Jehovah's servant recognises that his sufferings are the merited punishment of sin, and pleads for a merciful hearing. The recollection of the manifestations of Jehovah's lovingkindness in ancient times makes him long for some fresh exhibition of His goodness (Psalms 143:1-6). He prays for a speedy... [ Continue Reading ]
At first sight it seems inconsistent that the Psalmist should appeal to Jehovah's righteousness, and yet (Psalms 143:2) deprecate being put on his trial. But Jehovah's righteousness here denotes His unvarying conformity to His own character, that absolute perfection of dealing which is the perpetual... [ Continue Reading ]
An appeal for mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_enter not into judgment with thy servant_ Do not put me on my trial and pass sentence on me according to my deserts. For the phrase cp. Job 9:32; Job 14:3; Isaiah 3:14. _Thy servant_is not a mere formal expression of humility: it denotes -one who is devoted to Thy service," and this relation is th... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 7:5; Psalms 88:3-6. The last line agrees verbatim with Lamentations 3:6. _in darkness_ In dark places, as Psalms 88:6, probably a figure for calamity, in which he is as it were buried alive. But it is possible (cp. Psalms 142:7) that he was actually a prisoner. _as those that have been l... [ Continue Reading ]
The reason for his prayer. The extremity of his present sufferings seems to be a proof that God is calling him to account and punishing him for his sins with strict severity.... [ Continue Reading ]
And my spirit has fainted upon me; My heart within me is appalled. _my spirit_&c. Cp. Psalms 142:3, note. _is desolate_ Rather, is appalled, stupefied and paralysed at the apparent hopelessness of my position. Cp. Daniel 8:27. "The root-idea of the word seems to have been _to be motionless_, some... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 77:5; Psalms 77:11-12. The recollection of God's wonderful works of old time deepens his despondency, as he ponders on the contrast; "a sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things": yet it emboldens him to fresh prayer. _thy works … the work of thy hands_ Thy work … the doing... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought of all that God wrought in ancient times makes him long for a fresh manifestation of His power.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I stretch forth_. R.V. I spread forth. Cp. Psalms 44:20; Psalms 88:9; Lamentations 1:17. _my soul_thirsteth for _thee, as a_weary _land_ -Thirsteth" or some similar verb must be supplied. Cp. Psalms 60:1, from which the words are taken. As the parched land, wearied with long continued drought, lon... [ Continue Reading ]
From Psalms 69:17; Psalms 102:2; Psalms 27:9; Psalms 84:2; Psalms 28:1. _Hear me speedily_ R.V. Make haste to answer me. _hide not_&c. For if God withdraws the light of His Presence, he will be like the dying or the dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
Prayer for speedy hearing, for guidance and deliverance, for the destruction of his enemies. The language is borrowed almost entirely from older Psalms.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cause me to hear_&c. Possibly we should change a letter, and read as in Psalms 90:14 satisfy me (הַשְׂכּיצֵנִי for הַשְׂמִיעֵנִי). _in the morning_ Let the dawn speedily end this dark night of calamity, and bring the sunshine of Thy lovingkindness to gladden my weary heart. Cp. Psalms 30:5; Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deliver me … from mine enemies_ As Psalms 59:1; cp. Psalms 31:15; Psalms 142:6. _I flee unto thee to hide me_ The general sense is probably right, though it can hardly be got out of the present text. The Heb. verb denotes _to cover_or _conceal_, but not _to hide_(intransitively). Some commentators... [ Continue Reading ]
_Teach me to do thy will_ Cp. Psalms 25:4-5; Psalms 40:8. _for thou_art _my God_ Cp. Psalms 31:14, and often; Psalms 140:6. _thy spirit_is _good; lead me into the land of uprightness_ Better, though the construction is grammatically anomalous, let thy good spirit lead me in a level land. Cp. Nehemi... [ Continue Reading ]
For thy name's sake, Jehovah, wilt thou quicken me; In thy righteousness wilt thou bring my soul out of distress:... [ Continue Reading ]
The Psalmist's confidence that God will deliver His servant. The verbs in these last two verses should be rendered as futures not imperatives.... [ Continue Reading ]
And in thy lovingkindness wilt thou cut off my enemies, And destroy all them that distress my soul, For I am thy servant. The prayer for -life" is characteristic of Psalms 119: see note on p. 705: cp. Psalms 138:7. The plea _for thy name's sake_is found in Psalms 25:11, and often elsewhere. With... [ Continue Reading ]