1David praiseth God, and exhorteth others thereto from his own experience. 8They are blessed that trust in God. 11An exhortation to the fear of God. 15The privileges of the righteous.
0A Psalm of David, whena he changed his 1behaviour before 2Abimelech; who 3drove him away, and he departed.
a 1 Sam. 21:13, etc.
1 Or, carriage, deportment. Hebr. properly: taste or savor, in regard that a man is usually tried and judged what he is, or what is in him by his outward carriage and behavior. See this history 1 Sam. 21:11, 12, 13, etc.
2 In 1 Sam. 21:10 he is called by his proper name Achish, king of Gath, but Abimelech seems to have been a more general name of the Philistine kings also. See thereof Gen. 20 on verse 2.
3 Namely, by his officers, who had brought David before him in that posture, and thought he would have caused him to be detained and put to death, which doubtless he would have performed likewise, if God had not notably hindered it and helped David out of that strait. See 1 Sam. 21:11, 12.
1I WILL 4bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
4 Or, praise.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the 5humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
5 See Psalm 10 on verse 17.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us 6exalt his name together.
6 That is, praise highly, as Psalm 30:1.
4 I 7sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my 8fears.
7 Besought Him and prayed to Him for help.
8 See 1 Sam. 21:12.
59They 10looked unto him, and were 11lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
9 Namely, the humble, from verse 2.
10 Expected and looked for His help with the spiritual eyes of their faith.
11 Forcing God, as it were, by the assault of their zeal and powerful prayers. Compare Isa. 2:2; 60:5; Jer. 31:12; 51:44; Mat. 11:12; Luke 16:16; James 5:16. Other, and are eased or lightened, that is, comforted, have received cause of rejoicing; in regard that the Hebrew word is taken by some in a twofold signification.
612This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
12 Namely, David; who speaks here of himself, as pointing to his own person, or introducing the faithful speaking of him.
7The 13angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
13 That is, the angels, as there is spoken of encamping. See Gen. 32:1, 2; 2 Kings 6:17.
8 O 14taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
14 That is, take notice and observe it in your hearts, and rejoice therein; or take a sample of it, and you shall find it so. Compare Job 12 on verse 20; Prov. 31:18; 1 Peter 2:2, 3.
9 O 15fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
15 See Psalm 19 on verse 9.
10Theb young lions do 16lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
b Job 4:11.
16 Being not able sometimes to get prey. See Job 4:11.
11Come, ye 17children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
17 You who hold me to be your spiritual father, that is, prophet and teacher. See Judges 17 on verse 10; Prov. 1 on verse 8.
1218Whatc man is he that desireth life, and loveth many 19days, that he may see 20good?
18 That is, is there any, or, if there be any, etc., he that, etc. See Deut. 20 on verse 5. You have the answer to these questions in the following verses.
c 1 Peter 3:10.
19 That is, to live long, a long life, length of days.
20 That is, to enjoy prosperity. See Job 7 on verse 7. These and such like promises must so be understood that crosses and afflictions are not excluded, as the entire Word of God shows and especially this book of the Psalms, yea this very psalm itself, verse 20.
1321Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
21 The meaning is: Let him, who desires to enjoy the abovementioned good, do it.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursued it.
d Heb. 12:14.
1522Thee eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
22 As Psalm 33:18.
e Job 36:7; Psalm 33:18; 1 Peter 3:17.
16The 23face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
23 Understand His angry face, as in Psalm 21:9. See there.
17The righteous 24cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
24 Or, they cry, namely, the righteous, from verse 15.
18The LORDfis nigh unto them that are of a 25broken heart; and saveth such as be of a 26contrite spirit.
f 2 Tim. 3:11.
25 Who, laying aside all high-mindedness, do humble themselves before the LORD with hearty grief and sorrow for their sins, and desire grace. Compare Psalm 51 on verse 17; 147:3; Isa. 42:3; 57:15; 61:1; 66:2; Luke 4:18; 7:38; Acts 2:37.
26 Or, dismayed, bruised.
1927Manygare the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
27 Or, the righteous hath many adversities. Hebr. evils, that is, he is subject to many miseries, crosses and troubles; many troubles do befall him, or he meets many a trouble here.
g 2 Tim. 3:12.
20He keepeth all his bones: noth one of them is broken.
h John 19:36.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be 28desolate.
28 The Hebrew word sometimes signify to be held or declared guilty; sometimes to be laid waste; both these significations are, for their affinities’ sake, joined here together, thus: shall be laid waste (or made desolate) as guilty.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.