This psalm, which purports to have been composed by David, is another of the psalms addressed or dedicated “to the chief Musician;” that is, which he is desired to adjust to the appropriate music; and it is, therefore, probably one that was particularly intended to be employed in the public worship... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD - Margin, as in Hebrew, “In waiting I waited.” That is, “I continued to wait.” It was not a single, momentary act of expectation or hope; it was continuous; or, was persevered in. The idea is, that his prayer was not answered at once, but that it was answered after he... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF AN HORRIBLE PIT - Margin: “A pit of noise.” The word used here means a pit; a cistern; a prison; a dungeon; a grave. This last signification of the word is found in Psalms 28:1; Psalms 30:4; Psalms 88:4; Isaiah 38:18; Isaiah 14:19. It may refer to any calamity - or to tr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH - See the notes at Psalms 33:3. The idea is, that he had given a new or fresh “occasion” for praise. The deliverance was so marked, and was such an addition to former mercies, that a new expression of thanks was proper. It was an act of such surprising interven... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THAT MAN THAT MAKETH THE LORD HIS TRUST - See the notes at Psalms 34:8. Compare Psalms 27:1. Literally, here, “The blessings of the man who places Yahweh for his confidence;” that is, who makes Him his seeurity, or who feels that his security for happiness and salvation is in Him. AND RE... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY, O LORD MY GOD, ARE THY WONDERFUL WORKS WHICH THOU HAST DONE - literally, “Many (things), O Lord my God, hast thou done; thy wonderful things and thy thoughts toward us, it is not (possible) to state unto thee.” The recollection of the particular kindness shown to the speaker, as referred to in... [ Continue Reading ]
SACRIFICE AND OFFERING - The first of the words used here - זבח _zebach_ - means properly a bloody-offering; the other - מנחה _minchāh_ - an offering without blood, as a thank-offering. See the notes at Isaiah 1:11. The four words employed in this verse - sacrifice, offering, burnt-offering, sin-of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID I - In Hebrews 10:7, the apostle applies this to the Messiah. See the notes at that verse. This is the most simple and satisfactory interpretation of the passage. The word “then” in this verse means, “since this is the case;” or, “things being thus.” It does not refer to time, but to the c... [ Continue Reading ]
I DELIGHT TO DO THY WILL, O MY GOD - To wit, in obeying the law; in submitting to all the trials appointed to me; in making an atonement for the sins of men. See the notes at Hebrews 10:7. Compare Philippians 2:8; Matthew 26:39. YEA, THY LAW IS WITHIN MY HEART - Margin, “In the midst of my bowels.”... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE PREACHED RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE GREAT CONGREGATION - I have main tained and defended the principles of righteousness and truth among assembled multitudes. it would be difficult to see how this could be applied to David himself, or on what occasion of his life this could be said of him; but no o... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NOT HID THY RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN MY HEART - The word “righteousness” here may denote the divine views on the subject of righteousness, or the divine method of making man righteous; that is, the method of justification, as the word is used in the New Testament. See the notes at Romans 1:17. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHHOLD NOT THOU THY TENDER MERCIES FROM ME, O LORD - Do not restrain or hold back thy compassions. Let thy mercies - the expressions of thy love - flow out freely toward me in connection with what I have done. As applicable to the Redeemer, this is a prayer that God would bestow upon him in connec... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR INNUMERABLE EVILS HAVE COMPASSED ME ABOUT - Have surrounded me, or have beset me on every side. The evils here referred to, understood as being those which came upon the Messiah, were sorrows that came upon him in consequence of his undertaking to do what could not be done by sacrifices and offe... [ Continue Reading ]
BE PLEASED, O LORD, TO DELIVER ME - That is, in these troubles and sorrows. See Matthew 26:39. The prayer is that, if possible, the cup of sorrow might be taken away. O LORD, MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME - This is the same form of prayer, and referring, I suppose, to the same occasion as that which occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE ASHAMED AND CONFOUNDED TOGETHER - See at Psalms 35:4, note; Psalms 35:26, note. This may be understood here rather as a confident expectation than a wish or desire. It implies the certainty that they would thus be ashamed and confounded; that is, that they would not be successful, or wou... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE DESOLATE - The word here employed means to be astonished or amazed; then, to be laid waste, or made desolate. As used here, it refers to their purposes, and the wish or prayer is that they might be wholly unsuccessful, or that in respect to success they might be like a waste and desolate... [ Continue Reading ]
LET ALL THOSE THAT SEEK THEE - All those who desire to know thee; to understand thy ways; to be thy friends. The phrase is used to denote the truly pious, because it is a characteristic of all such that they truly desire to be acquainted with God, and to find the way which leads to his favor. REJOI... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I AM POOR AND NEEDY - More literally, “I am afflicted and poor.” The language would describe the condition of one who was afflicted and was at the same time poor; of one who had no resource but in God, and who was passing through scenes of poverty and sorrow. There were undoubtedly times in the... [ Continue Reading ]