_A.M. 2946. B.C. 1058._ “The title,” says Bishop Patrick, “sufficiently informs us of the occasion of this Psalm, wherein David expresses what his thoughts and feelings were when Saul sent officers to watch his house all night, and to slay him when he should come out of his doors in the morning.” S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God_ Thou art _God_, and canst deliver me; _my God_, under whose protection I have put myself; and thou hast promised me to be a God all-sufficient, and therefore in honour and faithfulness thou wilt deliver me. He chiefly means Saul by his enemies; but speaks in... [ Continue Reading ]
_They lie in wait for my soul_ For my life, to take it away. _The mighty are gathered against me_ They are all mighty, men of honour and estates, and interest in the court and country. They are in a confederacy, united by a league; and actually _gathered_ together against me; combined both in consul... [ Continue Reading ]
_They run_ To and fro, first to receive Saul's commands, and then to execute them with all diligence; _and prepare themselves_ With the utmost speed and fury, to do me a mischief; or, _they dispose themselves_, as יכוננו, _jeconanu_, may be properly rendered. They place themselves here and there abo... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, &c., the God of Israel_ In covenant with all true Israelites, whom thou promisest to protect and bless. _Awake to visit all the heathen_ Or, _these heathen_, who, though they are Israelites by birth, yet in truth, and in their dispositions and manners, are mere heathen. _Be not merciful_ He... [ Continue Reading ]
_They return at evening_ Saul sent once to destroy him, and the messengers went back to inform him that he was ill; but they returned in the evening to bring him even in his bed. _They make a noise like a dog _ The Hebrew יהמו, _jehemu_, signifies the confused hum and noise of an assembled crowd. “T... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them_ Shalt disappoint their high confidence and hopeful designs, and then deride them, and make them ridiculous and contemptible to others. _Because of his strength_ That is, Saul's strength, because he is too strong for me: or, _as to his strength; will I wait on... [ Continue Reading ]
_The God of my mercy_ The giver of all that mercy and comfort which I have or hope for; _shall prevent me_ With _the blessings of his goodness, Psalms 21:3_. Thou shalt help me seasonably, before it be too late, and sooner than I expect. _God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies_ Namely, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slay them not_ Hebrew, אל תהרגם, _al tahargeem, Thou wilt not slay them_, namely, suddenly, or at once; _lest my people_ My countrymen, those over whom thou hast appointed me to be governor in due time; _forget_ Their former danger, thy glorious mercy in delivering them, and their own duty to thee... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the sin of their mouth_, &c. For their ungodly, injurious, and pernicious speeches, of which he spoke Psalms 59:7. _Let them even be taken_ Hebrew, וילכדו, _vejillachedu, they shall be taken as in a snare_, namely, in order to their ruin; _in their pride_ For their proud and insolent speeches a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consume them in wrath_ By degrees, and after thou hast made them to wander about, Psalms 59:11. _That they may not be_ Namely, any more in the land of the living; _and let them know_ Experimentally, and to their cost; _that God ruleth_ Over and above them; that though Saul be king, yet God is his s... [ Continue Reading ]
_And at evening let them return_, &c. This is a repetition of the sixth verse, but is to be understood in a different sense. The sixth verse is a real complaint of their fury and diligence in pursuing him; here he speaks of them with a kind of indifference and contempt; and as free from any apprehen... [ Continue Reading ]