BIBLES NET. COM
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
on the Whole Bible
Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
P S A L M S
PSALM LIV.
The key of this psalm hangs at the door, for the title tells us upon
what occasion it was penned–when the inhabitants of Ziph, men of Judah
(types of Judas the traitor), betrayed David to Saul, by informing him
where he was and putting him in a way how to seize him. This they did
twice
and it is upon record to their everlasting infamy. The psalm is sweet;
the former part of it, perhaps, was meditated when he was in his
distress and put into writing when the danger was over, with the
addition of the last two verses, which express his thankfulness for the
deliverance, which yet might be written in faith, even when he was in
the midst of his fright. Here,
I. He complains to God of the malice of his enemies, and prays for
help against them,
II. He comforts himself with an assurance of the divine favour and
protection, and that, in due time, his enemies should be confounded and
be delivered,
What time we are in distress we may comfortable sing this psalm.
| Complaints. | |
|
|
|
To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil. A psalm of David,
when
the Ziphim came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself
with us?
1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me
by thy strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek
after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
We may observe here,
1. The great distress that David was now in, which the title gives an
account of. The Ziphim came of their own accord, and informed Saul
where David was, with a promise to deliver him into his hand. One would
have thought that when David had retired into the country he would not
be pursued, into a desert country he would not be discovered, and into
his own country he would not be betrayed; and yet it seems he was.
Never let a good man expect to be safe an easy till he comes to heaven.
How treacherous, how officious, were these Ziphim! It is well that God
is faithful, for men are not to be trusted,
2. His prayer to God for succour and deliverance,
He appeals to God’s strength, by which he was able to help him, and to
his name, by which he was engaged to help him, and begs he would save
him from his enemies and judge him, that is, plead his cause and judge
for him. David has no other plea to depend upon than God’s name, no
other power to depend upon than God’s strength, and those he makes his
refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer of his
prayers
(v. 2),
which even in his flight, when he had not opportunity for solemn
address to God, he was ever and anon lifting up to heaven: Hear my
prayer, which comes from my heart, and give ear to the words of
my mouth.
3. His plea, which is taken from the character of his enemies,
v. 3.
(1.) They are strangers; such were the Ziphites, unworthy the
name of Israelites. “They have used me more basely and barbarously than
the Philistines themselves would have done.” The worst treatment may be
expected from those who, having broken through the bonds of relation
and alliance, make themselves strangers.
(2.) They are oppressors; such was Saul, who, as a king, should
have used his power for the protection of all his good subjects, but
abused it for their destruction. Nothing is so grievous as oppression
in the seat of judgment,
Eccl. iii. 16.
Paul’s greatest perils were by his own countrymen and by
false brethren
and so were David’s.
(3.) They were very formidable and threatening; they not only hated him
and wished him ill, but they rose up against him in a body, joining
their power to do him a mischief.
(4.) They were very spiteful and malicious: They seek after my
soul; they hunt for the precious life; no less will satisfy them.
We may, in faith, pray that God would not by his providence give
success, lest it should look like giving countenance, to such cruel
bloody men.
(5.) They were very profane and atheistical, and, for this reason, he
thought God was concerned in honour to appear against them: They
have not set God before them, that is, they have quite cast off the
thoughts of God; they do not consider that his eye is upon them, that,
in fighting against his people, they fight against him, nor have they
any dread of the certain fatal consequences of such an unequal
engagement. Note, From those who do not set God before them no good is
to be expected; nay, what wickedness will not such men be guilty of?
What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will
hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah–Mark
this. Let us all be sure to set God before us at all times; for, if
we do not we are in danger of becoming desperate.
| Consolations. | |
|
|
|
4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that
uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy
truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O
LORD; for it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye
hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
We have here the lively actings of David’s faith in his prayer, by
which he was assured that the issue would be comfortable, though the
attempt upon him was formidable.
I. He was sure that he had God on his side, that God took his part
(v. 4);
he speaks it with an air of triumph and exultation, Behold, God is
my helper. If we be for him, he is for us; and, if he be for us, we
shall have such help in him that we need not fear any power engaged
against us. Though men and devils aim to be our destroyers, they shall
not prevail while God is our helper: The Lord is with those that
uphold my soul. Compare
“The Lord taketh my part with those that help me. There are some
that uphold me, and God is one of them; he is the principal one; none
of them could help me if he did not help them.” Every creature is that
to us (and no more) that God makes it to be. He means, “The Lord is he
that upholds my soul, and keeps me from tiring in my work and sinking
under my burdens.” He that by his providence upholds all things by his
grace upholds the souls of his people. God, who will in due time save
his people, does, in the mean time, sustain them and bear them up, so
that the spirit he has made shall not fail before him.
II. God taking part with him, he doubted not but his enemies should
both flee and fall before him
(v. 5):
“He shall reward evil unto my enemies that observe me, seeking
an opportunity to do me a mischief. The evil they designed against me
the righteous God will return upon their own heads.” David would not
render evil to them, but he knew God would: I as a deaf man heard
not, for thou wilt hear. The enemies we forgive, if they repent
not, God will judge; and for this reason we must not avenge ourselves,
because God has said, Vengeance is mine. But he prays, Cut
them off in thy truth. This is not a prayer of malice, but a prayer
of faith; for it has an eye to the word of God, and only desires the
performance of that. There is truth in God’s threatenings as well as in
his promises, and sinners that repent not will find it so to their
cost.
III. He promises to give thanks to God for all the experiences he had
had of his goodness to him
(v. 6):
I will sacrifice unto thee. Though sacrifices were expensive,
yet, when God required that his worshippers should in that way praise
him, David would not only offer them, but offer them freely and without
grudging. All our spiritual sacrifices must, in this sense, be
free-will-offerings; for God loves a cheerful giver. Yet he will not
only bring his sacrifice, which was but the shadow, the ceremony; he
will mind the substance: I will praise thy name. A thankful
heart, and the calves of our lips giving thanks to his name, are the
sacrifices God will accept: “I will praise thy name, for it is
good. Thy name is not only great but good, and therefore to be
praised. To praise thy name is not only what we are bound to, but it is
good, it is pleasant, it is profitable; it is good for us
(Ps. xcii. 1);
therefore I will praise thy name.“
IV. He speaks of his deliverance as a thing done
(v. 7):
I will praise thy name, and say, “He has delivered me; this
shall be my song then.” That which he rejoices in is a complete
deliverance–He has delivered me from all trouble; and a
deliverance to his heart’s content–My eye has seen its desire upon
my enemies, not seen them cut off and ruined, but forced to
retreat, tidings being brought to Saul that the Philistines were upon
him,
All David desired was to be himself safe; when he saw Saul draw off his
forces he saw his desire. He has delivered me from all trouble.
Either,
1. With this thought David comforted himself when he was in distress:
“He has delivered me from all trouble hitherto, and many a time
I have gained my point, and seen my desire on my enemies; therefore he
will deliver me out of this trouble.” We should thus, in our greatest
straits, encourage ourselves with our past experiences. Or,
2. With this thought he magnified his present deliverance when the
fright was over, that it was an earnest of further deliverance. He
speaks of the completing of his deliverance as a thing done, though he
had as yet many troubles before him, because, having God’s promise for
it, he was as sure of it as if it had been done already. “He that has
begun to deliver me from all troubles, and will at length give me to
see my desire upon my enemies.” This may perhaps point at Christ, of
whom David was a type; God would deliver him out of all the troubles of
his state of humiliation, and he was perfectly sure of it; and all
things are said to be put under his feet; for, though we see not yet
all things put under him, yet we are sure he shall reign till all his
enemies be made his footstool, and he shall see his desire upon them.
However, it is an encouragement to all believers to make that use of
their particular deliverances which St. Paul does (like David here),
He that delivered me from the mouth of the lion shall deliver me
from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly
kingdom.
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
|
Back to Bibles Net . Com – Online Christian Library Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary – Free Download |
Copyright 2008. Bibles Net. Com. All Rights Reserved.