PSALM 27
. With a general strain of confidence, hope, and joy,
especially in God's worship, in the midst of dangers, the Psalmist
introduces prayer for divine help and guidance.
1. light—is a common figure
for comfort.
strength—or,
"stronghold"—affording security against all violence. The
interrogations give greater vividness to the negation implied.
2. eat . . . my flesh—
(Job 19:22; Psalms 14:4).
The allusion to wild beasts illustrates their rapacity.
they stumbled—"they"
is emphatic; not I, but they were destroyed.
3. In the greatest dangers.
in this—that is, then,
in such extremity.
4, 5. The secret of his
confidence is his delight in communion with God (Psalms 16:11;
Psalms 23:6), beholding the harmony
of His perfections, and seeking His favor in His temple or palace; a
term applicable to the tabernacle (compare Psalms 23:6). There he is safe (Psalms 31:21;
Psalms 61:5). The figure is changed
in the last clause, but the sentiment is the same.
6. head be lifted up—I shall
be placed beyond the reach of my enemies. Hence he avows his purpose
of rendering joyful thank offerings.
7. Still pressing need extorts
prayer for help.
cry with my voice—denotes
earnestness. Other things equal, Christians in earnest pray audibly,
even in secret.
8. The meaning is clear, though
the construction in a literal translation is obscure. The English
Version supplies the implied clause. To seek God's face is
to seek His favor (Psalms 105:4).
11. thy way—of providence.
a plain path— ().
enemies—literally,
"watchers for my fall" ().
12. will—literally, "soul,"
"desire" (Psalms 35:25).
enemies—literally,
"oppressors." Falsehood aids cruelty against him.
breathe out—as being
filled with it (Acts 9:1).
13. The strong emotion is
indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English
Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and
rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the
contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed.
to see—is to experience
(Psalms 22:17).
14. Wait, &c.—in confident
expectation. The last clause is, literally, "and wait,"
&c., as if expecting new measures of help.
PSALM 27
. With a general strain of confidence, hope, and joy, especially in God's worship, in the midst of dangers, the Psalmist introduces prayer for divine help and guidance.
1. light—is a common figure for comfort.
strength—or, "stronghold"—affording security against all violence. The interrogations give greater vividness to the negation implied.
2. eat . . . my flesh— (Job 19:22; Psalms 14:4). The allusion to wild beasts illustrates their rapacity.
they stumbled—"they" is emphatic; not I, but they were destroyed.
3. In the greatest dangers.
in this—that is, then, in such extremity.
4, 5. The secret of his confidence is his delight in communion with God (Psalms 16:11; Psalms 23:6), beholding the harmony of His perfections, and seeking His favor in His temple or palace; a term applicable to the tabernacle (compare Psalms 23:6). There he is safe (Psalms 31:21; Psalms 61:5). The figure is changed in the last clause, but the sentiment is the same.
6. head be lifted up—I shall be placed beyond the reach of my enemies. Hence he avows his purpose of rendering joyful thank offerings.
7. Still pressing need extorts prayer for help.
cry with my voice—denotes earnestness. Other things equal, Christians in earnest pray audibly, even in secret.
8. The meaning is clear, though the construction in a literal translation is obscure. The English Version supplies the implied clause. To seek God's face is to seek His favor (Psalms 105:4).
9. Hide not, c.— (Psalms 4:6 Psalms 22:24). Against rejection he pleads former mercy and love.
10. In the extremity of earthly destitution (Psalms 31:11; Psalms 38:11), God provides (compare Matthew 25:35).
11. thy way—of providence.
a plain path— ().
enemies—literally, "watchers for my fall" ().
12. will—literally, "soul," "desire" (Psalms 35:25).
enemies—literally, "oppressors." Falsehood aids cruelty against him.
breathe out—as being filled with it (Acts 9:1).
13. The strong emotion is indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed.
to see—is to experience (Psalms 22:17).
14. Wait, &c.—in confident expectation. The last clause is, literally, "and wait," &c., as if expecting new measures of help.