Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 148
Overview:
Joy to all the people of
God.
(1-5) Terror to their enemies.
(6-9)
1-5 New mercies continually demand new
Songs of praise, upon
Earth and in
Heaven. And the children of Zion have not only to
Bless the
God who made them, but to rejoice in him, as having
created them in
Christ Jesus unto good
Works, and formed them
saints as
Well as men. The
Lord takes pleasure in his people;
they should rejoice in Him. When the
Lord has made sinners feel
their wants and unworthiness, he will adorn them with the graces
of his
Spirit, and cause them to
Bear his image, and rejoice in
his happiness for ever. Let his saints employ their waking hours
upon their beds in
Songs of praise. Let them rejoice, even upon
the
Bed of
Death, assured that they are going to eternal
Rest
and
Glory.
6-9 Some of
God's servants of old were appointed to execute
vengeance according to his
Word. They did not do it from
personal revenge or earthly politics, but in obedience to
God's
command. And the honour intended for all the saints of
God,
consists in their triumphs over the enemies of their
Salvation.
Christ never intended his
Gospel should be spread
By Fire and
Sword, or his
Righteousness By the wrath of
Man. But let the
high praises of
God be in our mouths, while we wield the
Sword
of the
Word of God, with the
Shield of
Faith, in warfare with
the world, the
Flesh, and the
Devil. The saints shall be more
than conquerors over the enemies of their souls, through the
Blood of the
Lamb and the
Word of his
Testimony. The completing
of this will be in the judgement of the great
Day. Then shall
the judgement be executed. Behold
Jesus, and his
Gospel Church,
chiefly in her millennial state. He and his people rejoice in
each other;
By their prayers and efforts they work with him,
while he goes forth in the chariots of
Salvation, conquering
sinners
By Grace, or in chariots of vengeance, to destroy his
enemies.