Psa 59:3-4 | TDavid | STEP | EXPOSITION Verse 3 . For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul. They were in ambuscade for the good man's life. He knew their design and cried to God to be rescued from it. Like wild beasts they crouched, and waited to make the fatal spring; but their victim used effectual means to baffle them, for he laid the matter before the Lord. While the enemy lies waiting in the posture of a beast, we wait before God in the posture of prayer, for God waits to be gracious to us and terrible towards our foes. The mighty are gathered against me. None of them were absent from the muster when a saint was to be murdered. They were too fond of such sport to be away. The men at arms who ought to have been fighting their country's battles, are instead thereof hunting a quiet citizen; the gigantic monarch is spending all his strength to slay a faithful follower. Not for my transgression, not for my sin, O Lord. He appeals to Jehovah that he had done no ill. His only fault was, that he was too valiant and too gracious, and was, besides, the chosen of the Lord, therefore the envious king could not rest till he had washed his hands in the blood of his too popular rival. We shall always find it to be a great thing to be innocent; if it does not carry our cause before an earthly tribunal, it will ever prove the best of arguments in the court of conscience, and a standing consolation when we are under persecution. Note the repetition of his declaration of integrity. David is sure of his innocence. He dares repeat the plea. EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS Verse 3 . (first clause) . On the expression, they lie in wait for my soul, compare , "And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life soul tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain;" and . E. W. Hengstenberg. Verse 3 . The mighty are gathered against me , is rendered by Chandler, The mighty are turned aside to lay snares against me. Verse 3 . The mighty are gathered against me . As if he would say, "But I am weak, be thou, however, my strength, and vindicate my innocence." Arnd. Verse 3-4 . He pleads his own innocency , not as to God, but as to his persecutors. Note, The innocency of the godly will not secure them from the malignity of the wicked. Those that are harmless like doves, yet for Christ's sake are hated of all men, as if they were noxious like serpents, and obnoxious accordingly. Though our innocency will not secure us from troubles, yet it will greatly support and comfort us under our troubles. The testimony of our conscience for us, that we have behaved ourselves well toward those that have behaved themselves ill towards us, will be very much our rejoicing in the day of evil. If we are conscious to ourselves of our innocency, we may with humble confidence appeal to God, and beg of him to plead our injured cause which he will do in due time. Matthew Henry. HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS Verse 3 . (first clause). The subtleties of Satan. Watches for places, times, states, and ways in which to assail us. Errors in doctrine, practice, spirit, set forth to entrap us. "Ye are not ignorant of his devices." Or, the diabolical ambush, discovered by watchfulness, and defeated by faith.

Psalms 59:3-4

EXPOSITION

Verse 3. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul. They were in ambuscade for the good man's life. He knew their design and cried to God to be rescued from it. Like wild beasts they crouched, and waited to make the fatal spring; but their victim used effectual means to baffle them, for he laid the matter before the Lord. While the enemy lies waiting in the posture of a beast, we wait before God in the posture of prayer, for God waits to be gracious to us and terrible towards our foes.

The mighty are gathered against me. None of them were absent from the muster when a saint was to be murdered. They were too fond of such sport to be away. The men at arms who ought to have been fighting their country's battles, are instead thereof hunting a quiet citizen; the gigantic monarch is spending all his strength to slay a faithful follower.

Not for my transgression, not for my sin, O Lord. He appeals to Jehovah that he had done no ill. His only fault was, that he was too valiant and too gracious, and was, besides, the chosen of the Lord, therefore the envious king could not rest till he had washed his hands in the blood of his too popular rival. We shall always find it to be a great thing to be innocent; if it does not carry our cause before an earthly tribunal, it will ever prove the best of arguments in the court of conscience, and a standing consolation when we are under persecution. Note the repetition of his declaration of integrity. David is sure of his innocence. He dares repeat the plea.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 3. (first clause). On the expression, they lie in wait for my soul, compare 1 Samuel 19:11, "And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life soul tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain;" and Psalms 7:2,5. E. W. Hengstenberg.

Verse 3. The mighty are gathered against me, is rendered by Chandler, The mighty are turned aside to lay snares against me.

Verse 3. The mighty are gathered against me. As if he would say, "But I am weak, be thou, however, my strength, and vindicate my innocence." Arnd.

Verse 3-4. He pleads his own innocency, not as to God, but as to his persecutors. Note,

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 3. (first clause). The subtleties of Satan. Watches for places, times, states, and ways in which to assail us. Errors in doctrine, practice, spirit, set forth to entrap us. "Ye are not ignorant of his devices." Or, the diabolical ambush, discovered by watchfulness, and defeated by faith. EXPOSITION Verse 4 . They run and prepare themselves without my fault. They are all alive and active, they are swift to shed blood. They prepare and use their best tactics; they besiege me in my house, and lay their ambuscades as for some notable enemy. They come up fully armed to the attack, and assail me with all the vigour and skill of a host about to storm a castle; and all for no cause, but out of gratuitous malice. So quick are they to obey their cruel master, that they never stay to consider whether their errand is a good one or not; they run at once, and buckle on their harness as they run. To be thus gratuitously attacked is a great grief. To a brave man the danger causes little distress of mind compared with the injustice to which he is subjected. It was a cruel and crying shame that such a hero as David should be hounded down as if he were a monster, and beset in his house like a wild beast in its den. Awake to help me, and behold. When others go to sleep, keep thou watch, O God. Put forth thy might. Arouse thee from thy inaction. Only look at thy servant's sad condition and thy hand will be sure to deliver me. We see how thorough was the psalmist's faith in the mercy of his Lord, for he is satisfied that if the Lord do but look on his case it will move his active compassion. EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS Verse 3-4 . See Psalms on " Psalms 59:3 " for further information. Verse 4 . They run , as armed warriors rushing to the assault ( Psalms 18:29 ). The Hebrew for "prepare themselves," (Heb.) means also "they establish themselves;" they make firm their footing, like forces assaulting a city. Job 30:14 . A. R. Fausset. Verse 4 . They run and prepare . The zeal and diligence of the wicked in the cause of unrighteousness might well reprove the languor and tardiness of saints in the work of faith and labour of love. In the church of God nothing is the source of more mischief than the want of true zeal and liveliness. It is only when "many run to and fro" that "knowledge shall be increased." William S. Plumer. Verse 4 . Without fault . As it respected Saul, he was a faithful subject and an obedient son-in-law. Benjamin Boothroyd. Verse 4 . Awake to help me , literally, Awake to meet me. In time of temptation the Lord seems to be absent from us, and not to observe our distress -- to be, as it were, as Jesus, in the storm, is described as having been "asleep in the hinder part of the ship." Mark 4:38 . But it is only an appearance; the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps 121:4); he is always ready to come to our help when we call upon him. O. Prescott Hiller. Verse 4 . And behold . The expression is one which savours at once of faith and of the infirmity of the flesh. In speaking of God, as if his eyes had been hitherto shut to the wrongs which he had suffered, and needed now for the first time to be opened for the discovery of them, he expresses himself according to the weakness of our human apprehension. On the other hand, in calling upon God to behold his cause, he shows his faith by virtually acknowledging that nothing was hid from his providential cognisance. John Calvin. HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS Verse 4 . The activity of the evil a rebuke for the good. Their activity, run. Unanimity -- they run. Their care -- prepare themselves. Their readiness -- without my fault.