Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v23000

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 106 lines

23007
 * The desolations of the sanctuary. (1-11) Pleas for encouraging
 faith. (12-17) Petitions for deliverances. (18-23)

 #1-11 This psalm appears to describe the destruction of
 Jerusalem and the temple by the Chaldeans. The deplorable case
 of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord,
 and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for
 them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was
 encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more
 reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom
 Christ has redeemed with his own blood. Infidels and persecutors
 may silence faithful ministers, and shut up places of worship,
 and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion
 together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts,
 and God's oppressed servants may see no prospect of deliverance;
 but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future
 harvest, and the despised church has survived those who once
 triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most
 threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God by
 earnest prayer.

23018
 #12-17 The church silences her own complaints. What God had done
 for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend
 on him. It was the Lord's doing, none besides could do it. This
 providence was food to faith and hope, to support and encourage
 in difficulties. The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that
 is faithful to his covenant about the day and the night, will
 never cast off those whom he has chosen. We have as much reason
 to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter. But we have
 no more reason to despair of the return of comfort, than to
 despair of day and summer. And in the world above we shall have
 no more changes.

23024
 #18-23 The psalmist begs that God would appear for the church
 against their enemies. The folly of such as revile his gospel
 and his servants will be plain to all. Let us call upon our God
 to enlighten the dark nations of the earth; and to rescue his
 people, that the poor and needy may praise his name. Blessed
 Saviour, thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Make
 thy people more than conquerors. Be thou, Lord, all in all to
 them in every situation and circumstances; for then thy poor and
 needy people will praise thy name.
23030
 * The psalmist declares his resolution of executing judgment.
 (1-5) He rebukes the wicked, and concludes with resolutions to
 praise God. (6-10)

 #1-5 We often pray for mercy, when in pursuit of it; and shall
 we only once or twice give thanks, when we obtain it? God shows
 that he is nigh to us in what we call upon him for. Public
 trusts are to be managed uprightly. This may well be applied to
 Christ and his government. Man's sin threatened to destroy the
 whole creation; but Christ saved the world from utter ruin. He
 who is made of God to us wisdom, bids us be wise. To the proud,
 daring sinners he says, Boast not of your power, persist not in
 contempt. All the present hopes and future happiness of the
 human race spring from the Son of God.

23035
 #6-10. No second causes will raise men to preferment without the
 First Cause. It comes neither from the east, nor from the west,
 nor from the south. He mentions not the north; the same word
 that signifies the north, signifies the secret place; and from
 the secret of God's counsel it does come. From God alone all
 must receive their doom. There are mixtures of mercy and grace
 in the cup of affliction, when it is put into the hands of God's
 people; mixtures of the curse, when it is put into the hands of
 the wicked. God's people have their share in common calamities,
 but the dregs of the cup are for the wicked. The exaltation of
 the Son of David will be the subject of the saints' everlasting
 praises. Then let sinners submit to the King of righteousness,
 and let believers rejoice in and obey him.
23040
 * The psalmist speaks of God's power. (1-6) All have to fear and
 to trust in him. (7-12)

 #1-6 Happy people are those who have their land filled with the
 knowledge of God! happy persons that have their hearts filled
 with that knowledge! It is the glory and happiness of a people
 to have God among them by his ordinances. Wherein the enemies of
 the church deal proudly, it will appear that God is above them.
 See the power of God's rebukes. With pleasure may Christians
 apply this to the advantages bestowed by the Redeemer.

23046
 #7-12 God's people are the meek of the earth, the quiet in the
 land, that suffer wrong, but do none. The righteous God seems to
 keep silence long, yet, sooner or later, he will make judgment
 to be heard. We live in an angry, provoking world; we often feel
 much, and are apt to fear more, from the wrath of man. What will
 not turn to his praise, shall not be suffered to break out. He
 can set bounds to the wrath of man, as he does to the raging
 sea; hitherto it shall come, and no further. Let all submit to
 God. Our prayers and praises, and especially our hearts, are the
 presents we should bring to the Lord. His name is glorious, and
 he is the proper object of our fear. He shall cut off the spirit
 of princes; he shall slip it off easily, as we slip off a flower
 from the stalk, or a bunch of grapes from the vine; so the word
 signifies. He can dispirit the most daring: since there is no
 contending with God, it is our wisdom, as it is our duty, to
 submit to him. Let us seek his favour as our portion, and commit
 all our concerns to him.