1 A Psalm. -- A song of the dedication of the house of David. I exalt Thee, O Jehovah, For Thou hast drawn me up, and hast not let mine enemies rejoice over me.
My God, in Thee I have trusted, Let me not be ashamed, Let not mine enemies exult over me.
Mine enemies rejoice not over me `with' falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
Praise by David. I exalt Thee, my God, O king, And bless Thy name to the age and for ever.
Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, And feed them, and carry them to the age!
And David turneth back to bless his house, and Michal daughter of Saul goeth out to meet David, and saith, `How honourable to-day was the king of Israel, who was uncovered to-day before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain ones is openly uncovered!'
And Hiram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-trees, and artificers of wood, and artificers of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,
Clapped hands at thee have all passing by the way, They have hissed -- and they shake the head At the daughter of Jerusalem: `Is this the city of which they said: The perfection of beauty, a joy to all the land?'
Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked, His wicked device bring not forth, They are high. Selah.
Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours, Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice. Also -- Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle, Hast caused `him' to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down. Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over `with' shame. Selah. Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?
By this I have known, That Thou hast delighted in me, Because my enemy shouteth not over me.
Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me. They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.'
And now, lifted up is my head, Above my enemies -- my surrounders, And I sacrifice in His tent sacrifices of shouting, I sing, yea, I sing praise to Jehovah.
And Levi and Benjamin he hath not numbered in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable with Joab.
And David cometh in unto his house at Jerusalem, and the king taketh the ten women-concubines -- whom he had left to keep the house, and putteth them in a house of ward, and sustaineth them, and unto them he hath not gone in, and they are shut up unto the day of their death, in widowhood living.
that the king saith unto Nathan the prophet, `See, I pray thee, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, and the ark of God is dwelling in the midst of the curtain.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 30
Commentary on Psalms 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 30
Ps 30:1-12. Literally, "A Psalm-Song"—a composition to be sung with musical instruments, or without them—or, "Song of the dedication," &c. specifying the particular character of the Psalm. Some suppose that of David should be connected with the name of the composition, and not with "house"; and refer for the occasion to the selection of a site for the temple (1Ch 21:26-30; 22:1). But "house" is never used absolutely for the temple, and "dedication" does not well apply to such an occasion. Though the phrase in the Hebrew, "dedication of the house of David," is an unusual form, yet it is equally unusual to disconnect the name of the author and the composition. As a "dedication of David's house" (as provided, De 20:5), the scope of the Psalm well corresponds with the state of repose and meditation on his past trials suited to such an occasion (2Sa 5:11; 7:2). For beginning with a celebration of God's delivering favor, in which he invites others to join, he relates his prayer in distress, and God's gracious and prompt answer.
1. lifted me up—as one is drawn from a well (Ps 40:2).
2. healed me—Affliction is often described as disease (Ps 6:2; 41:4; 107:20), and so relief by healing.
3. The terms describe extreme danger.
soul—or, "myself."
grave—literally, "hell," as in Ps 16:10.
hast kept me … pit—quickened or revived me from the state of dying (compare Ps 28:1).
4. remembrance—the thing remembered or memorial.
holiness—as the sum of God's perfections (compare Ps 22:3), used as name (Ex 3:15; Ps 135:13).
5. Relatively, the longest experience of divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions.
6, 7. What particular prosperity is meant we do not know; perhaps his accession to the throne. In his self-complacent elation he was checked by God's hiding His face (compare Ps 22:24; 27:9).
7. troubled—confounded with fear (Ps 2:5).
8-11. As in Ps 6:5; 88:10; Isa 38:18, the appeal for mercy is based on the destruction of his agency in praising God here, which death would produce. The terms expressing relief are poetical, and not to be pressed, though "dancing" is the translation of a word which means a lute, whose cheerful notes are contrasted with mourning, or (Am 5:16) wailing.
11. sackcloth—was used, even by kings, in distress (1Ch 21:16; Isa 37:1) but "gladness," used for a garment, shows the language to be figurative.
12. Though "my" is supplied before "glory" it is better as in Ps 16:9, to receive it as used for tongue, the organ of praise. The ultimate end of God's mercies to us is our praise to Him.