The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
This psalm belongs to the time when David was a hunted fugitive from Saul, after Jonathan had found him in his refuge and strengthened him with the promise that he would be king over Israel. Accompanying his voice with his harp, he sang it to encourage his own soul with praise and trust in the Lord when the wicked bent the bow to shoot secretly at the upright in heart and the foundations seemed destroyed. It presents the Lord as in His holy temple with His throne in heaven, watching the children of men under His watchful gaze.
From that throne He tries or tests the righteous. At the same time His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence, showing that He hates wickedness and violence. Sin is hateful to God, who cannot endure its presence, and His judgment against sin is shown by casting the disloyal angels out of heaven. The verse therefore warns against sin and calls readers to overcome sin and become holy in character.
This psalm belongs to the time when David was a hunted fugitive from Saul, after Jonathan had found him in his refuge and strengthened him with the promise that he would be king over Israel. Accompanying his voice with his harp, he sang it to encourage his own soul with praise and trust in the Lord when the wicked bent the bow to shoot secretly at the upright in heart and the foundations seemed destroyed. It presents the Lord as in His holy temple with His throne in heaven, watching the children of men under His watchful gaze.
From that throne He tries or tests the righteous. At the same time His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence, showing that He hates wickedness and violence. Sin is hateful to God, who cannot endure its presence, and His judgment against sin is shown by casting the disloyal angels out of heaven. The verse therefore warns against sin and calls readers to overcome sin and become holy in character.