Psalms
5:1-12. Upon Nehiloth--flutes or wind instruments. The writer begs to
be heard, on the ground of God's regard for His covenant-people and true
worshippers as contrasted with His holy hatred to the wicked. He prays for
divine guidance, on account of his watchful, malignant, and deceitful enemies;
and for their destruction as being also God's enemies. At the same time he
expresses his confidence that God will extend aid to His people.
1. meditation--moanings of that half-uttered form to which deep
feeling gives rise--groanings, as in Romans
8:26,27.
2. Hearken--incline the ear (Psalms
10:17; compare Psalms
61:2)--give close attention. my cry--that is, for help (Psalms
61:2, Jeremiah
8:19). my King--thus by covenant relation interested in my cause.
3. direct--literally, "set in order," as the showbread was
placed or set in order (Exodus
40:23).
4. For, &c.--God only regards sincere worshippers. evil--or, "the evil man." dwell--lodge, remain under protection.
5. foolish--vainglorious and insolent. iniquity--especially such as denotes a negation, or defect, that is, of
moral principle.
6. leasing--a lie. the bloody . . . man--literally, "man of
blood"--murderer.
7. But--as in Psalms
2:6, literally, "and." house--(1 Chronicles
9:23), the tabernacle. temple--literally, "palace," applied to God's residence, the
Holy of Holies (1 Samuel
3:3, 2 Samuel
22:7); the inner part of the tabernacle. toward--not in; the high priest alone was allowed to enter.
8. enemies--literally, "watchers" (Psalms
27:11), hence special need of guidance. in thy righteousness--an attribute implying faithfulness in promises as
well as threatenings. make thy way straight--that is, make the way of providence plain.
9. The wicked are not reliable because by nature they are full of
wickedness, or literally, "wickednesses," of every kind (Romans
8:7). sepulchre--a dwelling-place of corruption, emitting moral putridness. flatter--or, "make smooth." their tongue--speaks deceitfully.
10. Destroy--or, "condemn" them to destruction as guilty.
11. defendest--(compare Margin). love thy name--Thy manifested perfections (Psalms
9:10).
12. with favour--or, "acceptance," alluding to the favor
shown to an acceptable offering and worshipper (Leviticus
7:18, 19:7). shield--(compare Psalms
3:3).
Psalm 5 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
1. meditation--moanings of that half-uttered form to which deep feeling gives rise--groanings, as in Romans 8:26,27.
2. Hearken--incline the ear (Psalms 10:17; compare Psalms 61:2)--give close attention.
my cry--that is, for help (Psalms 61:2, Jeremiah 8:19).
my King--thus by covenant relation interested in my cause.
3. direct--literally, "set in order," as the showbread was placed or set in order (Exodus 40:23).
4. For, &c.--God only regards sincere worshippers.
evil--or, "the evil man."
dwell--lodge, remain under protection.
5. foolish--vainglorious and insolent.
iniquity--especially such as denotes a negation, or defect, that is, of moral principle.
6. leasing--a lie.
the bloody . . . man--literally, "man of blood"--murderer.
7. But--as in Psalms 2:6, literally, "and."
house--(1 Chronicles 9:23), the tabernacle.
temple--literally, "palace," applied to God's residence, the Holy of Holies (1 Samuel 3:3, 2 Samuel 22:7); the inner part of the tabernacle.
toward--not in; the high priest alone was allowed to enter.
8. enemies--literally, "watchers" (Psalms 27:11), hence special need of guidance.
in thy righteousness--an attribute implying faithfulness in promises as well as threatenings.
make thy way straight--that is, make the way of providence plain.
9. The wicked are not reliable because by nature they are full of wickedness, or literally, "wickednesses," of every kind (Romans 8:7).
sepulchre--a dwelling-place of corruption, emitting moral putridness.
flatter--or, "make smooth."
their tongue--speaks deceitfully.
10. Destroy--or, "condemn" them to destruction as guilty.
11. defendest--(compare Margin).
love thy name--Thy manifested perfections (Psalms 9:10).
12. with favour--or, "acceptance," alluding to the favor shown to an acceptable offering and worshipper (Leviticus 7:18, 19:7).
shield--(compare Psalms 3:3).