Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 68
Overview:
A
Prayer-- The greatness and
Goodness of God.
(1-6) The
wonderful
Works God wrought for his people.
(7-14) The presence
of
God in his
Church.
(15-21) The victories of
Christ.
(22-28)
Enlargement of the
Church.
(29-31) The
Glory and
Grace of
God.
(32-35)
1-6 None ever hardened his
Heart against
God, and prospered.
God is the joy of his people, then let them rejoice when they
come before him. He who derives his being from none, but gives
being to all, is engaged
By promise and
Covenant to
Bless his
people. He is to be praised as a
God of
Mercy and tender
compassion. He ever careth for the afflicted and oppressed:
repenting sinners, who are helpless and exposed more than any
fatherless children, are admitted into his family, and share all
their blessings.
7-14 Fresh mercies should
Put us in mind of former mercies. If
God bring his people into a
Wilderness, he will be sure to go
before them in it, and to bring them out of it. He provided for
them, both in the
Wilderness and in
Canaan. The daily
Manna
seems here meant. And it looks to the spiritual provision for
God's
Israel. The
Spirit of
Grace and the
Gospel of
Grace are
the plentiful
Rain, with which
God confirms his inheritance, and
from which their
Fruit is found.
Christ shall come as showers
that water the
Earth. The account of
Israel's victories is to be
applied to the victories over
Death and
Hell,
By the exalted
Redeemer, for those that are his.
Israel in
Egypt among the
kilns appeared wretched, but possessed of
Canaan, during the
reigns of
David and
Solomon, appeared glorious. Thus the slaves
of
Satan, when converted to
Christ, when justified and
sanctified
By him, look honourable. When they reach
Heaven, all
remains of their sinful state disappear, they shall be as the
wings of the
Dove, covered with
Silver, and her feathers as
Gold. Full
Salvation will render those
White as
Snow, who were
vile and loathsome through the guilt and defilement of
Sin.
15-21 The
Ascension of
Christ must here be meant, and thereto
it is applied, Eph 4:8. He received as the purchase of his
Death, the
Gifts needful for the
Conversion of sinners, and the
Salvation of believers. These he continually bestows, even
On
rebellious men, that the
Lord God might
Dwell among them, as
their Friend and
Father. He gave
Gifts to men. Having received
power to give eternal
Life, the
Lord Jesus bestows it
On as many
as were given him, Joh 17:2.
Christ came to a rebellious
world, not to condemn it, but that through him it might be
saved. The
Glory of Zion's
King is, that he is a
Saviour and
Benefactor to all his willing people, and a consuming
Fire to
all that persist in rebellion against him.
So many,
So weighty
are the
Gifts of
God's bounty, that he may be truly said to load
us with them. He will not
Put us off with present things for a
portion, but will be the
God of our
Salvation. The
Lord Jesus
has authority and power to rescue his people from the dominion
of
Death,
By taking away the sting of it from them when they
die, and giving them complete victory over it when they rise
again. The
Crown of the head, the chief pride and
Glory of the
enemy, shall be smitten;
Christ shall crush the head of the
Serpent.
22-28 The victories with which
God blessed
David over the
enemies of
Israel, are types of
Christ's victory, for himself
and for all believers. Those who take him for theirs, may see
him acting as their
God, as their
King, for their good, and in
answer to their prayers; especially in and
By his
Word and
ordinances. The kingdom of the
Messiah shall be submitted to
By
all the rulers and learned in the world. The people seem to
address the
King, ver. 28. But the words are applicable to the
Redeemer, to his
Church, and every true believer. We pray, that
thou, O
God the Son, wilt complete thine undertaking for us,
By
finishing thy good work in us.
29-31 A powerful invitation is given to those that are without,
to join the
Church. Some shall submit from fear; overcome
By
their consciences, and the checks of
Providence, they are
brought to make peace with the
Church. Others will submit
willingly, ver. 29,31. There is that beauty and benefit in the
service of
God, and in the
Gospel of
Christ which went forth
from
Jerusalem, which is enough to invite sinners out of all
nations.
32-35 God is to be admired and adored with reverence and godly
fear,
By all that attend in his holy places. The
God of
Israel
gives strength and power unto his people. Through
Christ
strengthening us we can do all things, not otherwise; therefore
he must have the
Glory of all we do, with our humble thanks for
enabling us to do it, and for accepting the work of his hands in
us.