_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ From the complaint which the psalmist makes in the middle of this Psalm, that his greatest confidant proved treacherous to him, it seems probable that it was composed when Absalom's rebellion broke out, and he was forced to flee suddenly from Jerusalem, and as he was going b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hide not thyself from my supplication_ Either as one unconcerned and not regarding it, or as one displeased, and resolved not to hear nor help. _I mourn and make a noise_ I cannot forbear such sighs and groans, and other expressions of grief, as discover it to those about me. The word ואהימה, _veah... [ Continue Reading ]
_My heart is sore pained within me_ Hebrew, יחיל, _jachil, trembles_, or suffers pains like those of a travailing woman, as the word properly signifies. My heart, which hath generally supported me in my distresses, is now ready to sink within me; therefore, Lord, pity and help me. _The terrors of de... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that I had wings like a dove_ Hebrew, מי יתן לי, _mi jitten li, who will give me wings like a dove?_ “The dove is remarkable for the swiftness of its flight; therefore the psalmist, who saw himself in the extremest danger, and knew that his very life depended on his immediate escape, wishes for t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Destroy, O Lord, and divide_ Destroy them by dividing _their tongues_ Their speech, as thou didst at Babel, (Genesis 11.,) their votes, and opinions, and counsels. Which was eminently done among Absalom's followers, 2 Samuel 17. _I have seen violence and strife_ Injustice and fraud, oppression and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day and night they_ That is, the violence and strife, last mentioned; go _about_ Do encompass it, as it were a garrison. _Upon the walls thereof_ In the outward parts, as also _in the_ very _midst of it_ So that all parts were horribly corrupted. _Deceit and guile depart not from her streets_ The p... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was not an enemy_ Not an open and professed enemy, or, not an old and inveterate enemy, (as appears from the following description to be his meaning,) _that reproached me_ That misrepresented me, and my government, as if I either abused my power, or neglected the proper use of it, and who indust... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let death seize upon them_ Hebrew, ישׁי מות עלימו, _jashi maveth gnaleemo_, which Cocceius renders, _death will exact the debt with usury_, a version which, as Dr. Chandler well remarks, preserves the propriety of the original verb, and greatly adds to the force of the expression. The verb is in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for me, I will call upon God_ Let them take what course they please to secure themselves; let violence and strife be their guards, prayer shall be mine. By this I have found deliverance, support, and comfort, and therefore this I will abide by. _And the Lord shall save me_ While he destroys them... [ Continue Reading ]
_He hath delivered my soul_ He may be considered, either as referring to former deliverances, and mentioning them as a reason why he should now trust in God; or as speaking of a future deliverance as already effected, because he was confident it would be effected. He adds, _in peace_, because he was... [ Continue Reading ]
_God shall hear_ My prayer against them, mentioned Psalms 55:15, or their reproaches, Psalms 55:12, their deceitful and treacherous speeches, Psalms 55:21. He had said, God would _hear his voice, Psalms 55:17_, now he adds that God will hear his enemies' voice also, of which he spake, Psalms 55:3. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_He_, &c. I speak especially of “that perfidious person, who hath not only violated all the laws of friendship, but profanely broken his promise and oath of fidelity, wherein he was engaged to me.” Bishop Patrick. Although, as we have seen, David did not excuse the rest that were concerned in these... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cast thy burden upon the Lord_ Whoever thou art that art burdened, and whatever the burden is; whatever affliction God sendeth to thee; all thy trials and troubles, thy crosses and distresses, thy cares and fears, nay, and all thy affairs, lay upon the shoulders of the Almighty, and commit to him,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt bring them_ My wicked enemies, of whom I have hitherto spoken; _down into the pit of destruction_ Not only to the dust, but to hell, called _destruction, Job 26:6_. God afflicted them, Psalms 55:19, to humble and reform them, but as that effect was not produced by their afflictions, he w... [ Continue Reading ]