This psalm, in the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, is entitled “A Psalm of David, for the fourth day of the week.” What is the origin of this title is unknown, as there is nothing corresponding to it in the Hebrew. In the original the psalm is without a title, nor is there anything in the contents... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD GOD, TO WHOM VENGEANCE BELONGETH ... - Margin, God of revenges The idea is, that it pertains to God to take vengeance, or to punish for crimes. See the notes at Romans 12:19. The appeal here is made to God in view of the crimes committed by others, and which are referred to in the subsequent... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP THYSELF - Be exalted or lifted up so as to be manifest in thy true character. The idea is that God was, as it were, sitting at his ease, or as if he were indifferent to what was occurring in the world. See the notes at Psalms 3:7. THOU JUDGE OF THE EARTH - Ruler of the world; to whom it per... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, HOW LONG SHALL THE WICKED ... - As if there were to be no end to their exaltation; their joy; their success. How long would God allow this? How long would he sit by and see it done? Was he disposed to let them go on forever? Would he never interpose, and arrest them in their career? How often... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG SHALL THEY UTTER AND SPEAK HARD THINGS? - The word rendered utter means to pour forth - as water from a fountain; to pour forth copiously. The meaning is, that they seemed to be full, and that they poured forth evil words as a fountain pours forth water. The phrase “hard things” means proud... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BREAK IN PIECES THY PEOPLE - They tread down; they grind; they crush. The Hebrew word is often used as meaning to crush under foot; to trample on; and hence, it means to oppress. Lamentations 3:34; Isaiah 3:15. AND AFFLICT - To wit, by oppression and wrong. If this refers to foreigners, it mea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SLAY THE WIDOW AND THE STRANGER, AND MURDER THE FATHERLESS - To do this is everywhere represented as a special crime, and as especially offensive to God from the fact that these classes are naturally feeble and unprotected. See the notes at Isaiah 1:17; Psalms 68:5; Psalms 82:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THEY SAY - By their conduct; or, they seem to say. THE LORD SHALL NOT SEE - In the original, יה _Yâhh_. This is an abbreviation of the word יהוה _Yahweh_. See Psalms 68:4, note; Psalms 83:18, note. On the impious sentiment here expressed, see the notes at Psalms 10:11. NEITHER SHALL THE GOD OF... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTAND, YE BRUTISH AMONG THE PEOPLE - See Psalms 73:22. The meaning here is, “You who are like the brutes; you who see and understand no more of the character and plans of God than the wild beasts of the desert.” The meaning is, that they did not employ their reason in the case; they acted like... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT PLANTED THE EAR - He that made the ear. The word here used in the original is a participle. “Shall not he planting the ear;” that is, the “planter” of the ear. The idea seems to have been taken from the act of making a “hole” in the ground when we set out a plant - as if, in like manner, a “... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT CHASTISETH THE HEATHEN - More literally, “Shall not the Reprover of nations - shall he not chastise - he that teaches man knowledge?” The idea is, that God exercises a government over the nations of the earth; that he has them under his control; that he brings heavy judgments on them; that h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD KNOWETH THE THOUGHTS OF MAN - That is, He who teaches people all that they know Psalms 94:10, must understand all that there is in the mind. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:20. THAT THEY ARE VANITY - That is, that they are foolish, vain, unwise, wicked. The knowledge of the thoughts thems... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHASTENEST, O LORD - “Happy the man;” or “Oh the blessedness of the man.” See the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word here rendered “chastenest” does not mean to chasten in the sense of afflicting or punishing. It means here to instruct; to warn; to admonish; to exhort. So the... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST GIVE HIM REST - Mayest make his mind quiet and calm; mayest save him from murmuring, from despondency, from impatience, by just confidence in thee, and in thy government. FROM THE DAYS OF ADVERSITY - Or, in the days of evil; the time of calamity and trouble. That his mind may then... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD WILL NOT CAST OFF HIS PEOPLE ... - He will interpose in their behalf though the wicked seem now to triumph. The certainty of this would give consolation; this would make the mind calm in the days of trouble. Compare 1 Samuel 12:22; 1 Kings 6:13; Deuteronomy 31:6. See the notes at Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JUDGMENT SHALL RETURN UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS - That is, The exercise of judgment shall be so manifest to the world - as if it “returned” to it - as to show that there is a righteous God. The truth here taught is, that the “results” of God’s interposition in human affairs will be such as to show that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL RISE UP FOR ME AGAINST THE EVIL-DOERS?... - This is the language of the psalmist. It is what he had said in the circumstances referred to in the first part of the psalm, when the wicked seemed to triumph; when they had come in upon the land, and laid waste the heritage of God, Psalms 94:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLESS THE LORD HAD BEEN MY HELP - At the time referred to. If I had not had a God to whom I could have gone - if my mind had not been directed to him - if I had not actually found him a refuge and strength, I should have despaired altogether. There was no other one to whom I could go; there was not... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SAID, MY FOOT SLIPPETH - I can no longer stand. My strength is gone; and I must sink into the grave. The original here is, “If I say, My foot slippeth,” etc. The statement is general; that if at any time he had been, or should be, in such circumstances, then God would interpose. The general r... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MULTITUDE OF MY THOUGHTS WITHIN ME THY COMFORTS DELIGHT MY SOUL - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “In the multitude of my griefs within me,” etc. DeWette renders it, “Bei meinen vielen Sorgen,” “in my many cares.” The Hebrew word, however, properly means “thoughts;” and the... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THE THRONE OF INIQUITY - The throne established in iniquity; or, sustaining iniquity. The allusion is probably to what was referred to in the former part of the psalm - the powers that were spreading desolation through the land - wicked princes or rulers, Psalms 94:3. Their thrones were establ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST THE SOUL OF THE RIGHTEOUS - Against the life of the righteous; that is, to take their lives. The Hebrew word rendered “gather together,” means to press or crowd upon anyone; to rush in crowds or troops. It would refer particularly to a tumultuous gathering - “... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LORD IS MY DEFENSE ... - In all these purposes of the wicked; in all that they do - whether under the form and sanction of law Psalms 94:20, or by the excitement of passion - my trust is still in God. He is able to interpose in either case, and I may confidently commit my cause to him. On th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL BRING UPON THEM THEIR OWN INIQUITY - The consequences of their sin. He shall punish them as they deserve. See the notes at Psalms 7:16. AND SHALL CUT THEM OFF IN THEIR OWN WICKEDNESS - As the result of their wickedness, and while they are engaged in perpetrating acts of sin. YEA, THE... [ Continue Reading ]