1David prayeth that his suit may be acceptable, 3his conscience free from guilt, 9and his person safe from the snares of the wicked.
0A Psalm of David.
1LORD, I cry unto thee: 1make haste unto me; give ear unto 2my voice, when I cry unto thee.
1 Namely, to come unto me, that is, come speedily to help and succor me.
2 That is, to my prayer, as later in verse 2.
2Let 3mya prayer be set forth before thee as 4incense; and 5the lifting up of my hands as 6the evening sacrifice.
3 He wants to say: My prayer be to Thee so acceptable as the incense and the sacrifices, which one offers to according to the institution of the law.
a Exodus 29 and 30. Rev. 5:8; 8:3.
4 Which was wont to be made upon the altar of incense in the tabernacle, Exod. 30:7, 8, 34.
5 That is, my prayer, which I make with hands lifted up, or, palms, as it is in the Hebrew; it being usual in great devotion, to lift up the open hands or palms frequently up towards heaven, as whishing and expecting to receive God’s blessing. Compare Job 11:13; Psalm 44:20; 63:4; 88:9; Lam. 2:19; 3:41. See likewise 1 Kings 8 on verse 22; Psalm 28 on verse 2.
6 That is, which was wont to be offered every evening. See Exod. 29:39, 40, 41, 42; Num. 28:2-8.
37Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; 8keep the door of my lips.
7 Namely, that nothing may proceed out of it which is unbecoming; that in no wise I may murmur in this anguish and distress, which mine enemies do put upon me by their grievous persecutions.
8 Or, a guard to the door, etc.
49Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise 10wicked 11works 12with men that work iniquity: and 13let me not eat of their dainties.
9 Namely, by Satan or by my own corrupt nature. To speak properly, God tempts none to evil, 1 Cor. 7:5; James 1:13, 14; but Satan does, 1 Chron. 21:1, compared with 2 Sam. 24:1. So also Mat. 6:13.
10 Or, wickedly.
11 Or, feats, tricks, plots, practices, pretenses, as Deut. 22:14, 17.
12 That is, with men of high esteem.
13 That is, let me not be drawn and enticed by the prosperous and delicious days which they enjoy, so as to desire any participation with them.
5Let the righteous 14smite me; it shall be a 15kindness: and let him reprove me; 16it shall be an excellent oil, 17which 18shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
14 The Hebrew word properly signifies to hammer, that is, to beat and to strike with hammers, Judges 5:26; Psalm 74:6. It does also signify, to exhort and admonish one seriously, Prov. 23:35.
15 Or, mercy, friendship, courtesy. The sense is: I shall take it as a kindness and friendship to be admonished or reproved by a righteous man, it being done out of a good mind, and to a good end and purpose. See and compare Prov. 9:8; 25:12; 27:6; 28:23. Zech. 13:6.
16 That is, most precious oil. So Exod. 30:23 the most important and most excellent spices are called: head spices; nevertheless it may likewise properly be taken here to signify such oil wherewith the head was usually anointed. Compare Psalm 23:5.
17 Namely, the beating and the correcting, the pouring out of this oil, of which shall not only do me no hurt, but shall be as grateful and useful to me as precious oil or ointment.
18 Or, let him not break off the same on my head. The sense is: let him but freely correct me, without dread or without ceasing; for, though he continues to reprove me, I shall not refrain to pray for him in his adversity.
6When 19their judges are overthrown 20in stony 21places, they shall hear my words; for they are 22sweet.
19 This seems to refer to the history in 1 Sam. 26:13, 24, 25, where David, having Saul and his officers in his power, has spared them nevertheless, and afterwards has convinced them with amiable reasons of his innocence. Other, when their judges are hurled down from the sides of the rock (that is, miserably perished) then they shall hear that my sayings are acceptable.
20 Or, over.
21 Hebr. the hands.
22 Or, pleasant, delightful, doing harm to none, and therefore worthy to be embraced. Or, as some conjecture, it will be perceived that my prayers made for the godly, in their affliction, were acceptable to God and heard by Him. This sixth verse may likewise be rendered and read in this manner: Their governors set themselves down at the rock sides, although they heard my sayings, that they are pleasant, that is, they lurk and lie in wait for me and my people, whilst we are hiding ourselves in the rocks, notwithstanding, they heard my friendly and benevolent words. See 1 Sam. 23:26; 24:3. Likewise 1 Sam. 24:10; 26:3.
723Ourb24bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, 25as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
23 Namely, of my own and of my soldiers.
bEzek. 37:1 to 12.
24 The meaning is: we, that is, I and my people, are almost past recovery, so that we, as it were, are cut and severed from each other; yea, it seems that we have become an heap of dead men’s bones which are about to be buried in the grave.
25 Or, as if somebody were cutting and cleaving wood against the ground, that is, that which lies on the ground and from which the chips are scattered here and there. Other, like as he which cleaves the land (or ground) cutting, namely, with the plough, so are our bones scattered towards the mouth of the grave (or hell).
8But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; 26leave not 27my soul destitute.
26 Namely, from Thy help and assistance.
27 That is, my life, or, myself.
9Keep me 28from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
28 Hebr. from the hands of the snare. See Job 5 on verse 20.
10Let the wicked fall into their 29own 30nets, whilst that 31I withal escape.
29 That is, every one into that net which they have set up or laid for me and mine.
30 Namely, his own or God’s.
31 Understand, both myself and those who are with me; or, I, being accompanied with Thy grace and favor. Or, until I pass by altogether, that is, till I am passed all danger.