Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. O Lord my rock ] yrwx tsuri not only means my rock, but my fountain, and the origin of all the good I possess.
If thou be silent ] If thou do not answer in such a way as to leave no doubt that thou hast heard me, I shall be as a dead man. It is a modern refinement in theology which teaches that no man can know when God hears and answers his prayers, but by an induction of particulars, and by an inference from his promises. And, on this ground, how can any man fairly presume that he is heard or answered at all? May not his inductions be no other than the common occurrences of providence? And may not providence be no more than the necessary occurrence of events? And is it not possible, on this skeptic ground, that there is no God to hear or answer? True religion knows nothing of these abominations; it teaches its votaries to pray to God, to expect an answer from him, and to look for the Holy Spirit to bear witness with their spirits that they are the sons and daughters of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - David is very earnest in prayer. Observe his faith in prayer; God is m rock, on whom I build my hope. Believers should not rest till they have received some token that their prayers are heard. He prays that he ma not be numbered with the wicked. Save me from being entangled in the snares they have laid for me. Save me from being infected with their sins, and from doing as they do. Lord, never leave me to use such art of deceit and treachery for my safety, as they use for my ruin Believers dread the way of sinners; the best are sensible of the dange they are in of being drawn aside: we should all pray earnestly to God for his grace to keep us. Those who are careful not to partake with sinners in their sins, have reason to hope that they shall not receiv their plagues. He speaks of the just judgments of the Lord on the workers of iniquity, ver. #(4). This is not the language of passion of revenge. It is a prophecy that there will certainly come a day, when God will punish every man who persists in his evil deeds. Sinners shal be reckoned with, not only for the mischief they have done, but for the mischief they designed, and did what they could to effect. Disregard of the works of the Lord, is the cause of the sin of sinners, and become the cause of their ruin.
Original Hebrew לדוד1732 אליך413 יהוה3068 אקרא7121 צורי6697 אל408 תחרשׁ2790 ממני4480 פן6435 תחשׁה2790 ממני4480 ונמשׁלתי4911 עם5973 יורדי3381 בור׃953
