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The two previous sections of the psalm express trust in the Divine help and prayer for guidance. From the fifteenth verse we see the reasons of the urgency of his prayer. The friends and the enemies of God are in conflict in this world, and the psalmist is suffering at the hands of the wicked, and needs the interposition of God. The troubles of the righteous.

I. EVIL COUNSELS ARE SET IN MOTION AGAINST HIM. (Ver. 15.) "A net is laid for his feet." This may mean physical or moral danger, putting in peril his life or his character, aiming either at his death or drawing him into evil courses. Evil men rejoice if they can prevail upon a good man to abandon his principles or sacrifice his character. His danger is not from open temptation, but from artful sophistries, making the worse appear the better reason; plots against his honour.

II. HE IS IN SPECIAL NEED OF DIVINE SYMPATHY. (Ver. 16.) On account of his loneliness in his trouble - desolate. He is isolated from sympathy and companions, and cast upon God's companionship. We are often thus tried if we are faithful to God and our work - as Christ was, and our consolation was his, "I am not alone; for the Father is with me."

III. HE HAD MANY INWARD AS WELL AS OUTWARD TROUBLES. (Vers. 17, 18.) He suffered pain and affliction, and an intense consciousness of sinfulness. Either of these experiences, separately, is hard enough to bear; but when both have to be endured at the same time, there is no greater misery. We can but cry and pray as the psalmist did.

IV. HE DREADED THAT THE ACTIVE HATRED OF Ills MANY ENEMIES WOULD BRING HIM TO OPEN SHAME. (Vers. 19, 20.) He was afraid that the Divine cause, as represented in his person, might appear, in some way, to be worsted; and if so, he would feel the deepest humiliation. "Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee." If God disappointed his hope, his enemies would pour derision on his trust in God, and that would be a deep calamity, if men proclaimed that faith in God was a vain thing. But God is not unfaithful; it is we who are faithless, and expose ourselves to shame.

V. HE CONCLUDES WITH A PRAYER FOR INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS AS HIS DEFENCE. (Ver. 21.) He desires to have these as his guardians, because his way is perilous from inward and outward foes. The effect of deep trouble is sometimes to make us reckless, and to forfeit steadfast perseverance; to unstring and relax our moral nature. And sometimes it braces us up to the highest aim and the strongest effort, as here, to realize our trust in God and to seek for the whole armour of righteousness, that "we may withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand." The twenty-second verse was added when this psalm came to be used in public worship. - S.

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KJV: Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

WEB: My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.