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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms LIV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<HR>
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19053.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19055.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM LIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The key of this psalm hangs at the door, for the title tells us upon
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what occasion it was penned--when the inhabitants of Ziph, men of Judah
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(types of Judas the traitor), betrayed David to Saul, by informing him
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where he was and putting him in a way how to seize him. This they did
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twice
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:19,26:1">1 Sam. xxiii. 19; xxvi. 1</A>),
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and it is upon record to their everlasting infamy. The psalm is sweet;
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the former part of it, perhaps, was meditated when he was in his
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distress and put into writing when the danger was over, with the
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addition of the last two verses, which express his thankfulness for the
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deliverance, which yet might be written in faith, even when he was in
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the midst of his fright. Here,
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I. He complains to God of the malice of his enemies, and prays for
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help against them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+55:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. He comforts himself with an assurance of the divine favour and
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protection, and that, in due time, his enemies should be confounded and
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be delivered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+55:4-7">ver. 4-7</A>.
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What time we are in distress we may comfortable sing this psalm.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps54_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps54_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps54_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Complaints.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil. <I>A psalm</I> of David,
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when <BR>the Ziphim came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself
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with us?</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me
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by thy strength.
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2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
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3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek
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after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may observe here,
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1. The great distress that David was now in, which the title gives an
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account of. The Ziphim came of their own accord, and informed Saul
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where David was, with a promise to deliver him into his hand. One would
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have thought that when David had retired into the country he would not
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be pursued, into a desert country he would not be discovered, and into
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his own country he would not be betrayed; and yet it seems he was.
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Never let a good man expect to be safe an easy till he comes to heaven.
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How treacherous, how officious, were these Ziphim! It is well that God
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is faithful, for men are not to be trusted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+7:5">Mic. vii. 5</A>.
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2. His prayer to God for succour and deliverance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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He appeals to God's strength, by which he was able to help him, and to
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his name, by which he was engaged to help him, and begs he would save
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him from his enemies and judge him, that is, plead his cause and judge
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for him. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no
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other power to depend upon than God's strength, and those he makes his
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refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer of his
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prayers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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which even in his flight, when he had not opportunity for solemn
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address to God, he was ever and anon lifting up to heaven: <I>Hear my
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prayer,</I> which comes from my heart, and <I>give ear to the words of
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my mouth.</I>
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3. His plea, which is taken from the character of his enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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(1.) They are <I>strangers;</I> such were the Ziphites, unworthy the
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name of Israelites. "They have used me more basely and barbarously than
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the Philistines themselves would have done." The worst treatment may be
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expected from those who, having broken through the bonds of relation
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and alliance, make themselves strangers.
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(2.) They are <I>oppressors;</I> such was Saul, who, as a king, should
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have used his power for the protection of all his good subjects, but
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abused it for their destruction. Nothing is so grievous as oppression
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in <I>the seat of judgment,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+3:16">Eccl. iii. 16</A>.
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Paul's greatest perils were by his <I>own countrymen</I> and by
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<I>false brethren</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:26">2 Cor. xi. 26</A>),
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and so were David's.
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(3.) They were very formidable and threatening; they not only hated him
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and wished him ill, but they rose up against him in a body, joining
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their power to do him a mischief.
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(4.) They were very spiteful and malicious: <I>They seek after my
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soul;</I> they hunt for the precious life; no less will satisfy them.
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We may, in faith, pray that God would not by his providence give
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success, lest it should look like giving countenance, to such cruel
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bloody men.
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(5.) They were very profane and atheistical, and, for this reason, he
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thought God was concerned in honour to appear against them: <I>They
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have not set God before them,</I> that is, they have quite cast off the
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thoughts of God; they do not consider that his eye is upon them, that,
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in fighting against his people, they fight against him, nor have they
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any dread of the certain fatal consequences of such an unequal
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engagement. Note, From those who do not set God before them no good is
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to be expected; nay, what wickedness will not such men be guilty of?
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What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will
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hold those that have broken through the fear of God? <I>Selah--Mark
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this.</I> Let us all be sure to set God before us at all times; for, if
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we do not we are in danger of becoming desperate.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps54_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps54_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps54_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps54_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Consolations.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 Behold, God <I>is</I> mine helper: the Lord <I>is</I> with them that
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uphold my soul.
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5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy
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truth.
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6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; for <I>it is</I> good.
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7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye
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hath seen <I>his desire</I> upon mine enemies.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the lively actings of David's faith in his prayer, by
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which he was assured that the issue would be comfortable, though the
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attempt upon him was formidable.</P>
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<P>
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I. He was sure that he had God on his side, that God took his part
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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he speaks it with an air of triumph and exultation, <I>Behold, God is
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my helper.</I> If we be for him, he is for us; and, if he be for us, we
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shall have such help in him that we need not fear any power engaged
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against us. Though men and devils aim to be our destroyers, they shall
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not prevail while God is our helper: <I>The Lord is with those that
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uphold my soul.</I> Compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+118:7">Ps. cxviii. 7</A>,
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"<I>The Lord taketh my part with those that help me.</I> There are some
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that uphold me, and God is one of them; he is the principal one; none
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of them could help me if he did not help them." Every creature is that
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to us (and no more) that God makes it to be. He means, "The Lord is he
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that upholds my soul, and keeps me from tiring in my work and sinking
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under my burdens." He that by his providence upholds all things by his
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grace upholds the souls of his people. God, who will in due time save
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his people, does, in the mean time, sustain them and bear them up, so
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that the spirit he has made shall not fail before him.</P>
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<P>
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II. God taking part with him, he doubted not but his enemies should
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both flee and fall before him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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"<I>He shall reward evil unto my enemies that observe me,</I> seeking
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an opportunity to do me a mischief. The evil they designed against me
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the righteous God will return upon their own heads." David would not
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render evil to them, but he knew God would: <I>I as a deaf man heard
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not, for thou wilt hear.</I> The enemies we forgive, if they repent
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not, God will judge; and for this reason we must not avenge ourselves,
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because God has said, <I>Vengeance is mine.</I> But he prays, <I>Cut
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them off in thy truth.</I> This is not a prayer of malice, but a prayer
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of faith; for it has an eye to the word of God, and only desires the
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performance of that. There is truth in God's threatenings as well as in
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his promises, and sinners that repent not will find it so to their
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cost.</P>
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<P>
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III. He promises to give thanks to God for all the experiences he had
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had of his goodness to him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>I will sacrifice unto thee.</I> Though sacrifices were expensive,
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yet, when God required that his worshippers should in that way praise
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him, David would not only offer them, but offer them freely and without
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grudging. All our spiritual sacrifices must, in this sense, be
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free-will-offerings; for God loves a cheerful giver. Yet he will not
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only bring his sacrifice, which was but the shadow, the ceremony; he
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will mind the substance: <I>I will praise thy name.</I> A thankful
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heart, and the calves of our lips giving thanks to his name, are the
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sacrifices God will accept: "<I>I will praise thy name, for it is
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good.</I> Thy name is not only great but good, and therefore to be
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praised. To praise thy name is not only what we are bound to, but it is
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good, it is pleasant, it is profitable; it is good for us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+92:1">Ps. xcii. 1</A>);
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therefore <I>I will praise thy name.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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IV. He speaks of his deliverance as a thing done
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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I will praise thy name, and say, "<I>He has delivered me;</I> this
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shall be my song then." That which he rejoices in is a complete
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deliverance--<I>He has delivered me from all trouble;</I> and a
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deliverance to his heart's content--<I>My eye has seen its desire upon
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my enemies,</I> not seen them cut off and ruined, but forced to
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retreat, tidings being brought to Saul that the Philistines were upon
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:27,28">1 Sam. xxiii. 27, 28</A>.
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All David desired was to be himself safe; when he saw Saul draw off his
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forces he saw his desire. <I>He has delivered me from all trouble.</I>
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Either,
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1. With this thought David comforted himself when he was in distress:
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"<I>He has delivered me from all trouble</I> hitherto, and many a time
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I have gained my point, and seen my desire on my enemies; therefore he
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will deliver me out of this trouble." We should thus, in our greatest
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straits, encourage ourselves with our past experiences. Or,
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2. With this thought he magnified his present deliverance when the
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fright was over, that it was an earnest of further deliverance. He
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speaks of the completing of his deliverance as a thing done, though he
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had as yet many troubles before him, because, having God's promise for
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it, he was as sure of it as if it had been done already. "He that has
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begun to deliver me from all troubles, and will at length give me to
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see my desire upon my enemies." This may perhaps point at Christ, of
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whom David was a type; God would deliver him out of all the troubles of
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his state of humiliation, and he was perfectly sure of it; and all
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things are said to be put under his feet; for, though we see not yet
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all things put under him, yet we are sure he shall reign till all his
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enemies be made his footstool, and he shall see his desire upon them.
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However, it is an encouragement to all believers to make that use of
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their particular deliverances which St. Paul does (like David here),
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:17,18">2 Tim. iv. 17, 18</A>,
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<I>He that delivered me from the mouth of the lion shall deliver me
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from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly
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kingdom.</I></P>
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