A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] at sacred-texts.com
God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Exo 15:3; Deu 32:41).
fight against--literally, "devour my devourers."
stop the way against--literally, "shut up" (the way), to meet or oppose, &c.
I . . . thy salvation--who saves thee.
(Compare Psa 9:17).
devise my hurt--purpose for evil to me.
(Compare Psa 1:4) --a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (Sa2 24:16; Act 12:23).
net in a pit--or, "pit of their net"--or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Psa 2:6); a figure from hunting (Psa 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for penitents. Compare Psa 7:16; Psa 11:5, on the peculiar fate of the wicked here noticed.
All my bones--every part.
him that spoileth him--(Compare Psa 10:2).
False witnesses--literally, "Witnesses of injustice and cruelty" (compare Psa 11:5; Psa 25:19).
Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling--literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
prayer . . . bosom--may denote either the posture--the head bowed--(compare Kg1 18:42) --or, that the prayer was in secret. Some think there is a reference to the result--the prayer would benefit him if not them.
behaved--literally, "went on"--denoting his habit.
heavily--or, "squalidly," his sorrowing occasioning neglect of his person. Altogether, his grief was that of one for a dearly loved relative.
On the contrary, they rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness," as in Psa 38:17 for any distress.
abjects--either as cripples (compare Sa2 4:4), contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not--either the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased not--literally, "were not silent"--showing that the tearing meant slandering.
mockers--who were hired to make sport at feasts (Pro 28:21).
darling--(Compare Psa 22:20-21).
(Compare Psa 22:22).
enemies wrongfully--by false and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eye--an insulting gesture (Pro 6:13).
without a cause--manifests more malice than having a wrong cause.
deceitful matters--or, "words of deceit."
quiet in the land--the pious lovers of peace.
On the gesture compare Psa 22:7; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare Psa 10:13; Psa 28:3.
(Compare Psa 7:6; Psa 26:1; Th2 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.
swallowed him up--utterly destroyed him (Psa 21:9; Lam 2:16).
clothed--covered wholly (Job 8:22).
favour . . . cause--delight in it, as vindicated by Thee.
Let the Lord, &c.--Let Him be greatly praised for His care of the just.
In this praise of God's equitable government (Psa 5:8) the writer promises ever to engage.