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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 140:1-7

In this, as in other things, David was a type of Christ, that he suffered before he reigned, was humbled before he was exalted, and that as there were many who loved and valued him, and sought to do him honour, so there were many who hated and envied him, and sought to do him mischief, as appears by these verses, where, I. He gives a character of his enemies, and paints them out in their own colours, as dangerous men, whom he had reason to be afraid of, but wicked men, whom he had no reason to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 140:8-13

Here is the believing foresight David had, I. Of the shame and confusion of persecutors. 1. Their disappointment. This he prays for (Ps. 140:8), that their lusts might not be gratified, their lust of ambition, envy, and revenge: ?Grant not, O Lord! the desires of the wicked, but frustrate them; let them not see the ruin of my interest, which they so earnestly wish to see; but hear the voice of my supplications.? He prays that their projects might not take effect, but be blasted: ?O further not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:1

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man ,.... Either Saul; so Theodoret; or rather Doeg, according to R. Obadiah: but Jarchi interprets it of Esau; by whom he means Edom, or Rome, or rather the Christians in general. Were his sense confined to the Papists, he might be thought to be much in the right; for this is applicable enough to the man of sin, and his followers: for it may be understood collectively of a body of evil men; all men are evil by nature, their hearts, thoughts, words, works,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:2

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart ,.... This shows that not a single person barely is meant but more, as Saul's courtiers; who were secretly and continually meditating mischief against David, traducing him to Saul, and devising things to take away his life. Such were the Jews to Christ, who were always plotting to entangle him, or contriving to kill him; and so wicked men are ever devising mischief against the quiet in the land, which is very abominable to God; and rightly observed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:3

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent ,.... Which Kimchi says it does before it bites. Aristotle F9 Hist. Animal. l. 2. c. 17. observes, that the tip or extreme point of a serpent's tongue is as small as a hair, and so exceeding sharp and piercing. Arama interprets this of the sharpness and cunning of the serpent; and particularly the serpent that deceived Eve, and spake cunningly to her. "For God knoweth", &c.; and may design the calumnies and detractions, which were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:4

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked ,.... From falling into their hands, and the weight of them); and from their laying hands on him, being men of power and authority; preserve me from the violent man : or men, everyone of them; See Gill on Psalm 140:1 ; who have purposed to overthrow my goings : to supplant him; to cause him to stumble and fall, to his disgrace and reproach; and that they might take an advantage of him, and an occasion against him. Arama interprets it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:5

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords ,.... These were the Ziphites, according to Arama; see Psalm 119:85 ; the character well agrees with the Scribes and Pharisees, who were proud boasters, and despised others, and often laid snares for Christ to take away his life; and with the enemies of the church and people of God; who, through their pride, persecute them, and are insidious, and use artful methods to ensnare them; as the fowler lays his snare for the bird, and has his cords to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:6

I said unto the Lord, thou art my God ,.... He said this to the Lord himself; claimed his covenant interest in him, and expressed it in the strength of faith: and this he did when in the midst of trouble and distress; in danger of falling into the hands of evil and violent men; they imagined mischief against him; were bent on his ruin, and laid nets, snares, gins, and traps for him; when he applied to his God, who only could deliver him; and being his covenant God, he had reason to believe... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:7

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation ,.... Temporal and spiritual, which he was able to effect; the mighty God and mighty Saviour: and this encouraged David to believe he should have deliverance; and this secured, confirmed, and established it to him; and to which he was the more induced by what experience he had had of the divine goodness to him, as follows: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle ; with the helmet of salvation, as Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and Arama observe;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:8

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked ,.... Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking away his life: but the desires of such men are under the restraints of the Lord; nor can they fulfil them unless they have leave from him, which is here deprecated. The psalmist entreats he might not be delivered up to their will, or they have their will of him; see Psalm 27:12 . Jarchi interprets it of Esau, as in Psalm 140:1 ; and it is... read more

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