Psalm 11:1-2 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

A battle in the soul. Faith and fear are in conflict. Plausible reasons are suggested why the fight should be given up, but nobler thoughts prevail. I. FEAR CONFRONTING FAITH . ( Psalms 11:1-3 .) The outlook is discouraging. Our foes are many and strong; more, they are inveterate in malice; more still, they have already gained ground, and amidst the overturn of all right principles and the confusion worse confounded, it seems as if they were to prevail all along the line. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

Faith's antidote to fear. This psalm is referred by some to the early struggles of David against the unrelenting jealousy of Saul; by others to the rebellion of Absalom; by others to the general conflict ever waging between the good and the evil powers. The subject of it is "Confidence in the Lord, and his protection even against the mightiest force of the wicked." The two leading ideas are the doctrine of David's friends, and David's own doctrine. I. SAFETY IN DANGER COULD BE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:2

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow . The words are still those of the timid friends. "Lo," they say, "the ungodly are already bending the bow against thee"—preparing, i.e; to attempt thy life. They make ready their arrow upon the string ; or, fit their arrow to the string. The last thing before discharging it. That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart; literally, that they may shoot amid darkness at the upright in heart. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:1

In the Lord put I my trust - This, in general, expresses the state of mind of the author - a state of feeling which runs through the entire psalm. It is designed to be an answer to the counsel which others had been giving him to escape, and it implies that he was determined at that time, and always, to put his trust in God. They advised him to flee. In the existing circumstances he felt that that would have implied a want of confidence in God. He determined, therefore, to maintain his present... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:2

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow - These are to he regarded as the words of the persons referred to in the previous verse, who had advised the persecuted psalmist to flee to the mountains. In this verse reasons are suggested for that advice. The reasons are, that the enemy was preparing for an attack, and that at an unexpected moment the attack would be made unless he should effect his escape. Apprised of the danger, he might now make good his escape, and avoid the peril which was impending.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:1

Psalms 11:1. In the Lord put I my trust It is not in fortresses or strong holds that I place my confidence, but only in the Lord, in his power, and love, and faithfulness. How say ye to my soul Ye, my friends; Flee as a bird to your mountain? Fly away, as a timorous bird before the fowler, to a place of safety. Thus “the Christian, like David, in perilous times, should make God his fortress, and continue doing his duty in his station; he should not, at the instigation of those about... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:2

Psalms 11:2. For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, &c. Many eminent commentators consider these also as the words of David’s friends, representing to him, as a motive for his flight, the extreme danger he was in, which they compare to that of a bird when a fowler, having already fixed his eye upon it, had fitted his arrow to the string, and lying close, was taking aim at it, intending to shoot it. Just so, they signified, Saul and his counsellors had laid their plot on a sudden to destroy... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

Psalms 11-13 Persevere . . . or give in?There came a time when David became tired of his continual flight from Saul, not just because it was wearying, but because it was cutting him off from the public worship places of God’s people (1 Samuel 26:19). His spiritual life was weakened and he gave in to the temptation to leave his own country for the safety of enemy Philistia (1 Samuel 27:1). This is the sort of temptation that David considers in Psalms 11:0, the temptation to go along with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 11:1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 . Title. A Psalm. See App-65 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . put I my trust = I have fled for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. See App-69 . my soul = me (for emphasis). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . as. The Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read this "as" (or "like") in the text. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 11:2

the wicked = the lawless ones. Hebrew. rasha. '. privily = in the darkness. the upright = upright ones. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:2

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 11:1

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 11:2

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