John Gill Commentary Psalms 10:14

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 10:14

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Psalms 10:14

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: The helpless committeth [himself] unto thee; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless." — Psalms 10:14 (ASV)

You have seen [it]
Though the wicked say God will never see, (Psalms 10:11); he sees all things in general, all men and all their actions; all are manifest and open to him, and everything in particular, especially the wickedness of men; even that which is said or thought in the heart;

for you behold mischief and spite ;
that mischief which arises from spite or malice in the heart; God beholds the inward principle from where it proceeds, as well as that itself; the mischief devised in the heart, on the bed, and which lies under the tongue, designed against the people of God, either to the injury of their characters and estates, or to their bodies, and even to their souls, as much as in them lies, proceeding from implacable malice and enmity to them;

to requite [it] with your hand :
of power, to retaliate it upon their own heads, to render tribulation to them that trouble the saints, which is but a righteous thing with God: or "to put [it] in your hand" F11 ; and the sense is, that God looks upon all the injuries the wicked out of spite devise to do to his people, and puts them in his hand, that they may be ever before him, and always in his sight, and he will take a proper opportunity of avenging them.

The Targum interprets it of God's rewarding good men, as well as punishing the wicked, paraphrasing the whole thus, ``it is manifest before thee that thou wilt send sorrow and wrath upon the wicked; thou lookest to render a good reward to the righteous with thy hand;''

the poor commits himself unto you :
his body, and the outward concerns of life, as to a faithful Creator; his soul, and the spiritual and eternal welfare of it, as to the only Saviour and Redeemer; he commits all his ways to him, as the God of providence and grace; and at last he commits his spirit to him at death, as to his covenant God and Father:

The words may be rendered, "the poor leaves upon you" F12 ; that is, he leaves himself and his upon the Lord; he leaves his burden on him, he casts all his care upon him, as he is advised and encouraged to do; he leaves his cause with him to plead it for him, who will plead it thoroughly and maintain it: the phrase is expressive of the poor's faith and hope in God; hence the Chaldee paraphrase renders it, "on you will your poor ones hope"; for the supply of their wants, and for help and assistance against their enemies;

you are the helper of the fatherless ;
God is the Father of them, provides for them, supplies, supports, and defends them; nor will he in a spiritual sense leave his people orphans or comfortless, but will visit and help them; see (Psalms 68:5) (John 14:18) ;


FOOTNOTES:

  • F11: (Kdyb ttl) "ut ponas in manibus tuis", Vatablus, Cocceius.
  • F12: (hklx bwzy Kyle) "super te relinquit pauper", Montanus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Cocceius.