Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 36
Overview:
The bad state of the wicked.
(1-4) The
Goodness of God.
(5-12)
1-4 From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with
Hatred of
Sin, and seek satisfaction in
God's loving-kindness.
Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of
wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of
God, and the
want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they
Put upon
their own souls. Let us daily
Beg of
God to preserve us from
self-flattery.
Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and
therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not
So. It is
No
marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all
mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own
souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do
it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy
meditations in our solitary hours,
Satan will soon occupy our
minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what
they have done, as though they could justify it before
God
himself.
5-12 Men may shut up their compassion, yet, with
God we shall
find
Mercy. This is great comfort to all believers, plainly to
be seen, and not to be taken away.
God does all wisely and
Well;
but what he does we know not now, it is time enough to know
hereafter.
God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They
Put themselves under his protection, and then are safe and easy.
Gracious souls, though still desiring more of
God, never desire
more than
God. The
Gifts of
Providence So far satisfy them, that
they are content with such things as they have. The benefit of
holy ordinances is sweet to a sanctified soul, and strengthening
to the spiritual and Divine
Life. But full satisfaction is
reserved for the future state. Their joys shall be constant.
God
not only
Works in them a gracious desire for these pleasures,
but
By his
Spirit fills their souls with joy and peace in
believing. He quickens whom he will; and whoever will, may come,
and take from him of the waters of
Life freely. May we know, and
Love, and uprightly serve the
Lord; then
No proud enemy,
On
Earth or from
Hell, shall separate us from his
Love.
Faith
calleth things that are not, as though they were. It carries us
forward to the
End of time; it shows us the
Lord,
On his
Throne
of
Judgment; the empire of
Sin fallen to rise
No more.