The title of the previous Psalm was peculiar and suitable to its theme. We may say the same of this Psalm: Al-taschith. i.e. destroy not; for it is suitable, whether taken as a musical term or as indicating the spirit breathed throughout.
We do not, however, think that it is taken from Deut 9:26, nor yet from 1 Sam 26:9 (as many writers suggest), where the sentiment occurs, addressed in the one case to God, in the other to man. We suspect it is a musical term of some sort, perhaps connected with the lofty ideas entertained regarding the harp and its accompaniments - the indestructible - common to all nations as an epithet of poetic and musical compositions.
Christ is the chief Speaker, entering into his own difficulties and those of his Church. The tone is such as we find in John 12:27,28, "Father, save me! Father, glorify your name!" But his people can use every word of it also. Perhaps the publican's prayer was drawn from the first verse, "O God, be merciful to me." (John 5:1)
The calamities, or rather the mischiefs of a malicious world and a malicious hell are spoken of, but spoken in order to fix our attention on the means of victory. The means of victory is (v2) "God Most high" God "who accomplishes all things" in spite of foes.
It is God too doing this with "mercy and truth" - the attributes that are prominent in redemption, kindness to the guilty in consistency with his adherence to everything his mouth has uttered.
"Selah" (v3) gives peculiar force to the words, "The devourer snorts at me! Selah."
Stop, my soul, and ponder; for God sends help.
As for men they are as lions, in violence; or if you refer to their secret ways, they are equally to be distrusted' for their tongue scoffs at all that is holy (v4,6.)
They have fallen into their own pit - and another "Selah" calls us to ponder.
But God, God in his glory, let me ever be in his hands (v5,7)!
My heart is fixed, my glory (i.e. my soul) bursts into song, "I awake the morning dawn" to sing his praises. For full is He of tender mercy that reaches above the heavens, as well as of truth that stretches to the clouds, - such mercy and truth as was prayed for in v3, and which shines bright in all his redemption acts.
The issue must be glory to himself, infinite glory, glory above the heavens, glory above all the earth.
A flood of glory is to cover this earth above its highest mountains, to cover heaven, above its loftiest pinnacles.
The eye of the Psalmist is gazing on the ages to come in the New Heavens and New Earth, in which dwells righteousness.
David "in the cave" in the very presence of Saul, was taught by the Holy Spirit to sing this way for his own use and the use of the church, and the use of the Son of Man in the days of his flesh.
The Righteous One connecting his deliverance with the LORD's glory.
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