1.
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The eighth of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32:1 , and App-65 . The occasion of this Psalm is seen in 2 Samuel 15 . Hence 934BC.
God. Hebrew Elohim. App-4 .
2.
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
hear = answer. make a noise = moan.
3.
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
oppression: or outcry. The Hebrew word 'akah occurs only here.
iniquity = iniquitous words or devices. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 . Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 .
4.
My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
sore pained . . . unto death. Compare the words ot the true David (John 13:21 ) in reference to the Antitype (Psalms 55:18 . Matthew 26:38 ).
5.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7.
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
remain = lodge. The Septuagint renders it by aulizomai, the word used in Matthew 21:17 . Compare Luke 21:37 . See also Jeremiah 9:2 .
wilderness. Compare 2 Samuel 15:28 ; 2 Samuel 17:16 .
Selah. Connecting his despondency with his escape from the cause of it. It was not merely comfort he desired, but deliverance. See App-66 .
8.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
hasten my escape. Compare 2 Samuel 15:14 .
windy storm = wind (Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .) of storm.
9.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
LORD *. One of the 134 alterations of Jehovah to Adonai by the Sopherim. App-32 .
divide their tongues = cleave (as in Genesis 10:25 ; Genesis 11:1-9 ) their counsels; "tongues" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for counsels given by them. This prayer was literally answered (2 Samuel 17:1-14 ).
tongues. Hebrew singular.
10.
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
Mischief. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 .
11.
Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
Wickedness = pravities (plural) Hebrew. havah = cupidity.
Deceit = Oppression, or violence.
12.
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13.
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
a man = a mortal. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
mine equal = as mine equal: i.e. esteemed by David as such; refers to Ahithophel.
My guide: or counselor. Compare 2 Samuel 16:23 and Acts 1:17 .
14.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
in company = with the multitude. Hebrew. regesh. Occurs only here.
15.
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
quick = alive. Compare Numbers 16:30-33 .
hell. Hebrew. Sheol. App-35 . wickedness. Hebrew. raa (plural)
16.
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
17.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
pray = meditate.
cry aloud. Hebrew. hamah = to make a noise. Onomatopoetic, like bees, or the cooing of a dove in Ezekiel 7:16 . See note on sub-scription.
18.
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
delivered = plucked (with power). Hebrew. padah. See notes on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .
my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
in peace. Note Ellipsis: "[and set it] in peace".
many with me = many [in conflict] with me. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .
19.
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 . The mighty Creator. because in conflict with His creatures.
hear = hear me.
afflict them = answer them.
Even, &c. Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 .
Selah. Connecting the true confidence of David with the false confidence of the ungodly. David's true confidence was based on the fact that His GOD was the mighty One enduring for ever. "El" here is emphasized by the double accent Pasek, or "note line" each side of it. ( App-66 .)
Because . . . no changes = With whom are no changes (for the better): i.e. no improvement. See note on "alter" (Leviticus 27:10 ). Hebrew. halaph. Compare Genesis 35:2 .
20.
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
He: i.e. Ahithophel.
broken his covenant: by his disloyalty.
21.
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
war was in his heart. Compare 2 Samuel 14:33 with 2 Samuel 15:5 , 2 Samuel 15:6 . Referring to Psalms 55:19 .
22.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast, &c. = Commit unto. Quoted in 1 Peter 5:7 .
burden = gift, or lot. Here = those very words of Psalms 55:21 .
sustain thee = hold thee up.
the righteous = the righteous one (singular)
23.
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Bloody and deceitful men = men of bloods and deceit. Genitive of Character. Hebrew bloods = great bloodshed.
half their days. Referring to Absalom's untimely death.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
upon = relating to.
Jonath-elem-rechokim = The dove of the distant Terebinths. App-65 . A pictorial description of David in the wilderness, fleeing from Absalom. Compare verses: Psalms 55:6-8 ; and the word hamah = to coo (as a dove). See note on "cry aloud" in Psalms 55:17 .