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1 To the chiefe musician vpon MuthLabben. A Psalme of Dauid. I wil praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will shewe foorth all thy maruellous workes.
2 I will bee glad and reioyce in thee: I will sing prayse to thy name, O thou most High.
3 When mine enemies are turned backe, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4 For thou hast maintained my right, and my cause: thou satest in the throne iudging right.
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked; thou hast put out their name for euer and euer.
6 O thou enemie, destructions are come to a perpetuall end; and thou hast destroyed cities, their memoriall is perished with them.
7 But the Lord shall endure for euer: he hath prepared his throne for iudgement.
8 And hee shall iudge the world in righteousnesse; he shall minister iudgement to the people in vprightnesse.
9 The Lord also will bee a refuge for the oppressed: a refuge, in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Sion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembreth them: he forgetteth not the crie of the humble.
13 Haue mercie vpon me O Lord, consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest mee vp from the gates of death:
14 That I may shew foorth all thy prayse in the gates of the daughter of Sion: I will reioyce in thy saluation.
15 The heathen are sunke downe in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid, is their own foot taken.
16 The Lord is knowen by the iudgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the worke of his owne hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needie shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer.
19 Arise, O Lord, let not man preuaile: let the heathen bee iudged in thy sight.
20 Put them in feare, O Lord: that the nations may know themselues to be but men. Selah.
David praises God for protecting his people. (1-10) And for cause to praise him. (11-20)
1-10 If we would praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity, with our whole heart. When we give thanks for some one particular mercy, we should remember former mercies. Our joy must not be in the gift, so much as in the Giver. The triumphs of the Redeemer ought to be the triumphs of the redeemed. The almighty power of God is that which the strongest and stoutest of his enemies are no way able to stand before. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, and that with him there is no unrighteousness. His people may, by faith, flee to him as their Refuge, and may depend on his power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be done to them. Those who know him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that. Those who know him to be an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care, and trust in him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to him in the whole course of their lives. Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him?
11-20 Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.