Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 108
Overview:
David complains of his enemies.
(1-5) He prophesies their
Destruction.
(6-20) Prayers and praises.
(21-31)
1-5. It is the unspeakable comfort of all believers, that
whoever is against them,
God is for them; and to him they may
apply as to one pleased to concern himself for them.
David's
enemies laughed at him for his devotion, but they could not
laugh him out of it.
6-20 The
Lord Jesus may speak here as a
Judge, denouncing
sentence
On some of his enemies, to warn others. When men reject
the
Salvation of
Christ, even their prayers are numbered among
their sins. See what hurries some to shameful deaths, and brings
the families and estates of others to ruin; makes them and
theirs despicable and hateful, and brings poverty, shame, and
misery upon their posterity: it is
Sin, that mischievous,
destructive thing. And what will be the effect of the sentence,
"Go, ye cursed," upon the bodies and souls of the wicked! How it
will affect the senses of the body, and the powers of the soul,
with pain, anguish, horror, and despair! Think
On these things,
sinners, tremble and repent.
21-31 The psalmist takes
God's comforts to himself, but in a
very humble manner. He was troubled in mind. His body was
wasted, and almost worn away. But it is better to have leanness
in the body, while the soul prospers and is in health, than to
have leanness in the soul, while the body is feasted. He was
ridiculed and reproached
By his enemies. But if
God Bless us, we
need not care who curses us; for how can they
Curse whom
God has
not cursed; nay, whom he has blessed? He pleads
God's
Glory, and
the honour of his name. Save me, not according to my merit, for
I pretend to none, but according to thy
Mercy. He concludes with
the joy of
Faith, in
Assurance that his present conflicts would
End in triumphs. Let all that suffer according to the will of
God, commit the keeping of their souls to him.
Jesus, unjustly
Put to
Death, and now risen again, is an
Advocate and
Intercessor for his people, ever ready to appear
On their behalf
against a corrupt world, and the great
Accuser.