Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 129
Overview:
The psalmist's
Hope in
Prayer.
(1-4) His patience in
Hope.
(5-8)
1-4 The only way of relief for a
Sin-entangled soul, is
By
applying to
God alone. Many things present themselves as
diversions, many things offer themselves as remedies, but the
soul finds that the
Lord alone can heal. And until men are
sensible of the guilt of
Sin, and quit all to come at once to
God, it is in vain for them to expect any relief. The
Holy Ghost
gives to such
Poor souls a fresh sense of their
Deep necessity,
to stir them up in
Earnest applications,
By the
Prayer of
Faith,
By crying to
God. And as they
Love their souls, as they are
concerned for the
Glory of the
Lord, they are not to be wanting
in this duty. Why is it that these matters are
So long uncertain
with them? Is it not from sloth and despondency that they
content themselves with common and customary applications to
God? Then let us up and be doing; it must be done, and it is
attended with safety. We are to humble ourselves before
God, as
guilty in his sight. Let us acknowledge our sinfulness; we
cannot justify ourselves, or plead not guilty. It is our
unspeakable comfort that there is forgiveness with him, for that
is what we need.
Jesus Christ is the great
Ransom; he is ever an
Advocate for us, and through him we
Hope to obtain forgiveness.
There is forgiveness with thee, not that thou mayest be presumed
upon, but that thou mayest be feared. The fear of
God often is
Put for the whole
Worship of
God. The only motive and
encouragement for sinners is this, that there is forgiveness
with the
Lord.
5-8 It is for the
Lord that my soul waits, for the
Gifts of his
Grace, and the working of his power. We must
Hope for that only
which he has promised in his
Word. Like those who wish to see
the dawn, being very desirous that
Light would come long before
Day; but still more earnestly does a good
Man long for the
tokens of
God's favour, and the visits of his
Grace. Let all
that devote themselves to the
Lord, cheerfully stay themselves
On him. This
Redemption is
Redemption from all
Sin.
Jesus Christ
saves his people from their sins, both from the condemning and
from the commanding power of
Sin. It is plenteous
Redemption;
there is an all-sufficient
Fulness in the
Redeemer, enough for
all, enough for each; therefore enough for me, says the
believer.
Redemption from
Sin includes
Redemption from all other
evils, therefore it is a plenteous
Redemption, through the
atoning
Blood of
Jesus, who shall redeem his people from all
their sins. All that wait
On God for
Mercy and
Grace, are sure
to have peace.