Psalms 10:9

9 he lurks in ambush like ¹a lion in his ²thicket; he ³lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his ⁴net.

Psalms 10:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 10:9

He lieth in wait secretly as a lion
The first beast in ( Revelation 13:2 ) ; is said to have a mouth like a lion, and the second beast in ( Psalms 10:11 ) ; spake like a dragon; and both design one and the same, antichrist, in his twofold capacity, civil and ecclesiastical; this metaphor of the lion lying in wait secretly for his prey denotes the insidious methods used by antichrist to destroy the faithful witnesses of Christ; who lies like a lion

in his den,
in the temple of God, now become a den of thieves;

he lieth in wait to catch the poor:
to snatch and carry them away captive as his prey; see ( Revelation 13:10 ) ;

he doth catch the poor when he draweth him into his net;
this metaphor is taken from fowlers, who spread nets, into which they allure and draw the birds and catch them. The allurements, snares, and nets, which antichrist lays to catch the poor saints and people of God in, are the riches and honours of this world, great pretensions to holiness, devotion; and religion, and many lying signs and wonders.

Psalms 10:9 In-Context

7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;

9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.

10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.

11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 17:12
• 2. Job 38:40
• 3. Psalms 59:3; Micah 7:2
• 4. Psalms 9:15