1._In thee, O Jehovah! do I put my trust. _It has been thought that the occasion of the composition of this psalm was the conspiracy of Absalom; and the particular reference which David makes to his old age renders this conjecture not improbable. As when we approach God, it is faith alone which open... [ Continue Reading ]
4._O my God! deliver me from the hand of the wicked man. _Here he uses the singular number; but he is not to be understood as indicating one man only. (102) It is highly probable that he comprehends the whole host of the enemies who assaulted him. We have elsewhere had occasion to observe how greatl... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For thou art my expectation, O Lord Jehovah! _The Psalmist here repeats what he had said a little before concerning his trust or confidence. But some, perhaps, may be inclined to refer this sentence rather to the matter or ground afforded him for hope and confidence than to the emotions of his he... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Upon thee have I been sustained from the womb. _This verse corresponds with the preceding, except that David proceeds farther. He not only celebrates the goodness of God which he had experienced from his childhood, but also those proofs of it which he had received previous to his birth. An almost... [ Continue Reading ]
7._I have been as a prodigy to the great ones. _He now makes a transition to the language of complaint, declaring that he was held in almost universal abhorrence by reason of the great calamities with which he was afflicted. There is an apparent, although only an apparent, discrepancy between these... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Cast me not off in the time of my old age. _David having just now declared that God had been the protector of his life at his birth, and afterwards his foster-father in his childhood, and the guardian of his welfare during the whole course of his past existence; being now worn out with age, casts... [ Continue Reading ]
10._For my enemies have said of me, etc. _He pleads, as an argument with God to show him mercy, the additional circumstance, that the wicked took greater license in cruelly persecuting him, from the belief which they entertained that he was rejected and abandoned of God. The basest of men, as we all... [ Continue Reading ]
12._O God! be not far from me. _It is scarcely possible to express how severe and hard a temptation it was to David, when he knew that the wicked entertained the persuasion that he was rejected of God. They did not without consideration circulate this report; but after having seemed wisely to weigh... [ Continue Reading ]
While invoking the aid of God, he at the same time prays (verse 13) that his enemies may be filled with shame until they be consumed. These words, however, may not improperly be read in the future tense; for it is frequently the practice of David, after having ended his prayer, to rise up against hi... [ Continue Reading ]
14._But I will hope continually. _David again, as having obtained the victory, prepares himself for thanksgiving. There is, however, no doubt, that during the time when the wicked derided his simplicity, he struggled manfully amidst his distresses, as may be gathered from the word _hope. _Although,... [ Continue Reading ]
15._My mouth shall recount thy righteousness _Here he expresses more clearly what sacrifice of praise he resolved to present to God, promising to proclaim continually his righteousness and salvation. I have often before had occasion to observe, that _the righteousness of God _does not mean that prop... [ Continue Reading ]
16._I will go in the strength of the Lord Jehovah! _This may also very properly be translated, _I will go into the strengths; _and this interpretation is not less probable than the other. As fear and sorrow take possession of our minds in the time of danger, from our not reflecting with that deep an... [ Continue Reading ]
17._O God! thou hast taught me from my youth. _The Psalmist again declares the great obligations under which he lay to God for his goodness, not only with the view of encouraging himself to gratitude, but also of exciting himself to continue cherishing hope for the time to come: which will appear fr... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And thy righteousness, O God! is very high. _(115) Some connect this verse with the preceding, and repeating the verb _I will declare, _as common to both verses, translate, And _I will declare thy righteousness, O God! _But this being a matter of small importance, I will not dwell upon it. David... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Thou hast made me to see great and sore troubles. _The verb _to see _among the Hebrews, as is well known, is applied to the other senses also. Accordingly, when David complains that calamities had been _shown _to him, he means that he had suffered them. And as he attributes to God the praise of... [ Continue Reading ]
22._I will also, O my God! praise thee. _He again breaks forth into thanksgiving; for he was aware that the design of God, in so liberally succouring his servants, is, that his goodness may be celebrated. In speaking of employing _the psaltery _and _the harp _in this exercise, he alludes to the gene... [ Continue Reading ]
23._My lips shall rejoice _(118) _when I sing to thee. _In this verse David expresses more distinctly his resolution not to give thanks to God hypocritically, nor in a superficial manner, but to engage with unfeigned earnestness in this religious exercise. By the figures which he introduces, he brie... [ Continue Reading ]