*H Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of David.
Ver. 1. Idithun, to sing. W. — He was one of the chief musicians under David. 1 Par. xxv. 3. The psalm may be explained of David, persecuted by Absalom, (C.) of the Machabees, (Theod.) &c. or of Christ, and his Church. C. — S. Jer. considers it as a piece of excellent morality, (C.) and this may suffice, without referring it to any historical fact. Bert.
*H Shall not my soul be subject to God? for from him is my salvation.
Ver. 2. Subject. The just is resigned, though he feel like other men. David found a sort of resentment against the rebels, arising in his breast, which he presently repressed, by the thought of God's will. 2 K. xii. 11. C. — He fears nothing, because his soul is subject to God. W. — Heb. "silent." H.
*H How long do you rush in upon a man? you all kill, as if you were thrusting down a leaning wall, and a tottering fence.
Ver. 4. Fence. This may refer to the persecutors, who resembled a leaning wall. Bert. Is. xxx. 13. C. — Prot. "ye shall be slain all of you, as a bowing wall shall ye be," &c. He threatens them with speedy destruction, (H.) or represents to them the baseness of attacking a man ready to fall. C. — He informs them, that their attempts will be in vain, though they be very numerous, and he himself apparently so weak. W.
*H But they have thought to cast away my price; I ran in thirst: they blessed with their mouth, but cursed with their heart.
Ver. 5. Price. Sept. S. Hilary, &c. "my honour." They wish to dethrone me, and to represent me as unfit to govern. — I ran. Sept. εδραμον, "they ran" likewise, as Heb. implies, and as the Gr. Fathers generally explain it. David thought proper to flee, that he might be at a distance from traitors, 2 K. xv. 14. His enemies sought his destruction. C. — They wished to deprive him of the reward of his labours; but he ran more earnestly. — Blessed. Flattery is very dangerous. W.
*H In God is my salvation and my glory: he is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.
Ver. 8. God. The multiplicity of titles shews the prophet's love. See Apoc. v. 12. S. Aug. Conf. i. 4. Bert.
*H Trust in him, all ye congregation of people: pour out your hearts before him. God is our helper for ever.
Ver. 9. All. Heb. "always, O people." Sept. seem to have read, adoth, for heth. — For ever. Here Selah is translated, (Bert.) though it be not in Sept. &c. David exhorts his followers to address themselves to God, with compunction and confidence. C.
*H But vain are the sons of men, the sons of men are liars in the balances: that by vanity they may together deceive.
Ver. 10. Liars. They are so vain and light, that if they are put into the scales, they will be found to be of no weight; and to be mere lies, deceit, and vanity. Or, they are liars in their balances, by weighing thing by false weights, and preferring the temporal before the eternal. Ch. Prov. xi. 1. and xx. 10. — They give false judgments; be not concerned; God is our protector. C. — God's servants strive to draw others to the practice of virtue. W. — All sinners (H.) will not outweigh vanity itself. M.
*H Trust not in iniquity, and cover not robberies: if riches abound, set not your heart upon them.
Ver. 11. Them. Let the rich assist their needy brethren; and you, my followers, beware of enriching yourselves, by unjust rapine, during this civil war. C. — Raise your thoughts to something better. S. Aug.
*H God hath spoken once, these two things have I heard, that power belongeth to God,
Ver. 12. Once, by the generation of his word, (S. Aug.) or when he promulgated the law. Ex. xx. 6. Bert. — God's word is invariable, (W. Job xxxiii. 14. M.) and will be put in execution. S. Amb. T. — This he has often inculcated. Vatab. Job xxxix. 35. Amos (i. 3.) uses three and four, in the same sense. C.
* Footnote * Matthew 16 : 27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.* Footnote * Romans 2 : 6
Who will render to every man according to his works.* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 3 : 8
Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.* Footnote * Galatians 6 : 5
For every one shall bear his own burden.*H And mercy to thee, O Lord; for thou wilt render to every man according to his works.
Ver. 13. Works. We must therefore refrain from every injustice. H. — God spoke once by Moses, and again by his own Son. Both the Testaments confirm the certainty of rewards and punishments, (Bert.) as God is able and willing (W.) to execute his decrees. Luther, followed by the Dutch, translates, "as he merits;" to which expression, concerning the just, Amama objects. H.