7. hast known my soul, &c.--had regard to me in trouble.
8. shut me up ... enemy--abandon to ([1Sa 23:11]).
large room--place of safety (compare [Psa 18:19]).
9-10. mine eye, &c.--denotes extreme weakness (compare [Psa 6:7]).
grief--mingled sorrow and indignation ([Psa 6:7]).
soul and ... belly--the whole person.
11. among--or, literally, "from," or, "by" my enemies. The latter clauses describe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till,
12. he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel.
13. For--introduces further reasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderous purposes of his foes.
14-18. In his profession of trust he includes the terms of the prayer expressing it.
19-21. God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.
22. For I said--literally, "And I said," in an adversative sense. I, thus favored, was despondent.
in my haste--in my terror.
cut off ... eyes--from all the protection of Thy presence.
23-24. the Lord ... proud doer--literally, "the Lord is keeping faith," that is, with His people, and is repaying, &c. Then let none despair, but take courage; their hopes shall not be in vain.
Psalm 32
Psa 32:1-11. Maschil--literally, "giving instruction." The Psalmist describes the blessings of His forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and deduces from his own experience instruction and exhortation to others
1-2. (Compare [Ro 4:6]).
forgiven--literally, "taken away," opposed to retain ([Joh 20:23]).
covered--so that God no longer regards the sin ([Psa 85:3]).
3-4. A vivid description of felt, but unacknowledged, sin.
When--literally, "for," as in [Psa 32:4].
5. A prompt fulfilment of the purposed confession is followed by a prompt forgiveness.
6. For this--that is, my happy experience.
godly--pious in the sense of [Psa 4:3].
a time--([Is 55:6]); when God's Spirit inclines us to seek pardon, He is ready to forgive.
floods, &c.--denotes great danger ([Psa 18:17]; ).
7. His experience illustrates the statement of [Psa 32:6].
8. Whether, as most likely, the language of David (compare [Psa 51:13]), or that of God, this is a promise of divine guidance.
I will ... mine eye--or, My eye shall be on thee, watching and directing thy way.
9. The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.
10. The sorrows of the impenitent contrasted with the peace and safety secured by God's mercy.
11. The righteous and upright, or those conforming to the divine teaching for securing the divine blessing, may well rejoice with shouting.
Psalm 33
Psa 33:1-22. A call to lively and joyous praise to God for His glorious attributes and works, as displayed in creation, and His general and special providence, in view of which, the Psalmist, for all the pious, professes trust and joy and invokes God's mercy
1-3. The sentiment falls in with [Psa 32:11] (compare [1Co 14:15]). The instruments ([Psa 92:3]; ) do not exclude the voice.
4-9. Reasons for praise: first, God's truth, faithfulness, and mercy, generally; then, His creative power which all must honor.
10-11. In God's providence He thwarts men's purposes and executes His own.
heathen--literally, "nations."
12-19. The inference from the foregoing in [Psa 33:12] is illustrated by God's special providence, underlying which is His minute knowledge of all men.
20-22. waiteth--in earnest expectation.
Psalm 34
Psa 34:1-22. On the title compare 1Sa 21:13. Abimelech was the general name of the sovereign (Ge 20:2). After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Psalmist exhorts others to make trial of His providential care, instructing them how to secure it. He then contrasts God's care of His people and His punitive providence towards the wicked
1-4. Even in distress, which excites supplication, there is always matter for praising and thanking God (compare [Ep 5:20]; [Php 4:6]).
5-7. God's favor to the pious generally, and to himself specially, is celebrated.