Psalms 17

sacrifices--or, "feasts" made with part of them (compare Pr 7:14; Le 2:3; 7:31). with--literally, "of." strife--its product, or attendant.

(Compare Pr 14:35). causeth shame--(Pr 10:5). shall ... inheritance--that is, share a brother's part (compare Nu 27:4, 7).

God only knows, as He tries (Ps 12:6; 66:10) the heart.

Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.

(Compare Pr 14:31). glad at calamities--rejoicing in others' evil. Such are rightly punished by God, who knows their hearts.

Prolonged posterity is a blessing, its cutting off a curse (Pr 13:22; Ps 109:13-15), hence children may glory in virtuous ancestry.

Excellent speech--(Compare Margin). Such language as ill suits a fool, as lying (ought to suit) a prince (Pr 16:12, 13).

One so corrupt as to take a bribe evinces his high estimate of it by subjection to its influence (Pr 18:16; 19:6).

seeketh love--(Compare Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and tale-bearer.

Reproof more affects the wise than severe scourging, fools.

Such meet just retribution (1Ki 2:25). a cruel messenger--one to inflict it.

They are less rational in anger than wild beasts.

(Compare Ps 7:4; 35:12). evil--injury to another (Pr 13:21).

letteth ... water--as a breach in a dam. before ... meddled with--before strife has become sharp, or, by an explanation better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or increases.

abomination ... Lord--as reversing His method of acting (Pr 3:32; 12:2).

Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (Pr 3:16; 14:24).

To the second of these parallel clauses, there is an accession of meaning, that is, that a brother's love is specially seen in adversity.

(Compare Pr 6:1-5; 11:15). in the presence, &c.--that is, he either fails to consult his friend, or to follow his advice.

strife--contention is, and leads to, sin. he that exalteth his gate--gratifies a vain love of costly building. seeketh--or, "findeth," as if he sought (compare "loveth death," Pr 8:36).

The second clause advances on the first. The ill-natured fail of good, and the cavilling and fault-finding incur evil.

(Compare Pr 23:24). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.

(Compare Pr 14:30; 15:13). The effect of the mind on the body is well known. medicine--or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone." drieth--as if the marrow were exhausted.

a gift ... bosom--Money and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the bosom. to pervert--that is, by bribery.

Wisdom ... him--ever an object of regard, while a fool's affections are unsettled.

a grief--or cross, vexation (compare Pr 17:21; 10:1).

Also--that is, Equally to be avoided are other sins: punishing good subjects, or resisting good rulers.

Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation.

This psalm is a prayer. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. The psalmist had been used to pray, so that it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty. And he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would notice his prayers. Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue, will be a good evidence of our integrity. Aware of man's propensity to wicked works, and of his own peculiar temptations, David had made God's word his preservative from the paths of Satan, which lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very comfortable in the reflection, when we are in trouble. Those that are, through grace, going in God's paths, should pray that their goings may be held up in those paths. David prays, Lord, still hold me up. Those who would proceed and persevere in the ways of God, must, by faith prayer, get daily fresh supplies of grace and strength from him. Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, distinguishing favours, not common mercies, but be gracious to me; do as thou usest to do to those who love thy name.

Being compassed with enemies, David prays to God to keep him in safety. This prayer is a prediction that Christ would be preserved, through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and is a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. Those are our worst enemies, that are enemies to our souls. They are God's sword, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. They are his hand, by which he chastises his people. There is no fleeing from God's hand, but by fleeing to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon, and in subjection to the power of God. Most men look on the things of this world as the best things; and they look no further, nor show any care to provide for another life. The things of this world are called treasures, they are so accounted; but to the soul, and when compared with eternal blessings, they are trash. The most afflicted Christian need not envy the most prosperous men of the world, who have their portion in this life. Clothed with Christ's righteousness, having through his grace a good heart and a good life, may we by faith behold God's face, and set him always before us. When we awake every morning, may we be satisfied with his likeness set before us in his word, and with his likeness stamped upon us by his renewing grace. Happiness in the other world is prepared only for those that are justified and sanctified: they shall be put in possession of it when the soul awakes, at death, out of its slumber in the body, and when the body awakes, at the resurrection, out of its slumber in the grave. There is no satisfaction for a soul but in God, and in his good will towards us, and his good work in us; yet that satisfaction will not be perfect till we come to heaven.