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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 26:1-5

It is probable that David penned this psalm when he was persecuted by Saul and his party, who, to give some colour to their unjust rage, represented him as a very bad man, and falsely accused him of many high crimes and misdemeanors, dressed him up in the skins of wild beasts that they might bait him. Innocency itself is no fence to the name, though it is to the bosom, against the darts of calumny. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was made a reproach of men, and foretold to his followers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 26:3

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes ,.... The special lovingkindness of God, shown in the choice of him in Christ, in the provision of a Saviour for him, and in the effectual calling of him; which lovingkindness is unmerited, free, and sovereign, is from everlasting and to everlasting; it is better than life, excellent beyond expression, and marvellous: and this may be said to be "before his eyes"; because it was now in sight; he had a comfortable view of interest in it, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 26:4

I have not sat with vain persons ,.... Or "men of vanity" F20 עם מתי שוא "cum hominibus vanitatis", Gejerus, Michaelis. ; who are full of it; who are addicted to the vanities of the world; who pursue the riches, honours, pleasures, and profits of it; which is no other than walking in a vain show: whose thoughts, words, and actions are vain; who are vainly puffed up in their fleshly mind, and walk in the vanity of it; who take the name of God in vain, and whose common discourse is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 26:5

I have hated the congregation of evildoers ,.... That do harm to the persons, characters, or properties of men; and who meet together in bodies, to consult and form schemes to do mischief, and have their assemblies to encourage each other in it; these, their works and actions, the psalmist hated, though not their persons; and showed his displicency at them, and dislike and disapprobation of them, by absenting from them; see Jeremiah 15:17 ; and will not sit with the wicked ; ungodly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:3

For thy loving-kindness - A sense of thy favor and approbation was more to my heart than thrones and sceptres; and in order to retain this blessing, I have walked in thy truth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:4

I have not sat with vain persons - שוא מתי methey shav , men of lies, dissemblers, backbiters, etc. Neither will I go in with dissemblers - נעלמים naalamim , the hidden ones, the dark designers, the secret plotters and conspirators in the state. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:5

I have hated the congregation of evil doers - I have never made one in the crowds of discontented persons; persons who, under pretense of rectifying what was wrong in the state, strove to subvert it, to breed general confusion, to overturn the laws, seize on private property, and enrich themselves by the spoils of the country. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:3

Verse 3 3.For thy goodness is before mine eyes. This verse may be viewed as one sentence, or divided into two parts, but with almost the same sense. If the former reading is adopted, both the verbs will be emphatic, after this manner: ”Because thy goodness, O Lord, has been ever before mine eyes, and I have trusted in thy faithfulness, I have restrained all wicked lusts in my heart, lest, provoked by the malice of mine enemies, I should be forced to retaliate.” By this interpretation there... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:4

Verse 4 4.I have not sat with vain men. He again declares the very great dissimilarity which existed between him and his adversaries. For the contrast is always to be observed, that wicked men, by all the harm and mischief they wrought against him, could never drive him from the path of rectitude. This verse might likewise be joined with the former, as if completing the sentence, in this way, That David, by confiding in the favor of God, had withdrawn himself from deceivers. The words, sitting... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 26:5

Verse 5 5.I hate the assembly. The Psalmist protests again how greatly he abhorred the ungodly. Formerly he denied that he had any fellowship with them; now he still more explicitly declares that he fled from their company with loathing, for that is the meaning of the phrase, I hate. It is indeed true, that the wicked are everywhere hated; but how few withdraw themselves from them, that they may not imitate their vices! David asserts both; he tells us that he hated their society, and that he... read more

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