Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 54
Overview:
David complains of the malice of his enemies.
(1-3) Assurance
of the Divine favour and protection.
(4-7)
1-3 God is
Faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it
is
Well for us it is
So.
David has
No other plea to depend upon
than
God's name,
No other power to depend upon than
God's
strength, and these he makes his
Refuge and confidence. This
would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto
David, betrayed
By the men of
Judah, and to
Jesus, betrayed
By
one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not
set
God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and
cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or
Covenant, will
Hold those that have broken through the fear of
God?
Selah;
Mark this. Let us set
God before us at all times;
for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.
4-7 Behold,
God is
Mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for
us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every
Creature is
that to us, and
No more, which
God makes it to be. The
Lord will
in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains
them, and bears them up,
So that the
Spirit he has made shall
not fail. There is
Truth in
God's threatenings, as
Well as in
his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it
So to their
cost.
David's present deliverance was an
Earnest of further
deliverance. He speaks of the completion of his deliverance as a
thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him;
because, having
God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if
it was done already. The
Lord would deliver him out of all his
troubles. May he help us to
Bear our
Cross without repining, and
at length bring us to share his victories and
Glory. Christians
never should suffer the voice of praise and thanksgiving to
cease in the
Church of the redeemed.