| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 A Psalm, by David. |
|
| O Jehovah, I have called Thee, haste to me, Give ear [to] my voice when I call to Thee. |
|
| 2 My prayer is prepared incense before Thee, The lifting up of my hands the evening present. |
As incense – The incense of old, which typified the prayers of saints, was composed of a rare mixture which only the priests were allowed to make. R5692:5
The prayers of God's people rise up before him as a sweet perfume. R5692:5
|
| 3 Set, O Jehovah, a watch for my mouth, Watch Thou over the door of my lips. |
Keep – If the prayer be sincere, the petitioner will do all in his power in this direction while seeking divine aid. R3739:6
The door of my lips – Whatever difficulty we have through our lips needs correction at our hearts. R3739:6
Help me to be secretive at the proper time. R3971:5
What a fearful responsibility attaches to the tongue that wags in an evil, or even in a flippant, way, which is also dishonoring to God. R1938:2
|
| 4 Incline not my heart to an evil thing, To do habitually actions in wickedness, With men working iniquity, Yea, I eat not of their pleasant things. |
To any evil thing – Assist me in my determination of opposition to all these things (dainties of this world). R5692:6
|
| 5 The righteous doth beat me [in] kindness. And doth reprove me, Oil of the head my head disalloweth not, For still my prayer [is] about their vexations. |
Let the righteous – Primarily the Lord Jesus; also right-intentioned, right-willed persons, manifesting in their conduct the spirit of righteousness. R4977:2
Smite me – Those in fellowship with God will take no offense if reproved by the righteous. R5692:6
A kindness – We should be glad to be set right if we are wrong, and receive it as of the Lord. R4977:2
Let him – A proper reproof should not be injurious, but uplifting and refreshing. R4977:2
Reprove me – Administering reproof to another should be done only after careful consideration and prayer. R4977:3
An excellent oil – Such as a guest received from his host in ancient time. R5692:6
Shall not break – Neither our heads nor our hearts are broken by Scriptural reproofs. R5693:1
"Let not my head refuse it." (American Revision) R5693:1
Reproof should not be disastrous, not crushing. R4977:3
In their calamities – Rendered "evil" in "I create evil." (Isa. 45:7) A125
"Even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue. " (American Revision) R5693:1
|
| 6 Their judges have been released by the sides of a rock, And they have heard my sayings, For they have been pleasant. |
|
| 7 As one tilling and ripping up in the land, Have our bones been scattered at the command of Saul. |
At the grave's – Sheol, oblivion. E366
|
| 8 But to Thee, O Jehovah, my Lord, [are] mine eyes, In Thee I have trusted, Make not bare my soul. |
|
| 9 Keep me from the gin they laid for me, Even snares of workers of iniquity. |
From the snares – But the world will be ensnared in the great time of trouble. R5693:5
|
| 10 The wicked fall in their nets together, till I pass over! |
Let the wicked fall – Satan and his servants will be overwhelmed in the great time of trouble approaching, in a manner not expected. R5693:5
|