Verse 1

CONTENTS

This Psalm is very similar to many that we meet with. It contains the cry of an awakened soul against the enemies of his salvation, in which is contained an assurance of deliverance, from the well known character of a covenant God, and a well-grounded dependence upon him.

To the chief musician, A Psalm of David

Verse 1-2

The Reader will hardly need the aid of a commentator to direct his mind principally to the person of Christ, as being the persecuted soul here complaining. The enemy here spoken of is one special character defined to be so. And Christ's personal conflict was with him. And who can overlook the Jewish counsel before whom Christ was arraigned, when he stood before Pilate? Matthew 27:1. While we always remember to keep alive in our minds the unequalled sorrows and afflictions of Jesus, we may then, without any injury to the word of God, consider also the sorrows and afflictions of his people as set forth by them.

Verse 3-4

That the Lord Jesus is here alluded to by the Holy Ghost, is evident, for none but Jesus could ever come under the appellation of the perfect. The Reader will not want testimonies in how many instances Christ was thus spoken against in the days of his flesh. Mark 14:65.

Verse 5-6

Here are marked the deep-laid schemes of the wicked. And when we read the history of Christ's trial, and mockings, and scourgings, the preludes to his death; who but must see the great and sacred Object, to whom the Psalmist, under the power of the Holy Ghost, pointed?

Verses 7-10

I have not interrupted the progress of these verses, in order that the Reader, after having finished the perusal of the whole, may mark their connection. There is a beautiful climax of order in the relation. The wicked are described as planning their schemes in secret: who shall see them, who shall know their contrivances? None but God. He shall not only see, but punish them; yea, out of their own mouth their villanies shall be discovered. And the consequence shall be, that the righteous shall see the final issue and rejoice, and ascribe the whole glory to God. How strikingly was this displayed in the case of the Jews after our Lord's crucifixion, in the destruction of themselves and their beloved Jerusalem! How frequently is it manifested in private life, when, after the long persecution of the faithful by the ungodly, the Lord suddenly appears for the defense of his servants! And how fully and completely will the whole issue of the divine providence be manifested, when Christ shall appear to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe! While the church shout their songs of victory, Satan's everlasting destruction will form a part in their remembrance before the throne. The song is already given to the church, and will be sung in full chorus in the great day of God: Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. Revelation 12:10-11.

Verse 10

REFLECTIONS

How truly blessed it is to have a covenant God to fly unto, amidst all the reproaches of the enemy, and the malice of every deadly foe which lies in wait to deceive. But oh! how truly blessed is it to behold Thee, thou excelling pattern and exemplar of our nature, in all the conflicts thou, the Lord of life and glory, wast called to pass through, when thou didst condescend to endure such a contradiction of sinners against thyself, lest we should be weary and faint in our minds. Methinks I hear thy voice still vibrating in my ears, oh, thou meek and harmless Lamb of God, when thou didst cry out under the heavy load, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? Thou wert indeed a worm, and no man, in their esteem; nay, the very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people. Never, oh never, blessed Jesus! let me lose sight of thee, while passing on the heavenly road. Give me to mark thy footsteps by the tracing of thy blood as I go on! and let me say, See, here the Redeemer trod, when, like his people, he walked through this vale of tears.

Oh! ye mistaken enemies of Jesus! short are your triumphs, and sure your misery. The God of our salvation sees all your conduct now; and shortly, very shortly, will he shoot at you with a swift arrow. Death is near, very near: and the Judge is at the door: then will be fully shown the difference between the righteous and the wicked between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.