| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice in my plaint; preserve my life from fear of the enemy: |
|
| 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, from the tumultuous crowd of the workers of iniquity, |
|
| 3 Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a bitter word; |
Shoot their arrows – Bitter words of the opponents of the truth. "The arrow that flieth by day." (Psa. 91:5) R3332:1; SM51:T
Receiving no arrows again in return from those who are seeking to serve the Lord. R4112:5
Even bitter words – The method of persecution at the present time. SM217:2
May hurt our flesh, but cannot do us harm. CR314:3
Possibly the extent of our sufferings may be the wounding of our feelings. R3002:4
Slanders and misrepresentations of the faithful. R2450:3, R2560:5, R5288:5; CR351:4*; HG558:1
|
| 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. |
Shoot in secret – Injure the righteous. SM50:3
At the perfect – All identified with the work in a public way. R5365:3
|
| 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter, they concert to hide snares; they say, Who will see them? |
|
| 6 They devise iniquities: We have it ready, the plan is diligently sought out. And each one's inward thought and heart is deep. |
|
| 7 But God will shoot an arrow at them: suddenly are they wounded; |
|
| 8 By their own tongue they are made to fall over one another: all that see them shall flee away. |
|
| 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare God's doing; and they shall wisely consider his work. |
|
| 10 The righteous shall rejoice in Jehovah, and trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. |
|