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380 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms CXX].</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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<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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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19119.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19121.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 CXX.</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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This psalm is the first of those fifteen which are here put together
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under the title of "songs of degrees." It is well that it is not
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material what the meaning of that title should be, for nothing is
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offered towards the explication of it, no, not by the Jewish writers
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themselves, but what is conjectural. These psalms do not seem to be
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composed all by the same hand, much less all at the same time. Four of
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them are expressly ascribed to David, and one is said to be designed
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for Solomon, and perhaps penned by him; yet
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:1-6,129:1-8">cxxvi. and cxxix.</A>
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seem to be of a much later date. Some of them are calculated for the
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closet (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:1-7,130:1-8">cxx. and cxxx.</A>),
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some for the family (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+127:1-5,128:1-6">cxxvii. and cxxviii.</A>),
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some for the public assembly (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1-9,134:1-3">cxxii. and cxxxiv.</A>),
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and some occasional, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+124:1-8,132:118">cxxiv., and cxxxii.</A>
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So that it should seem, they had not this title from the author, but
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from the publisher. Some conjecture that they are so called from their
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singular excellency (as the song of songs, so the song of degrees, is a
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most excellent song, in the highest degree), others from the tune they
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were set to, or the musical instruments they were sung to, or the
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raising of the voice in singing them. Some think they were sung on the
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fifteen steps or stairs, by which they went up from the outward court
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of the temple to the inner, others at so many stages of the people's
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journey, when they returned out of captivity. I shall only observe,
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1. That they are all short psalms, all but one very short (three of
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them have but three verses apiece), and that they are placed next to
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:1-176">Ps. cxix.</A>,
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which is by much the longest of all. Now as that was one psalm divided
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into many parts, so these were many psalms, which, being short, were
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sometimes sung all together, and made, as it were, one psalm, observing
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only a pause between each; as many steps make one pair of stairs.
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2. That, in the composition of them, we frequently meet with the
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figure they call climax, or an ascent, the preceding word repeated, and
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then rising to something further, as 120, "With him that hated peace. I
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peace." 121, "Whence cometh my help; my help cometh." "He that keepeth
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thee shall not slumber; he that keepeth Israel." 122, "Within thy
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gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded." 123, "Until that he have
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mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us." And the like in most of them, if
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not all. Perhaps for one of these reasons they are called songs of
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degrees.</P>
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<P>
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This psalm is supposed to have been penned by David upon occasion of
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Doeg's accusing him and the priests to Saul, because it is like 52,
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which was penned upon that occasion, and because the psalmist complains
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of his being driven out of the congregation of the Lord and his being
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forced among barbarous people.
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I. He prays to God to deliver him from the mischief designed him by
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false and malicious tongues,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. He threatens the judgments of God against such,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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III. He complains of his wicked neighbours that were quarrelsome and
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vexatious,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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In singing this psalm we may comfort ourselves in reference to the
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scourge of the tongue, when at any time we fall unjustly under the lash
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of it, that better than we have smarted from it.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps120_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps120_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps120_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps120_4"> </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>Confession and 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>A song of degrees.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 In my distress I cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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and he heard me.
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2 Deliver my soul, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, from lying lips, <I>and</I> from a
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deceitful tongue.
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3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto
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thee, thou false tongue?
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4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Deliverance from a false tongue obtained by prayer. David records
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his own experience of this.</P>
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<P>
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1. He was brought into distress, into great distress, by <I>lying lips
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and a deceitful tongue.</I> There were those that sought his ruin, and
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had almost effected it, by lying.
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(1.) By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions and
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protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and service to
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him, that they might the more securely and without suspicion carry on
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their designs against him, and might have an opportunity, by betraying
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his counsels, to do him a mischief. They smiled in his face and kissed
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him, even when they were aiming to smite him under the fifth rib. The
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most dangerous enemies, and those which it is most hard to guard
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against, are such as carry on their malicious designs under the colour
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of friendship. The Lord deliver every good man from such lying lips.
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(2.) By telling lies of him. They forged false accusations against him
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and <I>laid to his charge things that he knew not.</I> This has often
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been the lot not only of the innocent, but of the excellent ones, of
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the earth, who have been greatly distressed by lying lips, and have not
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only had their names blackened and made odious by calumnies in
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conversation, but their lives, and all that is dear to them in this
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world, endangered by false-witness-bearing in judgment. David was
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herein a type of Christ, who was distressed by lying lips and deceitful
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tongues.</P>
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<P>
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2. In this distress he had recourse to God by faithful and fervent
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prayer: <I>I cried unto the Lord.</I> Having no fence against false
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tongues, he appealed to him who has all men's hearts in his hand, who
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has power over the consciences of bad men, and can, when he pleases,
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bridle their tongues. His prayer was, "<I>Deliver my soul, O Lord! from
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lying lips,</I> that my enemies may not by these cursed methods work my
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ruin." He that had prayed so earnestly to be kept from lying
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:29">Ps. cxix. 29</A>)
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and hated it so heartily in himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:163"><I>v.</I> 163</A>)
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might with the more confidence pray to be kept from being belied by
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others, and from the ill consequences of it.</P>
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<P>
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3. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. God heard him; so that
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his enemies, though they carried their designs very far, were baffled
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at last, and could not prevail to do him the mischief they intended.
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The God of truth is, and will be, the protector of his people from
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lying lips,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:6">Ps. xxxvii. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The doom of a false tongue foretold by faith,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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As God will preserve his people from this mischievous generation, so he
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will reckon with their enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+12:3,7">Ps. xii. 3, 7</A>.
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The threatening is addressed to the sinner himself, for the awakening
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of his conscience, if he have any left: "Consider <I>what shall be
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given unto thee, and what shall be done unto thee,</I> by the righteous
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Judge of heaven and earth, <I>thou false tongue.</I>" Surely sinners
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durst not do as they do if they knew, and would be persuaded to think,
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what will be in the end thereof. Let liars consider what shall be given
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to them: <I>Sharp arrows of the Almighty, with coals of juniper,</I>
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that is, they will fall and lie for ever under the wrath of God, and
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will be made miserable by the tokens of his displeasure, which will fly
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swiftly like arrows, and will strike the sinner ere he is aware and
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when he sees not who hurts him. This is threatened against liars,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+64:7">Ps. lxiv. 7</A>.
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<I>God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be
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wounded.</I> They set God at a distance from them, but from afar his
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arrows can reach them. They are sharp arrows, and arrows of the mighty,
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the Almighty; for they will pierce through the strongest armour and
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strike deep into the hardest heart. The terrors of the Lord are his
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arrows
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+6:4">Job vi. 4</A>),
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and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which do not
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flame or crackle, like thorns under a pot, but have a vehement heat,
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and keep fire very long (some say, a year round) even when they seem to
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be gone out. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love
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and make a lie shall have their portion in the lake that burns
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eternally,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:15">Rev. xxii. 15</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps120_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps120_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps120_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>Mournful 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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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, <I>that</I> I dwell in the
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tents of Kedar!
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6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
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7 I <I>am for</I> peace: but when I speak, they <I>are</I> for war.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The psalmist here complains of the bad neighbourhood into which he was
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driven; and some apply the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+120:3,4">two foregoing verses</A>
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to this: "What shall the deceitful tongue give, what shall it do to
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those that lie open to it? What shall a man get by living among such
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malicious deceitful men? Nothing but <I>sharp arrows</I> and <I>coals
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of juniper,</I>" all the mischiefs of a false and spiteful tongue,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+57:4">Ps. lvii. 4</A>.
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<I>Woe is me,</I> says David, that I am forced to dwell among such,
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<I>that I sojourn in Mesech and Kedar.</I> Not that David dwelt in the
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country of Mesech or Kedar; we never find him so far off from his own
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native country; but he dwelt among rude and barbarous people, like the
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inhabitants of Mesech and Kedar: as, when we would describe an ill
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neighbourhood, we say, We dwell among Turks and heathens. This made him
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cry out, <I>Woe is me!</I>
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1. He was forced to live at a distance from the ordinances of God.
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While he was in banishment, he looked upon himself as a sojourner,
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never at home but when he was near God's altars; and he cries out,
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"<I>Woe is me</I> that my sojourning is prolonged, that I cannot get
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home to my resting-place, but am still kept at a distance!" So some
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read it. Note, A good man cannot think himself at home while he is
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banished from God's ordinances and has not them within reach. And it is
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a great grief to all that love God to be without the means of grace and
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of communion with God: when they are under a force of that kind they
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cannot but cry out, as David here, <I>Woe to me!</I>
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2. He was forced to live among wicked people, who were, upon many
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accounts, troublesome to him. He <I>dwell in the tents of Kedar,</I>
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where the shepherds were probably in an ill name for being litigious,
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like the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. It is a very grievous burden to a
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good man to be cast into, and kept in, the company of those whom he
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hopes to be for ever separated from (like Lot in Sodom;
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:8">2 Pet. ii. 8</A>);
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to dwell long with such is grievous indeed, for they are thorns,
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vexing, and scratching, and tearing, and they will show the old enmity
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that is in the <I>seed of the serpent</I> against the <I>seed of the
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woman.</I> Those that David dwelt with were such as not only hated him,
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but hated peace, and proclaimed war with it, who might write on their
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weapons of war not <I>Sic sequimur pacem--Thus we aim at peace,</I> but
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<I>Sic persequimur--Thus we persecute.</I> Perhaps Saul's court was the
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Mesech and Kedar in which David dwelt, and Saul was the man he meant
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that hated peace, whom David studied to oblige and could not, but the
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more service he did him the more exasperated he was against him. See
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here,
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(1.) The character of a very good man in David, who could truly say,
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though he was a man of war, <I>I am for peace;</I> for living peaceably
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with all men and unpeaceably with none. <I>I peace</I> (so it is in the
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original); "I love peace and pursue peace; my disposition is to peace
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and my delight is in it. I pray for peace and strive for peace, will do
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any thing, submit to any thing, part with any thing, in reason, for
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peace. <I>I am for peace,</I> and have made it to appear that I am so."
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<I>The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable.</I>
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(2.) The character of the worst of bad men in David's enemies, who
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would pick quarrels with those that were most peaceably disposed:
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"<I>When I speak they are for war;</I> and the more forward for war the
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more they find me inclined to peace." He spoke with all the respect and
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kindness that could be, proposed methods of accommodation, spoke
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reason, spoke love; but they would not so much as hear him patiently,
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but cried out, "To arms! to arms!" so fierce and implacable were they,
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and so bent to mischief. Such were Christ's enemies: for his love they
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were his adversaries, and for his good words, and good works, they
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stoned him. If we meet with such enemies, we must not think it strange,
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nor love peace the less for our seeking it in vain. <I>Be not overcome
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of evil,</I> no, not of such evil as this, <I>but,</I> even when thus
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tried, still try to <I>overcome evil with good.</I></P>
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