Bible Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 1. Hear me &c.] When I call, answer me. Cp. Psa 4:3 and Psa 3:4. The LXX and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 4:1”

Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah. 8. Salvation ] R.V. marg. victory unduly limits the thought, though no doubt it is the particular form in which David desires to see Jehovah’s saving power manifested. ‘Save’ is the constant prayer, ‘salvation’ the constant desire, of the Psalmists. The Hebrew words … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:8”

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 7. Arise, O Lord ] The opening words of the ancient marching-shout of Israel, rich in memories of deliverance and victory. See Num 10:35. Cp. Psa 68:1. for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:7”

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about. 6. Cp. Psa 27:3. Numbers were on the side of Absalom, and but for the divinely sent infatuation which made him reject Ahithophel’s clever advice, in all probability David’s handful of followers would have been overwhelmed without … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:6”

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 5. The pronoun is emphatic: I, pursued by enemies, despaired of by friends: and the words refer to the actual experience of the past night. The calmness which could thus repose in the face of danger was a practical proof of faith. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:5”

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 4. An appeal to past experiences of answered prayer. ‘As often as I called,’ the imperfect tense in the Heb. denotes repeated action or habit ‘he answered me.’ Cp. Psa 4:1; Psa 91:15. out of his holy … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:4”

But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 3. a shield for me ] More significantly the original, a shield about me. A natural metaphor for a warrior-poet. Cp. God’s promise to Abraham, Gen 15:1; Deu 33:29; Psa 18:2, &c. my glory ] The honour … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:3”

Many [there be] which say of my soul, [There is] no help for him in God. Selah. 2. Faint-hearted friends may be meant, as well as insolent enemies like Shimei, who professed to regard the king’s calamities as the divine punishment for his past crimes (2Sa 16:8 ff.). of my soul ] The ‘soul’ in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:2”

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many [are] they that rise up against me. 1. they that trouble me ] R.V. mine adversaries: lit. they that distress me. Cp. Psa 4:1. increased many ] “The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:1”

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him. 12. Kiss the Son ] According to this rendering the exhortation to serve Jehovah is followed by an exhortation to pay homage to His … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 2:12”