INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 10 This psalm in the Septuagint version, and those that follow it, is a part and continuation of the preceding psalm, and makes but one with it; hence in these versions the number of the following psalms differ from others, and what is the eleventh with others is the tenth wit... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY STANDEST THOU AFAR OFF, O LORD?.... This psalm begins with a complaint which proceeds on two general heads; the one is with respect to God, his distance from his people, and desertion of them in times of trouble, in this verse; and the other is with respect to the wicked in some following ones.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED IN [HIS] PRIDE DOTH PERSECUTE THE POOR,.... The "poor" is the good and gracious man, who is commonly poor in this world's things, and is sensibly poor in spirit, or sensible of his spiritual poverty; or he is so called because "afflicted", as the word signifies; and he is afflicted becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WICKED BOASTETH OF HIS HEART'S DESIRE,.... As antichrist does of his universal power over all bishops and princes, which his heart was long desiring after; of his being Christ's vicar, Peter's successor, and head of the church; and of having power in heaven, earth, and hell: he boasts of his... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED, THROUGH THE PRIDE OF HIS COUNTENANCE, WILL NOT SEEK [AFTER GOD],.... We supply it, "after God"; as do the Targum and Kimchi on the place: the sense is, he will not seek to God for counsel or assistance, he will not pray unto him; which is the character of every unregenerate man, Romans 3... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS GRIEVOUS,.... To God and to his people; or, "his ways cause terror" a, so Aben Ezra; make men fear; as antichrist has made the whole world tremble at him, Revelation 13:4; or, "his ways are defiled", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin render it; for to him is nothing pure, his m... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SAID IN HIS HEART,.... To and within himself, he thought in his own mind; for the thought is the word or speech of the mind, λογος ενδιαυετος; I SHALL NOT BE MOVED; from his prosperous and happy condition, abounding: with riches and honours; from his seat of empire, over kings, princes, and... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING,.... Or, "he has filled his mouth with cursing" e God and good men, his superiors, himself and others. The word signifies "an oath"; and may design either a profane oath, taking the name of God in vain; or an oath on a civil account, a false oath, taken with a design to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SITTETH IN THE LURKING PLACES OF THE VILLAGES,.... Which were by the wayside, where thieves and robbers harboured, and out of which they came, and robbed passengers as they came by. The word f signifies "palaces" or "courts": and so it is rendered by the Chaldee paraphrase and Syriac version; and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LIETH IN WAIT SECRETLY AS A LION,.... The first beast in Revelation 13:2; is said to have a mouth like a lion, and the second beast in Psalms 10:11; spake like a dragon; and both design one and the same, antichrist, in his twofold capacity, civil and ecclesiastical; this metaphor of the lion ly... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CROUCHETH [AND] HUMBLETH HIMSELF,.... As the lion before he leaps and seizes on his prey, and as the fowler creepeth upon the ground to draw the bird into his net and catch it; so the antichristian beast has two horns like a lamb; though he has the mouth of a lion, and speaks like a dragon, he wo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, GOD HATH FORGOTTEN,.... Meaning either his own sins, because they are not immediately punished; wherefore he hopes to go on for ever with impunity, but will be mistaken, for God will remember the iniquities of Babylon, and render to her double, Revelation 18:5; see Amos 7:... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, O LORD,.... See Psalms 3:7; O GOD, LIFT UP THINE HAND; either on the behalf of his people, to help and deliver them; his hand may be said to be let down when their enemies prevail, and to be lifted up or exalted when it does valiantly, and works salvation for them; so when Moses's hands were... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE DOTH THE WICKED CONTEMN GOD?.... God may be said to be contemned or despised, when his being, perfections, and providence are denied, or called in question, or abused, Psalms 10:9; when his word is derided, the great things of his law are counted as a strange thing Hosea 8:12, and the trut... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST SEEN [IT],.... Though the wicked say God will never see, Psalms 10:11; he sees all things in general, all men and all their actions; all are manifest and open to him, and everything in particular, especially the wickedness of men; even that which is said or thought in the heart; FOR THOU... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAK THOU THE ARM OF THE WICKED AND THE EVIL [MAN],.... His power and strength, so that he shall not be able to hold the sword, to strike a blow, or do any hurt to the people of God; see Ezekiel 30:21. This prayer is in some measure already fulfilled in antichrist, the man of sin, or pope of Rome;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD [IS] KING FOR EVER AND EVER,.... Christ was King from everlasting, and during the Old Testament dispensation he was promised and prophesied of as King; and he had a kingdom when he was here on earth, though not of this world; nor was it with observation. At his ascension to heaven, and sess... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, THOU HAST HEARD THE DESIRE OF THE HUMBLE,.... See Psalms 10:12; for the coming of Christ's kingdom, and that the kingdoms of this world may become his; for the destruction of antichrist, and for the avenging the blood of the saints. The prayers of God's people sometimes lie in inward and secr... [ Continue Reading ]
TO JUDGE THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED,.... That is, God will cause his ear to hear the cries of his people, so as to avenge the wrongs done to the fatherless, and them that are oppressed by the man of sin; see Revelation 11:18; THAT THE MAN OF THE EARTH MAY NO MORE OPPRESS: or "terrify" p, the... [ Continue Reading ]