This psalm is entitled “A Psalm of David,” and there is every reason to believe that it is properly ascribed to him. It is addressed to “the chief Musician” - to be by him set to appropriate music, that it might be employed in the public worship of God. See the notes at the title to Psalms 4:1. On t... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE EAR TO MY PRAYER - See the notes at Psalms 5:1; Psalms 17:6. This is the language of earnestness. The psalmist was in deep affliction, and he pleaded, therefore, that God would not turn away from him in his troubles. AND HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM MY SUPPLICATION - That is, Do not withdraw thyself,... [ Continue Reading ]
ATTEND UNTO ME, AND HEAR ME - This also is the language of earnest supplication, as if he was afraid that God would not regard his cry. These varied forms of speech show the intense earnestness of the psalmist, and his deep conviction that he must have help from God. I MOURN - The word used here - ר... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY - He now states the cause of his troubles. He had been, and was, unjustly treated by others. The particular idea in the word “voice” here is, that he was suffering from slanderous reproaches; from assaults which had been made on his character. He was charged with ev... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART IS SORE PAINED WITHIN ME - Heavy and sad; that is, I am deeply afflicted. The word rendered is “sore pained,” means properly to turn round; to twist; to dance in a circle; to be whirled round; and then to twist or writhe with pain, especially applied to a woman in travail, Isaiah 13:8; Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
FEARFULNESS AND TREMBLING - Fear so great as to produce trembling. Compare the notes at Job 4:14. He knew not when these things would end. How far the spirit of rebellion had spread he knew not, and he had no means of ascertaining. It seemed as if he would be wholly overthrown; as if his power was w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID - That is, when I saw these calamities coming upon me, and knew not what the result was to be. OH, THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE! - literally, “Who will give me wings like a dove?” or, Who will give me the pinion of a dove? The original word - אבר _'êber_ - means properly, “a wing-feather... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THEN WOULD I WANDER FAR OFF - literally, “Lo, I would make the distance far by wandering;” I would separate myself far from these troubles. AND REMAIN IN THE WILDERNESS - literally, I would sojourn; or, I would pass the night; or, I would put up for the night. The idea is taken from a traveler w... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD HASTEN MY ESCAPE - I would make haste to secure an escape. I would not delay, but I would flee at once. FROM THE WINDY STORM AND TEMPEST - From the calamities which have come upon me, and which beat upon me like a violent tempest. If this psalm was composed on occasion of the rebellion of A... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY, O LORD - The word rendered “destroy,” properly means to “swallow up;” to “devour” with the idea of greediness. Isaiah 28:4; Exodus 7:12; Jonah 1:17; Jeremiah 51:34. Then it is used in the sense of “destroy,” Job 20:18; Proverbs 1:12. The reference here is to the persons who had conspired ag... [ Continue Reading ]
DAY AND NIGHT THEY GO ABOUT IT, UPON THE WALLS THEREOF - That is, continually. The word “they” in this place probably refers to the violence and strife mentioned in the preceding verse. They are here personified, and they seem to surround the city; to be everywhere moving, even on the very walls. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
WICKEDNESS IS IN THE MIDST THEREOF - That is, the wickedness connected with rebellion and revolt. DECEIT AND GUILE DEPART NOT FROM HER STREETS - They are everywhere. They are found in every street and alley. They pervade all classes of the people. The word rendered “deceit” means rather “oppression... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT WAS NOT AN ENEMY THAT REPROACHED ME - The word “reproached” here refers to slander; calumny; abuse. It is not necessarily implied that it was in his presence, but he was apprized of it. When he says that it is not an enemy that did this, the meaning is that it was not one who had been an avow... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT WAS THOU, A MAN MINE EQUAL - Margin, “a man according to my rank.” Septuagint, ἰσόψυχε _isopsuche_, equal-souled, like-souled, “second self” (Thompson); Vulgate, _“unanimus,”_ of the same mind; Luther, “Geselle,” companion. The Hebrew word used here - ערך _‛__êrek_ - means properly a row o... [ Continue Reading ]
WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER - Margin, “who sweetened counsel.” Literally, “We sweetened counsel together;” that is, We consulted together; we opened our minds and plans to each other; in other words, We found that happiness in each other which those do who freely and confidentially communicate th... [ Continue Reading ]
LET DEATH SEIZE UPON THEM - This would be more correctly rendered, “Desolations (are) upon them!” That is, Desolation, or destruction will certainly come upon them. There is in the original no necessary expression of a wish or prayer that this might be, but it is rather the language of certain assur... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ME, I WILL CALL UPON GOD - That is, I have no other refuge in my troubles, yet I can go to him, and pour out all the desires of my heart before him. AND THE LORD SHALL SAVE ME - This expresses strong confidence. On the supposition that the psalm refers to the rebellion of Absalom, David was... [ Continue Reading ]
EVENING, AND MORNING, AND AT NOON, WILL I PRAY - In another place Psalms 119:164 the psalmist says that he engaged in acts of devotion seven times in a day. Daniel prayed three times a day, Daniel 6:10. David went, in his troubles, before God evening, morning, and mid-day, in solemn, earnest prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH DELIVERED MY SOUL IN PEAEE - The Hebrew is, “He has redeemed;” so also the Septuagint and Vulgate. The meaning is, He has “rescued” me, or has saved me from my enemies. Either the psalmist composed the psalm “after” the struggle was over, and in view of it, here speaks of what had actually o... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SHALL HEAR AND AFFLICT THEM - That is, God will hear my prayer, and will afflict them, or bring upon them deserved judgments. As this looks to the future, it would seem to show that when in the previous verse he uses the past tense, and says that God “had” redeemed him, the language there, as su... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT FORTH HIS HANDS AGAINST SUCH AS BE AT PEACE WITH HIM - Against those who were his friends, or who had given him no occasion for war. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this, “He hath put forth his hands in recompensing;” that is, in taking vengeance. The Hebrew would bear this constructio... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH WERE SMOOTHER THAN BUTTER - Prof. Alexander renders this, “Smooth are the butterings of his mouth.” This is in accordance with the Hebrew, but the general meaning is well expressed in our common version. The idea is, that he was a hypocrite; that his professions of friendship... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD - This may be regarded as an address of the psalmist to himself, or to his own soul - an exhortation to himself to roll all his care upon the Lord, and to be calm. It is expressed, however, in so general language, that it may be applicable to all persons in similar circ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU, O GOD, SHALT BRING THEM DOWN INTO THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION - The word “them,” here evidently refers to the enemies of the psalmist; the wicked people who were arrayed against him, and who sought his life. The “pit of destruction” refers here to the grave, or to death, considered with referen... [ Continue Reading ]