Psalms
Verse 1. David. He, ( Calmet.) Ezechias, (Ven. Bede) the captives, (Bossuet) or Jesus Christ and his servants under persecution, speak in this psalm. Holy Fathers. See Psalms 55. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Psalms 139
Historical chapter commentary
Psalms
Verse 2. Man. Saul, ( Calmet.) Judas, (S. Hil.) or self-love, the old man, who is our most dangerous enemy. Bert.
Psalms
Verse 3. Battles. And formed plots to destroy the just. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 4. Serpent. So Plautus says, “A double-tongued and wicked man is like a creeping beast,” in Persa. Bible.
Psalms
Verse 6. Side. The enemies of David calumniated him, and strove to make him follow idols. 1 Kennicott. 26:19.
Psalms
Verse 8. Battle. Against Goliath, or against the attempts of Saul, and so forth Calmet.—Prayer and divine grace are necessary, to guard us from sin. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 9. Desire. If I yield to my passions, (Saint Augustine) or after I have expressed my request, contrary to my desire, and so forth Hebrew “Grant not the desire of the sinner, complete not his thought. They will be elated.” Some supply, “lest they be.” The ancients seem not to have read in the same manner. Bert.—Abandon not my soul, which is all my care, (Psalms 21:21) to the sinner. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 10. Head. Hebrew also, “poison,” (Bert.) or “sum” of their mischievous devices. Worthington.—Labour, or punishment. Calmet.—Their subtle persuasions shall turn to their ruin. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 11. Fire of hell, ( Worthington. Chal.) as well as temporal afflictions, from lightning, and so forth Psalms 17:9. Bible.—Some have ridiculed the belief of hell. But the universality of this opinion is a strong proof of it, as it is also confirmed by revelation. Bert.
Psalms
Verse 12. Tongue. This member is very dangerous. Pet. Bless. 119. Jam. 3:6.—The just man is nt styled “a man of tongue,” but “of heart;” for which reason Christ exhorted his disciples not to make long speeches in prayer. Matthew 6:7. Bert.—Into. Lit. “in;” though ( Bible.) it should be into, conformably to the Septuagint Bert.
Raro antecedentem scelestum
Deseruit pede pœna claudo. Hor. iii. Od. ii.
Psalms
Verse 13. I know. Hebrew “thou knowest.” But some copies read more accurately. Houbig.—Poor. Thus, in the end, was Lazarus treated. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 14. Countenance in glory, when thou shalt appear. 1 John 3:2. Bible.—The shall dwell under thy special protection in the tabernacle. Calmet.
Psalms
Sheol is the place of the dead.