The title affirms this to be a psalm of David, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the superscription; but there are no indications by which we can determine on what occasion it was written. It is not difficult, however, to ascertain from its contents the state of mind in which it was... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE ME, O LORD - That is, determine in regard to my case whether I am truly thy friend, or whether the evidences of my piety are genuine. The psalmist asks an examination of his own case; he brings the matter before God for Him to decide; he submits the facts in regard to himself to God, so that H... [ Continue Reading ]
EXAMINE ME, O LORD - The meaning of this verse is, that he asked of God a strict and rigid examination of his case. To express this, the psalmist uses three words - “examine; prove; try.” These words are designed to include the modes in which the reality of anything is tested, and they imply togethe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY LOVING-KINDNESS IS BEFORE MINE EYES - Thy favor or friendship is constantly before me, in the sense that it is the object of my desire. I wish to secure it; I long to know whether I have sufficient evidence that it is mine. This is a reason why he desires that God would search him. The favor... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NOT SAT WITH VAIN PERSONS - That is, I have not been found among them; I have not made them my companions. See the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word “vain” here is in contrast with those who are sincere and true. The expression would be applied to people who are false and hollow; to those who hav... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE HATED - We have here the same evidence of his piety repeated in another and a stronger form. In the previous verse he had merely stated that he had not been found among that class of persons, or that he had not made them his companions. He here says positively that he disapproved of their pri... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL WASH MINE HANDS IN INNOCENCY - The psalmist here refers, as another evidence of his piety, to the fact that it was a ruling purpose of his life to be pure, to worship and serve his Maker in purity. He had stated that he had no sympathy with the wicked, and that he did not make them his compan... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY PUBLISH WITH THE VOICE OF THANKSGIVING - literally, “that I may cause to be heard;” that is, that I may make known to others. The idea is, that he would make known to others what he had learned from God; or that He would make known to them the delights of His service, and seek to win them... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, I HAVE LOVED THE HABITATION OF THY HOUSE - I have loved to dwell in Thy house. See the notes at Psalms 23:6. The psalmist often refers to his delight in the house of God - the place of public worship; his love to be there united with the people of God in the solemn services of religion. Compar... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER NOT MY SOUL WITH SINNERS - Margin, “take not away.” The word rendered “gather,” means properly to “collect;” to “gather,” as fruits, Exodus 23:10; ears of grain, Ruth 2:7; money, 2 Kings 22:4. There is the idea of assembling together, or collecting; and the meaning here is, that he desired no... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOSE HANDS IS MISCHIEF - The word here rendered “mischief,” means properly “purpose, counsel, plan;” then, an evil purpose, “mischief, wickedness, crime.” The idea is, either that they intended to do mischief, and that they employed their hands to accomplish it, or that the fruit or result of th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR ME - The Hebrew is, “and I.” But there is evidently a contrast between what he purposed to do, and the course of life pursued by those to whom he had just referred; and this is correctly expressed in our translation, “But as for me.” It is a statement of his profession of piety, and of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FOOT STANDETH IN AN EVEN PLACE - The word rendered “even place” - מישׁור _mı̂yshôr_ - means properly “righteousness,” or “justice;” then, “evenness, a level region, a plain:” Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16. DeWette renders it, “in a right path.” The idea is, either that he was standing now on smooth... [ Continue Reading ]