The title of this psalm, “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil,” is the same as the title prefixed to Psalms 42:1, except with a slight transposition. See the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1. This does not, however, prove that the psalm was by the same author; or that it was compos... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE HEARD WITH OUR EARS - That is, it has been handed down by tradition. OUR FATHERS HAVE TOLD US - Our ancestors. They have delivered it down from generation to generation. The word rendered “told” means properly to grave, or to insculp on a stone; and thence, to write. Then it comes to mean t... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THOU DIDST DRIVE OUT THE HEATHEN WITH THY HAND - The word rendered “heathen” means simply nations without necessarily conveying the idea of paganism, as that word is now understood. It means the nations, to wit, of the land of Canaan, or the Canaanites; and as these nations were in fact idolater... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY GOT NOT THE LAND IN POSSESSION - The land of Canaan. The design of this verse is to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, that they owed their establishment in the promised land wholly to God. The fact that He had interposed in their behalf; that He had shown that he was able to d... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART MY KING, O GOD - literally, “Thou art He, my King, O God;” that is, Thou art the same: the same King, and the same God, who didst interpose in the time of the fathers, and thou art he whom I recognize as King, as the Sovereign Ruler of thy people. The psalmist here uses the singular number,... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THEE - By thy help. “Will we push down our enemies.” The word here rendered “push down” means literally to strike or push with the horns, spoken of horned animals, Exodus 21:28, Exodus 21:31. Then it is applied to a conqueror prostrating nations before him: Deu 33:17; 1 Kings 22:11. THROUGH... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL NOT TRUST IN MY BOW - The author of the psalm himself again speaks as expressing his own feelings, and stating the grounds of his confidence and hope. Compare Psalms 44:4. At the same time he doubtless expresses the feelings of the people, and speaks in their name. He had said Psalms 44:3... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU HAST SAVED US FROM OUR ENEMIES - That is, Thou hast done it in times past. Thou hast interposed in behalf of our nation in periods of danger and trial, and hast delivered us. This is stated as a reason for what is said by the psalmist in Psalms 44:6 - that he would not trust in his sword an... [ Continue Reading ]
IN GOD WE BOAST ALL THE DAY LONG - That is, continually or constantly. It is not a momentary or temporary expression of our feelings, but it is our habitual and constant employment. We have no other ground of reliance, and we express that reliance constantly. The word rendered “boast” here rather mo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU HAST CAST OFF - The author of the psalm now commences a description of the existing circumstances of the nation, so strongly in contrast with what had existed in former times when God interposed in their behalf, and when he gave them success. This is properly the commencement of the second... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MAKEST US TO TURN BACK FROM THE ENEMY - Instead of giving us the victory. That is, we are defeated. AND THEY WHICH HATE US SPOIL FOR THEMSELVES - They plunder us; they take our property as spoil, and carry it away. That this was done at the time referred to in the introduction as the time of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST GIVEN US LIKE SHEEP APPOINTED FOR MEAT - Margin, as in Hebrew, “as sheep of meat.” That is, as sheep are killed for food, so thou hast allowed us to be put to death. AND HAST SCATTERED US AMONG THE HEATHEN - Among the surrounding nations. See the notes at Psalms 44:2. That is, they had be... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SELLEST THY PEOPLE FOR NOUGHT - Margin, without riches. Without gain, or advantage; that is, for no price that would be an equivalent. The people were given up to their enemies, but there was nothing in return that would be of equal value. The loss was in no way made up. They were taken away fr... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MAKEST US A REPROACH TO OUR NEIGHBORS - Compare the notes at Psalms 39:8. The word neighbors here refers to surrounding people or nations. They were reproached, scorned, and derided as forsaken by God, and given up to their foes. They no longer commanded the admiration of mankind as a prosperou... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MAKEST US A BYWORD AMONG HEATHEN - The word rendered “by-word” - משׁל _mâshâl_ - means properly a similitude or parable; then, a sententious saying, and apophthegm; then, a proverb; then, a song or verse, particularly a satirical song, or a song of derision. The idea here is, that they were m... [ Continue Reading ]
MY CONFUSION IS CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME - My shame; the conviction and the evidence of my disgrace is constantly present with me. Literally, “all the day my shame is before me.” That is, the evidences of disgrace, defeat, and disaster; render everywhere around him, and he could not conceal them from h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE VOICE OF HIM ... - That is, Because I hear the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes. The word rendered blasphemeth, means properly to use cutting words; then, to reproach or revile. It may be applied either to people or to God. In the former case, it means reproach or reviling; in the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THIS IS COME UPON US - All these calamities. The connecting thought here is, that although all these things had come upon them, yet they could not be traced to their own infidelity or unfaithfulness to God. There was nothing in the national character, there were no circumstances at that time exi... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR HEART IS NOT TURNED BACK - That is, We have not turned away from thy service; we have not apostatized from thee; we have not fallen into idolatry. This must mean that such was not at that time the characteristic of the nation; it was not a prominent thing among the people; there was no such gene... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THOU HAST SORE BROKEN US IN THE PLACE OF DRAGONS - Or rather, “That thou hast crushed us in the place of dragons.” The connection is continued from the previous verse: “Our heart is not so turned back, nor have our steps so declined from thy path, that thou shouldst crush us in the place of d... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF OUR GOD - That is, if we have apostatized from him. OR STRETCHED OUT OUR HANDS TO A STRANGE GOD - Or have been guilty of idolatry. The act of stretching out the hands, or spreading forth the hands, was significant of worship or prayer: 1Ki 8:22; 2 Chronicles 6:12; se... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT GOD SEARCH THIS OUT? - That is, If this had been the case, it would be known to God. If, as a nation, we had been given to idolatry, or if our hearts had been secretly alienated from the true God, though there had been no open manifestation of apostasy, yet that could not have been conceal... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, FOR THY SAKE ARE WE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG - That is, we are continually or constantly subjected to these calamities. It is not a single defeat, but it is a continued slaughter. This verse contains, in the apprehension of the psalmist, the true cause of the calamities which had come upon the n... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, WHY SLEEPEST THOU? - This is a solemn and earnest appeal to God to interpose in their behalf, as if he were “asleep,” or were regardless of their sufferings. Compare Psalms 3:7, note; Psalms 7:6, note; Psalms 35:23, note. ARISE, CAST US NOT OFF FOR EVER - Do not forsake us always. Compare Ps... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE? - See the notes at Psalms 13:1. Why dost thou turn away from us, and refuse to aid us, and leave us to these unpitied sufferings? AND FORGETTEST OUR AFFLICTION AND OUR OPPRESSION - Our trials, and the wrongs that are committed against us. These are earnest appeals. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR SOUL IS BOWED DOWN TO THE DUST - That is, We are overborne with calamity, so that we sink to the earth. The expression is one that denotes great affliction. OUR BELLY CLEAVETH UNTO THE EARTH - We are like animals that are prone upon the earth, and that cannot rise. The allusion may be to re... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE FOR OUR HELP - Margin, as in Hebrew, “a help for us.” That is, Deliver us from our present calamities and troubles. AND REDEEM US - Save us; deliver us. See Psalms 25:22, note; Psalms 31:5, note; Isaiah 1:27, note; Isaiah 52:3, note. FOR THY MERCIES’ SAKE - On account of thy mercies. That is,... [ Continue Reading ]