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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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:3

If the foundations be destroyed - These are still to be regarded as the words of the psalmist’s advisers; or as an argument why he should make his escape. The word “foundations,” here, refers to those things on which society rests, or by which social order is sustained - the great principles of truth and righteousness that uphold society, as the foundations on which an edifice rests uphold the building. The reference is to a destruction of those things in a community, when truth is no longer... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:4

The Lord is in his holy temple - Hebrew, “Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness.” That is, he is in heaven, regarded as his temple or dwelling-place. This is the answer of the psalmist to the suggestions of his advisers that he should flee from danger. The answer is, in substance, that he had nothing to fear; that he had a protector in heaven; and that he might appeal to Him for defense. The idea is, that God, the protector of the righteous, is always in the heavens; that his throne is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:5

The Lord trieth the righteous - That is, he “proves” them, searches them, tests the reality of their piety. His dealings with them are such as to test the genuineness of their religion, and are designed to show their sincerity and the real power of their religious principles. It is not for the purpose of destroying them, or punishing them, that he deals with them as he does, but it is to show the reality of their attachment to him. This language seems here to be used to show the feeling of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 11:6

Upon the wicked - Upon all the wicked.He shall rain - He shall pour down as in a furious tempest.Snares - It seems rather incongruous to speak of raining down “snares, “ - understanding by the word snares, as it is used with us, that which entangles, as the snares by which we catch a bird, or by which a wild animal is taken. Compare the notes at Job 18:8-10. The word used here, however, seems to refer to anything by which one is taken in his career or course, or is involved in difficulties; and... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:3

Psalms 11:3. If the foundations be destroyed, &c. This also is thought to be spoken by the same persons, discouraging David from making any further resistance, by the consideration that the foundations of religion and virtue were subverted, and therefore all was over, and what they urged, could a man, engaged in the most righteous designs, hope to do, when that was the case. Bishop Patrick paraphrases the words thus, “If men have no regard to laws and public decrees, which are the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 11:4

Psalms 11:4. The Lord is in his holy temple The psalmist, having, in the first verse, declared that his trust was in Jehovah, and having mentioned the advice of his friends, is supposed to be now proceeding to show the fitness and propriety of his trust, notwithstanding the seeming desperate situation of affairs. His words, considered as being spoken in reply to his friends, may be interpreted as follows: My answer to you is, that the world is not governed by chance, nor can men carry... read more

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