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551 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms LXXXV].</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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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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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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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19084.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19086.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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<!-- (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 LXXXV.</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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Interpreters are generally of the opinion that this psalm was penned
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after the return of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, when
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they still remained under some tokens of God's displeasure, which they
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here pray for the removal of. And nothing appears to the contrary, but
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that it might be penned then, as well as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</A>
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They are the public interests that lie near the psalmist's heart here,
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and the psalm is penned for the great congregation. The church was here
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in a deluge; above were clouds, below were waves; every thing was dark
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and dismal. The church is like Noah in the ark, between life and
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death, between hope and fear; being so,
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I. Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against sin
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and wrath
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:4">ver. 4</A>)
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and for mercy and grace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:7">ver. 7</A>.
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The pleas are taken from former favours
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>)
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and present distresses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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II. Here is the dove returning with an olive branch of peace and good
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tidings; the psalmist expects her return
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:8">ver. 8</A>)
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and then recounts the favours to God's Israel which by the spirit of
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prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by the spirit of faith he
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took the assurance of to himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
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In singing this psalm we may be assisted in our prayers to God both for
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his church in general and for the land of our nativity in particular.
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The former part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to
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encourage our faith and hope in those prayers.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps85_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_7"> </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>Prayer in Time of Trouble.</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. A psalm for the sons of Korah.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou hast been favourable unto
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thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
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2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast
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covered all their sin. Selah.
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3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned
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<I>thyself</I> from the fierceness of thine anger.
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4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward
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us to cease.
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5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine
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anger to all generations?
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6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in
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thee?
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7 show us thy mercy, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and grant us thy salvation.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The church, in affliction and distress, is here, by direction from God,
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making her application to God. So ready is God to hear and answer the
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prayers of his people that by his Spirit in the word, and in the heart,
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he indites their petitions and puts words into their mouths. The people
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of God, in a very low and weak condition, are here taught how to
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address themselves to God.</P>
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<P>
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I. They are to acknowledge with thankfulness the great things God had
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done for them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-3"><I>v.</I> 1-3</A>):
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"Thou has done so and so for us and our fathers." Note, The sense of
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present afflictions should not drown the remembrance of former mercies;
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but, even when we are brought very low, we must call to remembrance
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past experiences of God's goodness, which we must take notice of with
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thankfulness, to his praise. They speak of it here with pleasure,
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1. That God had shown himself propitious to their land, and had smiled
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upon it as his own: "<I>Thou hast been favourable to thy land,</I> as
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thine, with distinguishing favours." Note, The favour of God is the
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spring-head of all good, and the fountain of happiness, to nations, as
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well as to particular persons. It was by the favour of God that Israel
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got and kept possession of Canaan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</A>);
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and, if he had not continued very favourable to them, they would have
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been ruined many a time.
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2. That he had rescued them out of the hands of their enemies and
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restored them to their liberty: "<I>Thou hast brought back the
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captivity of Jacob,</I> and settled those in their own land again that
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had been driven out and were strangers in a strange land, prisoners in
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the land of their oppressors." The captivity of Jacob, though it may
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continue long, will be brought back in due time.
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3. That he had not dealt with them according to the desert of their
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provocations
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people,</I> and not punished
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them as in justice thou mightest. <I>Thou hast covered all their
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sin.</I>" When God forgives sin he covers it; and, when he covers the
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sin of his people, he covers it all. The bringing back of their
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captivity was <I>then</I> an instance of God's favour to them, when it
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was accompanied with the pardon of their iniquity.
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4. That he had not continued his anger against them so far, and so
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long, as they had reason to fear
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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"Having <I>covered all their sin,</I> thou hast <I>taken away all thy
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wrath;</I>" for when sin is set aside God's anger ceases; God is
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pacified if we are purified. See what the pardon of sin is: <I>Thou
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hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people,</I> that is, "<I>Thou hast
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turned thy anger from waxing hot,</I> so as to consume us in the flame
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of it. In compassion to us thou hast not stirred up all thy wrath, but,
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when an intercessor has stood before thee in the gap, thou hast turned
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away thy anger."</P>
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<P>
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II. They are taught to pray to God for grace and mercy, in reference to
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their present distress; this is inferred from the former: "Thou hast
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done well for our fathers; do well for us, for we are the children of
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the same covenant."
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1. They pray for converting grace: "<I>Turn us, O God of our
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salvation!</I> in order to the turning of our captivity; turn us from
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iniquity; turn us to thyself and to our duty; turn us, and we shall be
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turned." All those whom God will save sooner or later he will turn. If
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no conversion, no salvation.
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2. They pray for the removal of the tokens of God's displeasure which
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they were under: "<I>Cause thine anger towards us to cease,</I> as thou
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didst many a time cause it to cease in the days of our fathers, when
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thou didst take away thy wrath from them." Observe the method, "First
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turn us to thee, and then cause thy anger to turn from us." When we are
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reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expect the comfort
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of his being reconciled to us.
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3. They pray for the manifestation of God's good-will to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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"<I>Show us thy mercy, O Lord!</I> show thyself merciful to us; not
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only have mercy on us, but let us have the comfortable evidences of
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that mercy; let us know that thou hast mercy on us and mercy in store
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for us."
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4. They pray that God would, graciously to them and gloriously to
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himself, appear on their behalf: "<I>Grant us thy salvation;</I> grant
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it by thy promise, and then, no doubt, thou wilt work it by thy
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providence." Note, The vessels of God's mercy are the heirs of his
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salvation; he shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for
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salvation is of mere mercy.</P>
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<P>
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III. They are taught humbly to expostulate with God concerning their
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present troubles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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Here observe,
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1. What they dread and deprecate: "<I>Wilt thou be angry with us for
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ever?</I> We are undone if thou art, but we hope thou wilt not. <I>Wilt
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thou draw out thy anger unto all generations?</I> No; thou art
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gracious, slow to anger, and swift to show mercy, and wilt not contend
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for ever. Thou wast not angry with our fathers for ever, but didst soon
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turn thyself from the fierceness of thy wrath; why then wilt thou be
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angry with us for ever? Are not thy mercies and compassions as
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plentiful and powerful as ever they were? Impenitent sinners God will
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be angry with for ever; for what is hell but the wrath of God drawn out
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unto endless generations? But shall a hell upon earth be the lot of thy
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people?"
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2. What they desire and hope for: "<I>Wilt thou not revive us again</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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revive us with comforts spoken to us, revive us with deliverances
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wrought for us? Thou hast been favourable to thy land formerly, and
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that revived it; wilt thou not again be favourable, and so revive it
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again?" God had granted to the children of the captivity <I>some
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reviving in their bondage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:8">Ezra ix. 8</A>.
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Their return out of Babylon was as <I>life from the dead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:11,12">Eze. xxxvii. 11, 12</A>.
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Now, Lord (say they), <I>wilt thou not revive us again,</I> and <I>put
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thy hand again the second time</I> to gather us in?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+126:1,4,Ps+126:1,4">Ps. cxxvi. 1, 4</A>.
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<I>Revive thy work in the midst of the years,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:2">Hab. iii. 2</A>.
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"Revive us again,"
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(1.) "That thy people may rejoice; and so we shall have the comfort of
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it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+14:7">Ps. xiv. 7</A>.
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Give them life, that they may have joy.
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(2.) "That they may rejoice in thee; and so thou wilt have the glory of
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it." If God be the fountain of all our mercies, he must be the centre
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of all our joys.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps85_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps85_13"> </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>Divine Answer to Prayer; Blessings Given in Answer to Prayer.</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>8 I will hear what God the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will speak: for he will speak
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peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn
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again to folly.
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9 Surely his salvation <I>is</I> nigh them that fear him; that glory
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may dwell in our land.
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10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace
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have kissed <I>each other.</I>
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11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall
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look down from heaven.
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12 Yea, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall give <I>that which is</I> good; and our land
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shall yield her increase.
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13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set <I>us</I> in the
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way of his steps.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an answer to the prayers and expostulations in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:1-7">foregoing verses</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. In general, it is an answer of peace. This the psalmist is soon
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aware of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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for he <I>stands upon his watch-tower</I> to <I>hear what God will say
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unto him,</I> as the prophet,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1,2">Hab. ii. 1, 2</A>.
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<I>I will hear what God the Lord will speak.</I> This intimates,
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1. The stilling of his passions--his grief, his fear--and the tumult of
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his spirit which they occasioned: "Compose thyself, O my soul! in a
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humble silence to attend upon God and wait his motions. I have spoken
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enough, or too much; now I will hear what God will speak, and welcome
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his holy will. <I>What saith my Lord unto his servant?</I>" If we
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would have God to hear what we say to him by prayer, we must be ready
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to hear what he says to us by his word.
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2. The raising of his expectation; now that he has been at prayer he
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looks for something very great, and very kind, from the God that hears
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prayer. When we have prayed we should look after our prayers, and stay
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for an answer. Now observe here,
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(1.) What it is that he promises himself from God, in answer to his
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prayers: <I>He will speak peace to his people, and to his saints.</I>
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There are a people in the world who are God's people, set apart for
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him, subject to him, and who shall be saved by him. All his people are
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his saints, sanctified by his grace and devoted to his glory; these may
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sometimes want peace, when without are fightings and within are fears;
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but, sooner or later, God will speak peace to them; if he do not
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command outward peace, yet he will suggest inward peace, speaking that
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to their hearts by his Spirit which he has spoken to their ears by his
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word and ministers and making them to hear joy and gladness.
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(2.) What use he makes of this expectation.
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[1.] He takes the comfort of it; and so must we: "<I>I will hear what
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God the Lord will speak,</I> hear the assurances he gives of peace, in
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answer to prayer." When God speaks peace we must not be deaf to it, but
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with all humility and thankfulness receive it.
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[2.] He cautions the saints to do the duty which this calls for: <I>But
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let them not turn again to folly;</I> for it is on these terms, and no
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other, that peace is to be expected. To those, and those only, peace is
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spoken, who turn from sin; but, if they return to it again, it is at
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their peril. All sin is folly, but especially backsliding; it is
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egregious folly to turn to sin after we have seemed to turn from it, to
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turn to it after God has spoken peace. God is for peace, but, when he
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speaks, such are for war.</P>
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<P>
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II. Here are the particulars of this answer of peace. He doubts not but
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all will be well in a little time, and therefore gives us the pleasing
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prospect of the flourishing estate of the church in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9-13">last five verses</A>
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of the psalm, which describe the peace and prosperity that God, at
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length, blessed the children of the captivity with, when, after a great
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deal of toil and agitation, at length they gained a settlement in their
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own land. But it may be taken both as a promise also to all who fear
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God and work righteousness, that they shall be easy and happy, and as a
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prophecy of the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings with which
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that kingdom should be enriched. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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1. Help at hand
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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"<I>Surely his salvation is nigh,</I> nigh to us, nigher than we think
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it is: it will soon be effected, how great soever our difficulties and
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distresses are, when God's time shall come, and that time is not far
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off." When the tale of bricks is doubled, then Moses comes. It is nigh
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to all who fear him; when trouble is nigh salvation is nigh, for God is
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a very present help in time of trouble to all who are his; whereas
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<I>salvation is far from the wicked,</I>
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:155">Ps. cxix. 155</A>.
|
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|
This may fitly be applied to Christ the author of eternal salvation: it
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|
was the comfort of the Old-Testament saints that, though they lived not
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|
to see that redemption in Jerusalem which they waited for, yet they
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were sure it was nigh, and would be welcome, to all that fear God.</P>
|
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<P>
|
||
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2. Honour secured: "<I>That glory may dwell in our land,</I> that we
|
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|
may have the worship of God settled and established among us; for that
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|
is the glory of a land. When that goes, <I>Ichabod--the glory has
|
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|
departed;</I> when that stays glory dwells." This may refer to the
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Messiah, who was to be <I>the glory of his people Israel,</I> and who
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came and dwelt among them
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:4">John i. 4</A>),
|
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|
for which reason their land is called <I>Immanuel's land,</I>
|
||
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||
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:8">Isa. viii. 8</A>.</P>
|
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<P>
|
||
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|
|
3. Graces meeting, and happily embracing
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>):
|
||
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|
<I>Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, kiss each other.</I> This
|
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|
|
may be understood,
|
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|
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||
|
|
(1.) Of the reformation of the people and of the government, in the
|
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|
|
administration of which all those graces should be conspicuous and
|
||
|
|
commanding. The rulers and ruled shall all be merciful and true,
|
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|
|
righteous and peaceable. When there is no truth nor mercy all goes to
|
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|
|
ruin
|
||
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|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+4:1,Isa+59:14,15">Hos. iv. 1; Isa. lix. 14, 15</A>);
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
but when these meet in the management of all affairs, when these give
|
||
|
|
aim, when these give law, when there is such plenty of truth that it
|
||
|
|
sprouts up like the grass of the earth, and of righteousness that it is
|
||
|
|
showered down like rain from heaven, then things go well. When in every
|
||
|
|
congress mercy and truth meet, in every embrace righteousness and peace
|
||
|
|
kiss, and common honesty is indeed common, then glory dwells in a land,
|
||
|
|
as the sin of reigning dishonesty is a reproach to any people.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Of the return of God's favour, and the continuance of it,
|
||
|
|
thereupon. When a people return to God and adhere to him in a way of
|
||
|
|
duty he will return to them and abide with them in a way of mercy. So
|
||
|
|
some understand this, man's truth and God's mercy, man's righteousness
|
||
|
|
and God's peace, meet together. If God find us true to him, to one
|
||
|
|
another, to ourselves, we shall find him merciful. If we make
|
||
|
|
conscience of righteousness, we shall have the comfort of peace. If
|
||
|
|
<I>truth spring out of the earth,</I> that is (as Dr. Hammond expounds
|
||
|
|
it), out of the hearts of men, the proper soil for it to grow in,
|
||
|
|
righteousness (that is, God's mercy) shall look down from heaven, as
|
||
|
|
the sun does upon the world when it sheds its influences on the
|
||
|
|
productions of the earth and cherishes them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Of the harmony of the divine attributes in the Messiah's
|
||
|
|
undertaking. In him who is both our salvation and our glory <I>mercy
|
||
|
|
and truth have met together;</I> God's mercy and truth, and his
|
||
|
|
<I>righteousness and peace, have kissed each other;</I> that is, the
|
||
|
|
great affair of our salvation is so well contrived, so well concerted,
|
||
|
|
that God may have mercy upon poor sinners, and be at peace with them,
|
||
|
|
without any wrong to his truth and righteousness. He is true to the
|
||
|
|
threatening, and just in his government, and yet pardons sinners and
|
||
|
|
takes them into covenant with himself. Christ, as Mediator, brings
|
||
|
|
heaven and earth together again, which sin had set at variance; through
|
||
|
|
him <I>truth springs out of the earth,</I> that truth which God
|
||
|
|
<I>desires in the inward part,</I> and then <I>righteousness looks down
|
||
|
|
from heaven;</I> for God is <I>just, and the justifier of those who
|
||
|
|
believe in Jesus.</I> Or it may denote that in the kingdom of the
|
||
|
|
Messiah these graces shall flourish and prevail and have a universal
|
||
|
|
command.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Great plenty of every thing desirable
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The Lord shall give that which is good,</I> every thing that he sees
|
||
|
|
to be good for us. All good comes from God's goodness; and when mercy,
|
||
|
|
truth, and righteousness, have a sovereign influence on men's hearts
|
||
|
|
and lives, all good may be expected. If we thus <I>seek the
|
||
|
|
righteousness of God's kingdom, other things shall be added;</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:33">Matt. vi. 33</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When the glory of the gospel dwells in our land, then it shall yield
|
||
|
|
its increase, for soul-prosperity will either bring outward prosperity
|
||
|
|
along with it or sweeten the want of it. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:6">Ps. lxvii. 6</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. A sure guidance in the good way
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The righteousness</I> of his promise which he has made to us,
|
||
|
|
assuring us of happiness, and the righteousness of sanctification, that
|
||
|
|
good work which he has wrought in us, these shall go before him to
|
||
|
|
prepare his way, both to raise our expectations of his favour and to
|
||
|
|
qualify us for it; and these shall go before us also, and be our guide
|
||
|
|
to <I>set us in the way of his steps,</I> that is, to encourage our
|
||
|
|
hopes and guide our practice, that we may go forth to meet him when he
|
||
|
|
is coming towards us in ways of mercy. Christ, the sun of
|
||
|
|
righteousness, shall bring us to God, and put us into the way that
|
||
|
|
leads to him. John Baptist, a preacher of righteousness, shall go
|
||
|
|
before Christ to prepare his way. Righteousness is a sure guide both
|
||
|
|
in meeting God and in following him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19084.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19086.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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