Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 56
Overview:
David seeks
Mercy from
God, amidst the malice of his enemies.
(1-7) He rests his
Faith On God's promises, and declares his
obligation to praise him for mercies.
(8-13)
1-7 Be merciful unto me, O
God. This petition includes all the
good for which we come to the
Throne of
Grace. If we obtain
Mercy
there, we need
No more to make us happy. It implies likewise our
best plea, not our merit, but
God's
Mercy, his free, rich
Mercy.
We may flee to, and trust the
Mercy of
God, when surrounded
On
all sides
By difficulties and dangers. His enemies were too hard
for him, if
God did not help him. He resolves to make
God's
promises the matter of his praises, and
So we have reason to
make them. As we must not trust an
Arm of
Flesh when engaged for
us,
So we must not be afraid of an
Arm of
Flesh when stretched
out against us. The
Sin of sinners will never be their security.
Who knows the power of
God's
Anger; how high it can reach, how
forcibly it can strike?
8-13 The heavy and continued trials through which many of the
Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and
patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to
repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check
ourselves.
David comforts himself, in his distress and fear,
that
God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs.
God has
a
Bottle and a
Book for his people's tears, both the tears for
their sins, and those for their
Afflictions. He observes them
with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The
Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what
Man shall do
unto me; for
Man has
No power but what is given him from above.
Thy
Vows are upon me, O
Lord; not as a
Burden, but as that
By
which I am known to be thy servant; as a
Bridle that restrains
me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my
duty. And
Vows of thankfulness properly accompany prayers for
Mercy. If
God deliver us from
Sin, either from doing it, or
By
his pardoning
Mercy, he has delivered our souls from
Death,
which is the
Wages of
Sin. Where the
Lord has begun a good work
he will carry it
On and perfect it.
David hopes that
God would
keep him even from the appearance of
Sin. We should aim in all
our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from
Sin and
trouble, that we may do the better service to the
Lord; that we
may serve him without fear. If his
Grace has delivered our souls
from the
Death of
Sin, he will bring us to
Heaven, to walk
before him for ever in
Light.