Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey,.... Or "the likeness of him is as a lion" ; meaning Saul, as Kimchi interprets it; or everyone of them that compassed them about, as Aben Ezra observes; sometimes wicked and persecuting princes are compared to lions, for their strength and cruelty; see Pr 28:15; so the devil is called a roaring lion, 1Pe 5:8; and the antichristian beast is said to have the mouth of a lion, Re 13:2;and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places; to leap upon its prey, and seize it at once, as it has opportunity; this denotes the secret and insidious method which the enemies of Christ take to do mischief; see Ps 10:9.
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Psalms 17:12
Psalms 17:12
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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Psalms 17 — OverviewPsalms 17 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleDavid being in great distress and danger by the malice of his enemies,
does, in this psalm, by prayer address himself to God, his tried
refuge, and seeks shelter in him. I. He appeals to God concerning his…Psalms 17 — OverviewPsalms 17 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 17:1, David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defence of God against his enemies; Psalms 17:10, He shews their pride, craft, and eagerness; Psalms 17:13, He prays against them in confidence of his hope.Psalms 17 — OverviewPsalms 17 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BiblePrayer of David. This prayer was put up by David either in his own person, on his own account, praying to God for the vindication of his cause, and for salvation and deliverance from his enemies; or in the person of the…Psalms 17:8-15Psalms 17:8-15 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe may observe, in these verses,
I. What David prays for. Being compassed about with enemies that sought
his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their
attempts against him, to the crown to…Psalms 17:12Psalms 17:12 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeLike: etc. Heb. The likeness of him (that is, of every one of them) is as a lion that desireth to ravin, Psalms 7:2, Psalms 22:13; 2 Timothy 4:17; 1 Peter 5:8
lurking: Heb. sitting