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
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
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
Pleas for triumph. The substance of this third division is a continuous prayer that God would give him to triumph over his enemies; and the plans on which the prayer is grounded. I. HE PRAYS THAT THE CAUSE OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS MAY NOT TRIUMPH . 1 . The enmity of his enemies was without just cause. ( Psalms 35:19 .) To be unjustly accused wounds a good man very deeply. 2 . He was the champion of public order and peace : and therefore they opposed him. (... read more
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha! our eye hath seen it. They "opened their mouth wide" in scornful derision; and shouted triumphantly, "Ha, ha! our eye hath seen his downfall!" read more
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me - See the notes at Psalms 22:13.And said, Aha, aha! - See Psalms 40:15; Psalms 70:3. The language is that which we use when we “detect” another in doing wrong - in doing what he meant to conceal.Our eye hath seen it - We are not dependent on the reports of others. We have seen it with our own eyes. We have found you out. We cannot be mistaken in regard to it. The reference is to some supposed “detection” of misconduct on the part of David, and the... 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