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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Psalm 109 Pulpit Commentary</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/psalms/109.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/psalms/109-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">Pulpit Commentary</a> > Psalm 109</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../psalms/108.htm" title="Psalm 108">◄</a> Psalm 109 <a href="../psalms/110.htm" title="Psalm 110">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Pulpit Commentary</div><div class="chap"><div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-1.htm">Psalm 109:1</a></div><div class="verse"><<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-5.</span> - The initial prayer and complaint. The prayer occupies one verse only (ver. 1); the complaint four verses (vers. 2-5). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/28-1.htm">Psalm 28:1</a>; <a href="/psalms/35-22.htm">Psalm 35:22</a>; <a href="/psalms/39-12.htm">Psalm 39:12</a>). If God makes no sign when men arc grievously persecuted, he seems to be indifferent to their sufferings. Surely he will not thus treat one who praises him continually (<a href="/psalms/22-26.htm">Psalm 22:26</a>; <a href="/psalms/71-6.htm">Psalm 71:6</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-2.htm">Psalm 109:2</a></div><div class="verse">For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful</span>; literally, <span class="accented">of deceit - the</span> abstract for the concrete. Are opened against me; literally, <span class="accented">hare they opened upon me</span> (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). <span class="cmt_word">They have spoken against ms with a lying tongue</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/27-12.htm">Psalm 27:12</a>; <a href="/psalms/35-11.htm">Psalm 35:11</a>). Calumny and misrepresentation are ever the portion of the children of God. David was calumniated by Saul (<a href="/1_samuel/22-7.htm">1 Samuel 22:7-13</a>), by Absalom (<a href="/2_samuel/15-3.htm">2 Samuel 15:3, 4</a>), by Shimei (<a href="/2_samuel/16-8.htm">2 Samuel 16:8</a>), and others. One more perfect than David was even more calumniated (<a href="/matthew/11-19.htm">Matthew 11:19</a>; <a href="/matthew/12-24.htm">Matthew 12:24</a>; <a href="/matthew/26-61.htm">Matthew 26:61</a>; <a href="/luke/23-2.htm">Luke 23:2</a>, etc.). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-3.htm">Psalm 109:3</a></div><div class="verse">They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They compassed me about also with words of hatred</span>. The hatred of the wicked for the good is a plain fact of history, and quite indisputable. "Words of hatred" are less patent, since they are often restrained from prudential considerations. But sometimes free vent is given to them (see <a href="/2_samuel/16-5.htm">2 Samuel 16:5-8</a>). <span class="cmt_word">And fought against me without a cause</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/35-7.htm">Psalm 35:7, 19</a>; <a href="/psalms/69-4.htm">Psalm 69:4</a>; <a href="/psalms/119-161.htm">Psalm 119:161</a>). Saul's hatred towards David was markedly of this character - un-provoked by either act or word from its object. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-4.htm">Psalm 109:4</a></div><div class="verse">For my love they are my adversaries: but I <i>give myself unto</i> prayer.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For my love they are my adversaries</span>. The tenderness and kindness of the good towards wicked men does not soften them. Rather it provokes them to greater hostility. This was seen clearly in the instance of Saul. <span class="cmt_word">But I give myself unto prayer</span>; literally, <span class="accented">but I prayer</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "but I am wholly prayer," "I do nothing during their attacks on me but pray for them." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-5.htm">Psalm 109:5</a></div><div class="verse">And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And they have rewarded ms evil for good, and hatred for my love</span>; or, "thus they rewarded me." The verse is a corollary from what has gone before, not anything additional. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-6.htm">Psalm 109:6</a></div><div class="verse">Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 6-15.</span> - The imprecatory portion of the psalm now begins. It is no doubt true to say, with Tholuck, that "no passion is discernible in the imprecations, dreadful as they are." Clearly the writer is not moved by personal feelings of hostility, but by a spirit of justice, and an intense abhorrence of sin. He delivers a calm judicial sentence. Still, the spirit of Christian love must ever shrink from such utterances, which belong to an earlier and less perfect dispensation (comp. <a href="/luke/9-51.htm">Luke 9:51-56</a>). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Set thou a wicked man over him</span>; <span class="accented">i.e. to</span> judge him (see ver. 7). A persecutor deserves to be himself persecuted, an oppressor to be himself oppressed. "Nec lex justior ulla est, Quam necis artifices arte periresua." <span class="cmt_word">And let Satan stand at his right hand</span>; rather, <span class="accented">an adversary</span>, or an <span class="accented">accuser.</span> In courts of justice the accuser stood at the accused person's right hand. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-7.htm">Psalm 109:7</a></div><div class="verse">When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">When he shall be judged, let him be condemned</span>; literally, <span class="accented">let him go forth condemned</span>; Let him quit the court under sentence. <span class="cmt_word">And let his prayer become sin.</span> The most terrible of all the imprecations. "Let him even be unable to pray to God acceptably," and so let any prayer that he offers when he is brought low be an additional sin (comp. <a href="/proverbs/15-8.htm">Proverbs 15:8</a>; <a href="/proverbs/28-9.htm">Proverbs 28:9</a>; <a href="/isaiah/1-12.htm">Isaiah 1:12-15</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-8.htm">Psalm 109:8</a></div><div class="verse">Let his days be few; <i>and</i> let another take his office.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let his days be few</span>. There were Divine promises that "bloodthirsty and deceitful men" should not "live out half their days," which might naturally be regarded as justifying this wish (see <a href="/psalms/55-23.htm">Psalm 55:23</a>; <a href="/proverbs/10-27.htm">Proverbs 10:27</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-17.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:17</a>). <span class="cmt_word">And let another take his office</span>. <span class="greek">Τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν</span> <span class="greek">αὐτοῦ</span>, LXX. Applied by St. Peter to Judas (<a href="/acts/1-20.htm">Acts 1:20</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-9.htm">Psalm 109:9</a></div><div class="verse">Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow</span>. Necessary consequences of his own condemnation to death. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-10.htm">Psalm 109:10</a></div><div class="verse">Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek <i>their bread</i> also out of their desolate places.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg</span>. If it be just that the sins of the fathers be visited upon the children, the psalmist may be regarded as justified in this wish. Still, it is not one that a Christian will readily echo. <span class="cmt_word">Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.</span> Professor Cheyne corrects <span class="hebrew">דָרְשׁוּ</span> into <span class="hebrew">לֺגּדְשׁוּ</span>, and translates, "Let them be driven from their desolate houses." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-11.htm">Psalm 109:11</a></div><div class="verse">Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let the extortioner catch all that he hath</span>; rather, <span class="accented">the creditor</span>, or the <span class="accented">usurer</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the man from whom he has borrowed money. <span class="cmt_word">And let the strangers</span> (rather, <span class="accented">let foreigners</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>spoil his labor</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> plunder his lands, carry off his crops, and leave him destitute. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-12.htm">Psalm 109:12</a></div><div class="verse">Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let there be none to extend</span> (literally, <span class="accented">continue</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>mercy unto him.</span> In his need, let none of his neighbors continue to show him mercy and loving-kindness. Let them stand aloof, and remain passive, while punishment overtakes him. <span class="cmt_word">Neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.</span> Let them too be suffered to endure the woes which come naturally upon them (see ver. 10) through their father's fault, without any one thinking it necessary, because they arc fatherless, to show them favor. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-13.htm">Psalm 109:13</a></div><div class="verse">Let his posterity be cut off; <i>and</i> in the generation following let their name be blotted out.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let his posterity be cut off.</span> If he have children; let them die without offspring; literally, <span class="accented">let them be for extinction. <span class="cmt_word"></span>And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.</span> This would be the natural result if the preceding wish were accomplished. The family having come to an end, their very name would be soon forgotten (comp. <a href="/job/18-18.htm">Job 18:18</a>; <a href="/psalms/37-28.htm">Psalm 37:28</a>; <a href="/proverbs/10-7.htm">Proverbs 10:7</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-14.htm">Psalm 109:14</a></div><div class="verse">Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord.</span> Let the threatening of <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5</a> take effect in his case, and the sins of his forefathers be remembered by God, and visited upon him. <span class="cmt_word">And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> erased from God's remembrance. Let it also be visited on him, as Jezebel's was on her children. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-15.htm">Psalm 109:15</a></div><div class="verse">Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let them be before the Lord continually</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> let these sins be present to the mind of God constantly, that he may visit for them constantly, even to the bitter end; and so may cut off the memory of them (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> of the original sinners) from the earth (comp. ver. 13). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-16.htm">Psalm 109:16</a></div><div class="verse">Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 16-20.</span> - A portraiture of the wicked man, who was David's chief adversary at the time, is now given, in explanation, and perhaps in justification, of the numerous and severe anathemas. He was merciless (ver. 16), a persecutor of the poor (ver. 16), given to cursing (vers. 17, 18), and one who spoke evil against the innocent (ver. 20). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Because that he remembered not to show mercy</span>. Saul certainly was a persecutor of this kind - implacable; one whom compassion never touched; who, after he had once become David's enemy, never under any circumstances showed him mercy. But otherwise the description scarcely seems to point to Saul. <span class="cmt_word">But persecuted the poor and needy man</span> (see <a href="/1_samuel/18-10.htm">1 Samuel 18:10</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/19-1.htm">1 Samuel 19:1, 10, 11</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/20-31.htm">1 Samuel 20:31</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/23-8.htm">1 Samuel 23:8, 14, 25</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/24-2.htm">1 Samuel 24:2</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/26-2.htm">1 Samuel 26:2-20</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/27-1.htm">1 Samuel 27:1</a>, etc.). <span class="cmt_word">That he might even slay the broken in heart</span>; literally, <span class="accented">and the broken in heart</span> (or, yea, <span class="accented">the broken in heart</span>) <span class="accented">to slay him.</span> It was certainly Saul's object to slay David (<a href="/1_samuel/18-11.htm">1 Samuel 18:11</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/19-1.htm">1 Samuel 19:1, 10</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/20-1.htm">1 Samuel 20:1</a>, etc.). It was probably also Ahithophel's (<a href="/2_samuel/17-2.htm">2 Samuel 17:2</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-17.htm">Psalm 109:17</a></div><div class="verse">As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him</span>; rather, <span class="accented">so it came upon him</span> (Revised Version), or <span class="accented">so it shall come upon him</span> (LXX., Cheyne). The one of David's enemies who "loved cursing" most was Shimei (<a href="/2_samuel/16-5.htm">2 Samuel 16:5-12</a>). <span class="cmt_word">As he de lighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him</span>; rather, <span class="accented">so it was</span>, or <span class="accented">so it will be</span>, far from him. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-18.htm">Psalm 109:18</a></div><div class="verse">As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/10-7.htm">Psalm 10:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/59-12.htm">Psalm 59:12</a>; <a href="/psalms/62-4.htm">Psalm 62:4</a>). Extreme malevolence vents itself in curses, which tend to become frequent, and, so to speak, habitual. <span class="cmt_word">So let it come</span>; rather, <span class="accented">so it cams</span>, or <span class="accented">so it will come. <span class="cmt_word"></span>Into his bowels like water</span>. Dr. Kay sees here an allusion to the "water of cursing" which was drunk by the woman whose husband taxed her with unfaithfulness (<a href="/numbers/5-22.htm">Numbers 5:22</a>); and so also Hengstenberg. But this is doubtful. Perhaps the mere penetrative power of water is alluded to. See the next clause. <span class="cmt_word">And like oil into his bones.</span> The oil, wherewith it was usual to anoint the frame, was believed to penetrate, not only into the tissues, but into the very bones and marrow. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-19.htm">Psalm 109:19</a></div><div class="verse">Let it be unto him as the garment <i>which</i> covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him</span>. Let it cling to him both outwardly and inwardly - inwardly, as the penetrating oil; outwardly, as the everyday dress. <span class="cmt_word">And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.</span> The "girdle" or "waistcloth" was even more inseparable from the wearer than his <span class="accented">beged</span>, his "cloak" or "wrap." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-20.htm">Psalm 109:20</a></div><div class="verse"><i>Let</i> this <i>be</i> the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord</span>; rather, <span class="accented">this is the reward</span>, or <span class="accented">the wages.</span> This is what their conduct has <span class="accented">earned</span>, and what they have received, or assuredly will receive. <span class="cmt_word">And of them that speak evil against my soul</span> (see above, ver. 2). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-21.htm">Psalm 109:21</a></div><div class="verse">But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy <i>is</i> good, deliver thou me.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 21-29.</span> - The psalmist now turns to God in prolonged prayer, setting forth his needs (vers. 22-25), and entreating for help (ver. 26), deliverance (ver. 21), blessing (ver. 28), and triumph over his enemies (ver. 29). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">But do thou for me</span>; or, "deal thou with me" (see the Revised Version). <span class="cmt_word">O God the Lord</span>; literally, <span class="accented">Jehovah the Lord</span>, as in <a href="/psalms/68-20.htm">Psalm 68:20</a>; <a href="/psalms/140-7.htm">Psalm 140:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/141-8.htm">Psalm 141:8</a>; <a href="/habakkuk/3-19.htm">Habakkuk 3:19</a>. <span class="cmt_word">For thy Name's sake</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> suitably to thy Name - according to thy historically manifested attributes. Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. A variant echo of the preceding clause (comp. <a href="/psalms/69-16.htm">Psalm 69:16</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-22.htm">Psalm 109:22</a></div><div class="verse">For I <i>am</i> poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 22.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For I am poor and needy</span> (comp. ver. 16). David was "poor and needy" both when hunted upon the mountains by Saul, and when forced to flee from Absalom. <span class="cmt_word">And my heart is wounded within me</span>. The wound to David's heart was, on the former occasion, from the malignity of Saul; on the latter, especially from the desertion of his "own familiar friend whom he trusted." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-23.htm">Psalm 109:23</a></div><div class="verse">I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I am gone like the shadow when it declineth</span>; rather, <span class="accented">lille a shodow</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/102-11.htm">Psalm 102:11</a>). When shadows "decline," they are just about to cease and disappear. <span class="cmt_word">I am tossed up and down as the locust</span>; or, "I am carried away" - swept off, <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, or just ready to be swept off, from the face of the earth (see <a href="/exodus/10-19.htm">Exodus 10:19</a>; <a href="/joel/2-20.htm">Joel 2:20</a>; <a href="/nahum/3-17.htm">Nahum 3:17</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-24.htm">Psalm 109:24</a></div><div class="verse">My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">My knees are weak through fasting.</span> I have brought myself down to extreme weakness by penitential fasting for my sins (comp. <a href="/psalms/35-13.htm">Psalm 35:13</a>; <a href="/psalms/69-10.htm">Psalm 69:10</a>). <span class="cmt_word">And my flesh faileth of fatness</span>; literally, of <span class="accented">oil.</span> In my state of mourning and penitence I have abstained from anointing myself (<a href="/2_samuel/14-2.htm">2 Samuel 14:2</a>), which has still further weakened me. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-25.htm">Psalm 109:25</a></div><div class="verse">I became also a reproach unto them: <i>when</i> they looked upon me they shaked their heads.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 25.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I became</span> (rather, <span class="accented">am become</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>also a reproach unto them</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> to my enemies. I am an object of their reproach and scorn. <span class="cmt_word">When they looked upon me they shaked their heads.</span> In derision (comp. <a href="/psalms/22-7.htm">Psalm 22:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/44-14.htm">Psalm 44:14</a>; <a href="/matthew/27-39.htm">Matthew 27:39</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-26.htm">Psalm 109:26</a></div><div class="verse">Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 26.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Help me, O Lord my God</span>. Connect with ver. 21. <span class="cmt_word">O save me according to thy mercy</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "as thou art wont to show mercy, show mercy now to me." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-27.htm">Psalm 109:27</a></div><div class="verse">That they may know that this <i>is</i> thy hand; <i>that</i> thou, LORD, hast done it.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">That they may know that this is thy hand</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/59-13.htm">Psalm 59:13</a>). "Deliver me," prays the psalmist, "in some signal way, so that my enemies may be forced to recognize thy hand in my deliverance, and to confess that <span class="cmt_word">thou, Lord, hast done it</span>." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-28.htm">Psalm 109:28</a></div><div class="verse">Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let them curse, but bless thou</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "Let them curse, if they will. What matters it? Provided only that thou blessest." <span class="cmt_word">When they arise.</span> When they attempt to put their malevolent designs in act. <span class="cmt_word">Let them be ashamed</span>; or, "they shall be ashamed" (Revised Version); <span class="accented">i.e.</span> they shall fail so utterly, that they shall be covered with shame. <span class="cmt_word">But let thy servant rejoice</span>; rather, <span class="accented">but thy servant shall rejoice.</span> "Thy servant" is the psalmist himself (comp. <a href="/psalms/69-17.htm">Psalm 69:17</a>). He will rejoice at their failure, which secures his safety. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-29.htm">Psalm 109:29</a></div><div class="verse">Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 29.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame</span>; rather, <span class="accented">my adversaries shall be clothed with shame.</span> "The prayer is now, in conclusion, changed into a confident expectation" (Dean Johnson). <span class="cmt_word">And let them</span> (rather, and <span class="accented">shall</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle</span> (comp. ver. 18). Instead of the "cursing" with which the wicked delighted to clothe themselves, they shall be forced to wear a covering of shame and confusion of face. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-30.htm">Psalm 109:30</a></div><div class="verse">I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 30, 31.</span> - The psalm terminates with a short burst of praise, the writer feeling assured that his prayer is granted, and that he will shortly triumph over his enemies. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 30.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth</span>. The expression "greatly praise" does not occur elsewhere in the Psalms. It is indicative of an unusually strong feeling of thankfulness. <span class="cmt_word">Yea, I will praise him among the multitude</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> in the congregation. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/109-31.htm">Psalm 109:31</a></div><div class="verse">For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save <i>him</i> from those that condemn his soul.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor.</span> God will always come to the assistance of the poor and needy, when unrighteous men oppress them, and will give them help and deliverance. <span class="cmt_word">To save him from those that condemn his soul.</span> The salvation is not always from the death of the body, or there could have been no martyrs; but in all cases it is a deliverance of the soul. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> </div></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010 by <a href="//biblesoft.com">BibleSoft, inc.</a>, Used by permission<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../psalms/108.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 108"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 108" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../psalms/110.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 110"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 110" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/psalms/109-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><br /><br /></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <div id="bot"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhpar.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></body></html>