Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

“From this statement of reasons for the appeal, he renews it, pleading his double extremity, the nearness of trouble, and the absence of a helper. His enemies, with the vigor of bulls and rapacity of lions, surround him, eagerly seeking his ruin.”

For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

“Evildoers are well described as dogs, which, in the East, herding together, wild and rapacious, are justly objects of great abhorrence.”

Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

“Deliverance pleaded in view of former help, when in the most imminent danger, from the most powerful enemy, represented by the unicorn or wild buffalo. the lion's mouth--(Compare Ps 22:13).”

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

“Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Ge 48:15; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.”

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

“To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it (Ps 19:7), or relieve it (La 1:11, 19). paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him. for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare.”

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

“By them he guides his sheep. Another figure expresses God's provided care. a table--or, "food," anointing oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will…”

For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

“Poetically represents the facts of Ge 1:9. The form of a question gives vivacity. Hands, tongue, and heart are organs of action, speech, and feeling, which compose character. hill of the Lord--(compare Ps 2:6, &c.).”

Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

“Jacob--By "Jacob," we may understand God's people (compare Isa 43:22; 44:2, &c.), corresponding to "the generation," as if he had said, "those who seek Thy face are Thy chosen people."”

Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts— He is the King of Glory. Selah

“Am 4:13), describes God by a title indicative of supremacy over all creatures, and especially the heavenly armies (Jos 5:14; Whether, as some think, the actual enlargement of the ancient gates of Jerusalem be the basis of the figure, the effect of the whole is…”

Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.

“On the other hand, the disappointment of the perfidious, who, unprovoked, have done evil, is invoked (compare 2Sa 22:9). On the ground of former favor, he invokes divine guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faithfulness.”

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.

“In conscious innocence of the faults charged by his enemies, he confidently commits his cause to God. Some refer-- integrity, &c.--to God, meaning His covenant faithfulness. This sense, though good, is an unusual application of the terms.”

Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

“Judge--decide on my case; the appeal of innocence. in mine integrity--freedom from blemish (compare Ps 25:21). His confidence of perseverance results from trust in God's sustaining grace.”

Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.

“Still pressing need extorts prayer for help. cry with my voice--denotes earnestness. Other things equal, Christians in earnest pray audibly, even in secret.”

My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

“The meaning is clear, though the construction in a literal translation is obscure. The English Version supplies the implied clause. To seek God's face is to seek His favor (Ps 105:4).”

Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

“The strong emotion is indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed. to see--is to experience (Ps 22:17).”

Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD or what His hands have done, He will tear them down and never rebuild them.

“Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment. destroy . . . build . . . up--The positive strengthened by the negative form.”

The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

“Terror-stricken animals and denuded forests close the illustration. In view of this scene of awful sublimity, God's worshippers respond to the call of Ps 29:2, and speak or cry, "Glory!"”

For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

“Relatively, the longest experience of divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions. What particular prosperity is meant we do not know; perhaps his accession to the throne.”

that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

“Though "my" is supplied before "glory" it is better as in Ps 16:9, to receive it as used for tongue, the organ of praise. The ultimate end of God's mercies to us is our praise to Him.”

For our hearts rejoice in Him, since we trust in His holy name.

“Our faith measures mercy (Mt 9:29); and if of grace, it is no more of debt (Ro 11:6).”

For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.

“7, 8. net in a pit--or, "pit of their net"--or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Ps 2:6); a figure from hunting (Ps 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such;”

They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned…

“Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction. spoiling--literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.”

An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

“The general sense of this difficult verse is, "that the wicked have no fear of God." The first clause may be rendered, "Saith transgression in my heart, in respect to the wicked, there is no fear," &c., that is, such is my reflection on men's…”

Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.

“The climax is that he deliberately adopts and patronizes evil. The negative forms affirm more emphatically their contraries. 5, 6. mercy . . . and . . . faithfulness--as mercy and truth (Ps 25:10).”

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

“Trust--sure of safety. shalt thou dwell--or, "dwell thou"; repose quietly. verily . . . fed--or, "feed on truth," God's promise (Ps 36:5; compare Ho 12:1).”