Verse 2

Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

Lest — Mine enemy.

Tear — Out of my body.

Verse 3

O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

Hands — Which Cush and others falsely lay to my charge.

Iniquity — In my actions.

Verse 4

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Deliver — When it was in my power to destroy him, as1Samuel24:2-6.

Verse 6

Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

Lift up — Glorify thyself, and shew thyself to be above them.

Commanded — To execute that righteous sentence, which thou hast commanded, appointed, and declared by thy prophet Samuel.

Verse 7

So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

Compass — They will come from all parts to worship thee, and offer to thee praises and sacrifices.

High — To thy tribunal, to sit there and judge my cause. An allusion to earthly tribunals, which generally are set up on high above the people.

Verse 9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

O — Put a stop to their wicked practices.

Verse 11

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Every day — Even then, when his providence seems to favour them, and they are most secure and confident.

Verse 12

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

He will — God will hasten, and speedily execute his judgments upon him.

Verse 13

He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

Him — For the wicked.

Ordaineth — Designs or fits for this very use. Of all sinners, persecutors are set up as the fairest marks of Divine wrath. They set God at defiance but cannot set themselves out of the reach of his judgments.

Verse 14

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

Travelleth — This metaphor denotes his deep design, and vigorous endeavours for doing mischief, and his restlessness and pain 'till he have accomplished it.