Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me ,.... In laughter, scorn, and derision; see Psalm 22:7 ; and said, Aha, aha : a word expressive of joy; and the doubling it shows the greatness of it; our eye hath seen it ; what their heart wished for; namely, the distress of him, whose enemies they were. read more
This thou hast seen, O Lord ,.... The insults and derisions of these men, and the injuries they did to him, whom they hated. God is omniscient, and sees all things, all the evil wicked men do to him; and he will requite them in his own time; see Psalm 10:14 ; keep not silence ; meaning at his prayers; that he would not be as one deaf and dumb, turning his ears from his cries, and giving no answer to his requests; see Psalm 28:1 ; O Lord, be not far from me ; meaning not as to... read more
They opened their mouth wide - Gaped upon me to express their contempt. And said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it - They said, האח האח heach , read more
This thou hast seen - I have no need to adduce evidences of these wrongs; thou, to whom I appeal, hast seen them. Therefore, read more
Verse 22 22.O Jehovah! thou hast also seen it. There is in these words an implied contrast between the view which God is here represented as taking, and the sight at which, as we are told in the preceding verse, the ungodly rejoiced. The import of David’s language is, You have rejoiced exceedingly at the sight of my miseries; but God also sees and takes notice of the cruelty and malice of those who feel a pleasure and gratification in seeing others afflicted and in trouble. David, however, in... read more
A hard case-a very hard one-laid before God. This is one of those psalms in which the writers often meet with much scolding and with scant sympathy. It has been said that this psalm is not worthy of David. We are not prepared to say so: but we are prepared to contend that many of the criticisms passed on it are utterly unworthy of those who thus criticize. £ If we will but study the whole psalm in all its bearings while we may not feel called on to justify every expression therein, we... read more
The flesh and the Spirit. This psalm has been variously interpreted. Some say David speaks here representatively, not for himself, but for the community of Israel Others say that he speaks prophetically, and with special reference to the days of Messiah. Others again hold that he speaks as a holy man, moved by the Holy Spirit to record the feelings that had passed through his own heart in time of trial. This last seems the more reasonable interpretation. I. First it agrees best with ... read more
The main element of this, the third section of the psalm, is prayer. Complaint finds a voice in Psalms 35:20 , Psalms 35:21 , and thanksgiving in Psalms 35:28 ; but with these exceptions, the strophe is one long strain of prayer. The prayer is, first, negative: "Let not mine enemies rejoice" ( Psalms 35:19 ); "Keep not silence" ( Psalms 35:22 ); "Be not far from me" ( Psalms 35:22 ). But after this it becomes mainly positive: "Stir up thyself, and awake to judgment" ( Psalms... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 35:17-28
In these verses, as before, I. David describes the great injustice, malice, and insolence, of his persecutors, pleading this with God as a reason why he should protect him from them and appear against them. 1. They were very unrighteous; they were his enemies wrongfully, for he never gave them any provocation: They hated h 2be1 im without a cause; nay, for that for which they ought rather to have loved and honoured him. This is quoted, with application to Christ, and is said to be fulfilled in... read more