1.
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
1-3. God is invoked in the
character of a warrior (Exodus 15:3;
Deuteronomy 32:41).
2.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3.
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
3. fight against—literally,
"devour my devourers."
stop the way
against—literally, "shut up" (the way), to meet or
oppose, &c.
I . . . thy salvation—who
saves thee.
4.
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
4. (Compare ).
devise my hurt—purpose
for evil to me.
5.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
5, 6. (Compare ) —a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in
darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2 Samuel 24:16;
Acts 12:23).
6.
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
7, 8. net in a pit—or, "pit
of their net"—or, "net-pit," as "holy hill"
for "hill of holiness" (); a figure from hunting (). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need
no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for
penitents. Compare Psalms 7:16;
Psalms 11:5, on the peculiar fate of
the wicked here noticed.
8.
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10.
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
10. All my bones—every part.
him that spoileth
him—(Compare Psalms 10:2).
11.
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
11. False witnesses—literally,
"Witnesses of injustice and cruelty" (compare Psalms 11:5;
Psalms 25:19).
12.
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
12-14. Though they rendered evil
for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling—literally,
"bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made,
as figures, to express his sorrow.
13.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
13. prayer . . . bosom—may
denote either the posture—the head bowed—(compare ) —or, that the prayer was in secret. Some think there is
a reference to the result—the prayer would benefit him if not them.
14.
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
14. behaved—literally, "went
on"—denoting his habit.
heavily—or,
"squalidly," his sorrowing occasioning neglect of his
person. Altogether, his grief was that of one for a dearly loved
relative.
15.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
15, 16. On the contrary, they
rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness,"
as in Psalms 38:17 for any
distress.
abjects—either as
cripples (compare 2 Samuel 4:4),
contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare
Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not—either
the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased
not—literally, "were not silent"—showing that the
tearing meant slandering.
16.
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
16. mockers—who were hired to
make sport at feasts (Proverbs 28:21).
17.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
17. darling—(Compare Psalms 22:20;
Psalms 22:21).
18.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
18. (Compare ).
19.
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
19. enemies wrongfully—by
false and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eye—an
insulting gesture (Proverbs 6:13).
without a cause—manifests
more malice than having a wrong cause.
20.
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
20. deceitful matters—or,
"words of deceit."
quiet in the land—the
pious lovers of peace.
21.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
21. On the gesture compare ; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare
Psalms 10:13; Psalms 28:3.
22.
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
23, 24. (Compare Psalms 7:6;
Psalms 26:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:6).
God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the
wicked.
24.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25.
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
25. swallowed him up—utterly
destroyed him (Psalms 21:9; Lamentations 2:16).
26.
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
26. clothed—covered wholly
(Job 8:22).
27.
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
27. favour . . . cause—delight
in it, as vindicated by Thee.
Let the Lord, &c.—Let
Him be greatly praised for His care of the just.
28.
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
28. In this praise of God's
equitable government (Psalms 5:8)
the writer promises ever to engage.