David complaining of his slanderous enemies, under the person of Judas, devoteth them: he sheweth their sin: complaining of his own misery, he prayth for help: he promiseth thankfulness.
To the chief musician, A Psalm of David.
Title. מזמור לדוד למנצח lamnatseach ledavid mizmor.— There is no doubt that this psalm was composed by David; but whether when he was persecuted by Saul and calumniated by Doeg (see 1 Samuel 26:19.), or whether at the time of Absalom's rebellion, is uncertain. Several of the Jewish, interpreters think the former; though the Syriac translators understood it of the latter; if so, it refers to the traitor Ahithophel, who, in a fit of despair, went and hanged himself, 2 Samuel 17:23. In this last circumstance, he answers most exactly. But certain it is, that either Doeg or Ahithophel was a fit type and representative of the traitor Judas; who, without all question, was prophetically intended in this psalm, for so St. Peter expounds it, Acts 1:26. If therefore we consider it in its first sense as relating to one of them, yet in its principal and prophetic sense it refers to Judas and the persecutors of our Lord; against whom the Psalmist denounces the most dreadful judgments. And in this sense the curses, as they are called, can give no offence to any well-disposed mind; for in reality they are mere prophetic denunciations, and in that view should be translated throughout in the future, as we have had occasion to observe more than once before. To this effect Theodoret observes well, that, though our Saviour commands us to bless our persecutors, no one should think this prophesy repugnant to that command: for the Psalmist does not speak here by way of imprecation, but foretels the future punishment which should attend Judas and the unmerciful Jews who betrayed and persecuted Christ.
Psalms 109:1. Hold not thy peace— The idea of God's holding his peace or keeping silence is opposed to his affording his gracious aid and protection to his servants. Of my praise, means, "who art the subject of my praise, or, who hath hitherto given me continual cause to praise thee." It may be read, O God, my praise.