The calamity which David now experienced had, perhaps, been inflicted by men, but he wisely considers that he has to deal with God. Those persons are very unsuitably exercised under their afflictions who do not immediately take a near and a steady view of their sins, in order thereby to produce the... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Have mercy upon me. _As he earnestly calls upon God to be merciful to him, it is from this the more clearly manifest, that by the terms _anger _and _indignation _he did not mean cruelty or undue severity, but only such judgment as God executes upon the reprobate, whom he does not spare in mercy a... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And thou, O Jehovah, how long? _This elliptical form of expression serves to express more strongly the vehemence of grief, which not only holds the minds of men bound up, but likewise their tongues, breaking and cutting short their speech in the middle of the sentence. The meaning, however, in th... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Return, O Lord. _In the preceding verses the Psalmist bewailed the absence of God, and now he earnestly requests the tokens of his presence, for our happiness consists in this, that we are the objects of the Divine regard, but we think he is alienated front us, if he does not give us some substan... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For in death there is no remembrance of thee. _After God has bestowed all things freely upon us, he requires nothing in return but a grateful remembrance of his benefits. To this gratitude reference is made when David says, that _there will be no remembrance of God in death, nor any celebration o... [ Continue Reading ]
These forms of expression are hyperbolical, but it must not be imagined that David, after the manner of poets, exaggerates his sorrow; (89) but he declares truly and simply how severe and bitter it had been. It should always be kept in mind, that his affliction did not proceed so much from his havin... [ Continue Reading ]
After David has disburdened his griefs and troubles into the bosom of God, he now, as it were, assumes a new character. And, without doubt, he had been afflicted with long-continued despondency of spirit before he could recover himself, and attain to such a degree of assurance as he here displays; ... [ Continue Reading ]