Psalms 11

Psalms 11:4

4. The Lord is in his holy temple, &c.] The meaning is, that the Lord is the supreme and righteous Ruler of all affairs; that He knows the most secret designs

Psalms 11:10

10. He croucheth, &c.] He will meanly crouch and counterfeit any thing that will serve his purpose; so that the helpless may fall into his power. Travell.

Psalms 11:12

12. — the humble.] Or rather, “the afflicted,” as in the margin. Street.

Psalms 11:13

13. — Thou wilt not require it.] The wicked concludes from God’s patience, that He will never punish him. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 11:15

15. Break thou &c.] This may be either a prayer or a prediction, implying that the time will come, when the power of Jehovah will dash in pieces that of the enemy, by the demolition either of sin or the sinner, until wickedness be come utterly to an end, and righteousness be established for ever in the kingdom of the Messiah. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 11:18

18. To judge the fatherless &c.] Thy gracious assistance shall assert the right of those who are helpless and oppressed; so that their insolent persecutors, whose sordid minds cling entirely to this world, may be prevented from doing them further mischief. Travell.

We may learn from this Psalm, 1st, That to behold the righteous cause oppressed, and good men seemingly deserted by Heaven, is apt to offend the weak, and oftentimes stagger those who are strong. 2ndly, That prosperity begets presumption in the wicked; and he, who has long been accustomed to see his designs succeed, begins to think it impossible they should ever do otherwise. The long-suffering of God, instead of leading such an one to repentance, only hardens him in his

iniquity. 3rdly, That though “the wicked saith in his heart, Thou wilt not require it,” the faithful know assuredly, that God beholds all that travail and vexation which some inflict, and others sustain, upon the earth; and that He will infallibly recompense to the former their deeds, to the latter their sufferings. Bp. Horne.

Psalm XI. This Psalm seems to have been composed by David, when, in order to avoid the evil designs of Saul, his friends advised him to flee to the mountainous parts of Judea. Edwards.

In the first verse David expostulates with his friends for advising him to fly to the mountainous parts of Judea, as the only safe retreat from Saul. In the second and third verses, he subjoins the reasons which his friends assigned for their advice. In the four last, he replies to the advice of his friends, telling them that the God of heaven, who searcheth the heart, would protect the innocent. Green.

Ver. 3. If the foundations be destroyed, &c.] When the fundamental laws of the land, such as stipulate protection to the subject, are subverted by the prince, who ought to be the guardian of them, what has the persecuted subject to trust to? or what can he do, but, as in a state of nature, fly to the fastnesses of the mountains for security? Green. Had David been guilty of any crime, he ought to have had a fair trial by the laws: but Saul tried to assassinate him, contrary to justice, and to the fundamental law of all nations. Dr. Kenincott.