1David's confidence in prayer: 7he prayeth for remission of sins, 16and for help in affliction.
0A Psalm of David.
*This Psalm (as likewise Psalm 34 and 145) is composed in a peculiar manner; so that each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, for the most part (for sometimes there is left out one, and another set down twice) in such order as the letters follow one another in the alphabet; the like is to be met with and observed in Psalm 37; 111; 112; 119; Prov. 31 from the 10th verse; Lam. chapter 1; 2; 3; 4; yet so, that in Psalm 111 and 112 the letters are changed in the midst of a verse, and in Psalm 119 every letter has eight verses, and besides that, there is other diversity found yet, as may be seen in the fore-cited places themselves. This it should seem, so pleased the Holy Ghost, for to recommend these Psalms the more unto the church, and to strengthen the memory in learning and getting them by heart. Whether it may also have had some other use in the music of those times, is uncertain.
1UNTO thee, O LORD, do I 1lift up my soul.
1 By a hearty prayer for and a fervent desire of Thy help. The manner of speaking may somewhat be compared with Psalm 24 on verse 4. Also Psalm 86:4.
2O my God, I trust ina thee: let me not be 2ashamed, let not mine 3enemies triumph 4over me.
a Psalm 22:5; 31:1; 34:5.
2 This happens to those who are deceived in their hopes and trusts.
3 Saul, and those with him; this seems mainly to refer to them in this psalm.
4 Or, for my sake, in my behalf.
3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:b let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
b Isa. 28:16; Rom. 10:11.
45Shewc me thy 6ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Namely, by Thy Word and Holy Spirit.
cPsalm 27:11; 86:11; 119 throughout.
6 See Gen. 18 on verse 19; Deut. 32 on verse 4.
5Lead me in thy 7truth, and teach me: for thou art the 8God of my salvation; on 9thee do I wait all the day.
7 That is, revealed in Thy Word; see John 17:17. Or, truth, that is, Thy true and faithful promises. Grant that I may firmly rely on them and be guided and governed by them, that I may not trespass against them through unbelief or revengefulness.
8 As Psalm 24:5.
9 That is, upon Thy gracious help and deliverance.
6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for theydhave been 10ever of old.
dPsalm 103:17; 106:1; 107:1; 117:2; 136; Jer. 33:11.
10 Compare Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9.
7Remember not the sins of my 11youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
11 Compare Gen. 8:21; Job 13:26; Eccl. 12:1; Jer. 3:25.
8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach 12sinners in the way.
12 Whose condition He pitieth according to His goodness unto their conversion, and whom, according to His right or rightness, He directeth to the right way, which He hath prescribed in His Word for the penitent sinner. Compare verses 9, 12.
9The 13meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
13 See Psalm 10 on verse 17. The word right or judgment seems to be explained here by the way of God, as follows, as elsewhere also by God’s right is understood His Word and doctrine. Otherwise this might be compared with Jer. 10:24, as if the prophet said: God shall lead the meek with judgment, that is, with reason, measure and discretion, and favorably and fatherly guide them and govern them in all things, etc. See the annotations on Jer. 10:24, and compare here the next verse with the annotation.
10All the 14paths of the LORD are mercy and 15truth unto such as keep his 16covenant and his testimonies.
14 Whatever He doeth unto His children, His entire government over them, is nothing but of mere kindness, which He showeth unto them for their good, according to His sure and certain promises, how strange so ever it may seem sometimes to the flesh, in regard of the manifold crosses. Compare Deut. 32 on verse 4; Rom. 8:28.
15 Or, faithfulness.
16 That is, who, by faith, embrace the promises of His covenant and lead a godly life according to the same. See of God’s covenant Jer. 31:31, 32, 33, etc.; Heb. 8:6, 8, 9, etc.
11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is 17great.
17 Or, manifold.
1218What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall 19choose.
18 That is, he who fears the Lord, him shall he, etc. See Deut. 20 on verse 5.
19 Namely, to walk therein. To choose and to love, to affect, are cognate words, that the one is understood by and used for the other. See Isa. 42:1; Mat. 12:18. Compare also 2 Sam. 15 on verse 15.
13His soul shall 20dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
20 Or, lodge, abide. The meaning is: The godly shall with their believing seed enjoy the blessing of the Lord, not only in spiritual and eternal things, but also in bodily and temporal. Compare Psalm 1 on verse 1. Similar promises occur very frequently in this book, which nevertheless do not at all exclude the cross, as it plainly appears in this very psalm. See verses 16, 17, 18. Otherwise: the land, namely, Canaan, called the land of promise, Heb. 11:9, promised to Abraham and to his seed, being a type and pledge of the heavenly Canaan, and highly commended in the Scripture. See further Psalm 37 on verse 29.
14The 21secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will 22shew them his covenant.
21 Which He has revealed in His Word, especially in the Holy Gospel, of His love and grace in the Messiah, as is explained by the following word covenant. Compare Prov. 3:32, and see Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; 4:1; Eph. 3:3, 4, 9; Col. 1:26, 27; 1 Tim. 3:9, 16.
22 Namely, and that by His Word and Spirit both the secret and the covenant.
15Mine 23eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the 24net.
23 Namely, of faith and hope. Compare Cant. 4:9 with the annotation.
24 Which mine enemies have laid to entrap me.
1625Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am 26desolate and afflicted.
25 Or, turn thy face at or towards me, according to the promise in Lev. 26:9.
26 Compare Psalm 22 on verse 21.
17The troubles of my heart are 27enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
27 They are many and manifold, and increase mightily. Hebr. properly: have enlarged themselves.
1828Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and 29forgive all my sins.
28 Namely, with pity and compassion, and help me, as Deut. 26:7. See Gen. 16 on verse 13, etc.
29 That is, pardon and forgive. The Hebrew word properly signifies to life up, bear, take up or away, and is further applied to signify the pardoning of sins. Compare Psalm 32:1 with Rom. 4:7. Understand for Christ’s sake, Who is said to have born and taken away our sins, John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24. It is another thing when a man is said to bear his own sins or iniquity. See thereof Lev. 5 on verse 1.
1930Consider mine enemies; for they 31are many; and they hate me with 32cruel hatred.
30 Namely, in wrath, with indignation. Compare Psalm 21:9.
31 Or, are or become mighty.
32 Hebr. hatred of cruelty or violence.
20O keep my 33soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
33 That is, my life. See Gen. 19 on verse 17.
21Let integrity and 34uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
34 Hebr. rightness. He appeals unto God upon his innocence and his righteous cause against his enemies; because he was upright and honest, or right, downright, right-minded before God and His church. See Psalm 26:1 and Psalm 7 on verse 10.
22Redeem 35Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
35 See thereof Psalm 10; 12; 14, etc. in what straights and distresses the godly were in Saul’s time.