1._Ungodliness saith to the wicked in the midst of my heart _Commentators are not agreed as to the interpretation of the first verse. Literally it is, _The saying _[or _speech _]_of transgression, _or rather, _Transgression saith to the wicked _As, however, the letter ל _, lamed, _is in Hebrew somet... [ Continue Reading ]
2_For he flattereth himself in his own eyes _Here the Psalmist shows by their fruits or the marks of their character, that there is no fear of God among the wicked, seeing they take such pleasure in committing deeds of wickedness, that, although hateful in the sight of all other men, they still cher... [ Continue Reading ]
3._The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. _The two clauses of this verse may be understood as referring to the same thing, namely, that the wicked indulging in deceit and vanity, will not receive or admit the light of understanding. This, I apprehend, is the meaning of David. He reproves th... [ Continue Reading ]
4._He meditates iniquity upon his bed _Here the sacred writer shows that the wickedness of the ungodly man is of a secret and very determined character. It sometimes happens that many, who otherwise are not disposed to wickedness, err and fall into sin, because occasion presents itself all on a sudd... [ Continue Reading ]
5._O Jehovah! thy mercy is unto the heavens. _Commentators think that David, after having described the great corruption and depravity which every where prevail in the world, takes occasion from thence to extol in rapturous praises the wonderful forbearance of God, in not ceasing to manifest his fav... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Thy righteousness is as the mountains of God _In this verse there is a commendation of God’s righteousness, which the sacred writer compares to the high mountains, (this being the manner of the expression — “the mountains of God,” for we know that the Hebrews were accustomed to distinguish by the... [ Continue Reading ]
7_O God! how precious is thy loving-kindness! _Some explain these words in this sense: That the mercy of God is precious, and that the children of men who put their trust in it are precious; but this is a sense too far removed from the words of the text. Others understand them as meaning, that the m... [ Continue Reading ]
8._They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of that house. _I have no doubt that by _the fatness of God’s house _the prophet means the abundance of good things which is not designed for all men indiscriminately, but is laid up in store for the children of God who commit themselves wholly... [ Continue Reading ]
9._For with thee is the fountain of life _The Psalmist here confirms the doctrine of the preceding verse, the knowledge of which is so profitable that no words can adequately express it. As the ungodly profane even the best of God’s gifts by their wicked abuse of them, unless we observe the distinct... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Prolong thy mercy to them that know thee. _David now sets himself to pray. And, first, he asks in general, that God would continue his mercy to all the godly, and then he pleads particularly in his own behalf, imploring the help of God against his enemies. Those who affirm that God is here said... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Let not the foot of pride come upon me _As I have observed a little before, the Psalmist here applies to his own circumstances the prayer which he had offered. But by including in his prayer in the preceding verse all the children of God, he designed to show that he asked nothing for himself apa... [ Continue Reading ]
12._There the workers of iniquity are fallen. _Here he derives confidence from his prayer, not doubting that he has already obtained his request. And thus we see how the certainty of faith directs the saints to prayer. Besides, still farther to confirm his confidence and hope in God, he shows, as it... [ Continue Reading ]