This psalm is found, with some unimportant variations, in 2 Samuel 22. In that history, as in the inscription of the psalm here, it is said to have been composed by David on the occasion when the Lord “delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.” There can, therefore,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL LOVE THEE, O LORD - This verse is not found in the song in 2 Samuel 22. It appears to have been added after the first composition of the psalm, either by David as expressive of his ardent love for the Lord in view of his merciful interpositions in his behalf, and on the most careful and most... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS MY ROCK - The idea in this expression, and in the subsequent parts of the description, is that he owed his safety entirely to God. He had been unto him as a rock, a tower, a buckler, etc. - that is, he had derived from God the protection which a rock, a tower, a citadel, a buckler furnis... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL CALL UPON THE LORD - The idea here is, that he would constantly call upon the Lord. In all times of trouble and danger he would go to him, and invoke his aid. The experience of the past had been such as to lead him to put confidence in him in all time to come. He had learned to flee to him in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SORROWS OF DEATH COMPASSED ME - Surrounded me. That is, he was in imminent danger of death, or in the midst of such pangs and sorrows as are supposed commonly to attend on death. He refers probably to some period in his past life - perhaps in the persecutions of Saul - when he was so beset with... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SORROWS OF HELL - Margin, “cords.” The word used here is the same which occurs in the previous verse, and which is there rendered “sorrows.” It is correctly translated here, as in that verse, “sorrows,” though the parallelism would seem to favor the interpretation in the margin - cords. If it me... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MY DISTRESS - This refers, most probably, not to any particular case, but rather indicates his general habit of mind, that when he was in deep distress and danger he had uniformly called upon the Lord, and had found him ready to help. I CALLED UPON THE LORD - I prayed. That is, he invoked God to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE EARTH SHOOK AND TREMBLED - The description which follows here is one of the most sublime that is to be found in any language. It is taken from the fury of the storm and tempest, when all the elements are in commotion; when God seems to go forth in the greatness of his majesty and the terror... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WENT UP A SMOKE OUT OF HIS NOSTRILS - Margin, “by his;” that is, as it is understood in the margin, the smoke seemed to be produced “by” his nostrils, or to be caused by his breathing. The comparison, according to Rosenmuller and DeWette, is derived from wild beasts when excited with anger, an... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BOWED THE HEAVENS ALSO - He seemed to bend down the heavens - to bring them nearer to the earth. “He inclines the canopy of the heavens, as it were, toward the earth; wraps himself in the darkness of night, and shoots forth his arrows; hurls abroad his lightnings, and wings them with speed.” Herd... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RODE UPON A CHERUB - Compare Isaiah 14:13, note; Isaiah 37:16, note. The cherub in the theology of the Hebrews was a figurative representation of power and majesty, under the image of a being of a high and celestial nature, “whose form is represented as composed from the figures of a man, ox,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE DARKNESS HIS SECRET PLACE - Herder has beautifully rendered this verse, “Now he wrapped himself in darkness; Clouds on clouds enclosed him round.” The word rendered “secret place” - סתר _sêther_ - means properly a hiding; then something hidden, private, secret. Hence, it means a covering,... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE BRIGHTNESS THAT WAS BEFORE HIM - From the flash - the play of the lightnings that seemed to go before him. HIS THICK CLOUDS PASSED - or, vanished. They seemed to pass away. The light, the flash, the blaze, penetrated those clouds, and seemed to dispel, or to scatter them. The whole heavens w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ALSO THUNDERED IN THE HEAVENS - Thunder is often in the Scriptures described as the voice of God. See the magnificent description in Psalms 29:1; compare Job 40:9, “Canst thou thunder with a voice like him?” So 1 Samuel 7:10; 1 Samuel 12:18; Psalms 77:18; Job 37:4. AND THE HIGHEST GAVE HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, HE SENT OUT HIS ARROWS - The word arrows here probably refers to the lightnings mentioned in the other clause of the verse. Those lightnings scattered around, and accomplishing such destruction, seemed to be arrows sent forth from the hand of God. AND SCATTERED THEM - Herder refers this to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE CHANNELS OF WATERS WERE SEEN - In 2 Samuel 22:16 this is, “And the channels of the sea appeared.” The idea is that, by the driving of the storm and tempest, the waters were driven on heaps, leaving the bottom bare. In the place before us the word used, “waters” - מים _mayim_ - would denote... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENT FROM ABOVE - He interposed to save me. All these manifestations of the divine interposition were from above, or from heaven; all came from God. HE TOOK ME - He took hold on me; he rescued me. HE DREW ME OUT OF MANY WATERS - Margin, great waters. Waters are often expressive of calamity and t... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DELIVERED ME FROM MY STRONG ENEMY - The enemy that had more power than I had, and that was likely to overcome me. It is probable that the allusion here in the mind of the psalmist would be particularly to Saul. AND FROM THEM WHICH HATED ME - From all who hated and persecuted me, in the time of S... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY PREVENTED ME - They anticipated me, or went before me. See the note at Psalms 18:5. The idea here is that his enemies came before him, or intercepted his way. They were in his path, ready to destroy him. IN THE DAY OF MY CALAMITY - In the day to which I now look back as the time of my special... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT ME FORTH ALSO INTO A LARGE PLACE - Instead of being hemmed in by enemies, and straitened in my troubles, so that I seemed to have no room to move, he brought me into a place where I had ample room, and where I could act freely. Compare the note at Psalms 4:1. HE DELIVERED ME - He rescued... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, he saw that I did not deserve the treatment which I received from my enemies, and therefore he interposed to save me. Compare the note at Psalms 17:3. ACCORDING TO THE CLEANNESS OF MY HANDS - So far as my fellow-men are concerned. I have... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I HAVE KEPT THE WAYS OF THE LORD - I have obeyed his laws. I have not so violated the laws which God has given to regulate my conduct with my fellow-men as to deserve to be treated by them as a guilty man. AND HAVE NOT WICKEDLY DEPARTED FROM MY GOD - “I have not been a sinner from my God;” an a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL HIS JUDGMENTS - All his statutes, ordinances, laws. The word judgment is commonly used in this sense in the Scriptures, as referring to that which God has judged or determined to be right. WERE BEFORE ME - That is, I acted in view of them, or as having them to guide me. They were constantly... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS ALSO UPRIGHT BEFORE HIM - Margin, with. The meaning is that he was upright in his sight. The word rendered upright is the same which in Job 1:1 is rendered perfect. See the note at that passage. AND I KEPT MYSELF FROM MINE INIQUITY - From the iniquity to which I was prone or inclined. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HATH THE LORD RECOMPENSED ME - By delivering me from my enemies. The divine interpositions in his behalf had been of the nature of a reward or recompense. ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS - As if I were righteous; or, his acts of intervention have been such as are appropriate to a righteous... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE MERCIFUL - From the particular statement respecting the divine dealings with himself the psalmist now passes to a general statement (suggested by what God had done for him) in regard to the general principles of the divine administration. That general statement is, that God deals with men a... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE PURE - Those who are pure in their thoughts, their motives, their conduct. THOU WILT SHOW THYSELF PURE - They will find that they have to deal with a God who is himself pure; who loves purity, and who will accompany it with appropriate rewards wherever it is found. AND WITH THE FROWARD - T... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU WILT SAVE THE AFFLICTED PEOPLE - From the particular tokens of divine favor toward himself in affliction and trouble, the psalmist now draws the general inference that this was the character of God, and that others in affliction might hope for his interposition as he had done. BUT WILT BRIN... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU WILT LIGHT MY CANDLE - Margin, lamp. The word lamp best expresses the idea. In the Scriptures light is an image of prosperity, success, happiness, holiness, as darkness is the image of the opposite. See the notes at Job 29:2; compare also Job 18:6; Job 21:17; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 24:20;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY THEE I HAVE RUN THROUGH A TROOP - Margin, broken. The word troop here refers to bands of soldiers, or hosts of enemies. The word rendered run through means properly to run; and then, as here, to run or rush upon in a hostile sense; to rush with violence upon one. The idea here is that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR GOD - The declaration in this verse is suggested by the facts narrated in the previous verses. The contemplation of those facts leads the thoughts of the author of the psalm up to the Great Source of all these blessings, and to these general reflections on his character. “As for God,” that is... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHO IS GOD SAVE THE LORD? - Who is God except Yahweh? The idea is, that no other being has evinced the power, the wisdom, and the goodness which properly belong to the true God; or, that the things which are implied in the true nature of God are found in no other being. OR WHO IS A ROCK SAVE OU... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOD THAT GIRDETH ME WITH STRENGTH - Who gives me strength. The word girdeth contains an allusion to the mode of dress among the orientals, the long flowing robe, which was girded up when they ran or labored, that it might not impede them; and, probably, with the additional idea that girding th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKETH MY FEET LIKE HINDS’ FEET - So Habakkuk 3:19, “He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” The hind is the female deer, remarkable for fleetness or swiftness. The meaning here is, that God had made him alert or active, enabling him to pursue a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TEACHETH MY HANDS TO WAR - Compare Psalms 144:1. The skill which David had in the use of the bow, the sword, or the spear - all of which depends on the hands - he ascribes entirely to God. SO THAT A BOW OF STEEL IS BROKEN BY MINE ARMS - This is mentioned as an instance of extraordinary strength,... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ALSO GIVEN ME THE SHIELD OF THY SALVATIONS - Thou hast saved me as with a shield; thou hast thrown thy shield before me in times of danger. See the note at Psalms 5:12. AND THY RIGHT HAND HATH HOLDEN ME UP - Thou hast sustained me when in danger of failing, as if thou hadst upheld me with... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ENLARGED MY STEPS UNDER ME - The idea here is, “Thou hast made room for my feet, so that I have been enabled to walk without hindrance or obstruction. So in Psalms 31:8, “Thou hast set my feet in a large room.” The idea is, that he was before straitened, compressed, hindered in his goings,... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE PURSUED MINE ENEMIES, AND OVERTAKEN THEM - He had not only routed them, but had had strength to pursue them; he had not only pursued them, but he had been enabled to come up to them. The idea is that of complete success and absolute triumph. NEITHER DID I TURN AGAIN - I was not driven back,... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE WOUNDED THEM ... - I have so weakened them - so entirely prostrated them - that they were not able to rally again. This does not refer so much to wounds inflicted on individuals in the hostile ranks as to the entire host or army. It was so weakened that it could not again be put in battle arr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST GIRDED ME WITH STRENGTH UNTO THE BATTLE - See the note at Psalms 18:32. Compare Job 12:18; Proverbs 31:17. THOU HAST SUBDUED UNDER ME - Margin, as in Hebrew, caused to bow. That is, God had caused them to submit to him; he had enabled him to overcome them; still acknowledging that all... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ALSO GIVEN ME THE NECKS OF MINE ENEMIES - Their necks to tread upon, as the result of victory; or their necks to be subject to me, as the neck of the ox is to his owner. The phrase is sometimes used in this latter sense to denote subjection (compare Jeremiah 27:12); but it is more commonly... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CRIED - They cried out for help, for mercy, for life. In modern language, “they begged for quarter.” They acknowledged that they were vanquished, and entreated that their lives might be spared. BUT THERE WAS NONE TO SAVE THEM - To preserve their lives. No help appeared from their own countryme... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DID I BEAT THEM SMALL AS THE DUST BEFORE THE WIND - As the fine dust is driven by the wind, so they fled before me. There could be no more striking illustration of a defeated army flying before a conqueror. DeWette says correctly that the idea is, “I beat them small, and scattered them as dust... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST DELIVERED ME FROM THE STRIVINGS OF THE PEOPLE - From the contentions of the people; or, from the efforts which they have made to overcome and subdue me. The allusion is to the efforts made by the people, under the guidance of their leaders. It is not “strivings” among his own followers, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON AS THEY HEAR OF ME, THEY SHALL OBEY ME - Margin, as in Hebrew, At the hearing of the ear. That is, their submission will be prompt and immediate. The fame of my victories will be such as to render resistance hopeless; my fame, as at the head of a mighty empire, will be such as to lead them t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STRANGERS SHALL FADE AWAY - Hebrew, “The sons of the stranger.” That is, foreigners. The word rendered fade away - נבל _nâbêl_ - means properly to wilt, wither, fall away, as applicable to flowers, leaves, or plants, Psalms 1:3; Psalms 37:2; Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 28:1. Here it means that those f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD LIVETH - Yahweh - the name used here - is often described as the living God in contradistinction to idols, who are represented as without life, Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; 2 Kings 19:4; Psalms 42:2; Matthew 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Compare Psalms 115:5;... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOD THAT AVENGETH ME - Margin, giveth avengements for me. The marginal reading is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The meaning is, that God had punished the enemies of the author of the psalm for all the wrongs which they had done to him. Compare Romans 12:19. AND SUBDUETH THE PEOPLE UNDE... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DELIVERETH ME FROM MINE ENEMIES - From all my foes. YEA, THOU LIFTEST ME UP ABOVE THOSE THAT RISE UP AGAINST ME - So that I triumph over them. Instead of being subdued by them, and trampled under their feet, I am exalted, and they are humbled. THOU HAST DELIVERED ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN - Margi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WILL I GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE - Margin, confess. The Hebrew word - ידה _yâdâh_ - in the form used here, means properly to profess, to confess, to acknowledge; then especially to acknowledge or recognize blessings and favors; in other words, to give thanks, to praise. The idea here is that... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT DELIVERANCE GIVETH HE TO HIS KING - To David, as king. The word in the original, which is rendered “deliverance,” means properly salvations, and is here in the plural number. It refers not to one act of divine interposition, but to the many acts (referred to in the psalm) in which God had inte... [ Continue Reading ]