Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 77
Overview:
The psalmist's troubles and
Temptation.
(1-10) He encourages
himself
By the remembrance of
God's help of his people.
(11-20)
1-10 Days of trouble must be days of
Prayer; when
God seems to
have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him. In
the
Day of his trouble the psalmist did not seek for the
diversion of business or amusement, but he sought
God, and his
favour and
Grace. Those that are under trouble of mind, must pray
it away. He pored upon the trouble; the methods that should have
relieved him did but increase his grief. When he remembered
God,
it was only the Divine
Justice and wrath. His
Spirit was
overwhelmed, and sank under the load. But let not the
remembrance of the comforts we have lost, make us unthankful for
those that are left. Particularly he called to remembrance the
comforts with which he supported himself in former sorrows. Here
is the language of a sorrowful, deserted soul, walking in
Darkness; a common case even among those that fear the
Lord,
Isa 50:10. Nothing wounds and pierces like the thought of
God's being angry.
God's own people, in a cloudy and dark
Day,
may be tempted to make wrong conclusions about their spiritual
state, and that of
God's kingdom in the world. But we must not
give way to such fears. Let
Faith answer them from the
Scripture. The troubled
Fountain will work itself clear again;
and the recollection of former times of joyful experience often
raises a
Hope, tending to relief. Doubts and fears proceed from
the want and weakness of
Faith. Despondency and distrust under
affliction, are too often the infirmities of believers, and, as
such, are to be thought upon
By us with sorrow and shame. When,
unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings.
11-20 The remembrance of the
Works of
God, will be a powerful
remedy against distrust of his promise and
Goodness; for he is
God, and changes not.
God's way is in the
Sanctuary. We are sure
that
God is holy in all his
Works.
God's ways are like the
Deep
waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which
cannot be tracked.
God brought
Israel out of
Egypt. This was
typical of the great
Redemption to be wrought out in the
Fulness
of time, both
By price and power. If we have harboured doubtful
thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate
On that
God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up
for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.