_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._ The matter of this Psalm, Bishop Patrick thinks, “sufficiently informs us, that it was penned by David when he was fiercely persecuted by Saul; whose forces, which were unjustly raised against him, he beseeches the Lord to dissipate; and especially to stop the mouths of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Plead my cause, O Lord_, &c. Take my part, and maintain my cause against those that contend with me, and have raised war against me; for I am not able to defend myself, and have none else to appear for me. _Take hold of shield and buckler_ Wherewith to cover and defend me; that is, Be thou my prote... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let them be confounded_ That is, frustrated and disappointed in their wicked designs and hopes against me. Or, _they shall be disappointed:_ for this and the following verses, to Psalms 35:9, may be considered as a prediction of the ruin and destruction which were about to come on the enemies of Da... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let them be_ Or, _They shall be; as chaff before the wind_ That is, dispersed and chased from place to place, finding rest and safety nowhere. _And let the angel of the Lord_ Whom God employs to defend his people, and to destroy his enemies; _chase them_ Drive them forward to their destruction, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let their way_ By which they flee, being chased, as was now said; _be dark and slippery_ So as that they can neither discern the right path, nor be able to stand in it, and much less to escape, especially from so swift a pursuer as an angel. _For without cause_ Out of mere malice, without any injur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let destruction come upon him_ Upon each of thine and mine implacable enemies, of whom he had hitherto spoken. Or, rather, by this change of the plural number into the singular, he points at Saul, his chief and most implacable enemy. _And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord _ In and for his glory a... [ Continue Reading ]
_They laid to my charge things I knew not_ They accused me to Saul of treacherous designs against his crown and life, and of other crimes of which I was wholly innocent and ignorant. _They rewarded me evil for good_ For the good offices which I performed to divers of them when I had favour and power... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they were sick_ Or in any other great misery; _my clothing was sackcloth_ Which was the habit of mourners. _I humbled_ Hebrew, _I afflicted, my soul with fasting_ And with compassion and fervent prayers for them; _and_, or _but, my prayer returned into mine own bosom_ My fastings and prayers d... [ Continue Reading ]
_I behaved myself_ Hebrew, התהלכתי, _hithhalacti, I caused myself to walk_, namely, to visit and comfort him; or, I conducted myself toward him, _as though he had been my friend_, &c. As if I had been in danger of losing a friend or brother. _I bowed down heavily_ Went hanging down my head as mourne... [ Continue Reading ]
_But in mine adversity_ Hebrew, בצלעי, _betzalgni, in my halting_, that is, when I was in great danger of falling into mischief. When I had any sickness or ill success in my affairs, and was almost lost, for such are often said to _halt_, in the Scripture; _they rejoiced and gathered themselves toge... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, how long wilt thou look on_ Like an idle spectator, without affording me any pity or help? _Rescue my soul from their destructions_ Be pleased, at length, to vindicate my innocence from those who have already despoiled me of my peace and good name; _my darling from the lions_ Namely, my soul... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither let them wink with the eye_ That is, mock me, or insult over me, as this phrase signifies. _For they speak not peace_ They are enemies to all peaceable counsels; they breathe out nothing but threatenings and war. _They devise deceitful matters_ They use, not only open violence, but deceit a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast seen, O Lord_ As they say they have seen, so my comfort is, that thou also hast seen, and dost observe all their plots and threats, and all my distresses and calamities, which I suffer for thy sake. _Keep not silence_ Or, _Be not deaf_, namely, to my prayers. _Be not far from me_ Do not w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let them not say, Ah! so would we have it_ Hebrew, _Aha, our soul;_ an expression of mirth, as before, Psalms 35:21, or, _Aha_, we have _our wish_, or _desire. We have swallowed him up_ David is now as low as we could wish him. _Let them be brought to confusion together_ As they gathered themselves... [ Continue Reading ]