John Wesley

who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

“Hurt - To his own damage. As if a man solemnly swear, that he will sell him such an estate at a price below the full worth; or that, he will give a poor man such a sum of money, which afterwards he finds inconvenient…”

who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

“To usury - In such a manner as is contrary to God's law: of which see otherwise, Exod. xxii, 25 Levit xxv, 36, 37, &c. Reward - Or, a bribe for him who hath a bad cause.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.

“But - I bear a singular respect and love to all saints, for thy sake, whose friends and servants they are, and whose image they bear. This more properly agrees to David, than to Christ, whose goodness was principally designed for, and imparted to sinners.”

Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.

“Sorrows - Having shewed his affection to the servants of the true God, he now declares what an abhorrency he has for those that worship idols. Offerings - In which the Gentiles used sometimes to drink part of the blood of their sacrifices.”

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.

“The Lord - I rejoice in God as my portion, and desire no better, no other felicity. Cup - The portion which is put into my cup, as the ancient manner was in feasts, where each had his portion of meat, and of wine allotted…”

I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me.

“Reins - My inward thoughts and affections, being inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit. Instruct - Direct me how to please God, and put my whole trust in him.”

I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

“Hitherto David seems to have spoken with respect to himself, but now he is transported by the spirit of prophecy, and carried above himself, to speak as a type of Christ, in whom this and the following verses were truly accomplished.”

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.

“Shall rest - in confident assurance of its incorruption there, and of its resurrection to an immortal life: the flesh or body is in itself, but a dead lump of clay; yet hope is here ascribed to it figuratively, as it is to the brute…”

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

“We go from place to place, to rocks, and caves, and woods; but wheresoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us. Eyes - They keep their eyes fixed upon us.”

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

“Belly - Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Job xx, 20. Treasure - With extraordinary wealth and glory. Children - When many of thy faithful servants are barren, these are blessed with a numerous posterity.”

He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

“Cherub - Or, upon the cherubim, upon the angels, who are also called God's chariots, chap. lxviii, 17, upon which he is said to sit and ride.”

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.

“Righteousness - Just cause. The innocency of my actions towards Saul, from whose blood I kept my hands pure.”

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

“Perfect - His providence, though it may sometimes be dark, yet is always wise and just, and unblameable. Tried - The truth of God's promises is approved by innumerable experiences.”

You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.

“Salvation - Thy protection, which hath been to me like a shield. Held - Kept me from, falling into those mischiefs, which mine enemies designed. Gentleness - Thy clemency, whereby thou hast pardoned my sins; thy grace and benignity.”

Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.

“Heathen - David is here transported beyond himself, and speaks this in special relation to Christ who was to be his seed, and of whom he was an eminent type, and by whom alone this was done.”

Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.

“His king - To the king whom God himself chose and anointed, and to all his posterity; and especially to the Messiah, who is called David's seed, Acts xiii, 23 Rom. i, 3.”

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

“Clean - Sincere, not adulterated with any mixture. Constant and unchangeable, the same for substance in all ages.”

Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

“But I fall infinitely short of it. Cleanse - Both by justification, through the blood of thy son; and by sanctification thro' thy Holy Spirit. Though the first may seem to be principally intended, because he speaks of his past sins.”

He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.

“But this was more eminently fulfilled in Christ, who asked of his father, life, or to be saved from death, Heb.”

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

“Bulls - Wicked and violent, and potent enemies; for such are so called, Ezek xxxix, 18 Amos iv, 1. Of Bashan - As the cattle there bred were, and therefore fierce and furious.”

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

“Dogs - So he calls his enemies for their insatiable greediness, and implacable fierceness against him. Pierced - These words cannot with any probability be applied to David, but were properly and literally verified in Christ.”

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

“They part - This also cannot be applied to David, but was literally fulfilled in Christ, Matt. xxvii, 35 John xix, 24.”

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

“Darling - Hebrew. my only one; his soul, which he so calls, because it was left alone and destitute of friends and helpers.”

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.

“Congregations - The same whom he calls the congregation, and the seed of Jacob and Israel: which also does not so fitly agree to David, who never gives this title to any, but such as were near a-kin to him, as it does to Christ…”

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.

“So this is an evident prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, and a clear proof, that this psalm immediately speaks of Christ; to whom alone, this and divers other passages of it, belong.”