Psa 17:7-8 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 7. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness ] David was now exposed to imminent danger; common interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work miracles for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no claim to such miraculous interpositions; he expects all from God's lovingkindness . The common reading here is haphleh chasadeycha , "distinguish thy holy ones;" but haple , "do wonders," is the reading of about seventy MSS., some ancient editions, with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Chaldee, Syriac , and Arabic . The marginal reading of this verse is nearer the original than that of the text.

‏ Psalms 17:7-8

Verse 7. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness] David was now exposed to imminent danger; common interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work miracles for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no claim to such miraculous interpositions; he expects all from God's lovingkindness.

The common reading here is haphleh chasadeycha, "distinguish thy holy ones;" but haple, "do wonders," is the reading of about seventy MSS., some ancient editions, with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic. The marginal reading of this verse is nearer the original than that of the text.

Verse 8. Keep me as the apple of the eye] Or, as the black of the daughter of eye. Take as much care to preserve me now by Divine influence, as thou hast to preserve my eye by thy good providence. Thou hast entrenched it deeply in the skull; hast ramparted it with the forehead and cheek-bones; defended it by the eyebrow, eyelids, and eyelashes; and placed it in that situation where the hands can best protect it.

Hide me under the shadow of thy wings] This is a metaphor taken from the hen and her chickens. See it explained at large in the note on Mt 23:37. The Lord says of his followers, Zec 2:8: "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye." How dear are our eyes to us! how dear must his followers be to God!