Bible Commentaries

Title. A Psalm. See App-65.

Give ear . . . Consider . . .

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

meditation. Connecting this Psalm with Psalms 1:2; Psalms 2:1.

Hearken. Figure of speech Synonymia. App-6.

voice. The voice marks the tone of any cry. First occurrence here.

my cry. Connecting this Psalm with Psalms 3:4.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

direct = set in order (as the wood on the altar). Compare Genesis 22:9. Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:23.

look up = look out, or watch for [an answer].

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.

foolish = boasters.

iniquity. Hebrew. "aven. App-44.

leasing = falsehood. See note on Psalms 4:2.

as for me. Compare Psalms 17:15; Psalms 26:11; Psalms 35:13; Psalms 41:12; Psalms 55:16; Psalms 69:13; Psalms 73:2.

multitude = abundance.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

temple. Hebrew. heykal = palace: i.e. heaven itself, which was the pattern for the earthly "house" or tent, as being the dwelling-place of Jehovah. Hence it is used of the Tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:9; 1 Samuel 3:3). Compare Psalms 11:4; Psalms 18:6.

Thy way: not mine.

faithfulness = steadfastness, or stability.

their = his. Referring to the man of Psalms 5:6.

Their. Three times repeated; refers to the "foolish" and "workers" of Psalms 5:6.

tongue. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is spoken by it.

Destroy Thou them = Deal with them as guilty.

by their own counsels. Answered in Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 17:14, 2 Samuel 17:23). A prayer suited for the dispensation in which David lived. See App-63.

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha". App-44.

put their trust = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. See App-69.

defendest = coverest.

Thy name = Thee Thyself. "Name" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the person and character: i.e. all that the name implies and includes.

bless the righteous = bless the justified one. Compare Psalms 1:1; Psalms 2:12; Psalms 3:8.

favour. This is the "shield". In His favour is "life" (Psalms 30:5); "preservation" (Psalms 86:2, margin); "security" (Psalms 41:11); "mercy "(Isaiah 60:10). Hence the prayer of Psalms 106:4.

as. Figure of speech Simile. App-6.

a shield. Hebrew. zinnah, a shield of the largest size. See 1 Samuel 17:7, 1 Samuel 17:41. "Only here, Psalms 35:2 (buckler), and Psalms 91:4 in the Psalms. In other Psalms it is magen, smaller both in size and weight (compare 1 Kings 10:17. 2 Chronicles 9:16). The shield is the "favour" of Jehovah mentioned above.