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Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.
Verse 1. David. It alludes to some of his persecutions, particularly to that of Absalom, as well as to that of the Church, and of Jesus Christ. Bede explains it of Onias: who, being excluded from the high priesthood, retired into Egypt, and built the temple of Onion. 2 Maccabees 13. Calmet.
Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them.
Verse 3. Hear me. He repeats the same petition four times, ( Bible.) to testify his fervour, and humility. Sirach 25:21.—Exercise, among the wicked, (Saint Augustine) or while I consider the sufferings of Christ. Euseb.—David was perplexed what course to take, when he first heard of his son’s revolt. Our Saviour was sorrowful unto death. Matthew 26:37. Calmet.—This life is a warfare. Worthington.—Λδολεσχια. Hebrew sichi, denotes serious ( Bible.) meditation. Genesis 24:63. Menochius.
Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.
Verse 4. Upon me. When a person has fallen into distress, the world is ever ready to attribute it it some fault. Absalom accused his father of neglecting to judge, &chapter 2 Kennicott. 15:2. The Jews calumniated and sought the death of Christ, whose agony in the garden is well described, (verse 5) as well as the consternation of David, at the sight of such a general revolt, ( Calmet.) which almost overwhelmed him. Worthington.
He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth.
Verse 5. Troubled, like a woman in labour, ( Menochius.) as yachil implies, ( Calmet.) in Hiphel. Menochius.
With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you. I will give thanks to your name, LORD, for it is good.
For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.
Verse 7. Dove, which flies swiftly. He now adored the judgments of God, which chastised him, as he had threatened; (2 Kennicott. 12:11) though, while innocent, he had rejected a similar proposal. Psalms 10:1. The event shewed, that he acted wisely in retiring beyond the Jordan. Calmet.—O that I could fly, and in the simplicity of the dove, be removed from these afflictions! Worthington.—As I could not go to heaven, I retired into the wilderness. Menochius.