_David praiseth God, and exhorteth others thereto by his experience. They are blessed that trust in God. He exhorteth to the fear of God. The privileges of the righteous._ _A Psalm_ of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. _TITLE._ ויגרשׁהו _VAI... [ Continue Reading ]
MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME— These, and the like expressions, do not mean that we can add any thing to the glory of the name or nature of God; but that we should shew forth and publicly celebrate his majesty and greatness, when we experience the interpositions of his providence in our deliverance from... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS— This exactly answers to the history; which informs us, that when David heard what the servants of Achish said to their master concerning him, _He laid up those words in his heart, and was greatly afraid,_ 1 Samuel 21:13. Undoubtedly, he thought himself in extreme... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WERE LIGHTENED— The original verb נהר _nahar_ signifies, properly, to _flow down_ or _flow around,_ and is used of the flow of rivers, and with equal propriety applied to the flow of light. Accordingly, in the Chaldee and Arabic languages, it has the signification of light and splendor, and unqu... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS POOR MAN CRIED— This seems to be the triumph of David's afflicted friends for his safe return, says Chandler. "This distressed man cried and sought the help of God, when he was in the greatest straits at Gath, as being in danger of destruction if he stayed there, and yet not knowing how to esca... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG LIONS DO LACK— All the ancient versions, except the Chaldee, read _great, powerful men,_ instead of _young lions;_ and Houbigant renders the place, _rich men are become poor and hungry; but they who seek the Lord,_ &c. This sense is undoubtedly good: but I see nothing to object against our... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LOVETH MANY DAYS, THAT HE MAY SEE GOOD— _And loveth days to see_ or _enjoy good._ Houbigant. The meaning of the verse is, "Who is the man that desires a long and happy life?... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS— i.e. He beholds them with approbation, and is constantly watchful over them to protect and supply them; and, on the other hand, _the face of the Lord is against them that do evil,_ as he views them with displeasure, and marks them out for vengeance. Mr. M... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART— God is near to all men: for in him they all live: but he is near to the broken in heart in a peculiar sense, as he is ever ready and always able to help them; as men are much more capable of assisting those whom they value when present with, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE KEEPETH ALL HIS BONES, &C.— These words were peculiarly accomplished in Christ, whose bones were not broken on the cross, according to the usual custom of treating those who were crucified, to put them the sooner out of their pain. But the expression here may be figurative, and mean deliverance f... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL SHALL SLAY THE WICKED— The consequences of men's crimes are often fatal to them; they shall destroy the wicked; but the righteous, though he has many sufferings, yet shall he be delivered out of them, Psalms 34:19 and not like the wicked come to utter destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD REDEEMETH THE SOUL OF HIS SERVANTS— This is a detached sentence, added, as in Psalms 25 beyond the alphabet; perhaps that the same may sound well, in ending with a promise rather than a threat: the latter Jews, for the same reason, repeat a verse at the end of some books in the Old Testamen... [ Continue Reading ]