This Psalm resembles the preceding Psalm in thought, language, and structure. It breathes the same lofty spirit of confidence in the presence of danger; it begins with the same cry, -be gracious unto me," and uses the same word (Psalms 57:3) to express the enemy's ferocity; it has two principal divi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be merciful unto me_ Be gracious unto me, as in Psalms 56:1. _for my soul_&c. Render: For in thee hath my soul taken refuge, And in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until destruction's storm be overpast. The distinction of tenses is significant. He has placed himself under Jehovah's... [ Continue Reading ]
Beset by fierce and cruel enemies, the Psalmist throws himself upon God's protection, with the confident assurance of speedy help.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will cry_&c. I will call unto God Most High. Cp. Psalms 55:16; Psalms 56:9. The combination _Elôhîm Elyon_occurs only here and in Psalms 78:56; it is the Elohistic equivalent of _Jehovah Elyon_(Psalms 7:17; cp. Psalms 47:2; Psalms 83:18; Psalms 97:9). _El Elyon_occurs in Psalms 78:35 (cp.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall send from heaven_ There is no need to supply an object to the verb here. The object is introduced when the verb is repeated according to the characteristic peculiarity of this Psalm. For the meaning cp. Psalms 20:2, and perhaps Psalms 18:16, though see note there. from _the reproach_&c. B... [ Continue Reading ]
A difficult verse, the text of which is perhaps corrupt. Adhering to the punctuation (in the modern sense) of the Massoretic accents, we may render with R.V., My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, &c. i.e. virtually, as the marg., _I must lie_, an e... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought of man's murderous hostility naturally leads up to the prayer that God will manifest Himself in majesty. From the confusions of earth the Psalmist looks up to God. Cp. Psalms 11:4 ff.; Psalms 36:5 ff. _Be thou exalted_ Or, Exalt thyself. Cp. Psalms 21:13; Psalms 46:10. God _is_exalted i... [ Continue Reading ]
The transposition of Psalms 57:5, proposed by Cheyne and others, simply ruins the sense, Psalms 57:6 is the fitting sequel of Psalms 57:5. Just as in Psalms 56:5 ff, he returns after the refrain to contemplate his present situation. But now Faith sees the prayer of Psalms 57:5 answered, and with the... [ Continue Reading ]
Convinced that God will manifest His authority, the Psalmist sees the machinations of his enemies turning to their own defeat, and utters resolutions of joyous thanksgiving.... [ Continue Reading ]
_My heart is fixed_ Stedfastly resolved. Cp. Psalms 51:10; Psalms 112:7; Colossians 1:13 (ἐδραῖος is the word used by Symmaohus here). The P.B.V. has changed Coverdale's _ready_into _fixed_here, but retained it in Psalms 108:1, probably owing to the influence of the familiar Latin title, _Paratum co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Awake up_ A common summons to action. Cp. Judges 5:12; Isaiah 51:9; Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 52:1. _my glory_ So the soul is designated, either as the noblest part of man, or as the image of the divine glory. Cp. Psalms 7:5; Psalms 16:9; Psalms 30:12. _psaltery and harp_ Stringed instruments, often co... [ Continue Reading ]
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will make melody unto thee among the nations. This verse at any rate, it is said, could never have been written by David, and is only really intelligible, if the Psalmist speaks in the name of the nation. But the words are not unsuitable f... [ Continue Reading ]
For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies. _For_gives the reason for Psalms 57:9. Mercy and truth which reach from earth to heaven demand world-wide praise. Note that it is the attributes which minister to the deliverance of God's servant (Psalms 57:3) which ar... [ Continue Reading ]
How can the Psalmist conclude more fitly than with a repetition of this prayer, which now looks beyond his own immediate needs to that perfect and universal sovereignty of God, which is the final goal of hope (1 Corinthians 15:28; Revelation 19:6)?... [ Continue Reading ]