Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 59
Overview:
David prays for deliverance from his enemies.
(1-7) He
foresees their
Destruction.
(8-17)
1-7 In these words we hear the voice of
David when a prisoner
in his own
House; the voice of
Christ when surrounded
By his
merciless enemies; the voice of the
Church when under
Bondage in
the world; and the voice of the
Christian when under
Temptation,
affliction, and
Persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray
daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies,
the temptations of
Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts.
We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of
the
Hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those
regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves
believe that
God regards not what they say. And where there is
No fear of
God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to
Man.
8-17 It is our
Wisdom and duty, in times of danger and
difficulty, to wait upon
God; for he is our defence, in whom we
shall be safe. It is very comfortable to us, in
Prayer, to look
to
God as the
God of our
Mercy, the Author of all good in us,
and the Giver of all good to us. The wicked can never be
satisfied, which is the greatest misery in a
Poor condition. A
contented
Man, if he has not what he would have, yet he does not
quarrel with
Providence, nor fret within himself. It is not
poverty, but discontent that makes a
Man unhappy.
David would
praise
God because he had many times, and all along, found Him
his
Refuge in the
Day of trouble. He that is all this to us, is
certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services.
The trials of his people will
End in joy and praise. When the
night of affliction is over, they will sing of the
Lord's power
and
Mercy in the morning. Let believers now, in assured
Faith
and
Hope, praise Him for those mercies, for which they will
rejoice and praise him for ever.