_David prayeth against the malice of his enemies, professing his innocency. By faith he seeth his defence, and their destruction._ Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. _TITLE._ לדוד שׁגיון _SHIGGAION LEDAVID. SHIGGAION OF DAVID_— _Cantio errat... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST HE TEAR MY SOUL— The singular here evidently proves that one particular enemy is referred to; Fenwick supposes it to mean the great enemy and accuser, whose agents and tools wicked men are. _Soul_ sometimes signifies _life_ itself, of which it is the principle; and sometimes it implies the _per... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I HAVE REWARDED EVIL, &C.— Or, _If I have repayed_ [_evil_] _to him who dealt ill with me; or if I have despoiled him, who without cause was my enemy._ The verse, according to our translation, points strongly to the cave where David saved Saul from being killed.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, O LORD, IN THINE ANGER, &C.— This supposes that God had determined that an exact and solemn judgment should one time or other pass upon the world; and he prays him to awake and arouse himself up to execute it.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEIR SAKES THEREFORE— _For that_ [_cause_] _therefore._ The words, _compass thee about,_ allude to the Jewish rite of going round the temple and altar in time of divine worship. So that to _compass about,_ in a triumphant and joyful procession, means, to _adore,_ worship, _and praise God._ So P... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS— i.e. Referring to David, _"Mine innocence,_ with respect to him, who _persecutes me without cause."_ See the 3rd and 4th verses. In the same sense David calls himself the _just_ or _righteous,_ in the next verse; where the _reins_ signify the same thing with the _heart... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD JUDGETH, &C.— _God is a righteous judge, and a God who avengeth every day._... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE TURN NOT, HE WILL WHET HIS SWORD— _Since he will not turn back, he is whetting his sword, i.e._ "Since this particular enemy of David's will not turn, &c." The Psalmist is supposed, to see God preparing instruments of vengeance against his pursuers, since they would not turn from pursuing him,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ORDAINETH HIS ARROWS, &C.— _He will make his_ {_arrows to pursue._ / _pursuing arrows._}... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE TRAVAILETH, &C.— This verse is by some expositors more clearly rendered thus: _Behold he is travailing with his iniquity; for he had conceived mischief, and therefore he will bring forth falsehood._ The sense is, that all his wicked designs and endeavours would be frustrated: _He will bri... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE A PIT, &C.— This is a proverbial mode of speech often used in Scripture: it is taken from pits which are digged and then covered with the leaves of trees, or some such unstable materials, either to make men fall into them, as in the time of war; or else wild beasts, who are hunted into them.... [ Continue Reading ]