Psalms 36
DOYLYPsalms 36:11
11, 12. False witnesses—spoiling of my soul.] This was never more literally true of David, than it was of the holy Jesus, when, standing before Pontius Pilate, He received my other return from the Jews for all the gracious words which He had spoken, and all the merciful works He had done among them, than that of being slandered and put to death. Bp. Horne.
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to the spoiling of my soul. Attempting to rob me of my life. Green.
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— my prayer returned &c. The meaning seems to be, My prayer returned with blessings on my own head. Merrick. The sentence may perhaps be better explained thus, “My prayer rested or settled in my bosom;” that is, I was never without a prayer for them in my breast. Mudge, Dr. Kennicutt. The Hebrews used various attitudes in prayer; the one here alluded to was that used in great grief, at which time they prayed with the head inclined on the bosom. Rosemuller.
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and I knew it not; This may mean, that the perfidy of his enemies was unknown to him; he suspected no such thing from them. Rosemuller.
Psalms 36:16
- With hypocritical mockers &c.] Together with these were profane flatterers and buffoons; and their rage against me was as violent as if they could have devoured me. Bp. Patrick. Or the passage should per-Vol. II.
Psalms 36:17
- — my darling from the lions.] Deliver my dear and precious life from these cruel and brutish enemies. Bp. Hall.
Psalms 36:19
- — that hate me without a cause.] This is applied to Christ by Himself, John xv. 25. Bp. Wilson.
Psalms 36:21
- — our eye hath seen it.] They openly avow that they themselves have been eye-witnesses of my treasonable practices. Dr. Wells. Or the meaning may be, We have seen what we wished, we have had our will. Green.
Psalms 36:24
- Judge me.] Vindicate me. Green.
What David in this Psalm says against his enemies, must not be misunderstood. Nor must we believe that we are allowed to wish evil to those who do evil to us, or to rejoice when that evil happens to them. We are to consider, that the enemies of David were enemies to God Himself; and that David, being a prophet, and having an express promise of the Divine assistance, might denounce destruction to them: but, in his heart, he did not wish it to befall them, and he was even afflicted at the evil which did befall them, as he himself testifies in this Psalm. Ostervald.
Psalm XXXVI. There are three parts of this Psalm: D