Verse 1. Anointed. Hebrew has only, David. The rest of the title occurs only in some copies of the Septuagint (Euseb. Calmet.) and is not of divine authority. Yet if any attention be paid to it, we must suppose that David composed this psalm before his second anointing, as he speaks of great dangers. But this is all uncertain. Bert.—For dangers threatened David even after he had been declared king. Bible.—Before Samuel anointed him, he was not endued with the spirit of prophecy. See 1 Kennicott. 16:13. 2 Kennicott. 2:4 and verse 3. Calmet.—Some suppose that he alludes to the entertainment given him by Abimelech, (verse 5 and 12. Theod.) or to that night when, fearless of danger, he took away Saul’s cup; (Ferrand) while Abenezra and De Muis rather believe, that he composed this psalm when his people dissuaded him from going out to battle. 2 Kennicott. 21:17. It expresses the sentiments of the Levites in captivity, ( Calmet.) and most beautifully consoles the just in distress. David did not write this for himself alone, but for all future generations. Hence it is not necessary to discover the particular circumstances of his life, to which this and many other psalms allude; nor is there any difficulty in explaining away the various imprecations, as they are not directed against any individual, but relate to all the enemies of the soul; while they foretell what the wicked shall suffer. Bert.—Afraid. “Find one more powerful, and then fear.” Saint Augustine—God both giveth light and strength, so that no enemy can hurt his servants. Lu. 21:15. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 2. Flesh. This expression marks the fury of his enemies. See Job 19:22 and 31:31. Calmet.—That. Hebrew and Septuagint “and my foes.” This may denote domestic, and the former word public, enemies. Bible.—Weakened. Hebrew also, “have stumbled.” Those who came to take Jesus Christ, verified this prediction. John 18:6. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 3. This; God’s protection ( Bible.) and light, ( Menochius.) or in the very heat of battle: prælium. Septuagint express the Hebrew fem. pronoun, as they do with the Vulg. verse 4, unam. There is no neuter in Hebrew which commonly uses the feminine, instead. Calmet.—It may be deemed too scrupulous an exactitude, to express this in a version. The word petition may be understood. Bert. Menochius.—The one petition of David comprised every blessing; as he had his mind bent on heaven. D.
Psalms
Verse 4. House; the tabernacle, ( Bible.) or temple, ( Calmet.) unless he may rather allude to God’s presence and union, or his enjoyment in heaven. Bert.—He had already expressed a similar wish. Psalms 25:8. Calmet.—“When we love what God approves, he will surely grant our request. Saint Augustine—David esteemed it as a special benefit to be in the Catholic Church, which is the only true house of God. Worthington.—Delight; beauty and sweetness, as the Hebrew implies. Many of the ancients read, “the will,” voluntatem, with Sixtus V. and so forth But the edition of Clem. VIII. agrees with the Hebrew and Oriental versions. Calmet.—To comply with God’s will, is the only means of arriving at his beatific vision. Bible.—David was more grieved at being kept at a distance from the tabernacle, than from his own family. He envied the happiness of those who could attend the divine worship. Menochius.
Psalms
Verse 5. Tabernacle; in the Catholic Church, so that the enemy can either not find, or at least cannot hurt, my soul. Worthington.—I hope one day to enjoy rest in the temple. Calmet.—The verbs are in the future, in Hebrew both here and in the following verse. But they may be as well explained in the sense of the Vulg. Those who find themselves in danger, must still have recourse to God’s presence, (Bert.) where, as ( Bible.) in the asylum of the tabernacle, ( Menochius.) or of the temple, they will be protected. Calmet.—God rewards those with glory in death, who have suffered for his name. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 6. Round. Hebrew “my enemies around.” But the Septuagint understand it of David, (Bert.) or of the priest, who poured the blood of the victims on different sides of the altar. Bible.—Jubilation: singing and music, which are styled the fruit, or calves of the lips. Isaiah 57:19. Os. 14:3. Calmet.—David diligently recounted God’s benefits, with all his heart and voice. Worthington.—He offered sacrifices by ministry of the priests, on the altar of holocausts, which was not in, but before, the tabernacle. Menochius.
Psalms
Verse 7. To thee, is understood in Hebrew and the Rom. Septuagint Bible.
Psalms
Verse 8. Face hath. Hebrew pointed, “faces seek ye.” But Septuagint Saint Jerome Chal. and so forth take no notice of these points; and even Prot. marg. has, “My heart said unto thee, Let my face seek thy face;” (Bert.) though in the text they derange the words, and add, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said,” and so forth Bible.—Seek. “I have sought for no reward besides thee.” Saint Augustine—I have earnestly desired to see thee face to face. 1 Corinthians 13:12. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 9. Decline not. Hebrew “put not away.” Prot. But the Vulg. seems preferable.—Forsake. Septuagint (Compl. and Ald.) μη αποσκορακισης, “send me not to the crows,” an expression borrowed from profane authors, who said, “to the crows,” when they held a person in sovereign contempt. Theod. Bert.—Grabe substitutes this word, though the Alex. and Vat. MSS. agree with us. Bible.—There seems to be a gradation in the condition of the reprobate here observed. God hides his countenance, withdraws, abandons, and despises them; and they only perceive their misery, when it is too late. Bert.—David implores aid in this life, and deprecates the divine anger, looking upon himself as an orphan, whom God takes under his special protection. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 10. For. Hebrew “Though.” David’s parents fled to him. 1 Kennicott. 22:1. Yet they had made small account of him, till Samuel called him forth. 1 Kennicott. 16:10. The father-in-law and mother-in-law may be also designated. When a saint is deprived of every human advantage, he may still say with Saint Augustine “They have taken from me what God gave, but they have not taken God from me, who gave those things.” Bert.—Though I am like an orphan, I hope for all good from God, my father. Isaiah 63:16. Calmet.
Psalms
Verse 11. Enemies, who strive to pervert me. Keep me in the right path, which thou hast already made known to me. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 12. Will. Lit. “souls.” Bible.—Some ancient copies have, “the hands.”—Unjust. Hebrew “false.” Bible.—To itself, ought not to be urged no more than eat sibi, vade tibi. Genesis 12:1. Song of Songs 1:7. Calmet.—It is a Hebrew idiom. Bible.—Many find fault with the Septuagint and Vulg. in this place, but without reason; and they do not agree in their versions. Sym. and Saint Jerome come near to us. Puach means to breathe, or entangle; and our version intimates, that “iniquity has entangled itself:” vipheach chamas, “and open lying.” Saint Jerome Bert.—The accusers of Susanna, and of our Saviour, could not agree in their testimony. The Chaldees continually calumniated the captives. Isaiah 52:4. Jeremiah 50:33. Calmet.—Worldlings still do the same, (Matthew 5) delighting in lies, which will prove their own ruin. Worthington.
Psalms
Verse 13. I. Hebrew “But I believe that I shall see.” Saint Jerome—“I had fainted, unless,” and so forth Prot. Bible.—Living, or of promise, as this country is often designated, (Muis. Tirinus. Du Pin. Calmet.) or rather in heaven, (Bert. Menochius.) where death shall be no more. Bible.—The Fathers explain it in this more elevated sense. Calmet.—The just are comforted by God, and by the hope of heavenly rewards. Worthington.—The land of the living may be opposed to the grave, where none can worship God. Bible.
Psalms
Verse 14. And let. Hebrew “and he will strengthen my heart, and wait” (instead of and, Prot. put, without reason, “Wait I say) on the Lord.” We must do our utmost: yet all our strength must come from God. Bible.—The prophet encourageth his own soul to exercise patience, fortitude, and longanimity (Psalms 30. Worthington.) unto the end. Menochius.