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658 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms CXLVII].</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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<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="MHC19146.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19148.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 CXLVII.</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 is another psalm of praise. Some think it was penned after the
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return of the Jews from their captivity; but it is so much of a piece
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with
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:1-21">Ps. cxlv.</A>
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that I rather think it was penned by David, and what is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:2,13">ver. 2, 13</A>)
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may well enough be applied to the first building and fortifying of
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Jerusalem in his time, and the gathering in of those that had been
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out-casts in Saul's time. The Septuagint divides it into two; and we
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may divide it into the first and second part, but both of the same
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import.
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I. We are called upon to praise God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:1,7,12">ver. 1, 7, 12</A>.
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II. We are furnished with matter for praise, for God is to be
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glorified,
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1. As the God of nature, and so he is very great,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:4,5,8,9,15-18">ver. 4, 5, 8, 9, 15-18</A>.
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2. As the God of grace, comforting his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:3,6,10,11">ver. 3, 6, 10, 11</A>.
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3. As the God of Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion, settling their civil
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state
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:2,13,14">ver. 2, 13, 14</A>),
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and especially settling religion among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.
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It is easy, in singing this psalm, to apply it to ourselves, both as to
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personal and national mercies, were it but as easy to do so with
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suitable affections.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps147_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps147_11"> </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>A Call to Praise God; Reasons for Praise.</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>1 Praise ye the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for <I>it is</I> good to sing praises unto our
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God; for <I>it is</I> pleasant; <I>and</I> praise is comely.
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2 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the
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outcasts of Israel.
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3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
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4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by
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<I>their</I> names.
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5 Great <I>is</I> our Lord, and of great power: his understanding
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<I>is</I> infinite.
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6 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to
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the ground.
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7 Sing unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the
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harp unto our God:
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8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for
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the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
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9 He giveth to the beast his food, <I>and</I> to the young ravens
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which cry.
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10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh
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not pleasure in the legs of a man.
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11 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those
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that hope in his mercy.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. The duty of praise is recommended to us. It is not without reason
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that we are thus called to it again and again: <I>Praise you the
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Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and again
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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<I>Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praise upon the harp to
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our God</I> (let all our praises be directed to him and centre in him),
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<I>for it is good</I> to do so; it is our duty, and therefore good in
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itself; it is our interest, and therefore good for us. It is acceptable
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to our Creator and it answers the end of our creation. The law for it
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is holy, just, and good; the practice of it will turn to a good
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account. It is good, for
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1. It is pleasant. Holy joy or delight are required as the principle of
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it, and that is pleasant to us as men; giving glory to God is the
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design and business of it, and that is pleasant to us as saints that
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are devoted to his honour. Praising God is work that is its own wages;
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it is heaven upon earth; it is what we should be in as in our element.
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2. It is comely; it is that which becomes us as reasonable creatures,
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much more as people in covenant with God. In giving honour to God we
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really do ourselves a great deal of honour.</P>
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<P>
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II. God is recommended to us as the proper object of our most exalted
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and enlarged praises, upon several accounts.</P>
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<P>
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1. The care he takes of his chosen people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Is Jerusalem to be raised out of small beginnings? Is it to be
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recovered out of its ruins? In both cases, <I>The Lord builds up
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Jerusalem.</I> The gospel-church, the Jerusalem that is from above, is
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of this building. He framed the model of it in his own counsels; he
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founded it by the preaching of his gospel; he adds to it daily such as
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shall be saved, and so increases it. He will build it up unto
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perfection, build it up as high as heaven. Are any of his people
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outcasts? Have they made themselves so by their own folly? He gathers
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them by giving them repentance and bringing them again into the
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communion of saints. Have they been forced out by war, famine, or
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persecution? He opens a door for their return; many that were missing,
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and thought to be lost, are brought back, and those that were scattered
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in the cloudy and dark day are gathered together again.</P>
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<P>
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2. The comforts he has laid up for true penitents,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They are <I>broken in heart,</I> and wounded, humbled, and troubled,
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for sin, inwardly pained at the remembrance of it, as a man is that is
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sorely wounded. Their very hearts are not only pricked, but rent, under
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the sense of the dishonour they have done to God and the injury they
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have done to themselves by sin. To those whom God heals with the
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consolations of his Spirit he speaks peace, assures them that their
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sins are pardoned and that he is reconciled to them, and so makes them
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easy, pours the balm of Gilead into the bleeding wounds, and then binds
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them up, and makes them to rejoice. Those who have had experience of
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this need not be called upon to praise the Lord; for when he brought
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them <I>out of the horrible pit,</I> and <I>set their feet upon a
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rock,</I> he <I>put a new song into their mouths,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:2,3">Ps. xl. 2, 3</A>.
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And for this let others praise him also.</P>
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<P>
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3. The sovereign dominion he has over the lights of heaven,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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The stars are innumerable, many of them being scarcely discernible with
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the naked eye, and yet he counts them, and knows the exact number of
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them, for they are all the work of his hands and the instruments of his
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providence. Their bulk and power are very great; but <I>he calleth them
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all by their names,</I> which shows his dominion over them and the
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command he has them at, to make what use of them he pleases. They are
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his servants, his soldiers; he musters them, he marshals them; they
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come and go at his bidding, and all their motions are under his
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direction. He mentions this as one instance of many, to show that
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<I>great is our Lord and of great power</I> (he can do what he
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pleases), and of <I>his understanding there is no computation,</I> so
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that he can contrive every thing for the best. Man's knowledge is soon
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drained, and you have his utmost length; hitherto his wisdom can reach
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and no further. But God's knowledge is a depth that can never be
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fathomed.</P>
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<P>
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4. The pleasure he takes in humbling the proud and exalting those of
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low degree
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>The Lord lifts up the meek,</I> who abase themselves before him, and
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whom men trample on; but <I>the wicked,</I> who conduct themselves
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insolently towards God and scornfully towards all mankind, who lift up
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themselves in pride and folly, he <I>casteth down to the ground,</I>
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sometimes by very humbling providences in this world, at furthest in
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the day when their faces shall be <I>filled with everlasting shame.</I>
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God proves himself to be God by <I>looking on the proud and abasing
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+40:12">Job xl. 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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5. The provision he makes for the inferior creatures. Though he is so
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great as to command the stars, he is so good as not to forget even the
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fowls,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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Observe in what method he feeds man and beast.
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(1.) <I>He covereth the heaven with clouds,</I> which darken the air
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and intercept the beams of the sun, and yet in them he <I>prepareth</I>
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that <I>rain for the earth</I> which is necessary to its fruitfulness.
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Clouds look melancholy, and yet without them we could have no rain and
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consequently no fruit. Thus afflictions, for the present, look black,
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and dark, and unpleasant, and we are in heaviness because of them, as
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sometimes when the sky is overcast it makes us dull; but they are
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necessary, for from these clouds of affliction come those showers that
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make the harvest to <I>yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:11">Heb. xii. 11</A>),
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which should help to reconcile us to them. Observe the necessary
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dependence which the earth has upon the heavens, which directs us on
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earth to depend on God in heaven. All the rain with which the earth is
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watered is of God's preparing.
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(2.) By the rain which distils on the earth he <I>makes grass to grow
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upon the mountains,</I> even the high mountains, which man neither
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takes care of nor reaps the benefit of. The mountains, which are not
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watered with the springs and rivers, as the valleys are, are yet
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watered so that they are not barren.
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(3.) This grass he <I>gives</I> to <I>the beast</I> for <I>his
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food,</I> the beast of the mountains which runs wild, which man makes
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no provision for. And even the <I>young ravens,</I> which, being
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forsaken by their old ones, <I>cry,</I> are heard by him, and ways are
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found to feed them, so that they are kept from perishing in the
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nest.</P>
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<P>
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6. The complacency he takes in his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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In times when great things are doing, and there are great expectations
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of the success of them, it concerns us to know (since the issue
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proceeds from the Lord) whom, and what, God will delight to honour and
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crown with victory. It is not the strength of armies, but the strength
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of grace, that God is pleased to own.
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(1.) Not the strength of armies--not in the cavalry, <I>for he
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delighteth not in the strength of the horse,</I> the war-horse, noted
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for his courage
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+39:19">Job xxxix. 19</A>,
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&c.)--nor in the infantry, for he <I>taketh no pleasure in the legs of a
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man;</I> he does not mean the swiftness of them for flight, to quit the
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field, but the steadiness of them for charging, to stand the ground. If
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one king, making war with another king, goes to God to pray for
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||
|
|
success, it will not avail him to plead, "Lord, I have a gallant army,
|
||
|
|
the horse and foot in good order; it is a pity that they should suffer
|
||
|
|
any disgrace;" for that is no argument with God,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+20:7">Ps. xx. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Jehoshaphat's was much better: <I>Lord, we have no might,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:12">2 Chron. xx. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) God is pleased to own the strength of grace. A serious and
|
||
|
|
suitable regard to God is that which is, in the sight of God, of great
|
||
|
|
price in such a case. The Lord accepts and <I>takes pleasure</I> in
|
||
|
|
those that <I>fear him and that hope in his mercy.</I> Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] A holy fear of God and hope in God not only may consist, but must
|
||
|
|
concur. In the same heart, at the same time, there must be both a
|
||
|
|
reverence of his majesty and a complacency in his goodness, both a
|
||
|
|
believing dread of his wrath and a believing expectation of his favour;
|
||
|
|
not that we must hang in suspense between hope and fear, but we must
|
||
|
|
act under the gracious influences of hope and fear. Our fear must save
|
||
|
|
our hope from swelling into presumption, and our hope must save our
|
||
|
|
fear from sinking into despair; thus must we take our work before us.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] We must <I>hope in God's mercy,</I> his general mercy, even when
|
||
|
|
we cannot find a particular promise to stay ourselves upon. A humble
|
||
|
|
confidence in the goodness of God's nature is very pleasing to him, as
|
||
|
|
that which turns to the glory of that attribute in which he most
|
||
|
|
glories. Every man of honour loves to be trusted.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ps147_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jerusalem and Zion Called to Praise to God; God's Favour to Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Praise the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
|
||
|
|
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath
|
||
|
|
blessed thy children within thee.
|
||
|
|
14 He maketh peace <I>in</I> thy borders, <I>and</I> filleth thee with
|
||
|
|
the finest of the wheat.
|
||
|
|
15 He sendeth forth his commandment <I>upon</I> earth: his word
|
||
|
|
runneth very swiftly.
|
||
|
|
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like
|
||
|
|
ashes.
|
||
|
|
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before
|
||
|
|
his cold?
|
||
|
|
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his
|
||
|
|
wind to blow, <I>and</I> the waters flow.
|
||
|
|
19 He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his
|
||
|
|
judgments unto Israel.
|
||
|
|
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and <I>as for his</I>
|
||
|
|
judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Jerusalem, and Zion, the holy city, the holy hill, are here called upon
|
||
|
|
to <I>praise God,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
For where should praise be offered up to God but where his altar is?
|
||
|
|
Where may we expect that glory should be given to him but in the beauty
|
||
|
|
of holiness? Let the inhabitants of Jerusalem praise the Lord in their
|
||
|
|
own houses; let the priests and Levites, who attend in Zion, the city
|
||
|
|
of their solemnities, in a special manner praise the Lord. They have
|
||
|
|
more cause to do it than others, and they lie under greater obligations
|
||
|
|
to do it than others; for it is their business, it is their profession.
|
||
|
|
"<I>Praise thy God, O Zion!</I> he is thine, and therefore thou art
|
||
|
|
bound to praise him; his being thine includes all happiness, so that
|
||
|
|
thou canst never want matter for praise." Jerusalem and Zion must
|
||
|
|
praise God,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. For the prosperity and flourishing state of their civil interests,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. For their common safety. They had gates, and kept their gates barred
|
||
|
|
in times of danger; but that would not have been an effectual security
|
||
|
|
to them if God had not <I>strengthened the bars of their gates</I> and
|
||
|
|
fortified their fortifications. The most probable means we can devise
|
||
|
|
for our own preservation will not answer the end, unless God give his
|
||
|
|
blessing with them; we must therefore in the careful and diligent use
|
||
|
|
of those means, depend upon him for that blessing, and attribute the
|
||
|
|
undisturbed repose of our land more to the wall of fire than to the
|
||
|
|
wall of water round about us,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+2:5">Zech. ii. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. For the increase of their people. This strengthens the bars of the
|
||
|
|
gates as much as any thing: <I>He hath blessed thy children within
|
||
|
|
thee,</I> with that first and great blessing, <I>Be fruitful, and
|
||
|
|
multiply, and replenish the land.</I> It is a comfort to parents to see
|
||
|
|
their children blessed of the Lord
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:9">Isa. lxi. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and a comfort to the generation that is going off to see the rising
|
||
|
|
generation numerous and hopeful, for which blessing God must be
|
||
|
|
blessed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. For the public tranquillity, that they were delivered from the
|
||
|
|
terrors and desolations of war: <I>He makes peace in thy borders,</I>
|
||
|
|
by putting an end to the wars that were, and preventing the wars that
|
||
|
|
were threatened and feared. <I>He makes peace within thy borders,</I>
|
||
|
|
that is, in all parts of the country, by composing differences among
|
||
|
|
neighbours, that there may be no intestine broils and animosities, and
|
||
|
|
<I>upon thy borders,</I> that they may not be attacked by invasions
|
||
|
|
from abroad. If there be trouble any where, it is in the borders, the
|
||
|
|
marches of a country; the frontier-towns lie most exposed, so that, if
|
||
|
|
there be peace in the borders, there is a universal peace, a mercy we
|
||
|
|
can never be sufficiently thankful for.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. For great plenty, the common effect of peace: He <I>filleth thee
|
||
|
|
with the finest of the wheat</I>--wheat, the most valuable grain, the
|
||
|
|
fat, the finest of that, and a fulness thereof. What would they more?
|
||
|
|
Canaan abounded with the best wheat
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:14">Deut. xxxii. 14</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and exported it to the countries abroad, as appears,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+27:17">Ezek. xxvii. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The land of Israel was not enriched with precious stones nor spices,
|
||
|
|
but with <I>the finest of the wheat,</I> with bread, which strengthens
|
||
|
|
man's heart. This made it the glory of all lands, and for this God was
|
||
|
|
praised in Zion.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. For the wonderful instances of his power in the weather,
|
||
|
|
particularly the winter-weather. He that protects Zion and Jerusalem is
|
||
|
|
that God of power from whom all the powers of nature are derived and on
|
||
|
|
whom they depend, and who produces all the changes of the seasons,
|
||
|
|
which, if they were not common, would astonish us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. In general, whatever alterations there are in this lower world (and
|
||
|
|
it is that world that is subject to continual changes) they are
|
||
|
|
produced by the will, and power, and providence of God
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth,</I> as one that has an
|
||
|
|
incontestable authority to give orders, and innumerable attendants
|
||
|
|
ready to carry his orders and put them in execution. As the world was
|
||
|
|
at first made, so it is still upheld and governed, by a word of
|
||
|
|
almighty power. <I>God speaks and it is done,</I> for all are his
|
||
|
|
servants. That word takes effect, not only surely, but speedily. <I>His
|
||
|
|
word runneth very swiftly,</I> for nothing can oppose or retard it. As
|
||
|
|
the lightning, which passes through the air in an instant, such is the
|
||
|
|
word of God's providence, and such the word of his grace, when it is
|
||
|
|
sent forth with commission,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+17:24">Luke xvii. 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Angels, who carry his word and fulfil it, <I>fly swiftly,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:21">Dan. ix. 21</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. In particular, frosts and thaws are both of them wonderful changes,
|
||
|
|
and in both we must acknowledge the word of his power.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Frosts are from God. With him are the <I>treasures of the snow and
|
||
|
|
the hail</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:22,23">Job xxxviii. 22, 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and out of these treasures he draws as he pleases.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] <I>He giveth snow like wool.</I> It is compared to wool for its
|
||
|
|
whiteness
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:18">Isa. i. 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and its softness; it falls silently, and makes no more noise than the
|
||
|
|
fall of a lock of wool; it covers the earth, and keeps it warm like a
|
||
|
|
fleece of wool, and so promotes its fruitfulness. See how God can work
|
||
|
|
by contraries, and bring meat out of the eater, can warm the earth with
|
||
|
|
cold snow.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] <I>He scatters the hoar-frost,</I> which is dew congealed, as the
|
||
|
|
snow and hail are rain congealed. This looks like ashes scattered upon
|
||
|
|
the grass, and is sometimes prejudicial to the products of the earth
|
||
|
|
and blasts them as if it were hot ashes,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:47">Ps. lxxviii. 47</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] <I>He casts forth his ice like morsels,</I> which may be
|
||
|
|
understood either of large hail-stones, which are as ice in the air, or
|
||
|
|
of the ice which covers the face of the waters, and when it is broken,
|
||
|
|
though naturally it was as drops of drink, it is as morsels of meat, or
|
||
|
|
crusts of bread.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] When we see the frost, and snow, and ice, we feel it in the air:
|
||
|
|
<I>Who can stand before his cold?</I> The beasts cannot; they retire
|
||
|
|
into dens
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+37:8">Job xxxvii. 8</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they are easily conquered then,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+23:20">2 Sam. xxiii. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Men cannot, but are forced to protect themselves by fires, or furs, or
|
||
|
|
both, and all little enough where and when the cold is in extremity. We
|
||
|
|
see not the causes when we feel the effects; and therefore we must call
|
||
|
|
it <I>his cold;</I> it is of his sending, and therefore we must bear it
|
||
|
|
patiently, and be thankful for warm houses, and clothes, and beds, to
|
||
|
|
relieve us against the rigour of the season, and must give him the
|
||
|
|
glory of his wisdom and sovereignty, his power and faithfulness, which
|
||
|
|
shall not cease any more than summer,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:22">Gen. viii. 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And let us also infer from it, If we cannot stand before the cold of
|
||
|
|
his frosts, how can we stand before the heat of his wrath?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Thaws are from God. When he pleases
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>he sends out his word and melts them;</I> the frost, the snow, the
|
||
|
|
ice, are all dissolved quickly, in order to which he <I>causes the
|
||
|
|
wind,</I> the <I>south wind, to blow,</I> and <I>the waters,</I> which
|
||
|
|
were frozen, <I>flow</I> again as they did before. We are soon sensible
|
||
|
|
of the change, but we see not the causes of it, but must resolve it
|
||
|
|
into the will of the First Cause. And in it we must take notice not
|
||
|
|
only of the power of God, that he can so suddenly, so insensibly, make
|
||
|
|
such a great and universal alteration in the temper of the air and the
|
||
|
|
face of the earth (what cannot he do that does this every winter,
|
||
|
|
perhaps often every winter?) but also of the goodness of God. Hard
|
||
|
|
weather does not always continue; it would be sad if it should. He does
|
||
|
|
not <I>contend for ever,</I> but <I>renews the face of the earth.</I>
|
||
|
|
As he remembered Noah, and released him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:1">Gen. viii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so he remembers the earth, and his covenant with the earth,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+2:11,12">Cant. ii. 11, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and this thawing
|
||
|
|
wind the Spirit of Christ (for the Spirit is compared to the wind,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:8">John iii. 8</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
both are sent for the melting of frozen souls. Converting grace, like
|
||
|
|
the thaw, softens the heart that was hard, moistens it, and melts it
|
||
|
|
into tears of repentance; it warms good affections, and makes them to
|
||
|
|
flow, which, before, were chilled and stopped up. The change which the
|
||
|
|
thaw makes is universal and yet gradual; it is very evident, and yet
|
||
|
|
how it is done is unaccountable: such is the change wrought in the
|
||
|
|
conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it
|
||
|
|
and restore it to itself.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. For his distinguishing favour to Israel, in giving them his word
|
||
|
|
and ordinances, a much more valuable blessing than their peace and
|
||
|
|
plenty
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as much as the soul is more excellent than the body. Jacob and Israel
|
||
|
|
had God's statutes and judgments among them. They were under his
|
||
|
|
peculiar government; the municipal laws of their nation were of his
|
||
|
|
framing and enacting, and their constitution was a theocracy. They had
|
||
|
|
the benefit of divine revelation; the great things of God's law were
|
||
|
|
written to them. They had a priesthood of divine institution for all
|
||
|
|
things pertaining to God, and prophets for all extraordinary occasions.
|
||
|
|
No people besides went upon sure grounds in their religion. Now this
|
||
|
|
was,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. A preventing mercy. They did not find out God's statutes and
|
||
|
|
judgments of themselves, but <I>God showed his word unto Jacob,</I> and
|
||
|
|
by that word he made known to them his <I>statutes and judgments.</I>
|
||
|
|
It is a great mercy to any people to have the word of God among them;
|
||
|
|
for <I>faith comes by hearing</I> and reading that word, that faith
|
||
|
|
without which it is impossible to please God.
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2. A distinguishing mercy, and upon that account the more obliging:
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"<I>He hath not dealt so with every nation,</I> not with <I>any</I>
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nation; and, <I>as for his judgments, they have not known them,</I> nor
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are likely to know them till the Messiah shall come and take down the
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partition-wall between Jew and Gentile, that the gospel may be preached
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to every creature." Other nations had plenty of outward good things;
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some nations were very rich, others had pompous powerful princes and
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polite literature, but none were blessed with God's statutes and
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judgments as Israel were. Let <I>Israel</I> therefore <I>praise the
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Lord</I> in the observance of these statutes. <I>Lord, how is it that
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thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world! Even so,
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Father, because it seemed good in thy eyes.</I></P>
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