Psalms 119:95

Psa 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: [but] I will consider thy testimonies.

Ver. 95. The wicked have waited] Nothing less than destruction will satisfy persecutors; but the Lord knows how to deliver his Peters out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews, Act 12:11 2Pe 2:9.

But I will consider thy testimonies] And therewith hearten and harden myself against their insolences and attempts for my hurt.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

95. (Psa 119:95) For me have wicked (men) waited, to destroy me; thy testimonies will I understand. With the first clause compare Psa 56:6. Consider, though correct, is an inadequate translation of the last verb, which denotes intelligent attention. The only effect of his enemies' malignant plots is a still more serious contemplation of God's precepts.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

119:95 The wicked intended to kill the psalmist, but destruction (1:6) was their own fate.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Here, 1. David complains of the malice of his enemies: The wicked (and none but such would be enemies to so good a man) have waited for me to destroy me. They were very cruel, and aimed at no less than his destruction; they were very crafty, and sought all opportunities to do him a mischief; and they were confident (they expected, so some read it), that they should destroy him; they thought themselves sure of their prey. 2. He comforts himself in the word of God as his protection: "While they are contriving my destruction, I consider thy testimonies, which secure to me my salvation." God's testimonies are then likely to be our support, when we consider them, and dwell in our thoughts upon them.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

I have more understanding than all my teachers,.... Such as had been or would have been his teachers, who were bad ones in religious matters; especially such might be the religious teachers in Saul's time, when David was a young man: as the priests, whose lips should keep knowledge, and deliver it to the people, were in the times of Malachi; and as the Scribes and Pharisees, who, sat in Moses's chair, were in Christ's time; and as those legal teachers were in the apostles' times, who would be teachers of the law, not knowing what they said, nor whereof they affirmed; such as these David exceeded in spiritual understanding. Or his good teachers are meant; and though in common it is true that "a disciple is not above his master", Mat 10:24; yet there are sometimes instances in which scholars exceed their teachers in knowledge and learning; and this is no reproach to a master to have such scholars: no doubt Apollos so improved in knowledge as to excel Aquila and Priscilla, of whom he learned much; as the Apostle Paul excelled Ananias; and so David excelled his teachers: and which is said by him, not in an ostentatious way of himself, nor in contempt of his teachers; but to commend the word of God, the source of his knowledge; and to magnify the grace of God, to whom he attributes all his wisdom, as in Psa 119:98. Kimchi interprets it,

"of them all I have learned and received instruction; and from them I have understood the good way, and they have taught me;''

for thy testimonies are my meditation; what he learned of his teachers he compared with the word, the Scriptures, which testify of the mind and will of God; he searched into them, he meditated upon them, and considered whether what his instructors taught him were agreeable to them or and by this means he got more understanding than they had.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me - That is, they have lain in wait; or, they have laid a plan. They are watching the opportunity to do it.

But I will consider thy testimonies - I will think of them; I will adhere to them; I will find my support in them; I will not be driven from my adhesion to them by an apprehension of what man can do to me.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

As my best comforters, and counsellors, and defenders against all the assaults and designs of mine enemies.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. They were like wild beasts crouching by the way, or highway men waylaying a defenceless traveller; but the Psalmist went on his way without considering them, for he was considering something better, namely, the witness or testimony which God has borne to the sons of men. He did not allow the malice of the wicked to take him off from his holy study of the divine word. He was so calm that he could "consider"; so holy that he loved to consider the Lord's "testimonies"; so victorious over all their plots that he did not allow them to drive him from his pious contemplations. If the enemy cannot cause us to withdraw our thoughts from holy study, or our feet from holy walking, or our hearts from holy aspirations, lie has met with poor success in his assaults. The wicked are the natural enemies of holy men and holy thoughts; if they could, they would not only damage us but destroy us, and if they cannot do this today they will wait for further opportunities, ever hoping that their evil designs may be compassed. They ave waited hitherto in vain, and they will have to wait much longer yet; for if we are so unmoved that we do not even give them a thought their hope of destroying us must be a very poor one.

Note the double waiting, the patience of the wicked who watch long and carefully for an opportunity to destroy the godly, and then the patience of the saint who will not quit his meditations, even to quiet his foes. See how the serpent's seed lie in wait as an adder that biteth at the horse's heels; but see how the chosen of the Lord live above their venom, and take no more notice of them than if they had no existence.

Ver. 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me. Two things again he notes in his enemies; diligence, in waiting all occasions whereby to do him evil; and cruelty without mercy, for their purpose was to destroy him: wherein, still we see how restless and insatiable is the malice of the wicked against the godly. Daniel's preservation in the lions' den was a great miracle; but it is no less a marvellous work of God, that the godly who are the flock of Christ, are daily preserved in the midst of the wicked, who are but ravening wolves, and thirst for the blood of the saints of God, having a cruel purpose in their heart if they might perform it, utterly to destroy them. William Cowper.

Ver. 95. But I will consider thy testimonies. It was a grievous temptation to be sought for to be given up to slaughter, but a greater mercy to consider God's testimonies, even then when his life was sought for. Had it not been for the consideration of God's testimonies, a thousand to one he had fallen away. Richard Greenham.

Ver. 95. Wicked men patient in carrying out their evil designs. Good men patient in considering the ways of the Lord.

Ver. 95. The hatred of the wicked towards the righteous.

1. Show that it ever has been, and still is.

(a) Select Scriptural instances, beginning with Abel.

(b) Notice the persecutions of the church.

(c) Treatment in the workshop.

(d) Often in the home.

(e) The contemptuous manner the "saints" are spoken of,

etc.

2. Enquire as to why it is so.

(a) The enmity of the carnal heart to God.

(b) The jealousy excited by the Christian's assurance of

eternal blessedness.

(c) The consciousness of being rebuked by a holy life.

(d) Excited to it by Satan.

(e) The restless mischievousness of sin which, if it cannot

hinder holiness, will maliciously hurt its advocates.

3. Direct how to act when exposed to it: "I will consider thy testimonies." That means

(a) Be the more obedient to God.

(b) Have the more watchful control over words and feelings.

(c) Love your enemies.

(d) Pray for those who hate you.

(e) Do good to them on every opportunity.

(f) Be thankful that you are among the hated and not the

haters.

(g) Especially consider the holy testimony of Christ's

forbearing patience. J.F.

Ver. 95. Waiting counter wrought by waiting.

1. Temptations in ambush.

2. The saint with his Lord.

W.B.H.

Ver. 95. Immunity.

1. I am in danger.

2. I will attend to my duty.

3. I will trust thee to deliver me. C.A.D.

Psalms 119:96*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; or, "laid in wait for me". (comp. Psa_56:6, where the same verb is used) But I will consider thy testimonies I will look to thy word of promise, and so sustain their assaults upon me.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will seek to understand

"I will try hard to understand"

everything has its limits

"all things have an end"

but your commandments are broad, beyond limits

God's commandments always being true and perfect is spoken of as if God's commandments were an object that is so wide that it never ends. AT: "but your commandments are without limits" or "but your commandments are eternal" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

evil

seek

covenant

decree

command

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.