View Psalms 55 in the note window.
David complains to God, ver. 1 - 8.
Prays for help against his enemies, ver. 9 - 15.
Assures himself of God's protection, ver. 16 - 18.
And their destruction, ver. 19 - 23.
To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A psalm of David.
3: Voice - Their clamours and threats, and slanders. Cast - They
lay many crimes to my charge.
4: The terrors - Deadly terrors; such as seize upon men in the
agonies of death.
8: Tempest - From the force and fury of mine enemies.
9: Destroy - Destroy them by dividing. Tongues - Their speech,
as thou didst at Babel, (Ge 11:9), their votes, and opinions, and
counsels. Which was eminently done among Absalom's followers,(2Sa 17:23).
Strife - Injustice and fraud, oppression and contention rule here, instead
of that public justice and peace which I established. City - In
Jerusalem; which in Absalom's time was a sink of all sins.
10: They - Violence and strife. Go about - Do encompass it, as it
were a garrison. Walls - In the outward parts, as also in the very
midst of it. So that all parts were horribly corrupted.
11: Streets - The places of buying and selling, and of public
commerce.
12: Hated - With a manifest or old hatred.
13: Equal - Not in power, but in reputation, for wisdom, and
influence upon my people. Guide - Whose counsel I highly prized,
and constantly followed. All which agrees to Achitophel.
15: Them - All such as pretend to religion, and have manifestly
apostatized both from the profession and practice of it. The grave - Cut
off by a sudden and violent death. Among them - Heb. in their inwards.
Wickedness is deeply rooted in their hearts.
17: Evening, &c. - The three stated times of prayer among the Jews.
18: He hath - He speaks of a future deliverance, as a thing done,
because of the certainty of it. He hath restored me to my former peace
and tranquility. For - For there were more with me than against me; even
the holy angels whom God employed to defend and deliver me.
19: Hear - My prayers. Eternity - Who is eternal, and therefore
unchangeable, and almighty. Because - They meet with no crosses nor
disappointments. Therefore - Their success makes them go on securely,
without any regard to God, or dread of his judgments.
20: He - They, the persons last mentioned.
22: Burden - All thy crosses, and cares, and fears, lay them upon
the Almighty, by faith and prayer. He directs this speech to his own
soul, and to all good men in like circumstances. Suffer - As he doth
wicked men. Tho' he may for a season suffer them to be shaken, yet
not to be overwhelmed.
23: Them - The wicked. Not live - But shall be cut off by an
untimely and violent death. Trust in thee - And in this confidence
I will quietly wait for deliverance.
