INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 140 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID. This psalm, A ben Ezra says, was composed by David before he was king; and Kimchi says, it is concerning Doeg and the Ziphites, who calumniated him to Saul; and, according to our English contents, it is a prayer of David to be deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME, O LORD, FROM THE EVIL MAN,.... Either Saul; so Theodoret; or rather Doeg, according to R. Obadiah: but Jarchi interprets it of Esau; by whom he means Edom, or Rome, or rather the Christians in general. Were his sense confined to the Papists, he might be thought to be much in the right; f... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IMAGINE MISCHIEFS IN [THEIR] HEART,.... This shows that not a single person barely is meant but more, as Saul's courtiers; who were secretly and continually meditating mischief against David, traducing him to Saul, and devising things to take away his life. Such were the Jews to Christ, who we... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE SHARPENED THEIR TONGUES LIKE A SERPENT,.... Which Kimchi says it does before it bites. Aristotle i observes, that the tip or extreme point of a serpent's tongue is as small as a hair, and so exceeding sharp and piercing. Arama interprets this of the sharpness and cunning of the serpent; an... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP ME, O LORD, FROM THE HANDS OF THE WICKED,.... From falling into their hands, and the weight of them; and from their laying hands on him, being men of power and authority; PRESERVE ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN: or men, everyone of them; Psalms 140:1; WHO HAVE PURPOSED TO OVERTHROW MY GOINGS: to su... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROUD HAVE HID A SNARE FOR ME, AND CORDS,.... These were the Ziphites, according to Arama; see Psalms 119:85; the character well agrees with the Scribes and Pharisees, who were proud boasters, and despised others, and often laid snares for Christ to take away his life; and with the enemies of th... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID UNTO THE LORD, THOU [ART] MY GOD,.... He said this to the Lord himself; claimed his covenant interest in him, and expressed it in the strength of faith: and this he did when in the midst of trouble and distress; in danger of falling into the hands of evil and violent men; they imagined mischi... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD THE LORD, THE STRENGTH OF MY SALVATION,.... Temporal and spiritual, which he was able to effect; the mighty God and mighty Saviour: and this encouraged David to believe he should have deliverance; and this secured, confirmed, and established it to him; and to which he was the more induced by w... [ Continue Reading ]
GRANT NOT, O LORD, THE DESIRES OF THE WICKED,.... Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking away his life: but the desires of such men are under the restraints of the Lord; nor can they fulfil them unless they have leave from him, which is h... [ Continue Reading ]
[AS FOR] THE HEAD OF THOSE THAT COMPASS ME ABOUT, LET THE, MISCHIEF OF THEIR OWN LIPS COVER THEM. Meaning either their natural head, put for their whole persons; and the sense is, let the mischief they have contrived for others fall upon themselves; see Ezekiel 9:10 Psalms 7:16; or some principal p... [ Continue Reading ]
LET BURNING COALS FALL UPON THEM,.... From heaven, as the Targum, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, by way of explanation; alluding to the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from thence: and may design both the terrible judgments of God in this life, and everlasting burnings in hell; so Jarchi interprets... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT AN EVIL SPEAKER BE ESTABLISHED IN THE EARTH,.... One that sets his mouth against the heavens, and speaks evil of God; of his being, perfections, purposes, and providences: whose tongue walks through the earth, and speaks evil of all men, even of dignities; and especially of the saints of the... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW,.... Here is a double reading: the "Keri", or marginal reading, is, "thou knowest"; an appeal of the psalmist to God, who knew the thoughts of the wicked concerning him, and their devices against him; as Kimchi: but the Scripture reading is, I know; expressing his full persuasion and assuranc... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL GIVE THANKS UNTO THY NAME,.... The same with the poor and the afflicted; who, though traduced by men, and evil spoken of and ill used by them, are righteous in the sight of God; being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received by faith... [ Continue Reading ]