Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v24300

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 8KB | 145 lines

24300
 * Why we should not trust in men. (1-4) Why we should trust in
 God. (5-10)

 #1-4 If it is our delight to praise the Lord while we live, we
 shall certainly praise him to all eternity. With this glorious
 prospect before us, how low do worldly pursuits seem! There is a
 Son of man in whom there is help, even him who is also the Son
 of God, who will not fail those that trust in him. But all other
 sons of men are like the man from whom they sprung, who, being
 in honour, did not abide. God has given the earth to the
 children of men, but there is great striving about it. Yet,
 after a while, no part of the earth will be their own, except
 that in which their dead bodies are laid. And when man returns
 to his earth, in that very day all his plans and designs vanish
 and are gone: what then comes of expectations from him?

24304
 #5-10 The psalmist encourages us to put confidence in God. We
 must hope in the providence of God for all we need as to this
 life, and in the grace of God for that which is to come. The God
 of heaven became a man that he might become our salvation.
 Though he died on the cross for our sins, and was laid in the
 grave, yet his thoughts of love to us did not perish; he rose
 again to fulfil them. When on earth, his miracles were examples
 of what he is still doing every day. He grants deliverance to
 captives bound in the chains of sin and Satan. He opens the eyes
 of the understanding. He feeds with the bread of life those who
 hunger for salvation; and he is the constant Friend of the poor
 in spirit, the helpless: with him poor sinners, that are as
 fatherless, find mercy; and his kingdom shall continue for ever.
 Then let sinners flee to him, and believers rejoice in him. And
 as the Lord shall reign for ever, let us stir up each other to
 praise his holy name.
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 * The people of God are exhorted to praise him for his mercies
 and care. (1-11) For the salvation and prosperity of the church.
 (12-20)

 #1-11 Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely;
 it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in
 covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and
 will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God
 heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace,
 assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others
 praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's
 knowledge is a depth that can never be fathomed. And while he
 telleth the number of the stars, he condescends to hear the
 broken-hearted sinner. While he feeds the young ravens, he will
 not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and
 melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, therefore no
 fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from
 clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield
 the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist delights not
 in things wherein sinners trust and glory; but a serious and
 suitable regard to God is, in his sight, of very great price. We
 are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under
 the gracious influences of hope and fear united.

24321
 #12-20 The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved
 by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise
 him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and
 these are represented by his favours in the course of nature.
 The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the
 thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to
 the wind, #Joh 3:8|. Converting grace softens the heart that was
 hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes
 good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped
 up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it
 is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the
 conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to
 melt it and restore it to itself.
24330
 * The creatures placed in the upper world called on to praise
 the Lord. (1-6) Also the creatures of this lower world,
 especially his own people. (7-14)

 #1-6 We, in this dark and sinful world, know little of the
 heavenly world of light. But we know that there is above us a
 world of blessed angels. They are always praising God, therefore
 the psalmist shows his desire that God may be praised in the
 best manner; also we show that we have communion with spirits
 above, who are still praising him. The heavens, with all
 contained in them, declare the glory of God. They call on us,
 that both by word and deed, we glorify with them the Creator and
 Redeemer of the universe.

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 #7-14 Even in this world, dark and bad as it is, God is praised.
 The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what
 God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's
 word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy
 winds, yet they fulfil it. View the surface of the earth,
 mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the
 fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And
 assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to
 employ themselves in praising God. Let all manner of persons
 praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that
 we are his saints by praising his name continually. He is not
 only our Creator, but our Redeemer; who made us a people near
 unto him. We may by "the Horn of his people" understand Christ,
 whom God has exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, who is indeed
 the defence and the praise of all his saints, and will be so for
 ever. In redemption, that unspeakable glory is displayed, which
 forms the source of all our hopes and joys. May the Lord pardon
 us, and teach our hearts to love him more and praise him better.
24344
 * Joy to all the people of God. (1-5) Terror to their enemies.
 (6-9)

 #1-5 New mercies continually demand new songs of praise, upon
 earth and in heaven. And the children of Zion have not only to
 bless the God who made them, but to rejoice in him, as having
 created them in Christ Jesus unto good works, and formed them
 saints as well as men. The Lord takes pleasure in his people;
 they should rejoice in Him. When the Lord has made sinners feel
 their wants and unworthiness, he will adorn them with the graces
 of his Spirit, and cause them to bear his image, and rejoice in
 his happiness for ever. Let his saints employ their waking hours
 upon their beds in songs of praise. Let them rejoice, even upon
 the bed of death, assured that they are going to eternal rest
 and glory.

24349
 #6-9 Some of God's servants of old were appointed to execute
 vengeance according to his word. They did not do it from
 personal revenge or earthly politics, but in obedience to God's
 command. And the honour intended for all the saints of God,
 consists in their triumphs over the enemies of their salvation.
 Christ never intended his gospel should be spread by fire and
 sword, or his righteousness by the wrath of man. But let the
 high praises of God be in our mouths, while we wield the sword
 of the word of God, with the shield of faith, in warfare with
 the world, the flesh, and the devil. The saints shall be more
 than conquerors over the enemies of their souls, through the
 blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony. The completing
 of this will be in the judgement of the great day. Then shall
 the judgement be executed. Behold Jesus, and his gospel church,
 chiefly in her millennial state. He and his people rejoice in
 each other; by their prayers and efforts they work with him,
 while he goes forth in the chariots of salvation, conquering
 sinners by grace, or in chariots of vengeance, to destroy his
 enemies.