1David in his prayer complaineth of his distress: 9he prayeth against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complaineth: 16he comforteth himself in God's preservation of him, and confusion of his enemies.
0To the chief Musician on Neginoth, 1Maschil, A Psalm of David.
1 See the annotation at Psalm 32 in the title.
1GIVE ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my 2complaint, and make a 3noise;
2 Or, musing, prayer; implying that the reflection of all his troubles and dangers made him restless and groaning in his prayer.
3 Or, rumor, tumult.
3Because of the 4voice of the enemy, because of the oppression 5of the wicked: for they cast 6iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 Or, cry, that is, the voice which mine enemies do spread abroad that they will surround me on all sides and ruin me. Compare 2 Sam. 17:11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24.
5 That is, which the ungodly inflicts on me.
6 Or, falsehood, wrong, injustice; that is, they charge me with lies, spreading of me all manner of base reports and practices, whereby I have brought and deserved this suffering upon myself.
4My heart is 7sore pained within me: and the terrors of 8death are fallen upon me.
7 That is, endures pains and pangs like a woman in travail.
8 Or, deadly terrors.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, 9Oh that I had 10wings like a 11dove! for then would I fly away, and 12be at rest.
9 Hebr. Who shall give me, etc., according to the usual manner of wishing with the Hebrews, as Psalm 14:7; 53:6. See Deut. 5 on verse 29.
10 Hebr. a wing or feather, that is, wings.
11 A weak and timorous creature that seeks to shelter itself in deserts and holes. See Jer. 48:28.
12 Hebr. and would abide or dwell, meaning, where he might but be safe and secure.
7Lo, then would I wander 13far off, and 14remain in the wilderness. 15Selah.
13 Hebr. make me far away, rove, that is, flee far away from here, wandering wherever it may be. See the similar combination of two words, Psalm 45 on verse 4.
14 Or, sojourn or lodge, etc.
15 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
816I would hasten my escape from the 17windy storm and tempest.
16 Hebr. I should hasten the escaping for me, or hasten me the escape.
17 Hebr. wind of the driving or of the storm, of the assault, that is, from this persecution, which comes so suddenly upon me or threatens to hurry me away, as a stormy wind doth force and carry all along before it. Compare 2 Sam. 15:14; 17:21.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their 18tongues: for I have seen 19violence and strife in the 20city.
18 That is, their speech. This swallowing and dividing of the speech seem to reflect upon the judgments of God, which He did execute upon the builders of the Tower of Babel and the company of Korah, Gen. 11:7, 8; Num. 16:32.
19 Or, force.
20 Jerusalem; as some do understand, applying this psalm to the persecution of Absalom when (upon David’s sudden flight thence) Absalom entered the same, carrying things in an abominable manner and consulting how his father might best of all be overtaken and destroyed, wherein his counselors could not agree, God dividing their tongues, 2 Sam. 17:14, according to David’s prayer here and 2 Sam. 15:31. Others understand it of Gibeah of Saul, where Saul did keep his court (compare Psalm 59:6), or not just of such or such a city in particular, but in general of the boundless impiety and iniquity, which was frequent and abounding everywhere, even in the cities themselves, where there should be the best law and order.
10Day and night they 21go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
21 Namely, violence and contention compass the city; or, they (the wicked) go round about her (the city), that is, they run about everywhere to practice all manner of evil and mischief or to overtake me.
1122Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
22 Hebr. corruptions, that is, nothing but violation, all manner of villainy, hurt, mischief, oppression.
12For it was not an 23enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did 24magnify himself against me; then I would have 25hid myself from him:
23 Understand no open enemy, for (he would say) had it been an open and professed enemy, it would not seem so strange to me and prove so intolerable.
24 See Psalm 35 on verse 26.
25 That is, might have been able to stand upon my guard against him, or to escape, avoid him.
13But it was thou, a man mine 26equal, my 27guide, and mine acquaintance.
26 Hebr. according to my estimation or worth, that is, one like myself, esteemed or estimated as I, or whom I esteemed as myself. Other, of my order, that is, of my estate, condition and quality. Some do understand hereby Ahithophel, of whose great respect and credit, both in general as with David in particular, see 2 Sam. 16:23. Therefore (when he had joined with Absalom) David was particularly informed of him, as being not only a very strange, unexpected, and treacherous act, but of such also that David (in regard of Ahithophel’s excellent courage) had to pay careful attention to it. Anyone applying this psalm to Saul’s time, understand Abner, or others of Saul’s council of war.
27 Or, most important friend, conductor, namely, of my affairs. See Prov. 16:28; 17:9; Micah 7:5.
14We took 28sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God 29in company.
28 Hebr. made the counsel (or secrecy, secret counsel) sweet.
29 Or, with the gathering multitude (Psalm 42:4). See of the Hebrew word Psalm 2 on verse 1, implying that they were duty bound and engaged one to another, not only by the bond of civil affairs, friendship and communion, but also by the strongest tie of all, that of religion.
1530Let 31death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their 32dwellings, and among them.
30 Or, Death shall, etc.
31 He wants to say: Let them perish suddenly and terribly. See on verse 9. This David speaks being inspired by the prophetical Spirit and zeal of the Lord.
32 In the place of their abode, or, company, association.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
1733Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
33 Compare Dan. 6:10; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 9, 30, implying that he shall not cease, nor be tired, but as it were to trouble God and to persist with Him with his daily prayer, (of which the usual times he here expresses). See Luke 18:1.
18He hath delivered my 34soul in peace from the battle that was 35against me: for there were 36many with me.
34 That is, He has delivered my life out of danger and set me in peace. This may have regard to some previous deliverances, or it may be a believing and prophetical declaration of the assuredness to see a good issue at last; we meet many of them within this book.
35 That is, which they afflicted me, or wanted to afflict.
36 Hebr. in or with, among many (or great, mighty ones) have they been against, or with me; for the Hebrew word can be applied either to friends or to enemies; and both yield a good sense. As David’s enemies were many, on the other side he had the host and multitude of the holy angels with him. Compare Psalm 34:7; 57:3; 2 Kings 6:16; yet in the sequel David speaks expressly of his enemies.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that 37abideth of old. 38Selah. Because they have 39no changes, therefore they fear not God.
37 Namely, as Judge from the beginning. Compare Psalm 93:2.
38 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
39 Hebr. no alterations, neither great nor small, namely, from bad to good; they mend not in the least point.
2040He 41hath put forth his hands against such as be at 42peace with him: he hath broken his 43covenant.
40 That is, every one of those wicked wretches, or the most important one among them, who is soon followed by others.
41 Or, placeth, stretcheth out; that is, he does them evil, oppression, violence, yes, he takes away their life. See Gen. 37 on verse 22.
42 Or, his allies, peace-partners, fellow covenanters. Compare Psalm 7:4; 41:9, and above, verses 12, 14.
43 Which he had made and confirmed by a solemn oath and consequently (with calling on the sacred Name of God), the same he breaks and violates without dread.
21The words of his 44mouth were smoother 45than butter, but 46war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they 47drawn swords.
44 That is, the words of his mouth; wherefore also the added Hebrew word in the construction is of the plural number: are smoother, etc.
45 Or, than if they were buttery or buttered. Other, They make their mouth smooth, or, They soften their mouths like butter. Other, They make their mouth smoother than butter, or, The words of his mouth are smooth like butter.
46 That is, full of war or fighting, their mind is totally set and bent to assault and defeat me.
47 Hebr. opened, drawn out, that is, they are mortally wounding, they do but seek by them how to bring me into destruction. Compare Psalm 57:4; Prov. 12:18.
2248Cast 49thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall 50sustain thee: 51he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
48 David speaks here unto himself and to every believer.
49 Hebr. thy gift or thy giving, that is, in all your heaviness and care (as the apostle Peter uses this word, 1 Peter 5:7), when you would that this or that would be given you, considering of such gifts according to the exigency of your want and necessity, do but commend it all unto your heavenly Father, and He shall give you what is blessed for you. Or, thy gift, that is, whatsoever He (the Lord) gives and sends you, what come upon you from His hand, you cast the same again on Him with assured confidence that He will unburden, ease, relieve and give you such an issue as shall be conducive to His glory and your salvation. Compare Psalm 22 on verse 8. Other, thy pack or thy burden; yet this signification is not found in the Scripture.
50 Or, feed thee, according as the Hebrew word is used elsewhere. See Ruth 4 on verse 15.
51 Hebr. he shall not permit in eternity the shaking, the (or of the, or for the) righteous. Compare Psalm 15 on verse 5.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring 52them down into the pit of destruction: 53bloody and deceitful men shall not live out 54half their days; but I will trust in thee.
52 Namely, the wicked aforesaid.
53 See Psalm 5 on verse 6.
54 Hebr. shall not half their days, that is, they shall die an untimely death. Compare Job 15:32; 22:16; Psalm 58:8, 9; 102:23, 24; Prov. 10:27; Eccl. 7:17.