| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In thee, Jehovah, do I trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. |
In thy righteousness – Pray, pleading God's justice. R5381:1*
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| 2 Incline thine ear to me, deliver me speedily; be a strong rock to me, a house of defence to save me. |
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| 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; and, for thy name's sake, thou wilt lead me and guide me. |
For thy name's sake – For the sake of thy work and the share that I may have in it. R3062:4
Pray, pleading God's glory. R5380:6*, R5381:1*
Lead me, and guide me – Every spiritual Israelite must recognize the leadership of the Lord. R3061:6
And never attempt any undertaking, either temporal or spiritual, without seeking to note the will of the Lord concerning it. R4859:1, R3062:1
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| 4 Draw me out of the net that they have hidden for me; for thou art my strength. |
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| 5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, Jehovah, thou *God of truth. |
Into thine hand – Quoted by Jesus on the cross. (Luke 23:46) R2474:6
Hoping to receive it again by a resurrection. E315; R2475:4
Commit my spirit – Ruach, spirit of life or vital energy. E315
The ransom-price was thus placed into the hands of the Father, giving Jesus the right to all those things which he intends to bestow upon the whole world of mankind. R4637:5
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| 6 I have hated them that observe lying vanities; and as for me, I have confided in Jehovah. |
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| 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy loving-kindness, for thou hast seen mine affliction; thou hast known the troubles of my soul, |
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| 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large place. |
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| 9 Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am in trouble: mine eye wasteth away with vexation, my soul and my belly. |
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| 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength faileth through mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted. |
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| 11 More than to all mine oppressors, I am become exceedingly a reproach, even to my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that see me without flee from me. |
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| 12 I am forgotten in their heart as a dead man; I am become like a broken vessel. |
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| 13 For I have heard the slander of many--terror on every side--when they take counsel together against me: they plot to take away my life. |
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| 14 But I confided in thee, Jehovah; I said, thou art my God. |
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| 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from my persecutors. |
Times are in thy hand – All the affairs of life, temporal and spiritual, of God's people. R4527:3, R4533:6
We wish to have the Lord's will done in respect to the time of our change, and in respect to all we enjoy together daily. R5728:5
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| 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy loving-kindness. |
For thy mercies' sake – Pray, trusting God's love and mercy. R5380:5*
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| 17 Jehovah, let me not be ashamed; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, let them be silent in Sheol. |
Silent in the grave – Sheol, oblivion, death, not torment. E363; HG121:3
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| 18 Let the lying lips become dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. |
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| 19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men! |
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| 20 Thou keepest them concealed in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracies of man; thou hidest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. |
Strife of tongues – Confusion of human traditions. R1788:2
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| 21 Blessed be Jehovah; for he hath shewn me wondrously his loving-kindness in a strong city. |
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| 22 As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. |
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| 23 Love Jehovah, all ye his saints. Jehovah preserveth the faithful, and plentifully requiteth the proud doer. |
Preserveth the faithful – God is both able and willing to keep that which we have committed to his keeping, but we are not to expect miraculous help except when necessary. R2021:2
By being all gathered through death to glory before the terrible severity of the world's trouble will be permitted to come. R2020:4
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| 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all ye that hope in Jehovah. |
Be of good courage – Courage is necessary to fight down the tendency to sin. R5329:6
We are to resign our earthly interests to our Heavenly Father and to leave them under his supervision. If we allow the Adversary to beat our courage down, he will soon put us out of the battle entirely. R5329:3
Strong courage, godly courage, from right principles, based on faith in the Lord which says to us, do your duty whatever may be the Lord's will for you. R5330:1
Thus demonstrating our faith in the Lord. R5330:4
Strengthen your heart – Our faith is the basis of both our strength and our peace. R4817:6
That hope – The Lord will supervise our affairs and we are to trust in him. R5329:3
The Christian's secret of a happy life is in his knowing and trusting the Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Bridegroom. R2083:5
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