Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 139
Overview:
David encourages himself in
God.
(1-7) He prays for, and
prophesies the
Destruction of, his persecutors.
(8-13)
1-7 The more danger appears, the more
Earnest we should be in
Prayer to
God. All are safe whom the
Lord protects. If he be for
us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray,
that the
Lord would
Hold up our goings in his ways, that our
footsteps slip not.
God is as able to keep his people from
secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had
of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us
to depend upon him in other dangers.
8-13 Believers may pray that
God would not grant the desires of
the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will
bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine
vengeance. And surely the righteous shall
Dwell in
God's
presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true
thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all
our deliverances, we should serve
God the more closely and
cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used
By
men, are righteous in the sight of
God, being justified
By the
Righteousness of
Christ, which is imputed to them, and received
By Faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and
righteously; these give thanks to the
Lord, for the
Righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every
blessing of
Grace, and
Mercy of
Life.