O Lord, forget not the humble
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| This psalm is part of Psalm 9 in the Hebrew Bibles. The two are similar. This one speaks of oppression of the less fortunate brothers. Stanzas beginning with verses 12, 14, 15, and 17 are in acrostic form. | |
| 1 ¶ Why standest thou
afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
.2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. |
2 -
Wicked
in his pride Described in verses 2 to 11.
2 - Persecute Hebrew dalaq. The word is translated "hotly pursued" ge3136, and "pursued" in la0419. 2 - Taken in ... devices See ps00715. 3 - Blesseth The Hebrew word sometimes means "curses" as in jb0105. The verse looks okay to me as it reads but you might want to compare other translations. Our focus on avoiding greed and covetousness is worth remembering co0305, ex2017. On blessing wicked ones see lu1608. 4 - God ... not at all "all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.'" (RSV). On "will not seek," see je2913. |
| 5 His ways are always grievous;
thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he
puffeth at them.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. |
5 -
Grievous
The Hebrew verb may mean "to endure" or "to be strong." Success in evil
behavior tends to encourage its continuation and being copied. See jb1206,
je1201.
5 - Judgments ... far So ignored. 6 - Never ... adversity Compare re1807. 7 - Under his tongue Ready to be spoken. 7 - Vanity Or "wickedness." |
| .8
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places
doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
.9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. |
8 -
Villages
May mean unwalled places like nomadic camps le2531.
9 - Lieth in wait "Like a lion (for he continues the same metaphor) which lies close upon the ground, partly that he may not be discovered, and partly that he may more suddenly and surely lay hold on his prey." (John Wesley's Notes...). 10 - Poor may fall ... mighty ones Who are the mighty ones? In verse 7 we see cursing, deceit, and so on. These wicked ways are like people who help the evil man. |
| .12
¶ Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. |
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| 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. | What a beautiful picture of our heavenly Father! |
| .15
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness
till thou find none.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. |
15 - Arm A symbol of strength. |
| 17 LORD, thou hast heard the
desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine
ear to hear:
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. |
17
- Prepare ... heart "Strengthen their heart.
18 - "To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may cause terror no more." (NASB). |
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