Psalm 11:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 11:1-3

Here is, I. David's fixed resolution to make God his confidence: In the Lord put I my trust, Ps. 11:1. Those that truly fear God and serve him are welcome to put their trust in him, and shall not be made ashamed of their doing so. And it is the character of the saints, who have taken God for their God, that they make him their hope. Even when they have other things to stay themselves upon, yet they do not, they dare not, stay upon them, but on God only. Gold is not their hope, nor are horses... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 11:2

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow ,.... Are devising mischief, and making preparations to accomplish it; they make ready their arrow upon the string ; of the bow, and are just about to execute their wicked designs; that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart ; such as David, and those that were with him, were; they were men whose hearts were upright before God, and were of upright conversations before men, and so became the butt of the malice and resentment of wicked men;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 11:2

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow - Perhaps these are more of the words of his advisers: Every thing is ready for thy destruction: the arrow that is to pierce thy heart is already set on the bow-string; and the person who hopes to despatch thee is concealed in ambush. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 11:2

Verse 2 2.Surely, behold! the ungodly. Some think that this is added as the excuse made by those who desired David to save himself by flight. According to others, David expostulates with his countrymen, who saw death menacing him on all sides, and yet denied him shelter. But, in my judgment, he here continues his account of the trying circumstances in which he was placed. His design is not only to place before our view the dangers with which he was surrounded, but to show us that he was exposed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 11:1-7

The victory of faith; or, rest amid storm. In each one of those psalms which represent some historic experience, there is its own differential feature. This feature it is the work of the student and expositor to seize and to utilize. We do not know and have no means of knowing the specific incidents in the writer's life to which reference is here made, £ although, since David was the writer, we should find but little difficulty in fixing on some passages of his history to which the psalm... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 11:2

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

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