Confidence, because Jehovah has set apart the godly for Himself; and joy-vainly sought elsewhere, -in the light of His countenance:a pleading with the ungodly to consider.
To the chief musician, upon stringed instruments:a psalm of David.
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! in straitness, Thou enlargedst me; be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2. O sons of Man, how long shall my glory be a shame [with you] ? Will ye love vanity ? will ye seek after falsehood ? Selah. .
3. But know that Jehovah hath set apart the godly for Himself; Jehovah heareth when I call to Him.
4. Tremble, and sin not; speak with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5. Sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in Jehovah.
6. Many are saying, " Who will show us good ?" Lift up on us the light of Thy face, Jehovah!
7. Thou hast given me gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their corn and their new wine increased.
8. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for Thou only, Jehovah, makest me dwell securely.
Text.-(2) "Man" is here not Adam, the word for the race, but Ish (vρ, vir), implying greatness or eminence. I write it with a capital for distinction.
(3) "The godly:" some would translate the word chasid invariably as "merciful," or else "object of mercy," or "favor." Neither seems the sense here. Primarily, it means, according to Schultens, "swelling, exuberant;" which, toward man, gives the meaning "bountiful, merciful;" but here it is God-ward, and "godly" seems the most suitable translation, as well as the one most accordant with the tenor of the psalm.
Connections.-With psalm 3:1, 2, 4, 5, comp. respectively verses 1, 6, 3, 8.
In the next psalm we find evil and opposition growing more intense, and the pleading with them, become hopeless now, changes into pleading against them. It is the other side of the previous psalm. He who hath set apart the godly for Himself abhors the workers of iniquity. Lingering mercy gives place to judgment, and then to plead for it is to be as much in fellowship with God as to plead for grace when God is showing grace.