The general title to this psalm is the same as in the two preceding psalms. That it was written by David, as is affirmed in the title, there is every reason to believe. The “occasion” on which it is said to have been composed was “when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.” This inciden... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME FROM MINE ENEMIES, O MY GOD - See the notes at Psalms 18:48. This prayer was offered when the spies sent by Saul surrounded the house of David. They had come to apprehend him, and it is to be presumed that they had come in sufficient numbers, and with sufficient power, to effect their obj... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME FROM THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY - The workers of iniquity here referred to were Saul and those whom he employed to carry out his murderous purpose - the people that had been sent to slay him. AND SAVE ME FROM BLOODY MEN - Hebrew, “Men of bloods;” that is, men whose trade is blood; who seek... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, LO, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR MY SOUL - They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Judges 9:32; Judges 21:20; Psalms 10:9. The word “soul”... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY RUN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES - That is, they “hasten” to accomplish this; they are quick to obey the command of Saul requiring them to slay me. The word “prepare” refers to whatever was deemed necessary to enable them to accomplish what they had been commanded to do - arming themselves, making pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THEREFORE, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS - God of armies: commanding all the armies of heaven - the angels, and the stars and constellations drawn out in the form of armies; thou, thus endowed with all power, and able to subdue all people though arrayed and combined for purposes of evil - awake to my hel... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY RETURN AT EVENING - Many have rendered this in the imperative, as in Psalms 59:14, “Let them return at evening,” etc. So Luther renders it, and so also DeWette. But the more natural and obvious interpretation is to render it in the indicative, as describing the manner in which his enemies came... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEY BELCH OUT WITH THEIR MOUTH - The word rendered “belch out” means properly to boil forth; to gush out, to flow; and then, to pour forth copiously, or in a running stream, as a fountain does. Hence, the word means also to pour out “words” - words that flow freely - words of folly, abuse,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU, O LORD, SHALT LAUGH AT THEM - That is, God will hear them, and will have all their efforts in derision, or will treat them with contempt. See Psalms 2:4, note; Psalms 37:13, note. THOU SHALT HAVE ALL THE HEATHEN IN DERISION - All those referred to in this psalm - the enemies of David - wh... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF HIS STRENGTH WILL I WAIT UPON THEE - literally, “His strength - I will wait upon thee.” The reference here is not to the strength or power of God, as if the fact that “He” was powerful was a reason why the psalmist should look to him - but it is to the strength or power of the enemy - of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF MY MERCY SHALL PREVENT ME - Or rather, “My God - his mercy shall prevent me.” This is in accordance with the present reading of the Hebrew text, and is probably correct. The psalmist looks to God as his God, and then the feeling at once springs up that his mercy - favor - his loving-kindn... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAY THEM NOT, LEST MY PEOPLE FORGET - The meaning of this seems to be, Do not destroy them at once, lest, being removed out of the way, the people should forget what was done, or should lose the impression which it is desirable should be produced by their punishment. Let them live, and let them wan... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SIN OF THEIR MOUTH ... - That is, in belching out words of reproach and malice, Psalms 59:7. LET THEM EVEN BE TAKEN IN THEIR PRIDE - In the very midst of their schemes, or while confidently relying on the success of their plans. Even while their hearts are elated, and they are sure of succe... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSUME THEM IN WRATH - Or, in thy justice. The idea in the word “consume” here is to finish; to complete; to bring to an end. It does not mean to “burn” them as our word might seem to imply, nor is there any reference to the “mode” or “manner” in which their power was to be brought to an end. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT EVENING LET THEM RETURN - See the notes at Psalms 59:6. The original here is the same as in Psalms 59:6, with the exception of the word “and” at the beginning. This qualifies the sentence, and makes the construction in our version proper. The language is that of confident triumph. They came a... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM WANDER UP AND DOWN FOR MEAT - Let them be like dogs that wander about for food, and find none. The idea is, that they would not find him, and would be then as dogs that had sought in vain for food. AND GRUDGE IF THEY BE NOT SATISFIED - Margin, If they be not satisfied, then they will stay a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL SING OF THY POWER - That is, I will praise thee for the manifestation of thy power in rescuing me from danger. YEA, I WILL SING ALOUD OF THY MERCY IN THE MORNING - When the light dawns; when these troubles are over; when the night of calamity shall have passed by. There is an allusion her... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THEE, O MY STRENGTH, WILL I SING - The source of strength to me; the real strength by which I have obtained deliverance is in thee. See the notes at Psalms 18:1. FOR GOD IS MY DEFENSE - See the notes at Psalms 59:9. AND THE GOD OF MY MERCY - The God who has showed mercy to me; he from whom all... [ Continue Reading ]