v. 3, 4, 12. From all these circumstances I should guess, that the particular occasion upon which this psalm was composed, was the news of the confederacy between the Ammonites and the Syrians of Zoba, Beth-rehob, Ishtob, and Maacah, after the affront put upon David, in the person of his ambassadors, by Hanun the king of the Ammonites, see 2 Sam. X. But yet when I consider that the enemies, against whom the Psalmist invokes the divine aid, are described in the second verse under the general characters of the "dealers in iniquity, and men of blood," that is, of idolaters and persecutors, I have no doubt that the poem is entirely mystic; that the Psalmist personates the Messiah or the persecuted church, and prays for deliverance from the atheistical conspiracy of apostate angels and impious men; and, in particular, predicts God's judgement on the Jewish nation. This psalm is one of the Michtams. * 1 Rescue me from mine enemies, O God; * Mudge thinks this psalm resembles the Xth, and that the occasion of both was the same. I see little of this similitude. The Xth psalm, I am persuaded, hath no relation to Sennacherib's invasion, or any particular calamity of the Jewish state. 2 Rescue me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from the men of blood *. 3 For behold they lie in wait for my life; The mighty make a stir † against me, For no disobedience, no sin of mine, O Jeho vah. 4 Without my fault they hurry and make ready; Awake at-my-invocation ‡, and have-thine-eye upon me. || 5 For thou, O Jehovah, God of hosts, Art the God of Israel. Awake to visit all the heathen ; Take-thou-no-pity upon any who revolt to idolatry. * « Workers of iniquity," and "men of blood." Idolaters and persecutors. † Or, "are stirred up." "At my invocation." ie. Take care of me. verses 2, 3, 4. See LVI, 7. Vid. Numb. XXIII, 3. and XXIV, 1. See verse 10, and Dr Durell upon 6 They return every evening,* They rage like dogs, And surround the city. 7 Behold they foam at the mouth; Swords are in their lips; For who heareth? 8 But thou, O Jehovah, shalt make sport of them; Thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will keep-upon-the watch for thee; Truly God is my defence, the God of my mercy.t 10 God shall give me ready help, He shall-watch-my-safety among mine ene mies. [A] 11 Slay them not, Lest my people forget. [B] Scatter them in thy strength, * The image is that of a mischievous beast, returning at a stated season for a sly purpose. + See verse 17. For the sin of their mouth; [C] O Lord, my protector, bring them down, For that their lips have uttered. [D] 12 Let them be ensnared in their pride; And for cursing, and for lies, let them become a common talk. 13 Consume, in wrath [E] consume them, that they may be brought to nothing; And let them know that God ruleth In Jacob, unto the extremities of the earth. 14 Yet, every-evening they will return, Rage like dogs, And surround the city. 15 They will prowl about for food, And growl if they be not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of thy might, And in the morning, I will sing cheerfully of thy tender love; Because thou hast been a defence to me, A refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, unto thee I will-chaunt-the-lay; Truly God is my defence, the God of my mercy.* PSALMS LX. AND LXI. [See Notes.] PSALM LXII. MESSIAH TRUSTS IN GOD. HIS ENEMIES WARNED OF THEIR IMPENDING FATE. 1 Only upon God, my soul reposeth; From him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock, and my deliverance; My fortress. I shall not be shaken. [A] 3 How long will ye raise-a-clamour against one; Ye shall all be slain; Ye are like an inclining wall, and shaken fence. t *Or," the God who bears me tender love." Literally, "a fence that-has-had-a-shove," i. e. you are your |