This psalm is said in the title to be a psalm of David, but on what occasion it was composed is not there intimated, nor can it be determined from the psalm itself. There is nothing “in” the psalm which is inconsistent with the supposition that it was composed by David; and, in fact, it has, in many... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE ME, O GOD - That is, Interpose and deliver me from the dangers which have come upon me. FOR THE WATERS ARE COME IN UNTO MY SOUL - So as to endanger my life. Waters, deep, raging, overwhelming, are images of calamity or danger. See the notes at Psalms 32:6. Compare Psalms 42:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SINK IN DEEP MIRE - Margin, as in Hebrew, “the mire of the depth.” This would denote either mire which was itself so deep that one could not extricate himself from it; or, mire found in a deep place, as at the bottom of a pit. Compare the notes at Psalms 40:2. An illustration of this might be draw... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM WEARY OF MY CRYING - The word “crying” here does not mean weeping, or shedding tears, but calling upon God for help. He had grown weary; his strength had been exhausted in the act of calling upon God to assist him. See the notes at Psalms 6:6. This was an instance where one had called so long o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT HATE ME WITHOUT A CAUSE - Without any just reason; without any provocation on my part. There were many such in the case of David, for to those who rose up against him in the time of Saul, and to Absalom also, he had given no real occasion of offence. An expression similar to the one used h... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, THOU KNOWEST MY FOOLISHNESS - The errors and follies of my life. Though conscious of innocence in this case - though he felt that his enemies hated him “without cause,” and that they took what belonged to him and not to them, yet he was not insensible to the fact that he was a sinner, and he... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THEM THAT WAIT ON THEE - Those who worship thee; those who are thy true friends. True piety is often, in the Scriptures, represented as waiting on the Lord. See Psalms 25:3, Psalms 25:5; Psalms 37:9; Isaiah 40:31. BE ASHAMED FOR MY SAKE - On account of me; or, in consequence of what I do. Le... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE FOR THY SAKE I HAVE BORNE REPROACH - In thy cause; in defense of thy truth; because I have professed to be a friend of God. The true reason why these calamities have come upon me is that I have been thy professed friend, and have endeavored to do my duty to thee. The reproach connected with... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM BECOME A STRANGER UNTO MY BRETHREN - That is, They treat me as they would a stranger; as one in whom they have no interest, and whom they regard with no friendship. Compare the notes at Psalms 31:11. AND AN ALIEN UNTO MY MOTHER’S CHILDREN - A foreigner; one of another tribe or nation; one to wh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE ZEAL OF THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP - My zeal - my ardor - in the cause of religion (that is, of thy pure worship) has been so great as to consume me. It has been like a devouring fire within me. Zeal is represented under the idea of heat - as it is in the Greek language; and the characteri... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WEPT, AND CHASTENED MY SOUL WITH FASTING - The words “and chastened” are not in the original. The literal translation would be, “And I wept (away) my soul with fasting;” that is, I gave myself so much to fasting accompanied with weeping, that my strength was exhausted. This refers to his acts... [ Continue Reading ]
I MADE SACKCLOTH ALSO MY GARMENT - I put on sackcloth. This was often done as expressive of grief and sorrow. See Psalms 30:11, note; Psalms 35:13, note. Compare Isaiah 22:12; Daniel 9:3. In the case here referred to, this was an act of religion; an expression of penitence and humiliation. AND I BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT SIT IN THE GATE SPEAK AGAINST ME - The gates of cities were places of concourse; places where business was transacted; places where courts were frequently held. See the notes at Job 29:7. Compare Isaiah 14:31; Isaiah 28:6; Psalms 9:14. Calvin supposes that as the gates were the places wher... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR ME - In respect to my conduct and my feelings in these circumstances, and under this treatment. MY PRAYER IS UNTO THEE - I indulge in no reproaches of others, and no recriminations. I do not permit myself to indulge in any revengeful feelings. I give myself to prayer. I look to God alone... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME OUT OF THE MIRE - Out of my troubles and calamities. See Psalms 69:1. AND LET ME NOT SINK - As in, mire. Let me not be overwhelmed by my sorrows. LET ME BE DELIVERED FROM THEM THAT HATE ME - All my enemies. Let me be saved from their machinations and devices. AND OUT OF THE DEEP WATERS... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THE WATERFLOOD OVERFLOW ME - The stream; the volume of waters. The idea is that of a flood or stream rolling along, that threatened to drown him. NEITHER LET THE DEEP SWALLOW ME UP - The abyss; the deep waters. AND LET NOT THE PIT SHUT HER MOUTH UPON ME - In his anguish and distress he pas... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR ME, O L RD, FOR THY LOVINGKINDNESS IS GOOD - Thy mercy - thy favor - is good; that is, it is ample, abundant, great: it delights in deeds of mercy; in acts of benevolence. This was the only ground of his plea; and this was enough. Compare Psalms 63:3. TURN UNTO ME - Incline thine ear unto me;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIDE NOT THY FACE FROM THY SERVANT - See the notes at Psalms 27:9. FOR I AM IN TROUBLE - In the midst of dangers and sorrows. Literally, “there is trouble upon me.” HEAR ME SPEEDILY - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Make haste to hear me.” That is, Grant me without delay what I ask. The case is one of u... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW NIGH UNTO MY SOUL - To me - for my life is in danger. AND REDEEM IT - Ransom it; save it from ruin. See the notes at Isaiah 43:3; notes at Isaiah 44:22. DELIVER ME, BECAUSE OF MINE ENEMIES - Because they are so numerous, so powerful, and so determined on my destruction. Compare Psalms 13:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST KNOWN MY REPROACH - The reproach that has come upon me; the shame and contempt which I am called to endure. God had seen all this; and the psalmist appeals to him as having seen it, as a reason why he should now interpose and save him. AND MY SHAME, AND MY DISHONOR - These are different w... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROACH HATH BROKEN MY HEART - The reproaches, the calumnies, the aspersions, the slanders of others, have crushed me. I am not able to bear up under them; I fail under the burden. Distress may become so great that life may sink under it, for many die of what is called “a broken heart.” Undeserved... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GAVE ME ALSO - My enemies; all persons around me. No one would show me even so much kindness as to give me food when I was hungry, or drink when I was thirsty. They utterly forsook me; they left me to die unpitied. Nay, they did more than this. When I was perishing with hunger, they not only re... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE BEFORE THEM - These verses are quoted by Paul Romans 11:9 as descriptive of the character of persons in his time, or as “language” which would express what he desired to say. See the passage explained at length in the notes at Romans 11:9. The whole passage is a prayer... [ Continue Reading ]
POUR OUT THINE INDIGNATION UPON THEM - That is, Punish them for their sins; or, do justice to them. AND LET THY WRATHFUL ANGER - literally, “the burning of thy wrath;” glow of anger; burning wrath. See Numbers 25:4; Num 32:14, 1 Samuel 28:18. This is undoubtedly a petition that God would visit them... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEIR HABITATION BE DESOLATE - Margin, “their palace.” The Hebrew word means properly a wall; then, a fortress or castle; and then it means also a nomadic encampment, a rustic village, a farm-hamlet. The word conveys the idea of an “enclosure,” with special reference to an encampment, or a colle... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY PERSECUTE HIM WHOM THOU HAST SMITTEN - That is, instead of pitying one who is afflicted of God, or showing compassion for him, they “add” to his sorrows by their own persecutions. The psalmist was suffering as under the hand of God. He needed sympathy from others in his trials. Instead of t... [ Continue Reading ]
ADD INIQUITY UNTO THEIR INIQUITY - Margin, “punishment of iniquity.” The literal rendering is, “Give iniquity upon their iniquity.” Luther understands this as a prayer that “sin may be made a punishment for sin;” that is, that they may, as a punishment for their former sins, be left to commit still... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING - That is, Let them cease to live; let them not be numbered among living people; let them be cut off. This language is taken from the custom of registering the names of persons in a list, roll, or catalogue, Exodus 32:32. See the notes at Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I AM POOR AND SORROWFUL - I am afflicted and suffering. The word here rendered “poor” often means “afflicted.” LET THY SALVATION, O GOD, SET ME UP ON HIGH - Let thy help raise me up from my low condition, and exalt me to a place of safety.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PRAISE THE NAME OF GOD WITH A SONG - As the result of my deliverance, I will “compose” a song or a psalm especially adapted to the occasion, and suited to express and perpetuate my feelings. It was in such circumstances that a large part of the psalms were composed; and since others besides t... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS ALSO SHALL PLEASE THE LORD - This will be more acceptable to the Lord. BETTER THAN AN OX OR BULLOCK THAT HATH HORNS AND HOOFS - Better than a burnt sacrifice - horns, and hoofs, and all. The original here is, “horning and hoofing;” that is, an ox whose horns were fully grown, and whose hoofs we... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HUMBLE SHALL SEE THIS, AND BE GLAD - Margin, “The meek.” That is, Others who are thus afflicted - the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the sad - shall be made acquainted with what has been done in my behalf, and shall take courage, or be strengthened. They will learn to trust that God will also i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD HEARETH THE POOR - The needy; the humble; the unprotected. The reference is to those who are in circumstances of want and distress. The truth stated here is in accordance with all that is said in the Scriptures. Compare the notes at Psalms 34:6. See also Job 5:15; Psalms 10:14; Psalms 1... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE HEAVEN AND EARTH PRAISE HIM - All things; all above and all below. THE SEAS - The waters - the oceans. This is in accordance with what often occurs in the Scriptures, when all things, animate and inanimate, are called on to praise God. Compare Psalms 148:1. AND EVERYTHING THAT MOVETH THERE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD WILL SAVE ZION - See the notes at Psalms 51:18. That is, he will save his people; he will protect and defend them. This expresses the confident assurance of the psalmist that, whatever might be the existing troubles, God would not forsake his people, but would interpose in their behalf. AND... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEED ALSO OF HIS SERVANTS - The children or the descendants of his people. SHALL INHERIT IT - Shall continue to dwell in it. AND THEY THAT LOVE HIS NAME - They that love him; they that are his true friends. SHALL DWELL THEREIN - They shall be safe there; they shall find there a home. This indi... [ Continue Reading ]