Bible Commentaries

« [A Psalm] of David. » Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Plead my cause, O Lord — We may safely pray the same, when oppressed with calumnies and false accusations, as now David was by Saul’s sycophants, or, as others think, when he was in great heaviness, and even heart sick; after that Amnon had defiled Tamar, and Absalom had slain Amnon; his disaffected subjects, such as Shimei, insulted over him, and said, it was just upon him for the matter of Uriah, and other miscarriages; which they wrongfully charged him with. See a promise in this case, Isaiah 49:21 .

Fight against them, … — Or, devour them that devour me; for in Niphal only it signifieth to fight.

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Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Take hold of shield and buckler — Jehovah is a man of war, Exodus 15:3 , and so he is here stirred up to harness himself; not that he needeth weapons defensive, as here, or offensive, as Psalms 35:3 , for he can destroy his enemies, solo nutu ac flatu, with a nod, or a blast; but this is spoken after the manner of men, and for our better apprehension of God’s readiness to relieve his distressed ones.

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Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.

Draw out also the spear — viz. That thy contending and appearing for me may appear to be sufficient and glorious.

And stop the way — Heb. And stop, viz. the doors, as Genesis 19:6 ; Genesis 19:10 2 Kings 6:32 , lest the malcontents come in and kill me. Or, shut me up from my persecutors, that they find me not; like as, afterwards, God hid Jeremiah and Baruch, when sought for to the slaughter.

Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation — Facito ut haec animula te sibi testantem audiat, … Inwardly persuade my heart to firm affiance in thee, amidst all mine afflictions.

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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.

Let them be confounded and put to shame — Here David beginneth his imprecations; which yet non maledicens dixit sed vaticinantis more praedixit, saith Theodoret, he doth not utter as cursing, but as prophesying rather. If we shall at any time take upon us thus to imprecate (as we may in some cases), we must see to it, first, that our cause be good. Secondly, that we do it not out of private revenge; but merely for the glory of God. Thirdly, ut ne voculam quidem nisi nobis praeeunte Dei, non carnis, spiritu effundamus, that we utter not a syllable this way but by the guidance of God’s good Spirit.

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Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

Let them be as chaff — Facti sint a corde suo fugitivi, let them fly before their own consciences, restless and uncertain whither to turn themselves.

And let the angel of the Lord chase them — It may be understood both of the evil angels and of the good, ready at God’s command to do execution upon his enemies. Chaff driven before the wind may rest against a wall; but where shall they rest who are chased by an angel? "Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 1 Peter 4:18 . Surely nowhere.

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Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Let their way be dark and slippery — Heb. Darkness and slipperiness. If a man have neither light nor firm footing, and a fierce enemy at his heels, what shift can he make for himself? The word rendered slippery is of a double form (like that libbi secharchar, my heart panteth or beateth about, throbbeth, Psalms 38:10 ), to increase the signfication. See Jeremiah 23:12 . The soul of a wicked man is in a sling, 1 Samuel 25:29 , violently tossed about.

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For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

For without cause have they hid for me, … — The wicked are so acted and agitated by the devil, their task master, that, though they have no cause to work mischief to the saints, yet they must do it; the old enmity, Genesis 3:15 , still worketh; but this rendereth their destruction certiorem et celeriorem, more sure and more swift.

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Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

Let destruction come upon him unawares — i.e. Upon the whole rabble of them, as if they were all but one man. Or else he striketh at some chieftain among them. Let his destruction be as sudden as signal.

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