CONTENTS
The greater part of this Psalm is written in a way of prayer; and some portions of it in a way of prophecy: It forms a very important subject, in which the Church is highly concerned.
To the chief musician, A Psalm of David.
From the authority of the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of his servant Peter, we are not only warranted to apply the predictions in this Psalm to the person and character of the apostate Judas, and his seed, but it would be rather dangerous to suppose it to refer originally to any other. See Acts 1:20. And as the denunciations here delivered by David under the spirit of prophecy, plainly, from this authority, refer to Judas, so it is blessed to see also that by the same spirit David is speaking in the person of Jesus. Reader! I pray you to keep the recollection of these two grand principles uppermost in your mind, as you go through this Psalm; and permit me to remark, concerning those great points at the opening of the Psalm, that it is from the want of not having a right apprehension of them, that so many (otherwise pious persons) neglect to join in the reading of it in our churches when it forms a part in the service of the day. They do not recollect that it is Judas concerning whom those predictions are uttered; neither do they recollect that they are spoken by, and in the person of Christ, against that traitor. But considered in this light, and as the Lord's denunciation against Judas, they form an interesting part in the doctrine of the cross, and in which all the friends and followers of the Lord Jesus must most heartily join. Psalms 139:21-22. Let us now in this light attend to the cries of Jesus, as set forth in this prayer, and delight ourselves in tracing Him as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, when for us he made his soul an offering for sin.