This psalm is addressed to “the chief Musician,” and purports to be a psalm of David. On the meaning of the phrase “To the chief Musician,” see the notes at the title to Psalms 4:1. There can be no doubt that the inscription which ascribes it to David is correct, and that he was the author. The occa... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEE, O LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST - This is the ground of the petitions which follow; or the reason why the psalmist thus appeals to God. It was his firm confidence in Him; in His character; in His promises; in His ability to deliver Him in the time of danger. Compare the notes at Psalms 7:1. LET M... [ Continue Reading ]
BOW DOWN THINE EAR TO ME - As He does who inclines His ear toward one whom He is willing to hear, or whom He is desirous of hearing. See the notes at Psalms 17:6. DELIVER ME SPEEDILY - Without delay. Or, hasten to deliver me. It is right to pray to be delivered from all evil; equally right to pray... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU ART MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS - See the notes at Psalms 18:2. THEREFORE FOR THY NAME’S SAKE - For the sake of thine own honor, or for the glory of thy name. See the notes at Psalms 23:3. That is, since thou art my rock and my defense - since I put my trust in thee - show, by leading and guid... [ Continue Reading ]
PULL ME OUT OF THE NET - See the notes at Psalms 9:15. THAT THEY HAVE LAID PRIVILY FOR ME - That my enemies have laid for me. The phrase “laid privily” refers to the custom of “hiding” or “concealing” a net or gin, so that the wild beast that was to be taken could not see it, or would fall into it... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THINE HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT - The Saviour used this expression when on the cross, and when about to die: Luke 23:46. But this does not prove that the psalm had originally a reference to him, or that he meant to intimate that the words originally were a prophecy. The language was appropriate f... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE HATED THEM THAT REGARD LYING VANITIES - This is evidently stated as a reason for the prayer offered in the previous verses. It is a reference by the psalmist to his own past life; to his general aim and conduct. The meaning is, that he had been a friend of God; that he had separated himself f... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN THY MERCY - I will triumph and joy in thy mercy; that is, in the mercy which he had already experienced, and in that which he still hoped to enjoy. He had had abundant proofs of that mercy; he hoped for still further proofs of it; and he says that he would find his joy... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST NOT SHUT ME UP INTO THE HAND OF THE ENEMY - Hast not delivered me into his hand, or into his power. See the margin 1 Samuel 17:46; 1Sa 24:18; 1 Samuel 26:8. THOU HAST SET MY FEET IN A LARGE ROOM - In a large place. Thou hast made me free, or set me at liberty. See Psalms 4:1, note; Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O LORD, FOR I AM IN TROUBLE - The nature and sources of his trouble are specified in the verses following. He seems to have regarded all his trouble as the result of sin, either the sin of his heart, of which he alone was conscious, or of some open act of sin, that had been the m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY LIFE IS SPENT WITH GRIEF - The word here rendered “spent” does not mean merely “passed,” as it is commonly now used, as when we say we “spent” our time at such a place, or in such a manner, but in the more proper meaning of the word, as denoting “consumed, wasted away,” or “destroyed.” See th... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS A REPROACH AMONG ALL MINE ENEMIES - That is, he was subjected to their reproaches, or was calumniated and reviled by them. See the notes at Psalms 22:6. BUT ESPECIALLY AMONG MY NEIGHBORS - I was reproached by none more than by my neighbors. They showed special distrust of me, and manifested s... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM FORGOTTEN AS A DEAD MAN OUT OF MIND - Like the man who is dead, and who has passed away from the recollection of mankind. Compare Psalms 88:4. The Hebrew is, “as a dead man from the heart;” that is, from the memory or recollection of men, so as to be no more remembered; no more regarded. The ex... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I HAVE HEARD THE SLANDER OF MANY - The reproach; the false accusations; the unjust aspersions. We are here more definitely informed as to another of the sources of the trouble that came upon him. It was “slander.” He had already referred to “two” sources of trouble; one Psalms 31:11 that he was... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I TRUST IN THEE, O LORD - In these times of trial - when Psalms 31:9 his eye was consumed with grief; when Psalms 31:10 his years were spent with sighing, his strength failed, and his bones were consumed; when Psalms 31:11 he was a reproach among his neighbors, and dreaded by his acquaintances;... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND - That is, I said this in my trouble; when my friends forsook me, and when my enemies came around me and threatened my life. The meaning is, that all that pertained to him was under the control and at the disposal of God. He would “live” as long as God should please. It was... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THY FACE TO SHINE UPON THY SERVANT - That is, show me thy favor, or be kind and merciful to me. See the notes at Psalms 4:6. SAVE ME FOR THY MERCIES’ SAKE - On account of thy mercy; or that thy mercy may be manifested. This is always a just ground of appeal to God by a sinner or a sufferer, th... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED, O LORD, FOR I HAVE CALLED UPON THEE - That is, I have reposed entire confidence in thee, and in thy promises, in the time of trial; let now the result be such as to show that I had reason thus to trust in thee; that thy character is such that the persecuted and the afflicted m... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE LYING LIPS BE PUT TO SILENCE - See the notes at Psalms 12:2. The lips which speak lies. The reference here is especially to those who had spoken in this manner against the psalmist himself, though he makes the language general, or prays in general that God would silence all liars: a prayer c... [ Continue Reading ]
OH HOW GREAT IS THY GOODNESS - That is, in view of the divine protection and favor in such cases, or when thus assailed. The psalmist seems to have felt that it was an inexpressible privilege thus to be permitted to appeal to God with the assurance of the divine protection. In few circumstances do p... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT HIDE THEM IN THE SECRET OF THY PRESENCE - See the notes at Psalms 27:5. The phrase “secret of thy presence” means thy “secret presence.” The Hebrew is: “the secret of thy face;” and the idea is, that He would hide them, or withdraw them from public view, or from the view of their enemies,... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD - An expression of thanksgiving for the evidence that God had heard him in his troubles, and had answered him. FOR HE HATH SHOWED ME HIS MARVELOUS KINDNESS - literally, “He has made his mercy wonderful;” that is, he has showed me such mercy as to be an object of admiration and a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SAID IN MY HASTE - In my fear; my apprehension. The word rendered “haste” means properly that terror or alarm which causes one to flee, or to endeavor to escape. It is not “haste” in the sense of an opinion formed too quickly, or formed rashly; it is “haste” in the sense of terror leading to s... [ Continue Reading ]
O LOVE THE LORD, ALL YE HIS SAINTS - This is the “application” of all the truths suggested in the psalm. The experience of the psalmist had shown the wisdom of trusting in God in times of danger and trouble, and had laid the foundation for a proper exhortation to others to imitate his example; an ar... [ Continue Reading ]
BE OF GOOD COURAGE - See a similar exhortation at the close of a psalm, in Psalms 27:14. Compare the notes at that verse. As the result of all his own experience of the goodness of God, and of His gracious interposition in the time of danger, the psalmist exhorts others to be encouraged, and to feel... [ Continue Reading ]