enemies in Saul's tithe, of which we have an account in the history. The psalmist prayeth for deliverance and safety from wicked men, P... [ Continue Reading ]
To execute those bloody enterprises which they had devised in the first clause of this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SHARPENED THEIR TONGUES; their malicious hearts stirred up their tongues to utter vile slanders against me. _Like a serpent_; either whetting their tongues, as serpents are said to whet theirs when they are about to bite; or rather, using words as sharp and piercing as the sting of a serpe... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose design and full resolution it is, if thou dost not prevent it, _to overthrow my goings_, or my feet or footsteps, i.e. to throw me down to the ground, to defeat all my hopes and counsels, and bring me to ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROUD; my insolent enemies, who despise me for my meanness, and exalt themselves against thee. BY THE WAYSIDE; in which I used to walk.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
With thy powerful protection, as with a helmet or shield.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WICKED DEVICE; which is to destroy me. EXALT THEMSELVES; not only against me, but against thee also, as if by their power and policy they had frustrated thy design and promise made to me.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAD; or, _heads_; the singular number put for the plural, as is frequent. By which he understands either, 1. Their politic heads, their chiefs or ringleaders, who were most malicious, and by whom all the rest were supported and stirred up: or, 2. Their proper and natural heads, as this word i... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNING COALS; Divine vengeance, which is compared to coals of fire, as PSALMS 18:12, and elsewhere. RISE NOT UP AGAIN; either to my danger, or their own comfort.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EVIL SPEAKER; such as slander me and other innocent persons, to exasperate princes against us. EVIL; either the evil of punishment; or, which comes to the same thing, the evil of sin, their own wickedness, which shall recoil upon themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW, both by God's word, which hath promised it, and by my own experience of it in the course of God's providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL GIVE THANKS UNTO THY NAME; shall have occasion to praise thee for their deliverance. SHALL DWELL IN THY PRESENCE; shall constantly enjoy thy gracious and powerful presence and assistance.... [ Continue Reading ]