Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
DavuPs Prayer in Distress. PSALMS LV-LVIII. Ht Reprovet/i Wicked Judges.
me—as Psalm 7. 8 ; 26. 1. 2. (Cf. Psalm 4. 1 ; 5. 1.) 3. strangers —perhaps Ziphites. oppressors lit., terrible ones (Isaiah word here, arrogantly, or proudly, as qualifying " those who fight," &c. 3. In [or lit., unto] thee—to whom he turns in trouble. 4. in God . , . Ills word—By His grace or aid (Psalm 60. 12; 108. 13), or, "I will boast in God as to His word ;" in either case His word is the special matter and cause of praise, flesh—for mankind (Psalm (i.5. 2; Isaiah
13. 11; 2o. 3). Such were Saul and his army, not set . . . tliem— acted as atheists, without God's fear (cf. Psalm 16.
8). *. (Cf. Psalm 30. 10.) witU tliem—ou their side, and for me (cf. Psalm 46. 11). 5. He sliall . . . evil—or, Evil shall return on (Psalm 7. 16) my enemies or watchers, i. e., to do me evil (Psalm 6. 7). In tliy tiiitU—thy verified promise. 6. I will freely, Ac—or, present a free-will offering (Leviticus 7. 16; Numbers 15. 3). 7. mine eye . . . desire—(cf. I'salm 59.10; 112. 8), expresses satisfaction in beholding the overthrow of his enemies as those of God, without implying any selfish or unholy feeling (cf. Psalm
31. 3), intimating frailty. 5, 6. A vivid picture of the conduct of malicious enemies. 7. Shall they escape J—or better, "Their escape is by iniquity." cast . . . people humble those who so proudly oppose thy servant. 8. God is mindful of his exile and remembers his tears. The •custom of bottling the tears of mourners as a memorial, which has existed in some Eastern nations, may explain the figure. 9. God Is for me—or, on my side (Psalm 118. 6
52. 6. 7). PSALM JjY.
124. 1, 2), hence he is sure of the repulse of his foes. VZ. I will . . . praise—will pay what I have vowed. 13. The question implies an affirmative answer, drawn from past experience, falling—as from a precipice, before God in His favour during life,
Ver. 1-2;^. In great terror on account of enemies, and grieved by the treachery of a friend, the Psalmist oHers an earnest prayer for relief. He mingles confident assurances of Divine favour to himself with invocations and predictions of God's avenging judgments on the wicked. The tone suits David's experience, both in the times of Saul and Absalom, though perhaps neither was exclusively before his mind.
PSALM LVII.
Ver. 1-11. Al-taschith—Destroy not. This is perhaps an enigmatical allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for which cf. 1 Samuel 22. 1; 26.
1. Hide not tliysclf, &c.—(cf. Psalm 13. 1; 27. 9), withhold not help. 3. The terms of the last clause express full indulgence of grief. 3. oppression lit., persecution, tliey
1-3. In Jloses' prayer (Deuteronomy 9. 26) it is a iirominent petition deprecating God's auger against the people. This explanation suits the 5Sth and 59th also. Asaph uses it lor the 7oth, in the scope of which there is allusion to some emergency. Michlam—{Cf. Psalm 16.) To an earnest cry for Divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often, the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favourable hearing.
. . . iniquity lit., they make evil doin/js slide upon me. i,
5. express great alarm, come upon [or lit., into] me. 6. be at rest lit., dwell, i. e., permanently. 7, 8. Even a wilderness is a safer place than exposure to such evils, terrible as storm and tempest. 9. Destroy—/(7., Swallow (Psalm 21. 9). divide tl»eir tongues—or, confound their speech, and hence their counsels (Genesis 11. 7). the city —perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy. 10, H, which
1. my soul—or self, or life, which is threatened, shadow of thy wlitgs—(Psalm 17. 8; 36. 7.) calamities lil.,'niisc/i/e/i (Psalm 52. 2; 5-5. 10). 3. performeth—or, completes what he has begun. 3. from . . . swallow me up—that pants in rage after me (Psalm 56. 2). mercy and . . . truth—(Psalin 25. 10; 36. 5), as messengers (Psalm 4.J. 3) sent to deliver him. 4. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Ps.alm 10. 9 ; 17. 12) and weapons of war (Psalm U.
is described in detail (cf. Psalm 7. 14-16). Wlcke<lness lit., Mischief, evils resulting from others (Psalm 5. 9; 52. 2,
7), streets—or lit., wide places, markets, courts of justice, and any public place. VZ-li. This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies, guide lit., friend (Proverbs 16. 28; 17. 9). acquaintance—in Hebrew, a yet more intimate associate. In company lit., with a crowd, in a festal procession. 15. Let death, ttc.—or, " Desolations are on them." let them go {lit., tJu'u icill yn). quick—or, living in the midst of life,
2) heightens the picture of danger, whose . . . tongue or slanders. 5. 'This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his deliverance with God's glory. 6. (Cf. Psalm 7. 15; 9. 15, 16.) 7. I will . . . praise—both with voice and instrument. 8. Hence—he addresses hi glory, or tongue (Psalm 16. 9; 30. 1,2), and his psaltery, or lute and harp. ' I myself . . . early lit., I tclU awaken dawn, poetically expressing his zeal and diligence, 9, 10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.
deatli will come (cf. Numbers 16. 33). among them—or, within them, in their hearts (Psalm 5. 9; 49.11). 16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers, many tvith me—/, c., by the context, fighting Willi me. 19. God hears the wicked in wrath, abideth [or, silicth] of old—enthroned as a sovereign. Because . . . no changes —Prosperity hardens them (Psalm 73. 5). 20, !41. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, v. 15, 23, and here, enlivens the picture, and implies that the chief tiaitor and his accomplices are in view together. 'Z'i. Ihy burden—irt., gift, what is aseigned you. he sliall sustain lit., supply food, and so nil need (Psalm 57.25; Matthew 6. 11). to be moved-from the secure position of his fa Vour (cf. Psalm 10.6). S43. bloody . . . days—(cl. I'salm 5. 0; 51. 14), deceit and murderous dispositions often united. The threat is directed specially (not as a general truth) against the wicked, then in the writer's view.
PSALM LVIII.
Ver. 1-11. David's critical condition In some period of tlie Saullne persecution probably oceaslone<l this Psalm, in which the Psalmist leaches that the iimato and actual sinfulness of men deserves, and shall receive, God's righteous vengeance, while the pious may be consoled by tlie evidence of his wise and holy government, of men.
1. Oh, congregation lit.. Oh dumb— the word used Is nevir translated "congregation." "Arc ye dumb? ye should speak righteousness," may be the translation. In any case, the writer remonstrates with them, perhaps a council, who were assembled to try his cause, and bound to give a right decision. )4. Tin's they did not design ; but weigh . . . violence — or give di'cisloiis of violence. Weigh in a figure to express the acts of Judges. In the earth — publicly. describe tin? wicked g<>iieially, who sin naturally, easily, malignantl.v and stubbornly. Htoppeth her [or, lit., Iiis] ear— j. e., the wicked man (the singular used collectively), who thus becomes like the deaf a<l(ler whicli lias no ear. 0. prays lor their de-
PSALM LVI.
1-13. Upon Jonnth-elem-rechokim — lit., upon the Dove of silence of distant places; either denoting a melody
(cf. on Psalm 0.) of that name, to which this Psalm was to be performed ; or it is an enigmatical form of denoting the sul)|ect, as given in the history referred to (1 Samuel
21. II, &<•.), David l)(!ing regarded as an uncomplaining, meek dove, drivtn from his native homo to wander in exile. Hesi't liy domestic and foreign foes, David appeals confidently to God, recites his complaints, and closes with Joyful and a.ssurcd anticipations of God's continued help.
stru(rtlon, under the figure of ravenous beasts (Psalm 3. 7;
7. 2). 7. which run continually — lit., they sliall go to themselves, utterly depart, as raiild mountain torrents, he bendeth . . . hlH arrows—im pares It. The ti'rm for preparing a bow applied to arrows (Psalm 61. 3). lei fliem
1, !i. would wwallow lit., pants as a rar/inr; bea.it (Acts
9.1). enemies—«;«te/ix'r« (Psalm 54. 5). Most High—as it. . . pieces— as if they cut thrni.ielvcs ofT—i. e., bi'coine blunted and of no avail. 8, 9. Other figures of this ullei
Is not elsewhere used absolutely for God, some render the