Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Idithun, to sing. Worthington.—He was one of the chief musicians under David. 1 Chronicles 25:3. The psalm may be explained of David, persecuted by Absalom, ( Calmet.) of the Machabees, (Theod.) and so forth or of Christ, and his Church. Calmet.—Saint Jerome considers it a piece of excellent morality, ( Calmet.) and this may suffice, without referring it to any historical fact. Bert.
Verse 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 Kennicott. 12:11. Calmet.—He fears nothing, because his soul is subject to God. Worthington.—Hebrew “silent.” Bible.
Verse 4. Fence. This may refer to the persecutors, who resembled a leaning wall. Bert. Isaiah 30:13. Calmet.—Prot. “ye shall be slain all of you, as a bowing wall shall ye be,” and so forth He threatens them with speedy destruction, ( Bible.) or represents to them the baseness of attacking a man ready to fall. Calmet.—He informs them, that their attempts will be in vain, though they be very numerous, and he himself apparently so weak. Worthington.
Verse 5. Price. Septuagint S. Hilary, and so forth “my honour.” They wish to dethrone me, and to represent me as unfit to govern.—I ran. Septuagint εδραμον, “they ran” likewise, as Hebrew implies, and as the Greek Fathers generally explain it. David thought proper to flee, that he might be at a distance from traitors, 2 Kennicott. 15:14. His enemies sought this destruction. Calmet.—They wished to deprive him of the reward of his labours; but he ran more earnestly.—Blessed. Flattery is very dangerous. Worthington.
Verse 8. God. The multiplicity of titles shews the prophet’s love. See Revelation 5:12. Saint Augustine Conf. i. 4. Bert.
Verse 9. All. Hebrew “always, O people.” Septuagint seem to have read, adoth, for heth.—For ever. Here Selah is translated, (Bert.) though it is not in Septuagint and so forth David exhorts his followers to address themselves to God, with compunction and confidence. Calmet.
Verse 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. Challoner. Proverbs 11:1 and 20:10.—They give false judgments; be not concerned; God is our protector. Calmet.—God’s servants strive to draw others to the practice of virtue. Worthington.—All sinners ( Bible.) will not outweigh vanity itself. Menochius.
Verse 11. Them. Let the rich assist their needy brethren; and you, my followers, beware of enriching yourselves, by unjust rapine, during this civil war. Calmet.—Raise your thoughts to something better. Saint Augustine
Verse 12. Once, by the generation of his word, (Saint Augustine) or when he promulgated the law. Exodus 20:6. Bert.—God’s word is invariable, ( Worthington. Job 33:14. Menochius.) and will be put in execution. Saint Ambrose Tirinus.—This he has often inculcated. Vatab. Job 39:35. Amos (1:3) uses three and four, in the same sense. Calmet.
Verse 13. Works. We must therefore refrain from every injustice. Bible.—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 ( Worthington.) to execute his decrees. Luther, followed by the Dutch, translates, “as he merits;” to which expression, concerning the just, Amama objects. Bible.