I. PRAYER FOR RESCUE (1-5). SUPPLICATION. The Psalmist's Deliverance. 1. Request (1-2). Against Personal Enemies. 2. Reasons (3-4a). 3. Request (4b-5). Against National Enemies. Selah. II. PORTRAYAL OF ENEMIES (6-7). SIMILE: Like Prowling and Howling Dogs. "At evening they return"-The Threatening Foes. ill. PORTENT OF DEFEAT (8). SCORN. REFRAIN. Profession of Trust (9). "God my High Tower." "I will watch unto Thee." IV. PROSPECT OF TRIUMPH (10). SATISFACTION. (Central Thought). V. PRAYER FOR RETRIBUTION (n-13). SUPPLICATION. The Persecutors' Destruction. I. Request (n). 2. Reasons (12). 3. Request (13). Selah. VI. PORTRAYAL OF ENEMIES (14-15). SIMILE. Like Prowling and Howling Dogs. "At evening let them retum." The Thwarted Foes. VII. PRAISE FOR DELIVERANCE (16-17). SONG. 1. Rendition (a). 2. Reason (b ). REFRAIN. Profession of Trust (17). "God my High Tower." "I will sing unto Thee." SUPERSCRIPT.-Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician; relating to Shushan Eduth (=Lily of Testimony).
DISCLOSURES CONCERNING THE ENEMY REPRO.BATE PRIMARY AssoCIATION.-Clue to writer and occasion is in the title, seer Sam. xix. 11-18. "Watched" (title) s.H.w. r Sam. xix. II. Subscript indicates that the psalm was to be used in the temple liturgy at the spring festivals. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-This is clearly shown by verse 5. Here are prayer for and prediction of judgment upon the nations gathered against the city (Jerusalem) in a final effort to exterminate the people of God, c£ Zech. xiv. The godly in Israel recognise that the presence and removal of Gentile enemies are signs respectively of divine anger and its passing away. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Despite danger and difficulty our doubts may be dispelled. God scÊtters those who gather against the saints (3, rr). The ungodly often charge the righteous with the very sin of which they themselves are guilty, I Sam. xxii. 8, 13 with 3, 5. In great need be bold enough to claim the great resources of God (5), c£ Heb. iv. 16. What a challenge to the living God? (7c). It is not only wicked but absurd to plo! against Him (8). Those at whom He laughs are irretrievably lost ( 8). Our enemies may be strong (3), but God is our strength (9). Whoso has God as his "high tower" is placed far above the reach of the enemy's rage (9). A better example of the bitter fruit of sin may be furnished by the lives of the wicked than by their deaths (u). Men are apt to forget God's lessons ( I 1). It is a solemn thought that G?d often allows the wicked to live on for a time that His people the better may see His righteous dealing in the present life ( 1 I) ; c£ Exod. ix. r 6. God makes men's own sin their punishment; the statement (6), the sentence (14); cf. Jer. ii. 19. The foes may howl at night (14), bufthe saint's "Hallelujah" is to be heard in the morning (16). "Beware of the dogs," c£ (14) with Phil. iii. 2 R.V. VERSE NOTES 3. "For, lo, strong ones have laid wait for my life, they gather .•. "; "trans gression," i.e. the sin of treachery of which he had been falsdy accused, 1 Sam. xxiv. II. 4. "prepare," or station; "for no iniquity (of mine) ... ," i.e. the hostility was unjust and unprovoked; hr. "Arouse Thee to meet me ... " 5. Br. "Yea, do Thou, 0 Jehovah of Hosts, the Eloah of Israel"; (b) Not the psalmist, but the adversary and his many abettors were the real transressors, c£ xxv. 3; (c) "Show not grace to any treacherous workers of iniquity,' c£ lvii. r; ''"nations," here introduced with prophetic significance.
. 6 .. EnemËÌ c?mpared to a pacÍ of half-wild, savage and hungry dogs, such as still infest citles m the East; cf xxu. 16, 20. 8. C£ ii. 4. 9. Br. "O my strength, unto Thee will I watch; For God is my High Tower, the God of my loving-kindness," so 17. David's enemies watch the house (see title), but he will watch for God's help. " H hall " £ · ontlnue, e s come to meet me ... , c .1v. 3; enermes, see margm; cf. liv. 7. n-13. Three reasons are given for this prayer: (a) that the sin of the enemy migbt be punished (12); (b) that the sovereignty of God might be recognised (13); (c) that the soul of the saint might be exercised (u). u. (a) re£ to the leaders who will be made a living example, cf Rev. xix. 20; (b) refers to their many followers. 13. Br." ... let men know ... ," c£ I Sam. xvii. 46. 14. ff. or, "And though they return at evening, howl like dogs ... though they wander .. .. Yet as for me I ... ";"tarry," or (with LXX) whine. 17. "sing praises "= psalm (as verb) or, make melody.
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