_A.M. 2987. B.C. 1017._ This is the first of those seven Psalms which are composed in the alphabetical, or acrostic form, according to which every verse begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in their order of succession. But even in this form, which seems particularly guarded again... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto thee do I lift up my soul_ That is, I direct my prayers to thee with hope of a gracious answer. _Let me not be ashamed_ That is, disappointed of my hope, which will be reproachful to me, and not without reflection upon thee, of whose power and faithfulness I have made my boast. _Let none that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Show me thy ways, O Lord_ That is, the way or thy precepts, what I ought to do in my circumstances and difficulties; by what methods I may obtain thy favour and help. Whatsoever thou doest with me, as to other things, grant me this favour, teach me my duty, and cause me to keep close to it, notwith... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lead me in thy truth_ In the true and right way prescribed in thy word, which is often called _truth;_ or, _through_, or, _because of, thy truth;_ because thou art faithful, lead and guide me as thou hast promised to do. _For thou art the God of my salvation_ Who hast saved me formerly, and hast en... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies_ O consider thy own merciful nature, and thy former manifold favours vouchsafed to me, and to other miserable sinners, and act like thyself. _For they have been ever of old _ Thou hast been gracious to such as I am from the beginning of the world to this day, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Good and upright is the Lord_ Bountiful and gracious, ready to do good, and delighting in it: and _right_, or _righteous_, (as ישׁר, _jashar_, here rendered _upright_, means,) that is, holy and true, sincere in making promises, and in all his declarations and offers of mercy to sinners, and faithfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the paths of the Lord_ All the dealings of God with them, yea, even those that are afflictive and grievous to the flesh; _are mercy and truth_ Are in kindness and faithfulness, as being very necessary for them, and tending to their great advantage; _unto such as keep his covenant_ The condition... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thy name's sake_ That is, for the honour of thy goodness and truth, which is concerned herein, _pardon mine iniquity, for it is great_ And therefore only such a merciful and gracious God as thou art can pardon it, and nothing but thy own name can move thee to do it; and the pardoning of it will... [ Continue Reading ]
_What man is he that feareth the Lord_ Whosoever he be, whether Jew or Gentile, whether comparatively innocent or a great sinner, which is my case: _him shall he teach in the way he shall choose_ The way which God chooseth, or appointeth and approveth, or which the good man _should_, or _ought_ to c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The secret of the Lord_ Hebrew, סוד, _sod_, his _fixed counsel_, or _design, is with them that fear him_ To direct and guide them in the right way; to show them their duty in all conditions, and the way to eternal salvation. “The greatest happiness of man in this world,” says Dr. Horne, “is to know... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord_ My trust is in him, and my expectation of relief is from him only. _He shall pluck my feet out of the net_ He will deliver me out of all my temptations and tribulations. _Turn thee unto me_ Turn thy face and favour to me; _for I am desolate and afflicted_ Destitu... [ Continue Reading ]
_The troubles of my heart are enlarged_ My outward troubles are accompanied with grievous distresses of my mind and heart for my sins, which have procured them, and for thy great displeasure manifested in them. _Look upon mine affliction_ With compassion, as Exodus 3:7; Psalms 31:7; Psalms 106:44. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let integrity and uprightness preserve me_ Though I have greatly offended thee, yet remember that I have dealt honestly and sincerely with mine eugenics, while they have dealt falsely and injuriously with me; and therefore judge between them and me, and deal with me according to the righteousness o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Redeem Israel, O God_, &c. “Have mercy, not upon me only, but upon the whole nation, who are miserably distracted by their divisions, and restore them to peace and quietness.” Bishop Patrick, who supposes that the Psalm was written during the troubles occasioned by Absalom. David was now in trouble... [ Continue Reading ]