Introduction
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
The psalmist is in sore distress and peril from enemies violent and treacherous, among whom one “the evil man,” “the violent man” stands forth in unenviable prominence. The punishment of their falsehood and cruelty, Psalms 140:10, reminds us of Psalms 120:4. It probably belongs to the same occasion as Psalms 52, 109, and 1 Samuel 22:9-23. The impressions of horror at the slaughter of the good Ahimelech, and the priests and citizens of Nob, found expression in various dirge-ful and execrative songs. Of the four strophes of the psalm, the first three close with the selah. The psalm opens with prayer against his enemies, and closes with profession of confidence in the vindicatory providence of God. Though it appears late in the compilation known in the Psalter as the fifth book, there is no reason for setting aside the title which ascribes it to David.
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