| Barnes' Notes on the Bible Draw nigh unto my soul - To me - for my life is in danger. And redeem it - Ransom it; save it from ruin. See the notes at Isaiah 43:3; notes at Isaiah 44:22. Deliver me, because of mine enemies - Because they are so numerous, so powerful, and so determined on my destruction. Compare Psalm 13:4. Clarke's Commentary on the BibleDeliver me because of mine enemies - Probably they now began to think that the redemption of these captives was not an impossible thing; that it was not far off; and therefore they had great rage, because they found their time was but short. Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDraw nigh unto my soul,.... God his father, while he was suffering, stood afar off from him; wherefore he desires that he would draw nigh to him in the manifestations of his love and favour to him; which he did, when he made known to him the way of life, and made him full of joy with his countenance; and redeem it: that is, from the power of the grave; not leave it there, but raise him from the dead, and give him glory, as he did; deliver me, because of mine enemies; that they might not triumph over him, as if, being dead, he should rise no more; and so the Targum, "that mine enemies might not lift up themselves against me.'' Or the meaning is, deliver me from the grave, raise me from the dead, that I may requite mine enemies, and take vengeance on them; see Psalm 41:8. Geneva Study BibleDraw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Scofield Reference NotesMargin redeem Heb. goel, Redemp. (Kinsman type). See Scofield Note: "Isa 59:20". Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary69:13-21 Whatever deep waters of affliction or temptation we sink into, whatever floods of trouble or ungodly men seem ready to overwhelm us, let us persevere in prayer to our Lord to save us. The tokens of God's favour to us are enough to keep our spirits from sinking in the deepest outward troubles. If we think well of God, and continue to do so under the greatest hardships, we need not fear but he will do well for us. And if at any time we are called on to suffer reproach and shame, for Christ's sake, this may be our comfort, that he knows it. It bears hard on one that knows the worth of a good name, to be oppressed with a bad one; but when we consider what a favour it is to be accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus, we shall see that there is no reason why it should be heart-breaking to us. The sufferings of Christ were here particularly foretold, which proves the Scripture to be the word of God; and how exactly these predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which proves him to be the true Messiah. The vinegar and the gall given to him, were a faint emblem of that bitter cup which he drank up, that we might drink the cup of salvation. We cannot expect too little from men, miserable comforters are they all; nor can we expect too much from the God of all comfort and consolation. |