__ Psalms 17:1 _« A Prayer of David. » Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips._ A Prayer of David] He was a man of prayer; but this was his appeal to God, the supreme Judge, as the word importeth. Ver. 1. _Hear the right, O Lord_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Ver. 2. _Let my sentence come forth from thy presence_] Let it be both pronounced and executed forthwith. _ Let thine eyes behold, &c._] _i.e._ Make it appear that thou both seest and likest mine integri... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my mouth shall not transgress. Ver. 3. _Thou hast proved my heart_] And knowest me to be no dissembler and traitor, as they wrongfully charge me, while they muse as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer._ Ver. 4. _Concerning the works of men_] _sc._ Which ought to be done by them according to thy law. Or, which they are wont to do, whether right or wrong, I have not now to say, but this I can saf... [ Continue Reading ]
Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not. Ver. 5. _Hold up my goings in thy paths, &c._] Keep me within the circle of thy word, as thou hitherto hast done; make me to walk exactly, and as in a frame, Ephesians 5:15. Grant me thy preventing, concomitant, and subsequent grace: O t... [ Continue Reading ]
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and hear] my speech. Ver. 6. _I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me_] _q.d._ Thou wast always wont to hear me, and therefore I presume thou wilt. Experience breeds confidence. _ Incline thine ear_] See how... [ Continue Reading ]
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them]. Ver. 7. _Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, &c_] _Mirificas benignitates tuas; _ less than a marvellous mercifulness will not serve David's turn, he... [ Continue Reading ]
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, Ver. 8. _Keep me as the apple of the eye_] Heb. As the black of the apple of the eye, two words to the same sense, for more vehemence, _q.d._ _Serva me studiosissime._ The apple of the eye, that little man in the eye (as the He... [ Continue Reading ]
From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass me about. Ver. 9. _From the wicked that oppress me_] Heb. that waste me, i. e. that cast me out into banishmeat, despoiled of all. This hard usage of his enemies drove David into God's blessed bosom; as children misused abroad... [ Continue Reading ]
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. Ver. 10. _They are inclosed in their own fat_] See Job 15:27, _See Trapp on "_ Job 15:27 _"_ They abound in all delights, and therefore soare not to speak proudly. They have closed up their eyes in their fulsome fat, _ut non v... [ Continue Reading ]
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; Ver. 11. _They have now compassed us in our steps_] i.e. Me and my company; so that we cannot stir any whither but we are in danger of them. "In all thy ways acknowledge God, and he shall direct thy paths,... [ Continue Reading ]
Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Ver. 12. _Like as a lion that is greedy, &c._] Cruelty and craft are conjoined in the Church's enemies; as the ape never wandereth alone, they say, without his companion. David here pointeth out some... [ Continue Reading ]
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword: Ver. 13. _Arise, O Lord, disappoint him_] _Anticipa faciem eius,_ that is, that raging and ravening lion; step between me and him, and stop his fury, defeat his purpose, and disable his power. _ Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
From men [which are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes. Ver. 14. _From men which are thy hand_] This, saith one,... [ Continue Reading ]
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Ver. 15. _As for me_] I neither envy nor covet these men's happiness, but partly have and partly hope for a far better. _ I will behold thy face in righteousness_] Which none can do but the p... [ Continue Reading ]