Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 115
Overview:
The psalmist declares his
Love to the
Lord.
(1-9) His desire
to be thankful.
(10-19)
1-9 We have many reasons for loving the
Lord, but are most
affected
By his loving-kindness when relieved out of
Deep
distress. When a
Poor sinner is awakened to a sense of his
state, and fears that he must soon sink under the just wrath of
God, then he finds trouble and sorrow. But let all such
Call
upon the
Lord to deliver their souls, and they will find him
gracious and true to his promise. Neither ignorance nor guilt
will hinder their
Salvation, when they
Put their trust in the
Lord. Let us all speak of
God as we have found him; and have we
ever found him otherwise than just and good? It is of his
mercies that we are not consumed. Let those who labour and are
heavy laden come to him, that they may find
Rest to their souls;
and if at all drawn from their
Rest, let them haste to return,
remembering how bountifully the
Lord has dealt with them. We
should deem ourselves bound to walk as in his presence. It is a
great
Mercy to be kept from being swallowed up with over-much
sorrow. It is a great
Mercy for
God to
Hold us
By the right
Hand,
So that we are not overcome and overthrown
By a
Temptation. But when we enter the heavenly
Rest, deliverance
from
Sin and sorrow will be complete; we shall behold the
Glory
of the
Lord, and walk in his presence with delight we cannot now
conceive.
10-19 When troubled, we do best to
Hold our peace, for we are
apt to speak unadvisedly. Yet there may be true
Faith where
there are workings of unbelief; but then
Faith will prevail; and
being humbled for our distrust of
God's
Word, we shall
experience his faithfulness to it. What can the pardoned sinner,
or what can those who have been delivered from trouble or
distress, render to the
Lord for his benefits? We cannot in any
way profit him. Our best is unworthy of his acceptance; yet we
ought to devote ourselves and all we have to his service. I will
take the
Cup of
Salvation; I will offer the
Drink-offerings
appointed
By the
Law, in token of thankfulness to
God, and
rejoice in
God's
Goodness to me. I will receive the
Cup of
affliction; that
Cup, that
Bitter Cup, which is sanctified to
the saints,
So that to them it is a
Cup of
Salvation; it is a
means of spiritual health. The
Cup of consolation; I will
receive the benefits
God bestows upon me, as from his
Hand, and
taste his
Love in them, as the portion not only of
Mine
inheritance in the other world, but of my
Cup in this. Let
others serve what masters they will, truly I am thy servant. Two
ways men came to be servants.
By Birth.
Lord, I was born in thy
House; I am the son of thine
Handmaid, and therefore thine. It
is a great
Mercy to be children of godly parents.
By Redemption.
Lord, thou hast loosed my bonds, thou hast discharged me from
them, therefore I am thy servant. The bonds thou hast loosed
shall tie me faster unto thee. Doing good is
Sacrifice, with
which
God is
Well pleased; and this must accompany giving thanks
to his name. Why should we offer that to the
Lord which cost us
nothing? The psalmist will pay his
Vows now; he will not delay
the payment: publicly, not to make a boast, but to show he is
not ashamed of
God's service, and to invite others to join him.
Such are true saints of
God, in whose lives and deaths he will
be glorified.