1 A Psalme of Dauid. Lord, I crie vnto thee, make haste vnto mee: giue eare vnto my voice, when I crie vnto thee.
2 Let my prayer bee set foorth before thee as incense: and the lifting vp of my hands as the Euening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch (O Lord) before my mouth: keepe the doore of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any euill thing, to practise wicked workes with men that worke iniquitie: and let mee not eate of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite mee, it shalbe a kindnesse: and let him reprooue me, it shalbe an excellent oile, which shall not breake my head: for yet my prayer also shalbe in their calamities.
6 When their Iudges are ouerthrowen in stonie places, they shall heare my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the graues mouth: as when one cutteth and cleaueth wood vpon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are vnto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust, leaue not my soule destitute.
9 Keepe mee from the snare which they haue laide for me, and the grinnes of the workers of iniquitie.
10 Let the wicked fall into their owne nets: whilest that I withal escape.
David prays for God's acceptance and assistance. (1-4) That God would appear for his rescue. (5-10)
1-4 Make haste unto me. Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they will be as acceptable to God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old. Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we have need to pray that we may neither be drawn nor driven to do any thing sinful. Sinners pretend to find dainties in sin; but those that consider how soon sin will turn into bitterness, will dread such dainties, and pray to God to take them out of their sight, and by his grace to turn their hearts against them. Good men pray against the sweets of sin.
5-10 We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, and also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it may but help to break my heart: we must show that we take it kindly. Those who slighted the word of God before, will be glad of it when in affliction, for that opens the ear to instruction. When the world is bitter, the word is sweet. Let us lift our prayer unto God. Let us entreat him to rescue us from the snares of Satan, and of all the workers of iniquity. In language like this psalm, O Lord, would we entreat that our poor prayers should set forth our only hope, our only dependence on thee. Grant us thy grace, that we may be prepared for this employment, being clothed with thy righteousness, and having all the gifts of thy Spirit planted in our hearts.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.