Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief [is] in their hearts.
3. Draw me not away ] Cp. Psa 26:9. But the word here is stronger, suggesting the idea of criminals being dragged off to execution. He prays that he may not share the fate of the wicked in the judgment now being executed.
which speak peace to &c.] Rather, as R.V., with. Double-hearted hypocrites; cp. Psa 12:2; Jer 9:8; and contrast Psa 15:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3 5. The Psalmist’s prayer that he may be distinguished from the wicked, and that they may be judged as they deserve.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Draw me not away with the wicked – See the notes at Psa 26:9. The prayer here, as well as the prayer in Psa 26:9, expresses a strong desire not to be united with wicked people in feeling or in destiny – in life or in death – on earth or in the future world. The reason of the prayer seems to have been that the psalmist, being at this time under a strong temptation to associate with wicked persons, and feeling the force of the temptation, was apprehensive that he should be left to yield to it, and to become associated with them. Deeply conscious of this danger, he earnestly prays that he may not be left to yield to the power of the temptation, and fall into sin. So the Saviour Mat 6:13 has taught us to pray, And lead us not into temptation. None who desire to serve God can be insensible to the propriety of this prayer. The temptations of the world are so strong; the amusements in which the world indulges are so brilliant and fascinating; they who invite us to partake of their pleasures are often so elevated in their social position, so refined in their manners, and so cultivated by education; the propensities of our hearts for such indulgences are so strong by nature; habits formed before our conversion are still so powerful; and the prospect of worldly advantages from compliance with the customs of those around us are often so great – that we cannot but feel that it is proper for us to go to the throne of grace, and to plead earnestly with God that he will keep us and not suffer us to fall into the snare.
Especially is this true of those who before they were converted had indulged in habits of intemperance, or in sensual pleasures of any kind, and who are invited by their old companions in sin again to unite with them in their pursuits. Here all the power of the former habit returns; here often there is a most fierce struggle between conscience and the old habit for victory; here especially those who are thus tempted need the grace of God to keep them; here there is special appropriateness in the prayer, Draw me not away with the wicked.
And with the workers of iniquity – In any form. With those who do evil.
Which speak peace to their neighbours – Who speak words of friendliness. Who seem to be persuading you to do that which is for your good. Who put on plausible pretexts. They appear to be your friends; they profess to be so. They use flattering words while they tempt you to go astray.
But mischief is in their hearts – They are secretly plotting your ruin. They wish to lead you into such courses of life in order that you may fall into sin; that you may dishonor religion; that you may disgrace your profession; or that they may in some way profit by your compliance with their counsels. So the wicked, under plausible pretences, would allure the good; so the corrupt would seduce the innocent; so the enemies of God would entice his friends, that they may bring shame and reproach upon the cause of religion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Draw me not away] Let me not be involved in the punishment of the wicked.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Draw me not away with the wicked: the sense is, either,
1. Do not suffer me to be drawn away by their counsel or example to imitate their evil courses. For God is oft said to do that which he doth not effect, but only permit and order, as 2Sa 12:12. Or,
2. Do not draw me into the same snares and mischief with them; do not drag me, as thou dost or wilt do all these malefactors, to execution and destruction. Let me not die the death of the wicked. Compare Psa 26:9. Thus drawing is used for drawing to death, Job 21:33; Eze 32:20. This seems best to suit with the following context, wherein he imprecateth and foretelleth that destruction upon his enemies which he deprecated for himself.
Mischief is in their heart; which are hypocritical and perfidious persons, whilst I, through thy grace, am upright and sincere. Seeing then I am so unlike them in disposition and practice, let me not be made like them in their ruin.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. Draw me not awayimpliespunishment as well as death (compare Ps26:9). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Draw me not away with the wicked,…. That is, with those who are notoriously wicked; who are inwardly and outwardly wicked; whose inward part is very wickedness, and who sell themselves and give up themselves to work wickedness: the sense is, that God would not suffer him to be drawn away, or drawn aside by wicked men, but that he would deliver him from temptation; or that he would not give him up into their hands, to be at their mercy; who he knew would not spare him, if they had him in their power; or that he might not die the death of the wicked, and perish with them; see Ps 26:9;
and with the workers of iniquity; who make it the trade and business of their lives to commit sin; and which may be applied, not only to profane sinners, but to professors of religion, Mt 7:23; since it follows,
which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief [is] in their hearts; hypocrites, double minded men, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it; pretend to religion, and have none; and speak fair to the face, but design mischief and ruin; as Saul and his servants did to David, 1Sa 18:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Draw me not away with wicked men. The meaning is, that in circumstances so dissimilar, God should not mingle the righteous with the wicked in the same indiscriminate destruction. (595) Undoubtedly, too, in speaking of his enemies, he indirectly asserts his own integrity. But he did not pray in this manner, because he thought that God was indiscriminately and unreasonably angry with men; he reasons rather from the nature of God, that he ought to cherish good hope, because it was God’s prerogative to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, and to give every one his due reward. By the workers of iniquity, he means man wholly addicted to wickedness. The children of God sometimes fall, commit errors, and act amiss in one way or other, but they take no pleasure in their evil doings; the fear of God, on the contrary, stirs them up to repentance. David afterwards defines and enlarges upon the wickedness of those whom he describes; for, under pretense of friendship they perfidiously deceived good men, professing one thing with their tongue, while they entertained a very different thing in their hearts. Open depravity is easier to be borne with than this craftiness of the fox, when persons put on fair appearances in order to find opportunity of doing mischief. (596) This truth, accordingly, admonishes us that those are most detestable in God’s sight, who attack the simple and unwary with fair speeches as with poison.
(595) The verb משך, mashak, here rendered draw, “signifies,” as Hammond observes, “both to draw and apprehend,” and may “be best rendered here, Seize not on me, as he that seizeth on any to carry or drag him to execution. The Septuagint, after having literally rendered the Hebrew by Μὴ συνελκύσὟς την ψυχήν μου, draw not my soul together with, etc., adds Κίαν μὴ συναπολέσὟς με etc., and destroy me not together with, etc. Calvin here evidently takes the same view; though he does not express it in the form of criticism.
(596) “ Que ceste finesse de renard, quand on use de beaux semblans pour avoir occasion de nuire.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Draw me not.Better, Drag me not. In Eze. 32:18 seq., we have a magnificent vision of judgment, in which the wicked nations are represented as being dragged to death and destruction. In the person of the poet, Israel prays not to be involved in such a punishment. The words which speak peace may refer to some overture of alliance from such, or it may be generally those who hide hatred with lying lips (Pro. 10:18).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Draw me not away with the wicked The same thought is conveyed in Psa 26:9, where see note. David prays not to be involved in the punishment of the wicked, which in human eyes would seem to be done if he was subjected to their power, or to treatment similar to theirs. See Gen 18:25; Eze 22:20-21
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jesus felt this, in the days of his flesh, of the deceitfulness of men. Mat 22:15-18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief [is] in their hearts.
Ver. 3. Draw me not away with the wicked ] Who seek to draw me away from my settled purpose of attending upon thee, , 1Co 7:35 , and are therefore likely to be drawn away by thee to execution, as malefactors are drawn, hanged, and quartered (there wanteth but a hurdle, a horse, and a halter, said Belknapp, to do me right), as Sisera was drawn by God to the river Kishon to be ruined, Jdg 4:7 . – Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt (Sen.).
Which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts
Astutam vapido servantes pectore vulpem (Pers.).
The Florentine secretary (Machiavel) was not born of many years after; but the devil was as great a master then as afterwards; and David oft complaineth of it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha’.
iniquity. Hebrew. ‘aven
mischief. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Draw: Psa 26:9, Num 16:26, Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46
speak: Psa 12:2, Psa 55:21, Psa 62:4, Jer 9:8, Jer 9:9, Mic 3:5, Mat 22:15-18
mischief: Psa 7:14, Psa 10:7, Psa 10:14, Psa 36:4, Psa 52:1, Pro 26:23-26
Reciprocal: Gen 49:6 – come Psa 5:10 – let Psa 35:25 – say Pro 24:2 – General Pro 26:25 – speaketh fair Eze 32:20 – draw Mat 26:48 – Whomsoever Luk 13:27 – depart Luk 17:34 – two Luk 22:55 – Peter Joh 14:27 – not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 28:3. Draw me not away with the wicked The sense is, either, 1st, Do not suffer me to be drawn away, by their counsel or example, to imitate them in their evil courses. For God is often said to do that which he doth not effect, but only permits. Or, 2d, Do not drag me, as thou dost or wilt these evil-doers, to execution and destruction. Let me not die the death of the wicked. This seems best to suit with the following context, wherein he foretels that destruction to be coming upon his enemies which he deprecates for himself. Mischief is in their heart They are hypocritical and perfidious persons: while I, through thy grace, am sincere and upright before thee. Seeing, then, I am unlike them in disposition and practice, let me not be made like them in their ruin.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:3 {c} Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief [is] in their hearts.
(c) Destroy not the good with the bad.