Geneva Study Bible <> Bow down {a} thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
(a) David, when persecuted by Saul, prayed this way, leaving the same to the Church as a monument, how to seek relief against their miseries. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Preserve my soul; for I am {b} holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
(b) I am not an enemy to them, but I pity them even though they are cruel to me. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I {c} cry unto thee daily.
(c) Which was a fair token that he believed that God would deliver him. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. For thou, Lord, art good, and {d} ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
(d) He confesses that God is good to all but only merciful to poor sinners. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and {e} attend to the voice of my supplications.
(e) By crying and calling continually he shows how we must not be weary, even though God does not immediately grant our request but that we must earnestly and often call on him. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither {f} are there any works like unto thy works.
(f) He condemns all idols as they can do nothing to declare that they are gods. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and {g} worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
(g) This proves that David prayed in the Name of Christ the Messiah of whose kingdom he here prophecies. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. {h} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
(h) He confesses himself ignorant till God has taught him, and his heart variable and separate from God, till God join it to him, and confirm it in his obedience. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from {i} the lowest hell.
(i) That is, from most great danger of death: out of which none but the almighty hand of God could deliver him. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have {k} sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
(k) He shows that there can be no moderation or equity where proud tyrants reign, and that the lack of God's fear is as a privilege to all vice and cruelty. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the {l} son of thine handmaid.
(l) He boasts not of his own virtues, but confesses that God of his free goodness has always been merciful to him, and given him power against his enemies, as to one of his own household. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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