Geneva Study Bible < I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. {a} The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
(a) He uses this diversity of names to show that as the wicked have many means to hurt, so God has many ways to help. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be {b} praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
(b) For no one can obtain their request from God if they do not join his glory with their petition. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. {c} The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
(c) He speaks of the dangers and malice of his enemies from which God had delivered him. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. {d} Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
(d) A description of the wrath of God against his enemies, after he had heard his prayer. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and {e} fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
(e) He shows how horrible God's judgments will be to the wicked. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and {f} darkness was under his feet.
(f) Darkness signifies the wrath of God as the clear light signifies God's favour. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. And he rode upon a {g} cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
(g) This is described at large in Ps 104:1-35. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. He made darkness his {h} secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
(h) As a king angry with the people, will not show himself to them. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave {i} his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
(i) Thunders, lightnings and hail. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Yea, he sent out {k} his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
(k) His lightening. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the {l} foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
(l) That is, the deep bottoms were seen when the Red sea was divided. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many {m} waters.
(m) Out of many great dangers. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. He delivered me from my {n} strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were {o} too strong for me.
(n) That is, Saul. (o) Therefore God sent me help. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. He brought me forth also into a large place; {p} he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
(p) The cause of God's deliverance is his favour and love for us. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. The LORD rewarded me according to my {q} righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
(q) David was sure of his righteous cause and good behaviour toward Saul and his enemies and therefore was assured of God's favour and deliverance. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his {r} statutes from me.
(r) For all his dangers he exercised himself in the law of God. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine {f} iniquity.
(f) I neither gave place to their wicked temptations nor to my own desires. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the {t} merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
(t) Here he speaks of God according to our capacity, who shows mercy to his and punishes the wicked, as is also said in Le 26:21,24. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt {u} bring down high looks.
(u) When their sin is come to the full measure. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. For by thee I have {x} run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
(x) He attributes it to God that he both got the victory in the field and also destroyed the cities of his enemies. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. As for God, his way is perfect: the {y} word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
(y) No matter how great or many the dangers may be, yet God's promise must take effect. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my {z} way perfect.
(z) He gives good success to all my enterprises. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my {a} high places.
(a) As towers and forts, which he took out of the hands of God's enemies. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast also given me the {b} shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy {c} gentleness hath made me great.
(b) To defend me from dangers. (c) He attributed the beginning, continuance and increase in well doing only to God's favour. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. {d} I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
(d) David declares that he did nothing besides his calling, but was stirred up by God's Spirit to execute his judgments. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. Thou hast also {e} given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
(e) You have given them to my hands to be slain. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. They {f} cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
(f) They who reject the cry of the afflicted, God will also reject them when they cry for help, for either pain or fear causes those hypocrites to cry. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the {g} heathen: a people whom I have not {h} known shall serve me.
(g) Who dwell round about me. (h) The kingdom of Christ is prefigured in David's kingdom, who by the preaching of his word brings all to his subjection. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall {i} submit themselves unto me.
(i) Or lie: signifying a subjection constrained and not voluntary. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The strangers shall {k} fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
(k) Fear will cause them to be afraid and come forth from their secret holes and holds to seek pardon. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the {l} violent man.
(l) That is, Saul who out of malice persecuted him. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Therefore will {m} I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
(m) This prophecy belongs to the kingdom of Christ and calling of the Gentiles, as in Ro 15:9. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his {n} seed for evermore. (n) This did not properly belong to Solomon, but to Jesus Christ. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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