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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms XCI].</TITLE>
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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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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 XCI.</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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Some of the ancients were of opinion that Moses was the penman, not
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only of the foregoing psalm, which is expressly said to be his, but
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also of the eight that next follow it; but that cannot be, for
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+95:1-11">Ps. xcv.</A>
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is expressly said to be penned by David, and long after Moses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:7">Heb. iv. 7</A>.
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It is probable that this psalm also was penned by David; it is a writ
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of protection for all true believers, not in the name of king David, or
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under his broad seal; he needed it himself, especially if the psalm was
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penned, as some conjecture it was, at the time of the pestilence which
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was sent for his numbering the people; but in the name of the King of
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kings, and under the broad seal of Heaven. Observe,
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I. The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his keeper
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:2">ver. 2</A>),
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from which he gives both direction and encouragement to others,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:9">ver. 9</A>.
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II. The promises which are here made, in God's name, to all those that
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do so in sincerity.
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1. They shall be taken under the peculiar care of Heaven,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1,4">ver. 1, 4</A>.
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2. They shall be delivered from the malice of the powers of darkness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:3,5,6">ver. 3, 5, 6</A>),
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and that by a distinguishing preservation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>.
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3. They shall be the charge of the holy angels,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:10-12">ver. 10-12</A>.
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4. They shall triumph over their enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:13">ver. 13</A>.
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5. They shall be the special favourites of God himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>.
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In singing this we must shelter ourselves under, and then solace
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ourselves in, the divine protection. Many think that to Christ, as
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Mediator, these promises do primarily belong
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:2">Isa. xlix. 2</A>),
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not because to him the devil applied one of these promises
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:6">Matt. iv. 6</A>),
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but because to him they are very applicable, and, coming through him,
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they are more sweet and sure to all believers.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps91_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_8"> </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>The Security of Believers.</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 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall
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abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
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2 I will say of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>He is</I> my refuge and my fortress: my
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God; in him will I trust.
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3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
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<I>and</I> from the noisome pestilence.
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4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings
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shalt thou trust: his truth <I>shall be thy</I> shield and buckler.
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5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; <I>nor</I> for
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the arrow <I>that</I> flieth by day;
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6 <I>Nor</I> for the pestilence <I>that</I> walketh in darkness; <I>nor</I>
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for the destruction <I>that</I> wasteth at noonday.
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7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy
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right hand; <I>but</I> it shall not come nigh thee.
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8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of
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the wicked.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. A great truth laid down in general, That all those who live a life
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of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may
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therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>He that dwells,</I> that sits down, <I>in the secret place of the
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Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty;</I> he that by
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faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he
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needs or can desire. Note,
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1. It is the character of a true believer that he <I>dwells in the
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secret place of the Most High;</I> he is at home in God, returns to
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God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward
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religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within
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the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in
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solitude.
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2. It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they
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<I>abide under the shadow of the Almighty;</I> he shelters them, and
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comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm
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or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence,
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under God's protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.</P>
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<P>
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II. The psalmist's comfortable application of this to himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>I will say of the Lord,</I> whatever others say of him, "<I>He is my
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refuge;</I> I choose him as such, and confide in him. Others make idols
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their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is
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<I>my refuge:</I> any other is a <I>refuge of lies.</I> He is a refuge
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that will not fail me; for he is <I>my fortress and strong-hold.</I>"
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Idolaters called their idols <I>Mahuzzim,</I> their <I>most
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strong-hold</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+11:39">Dan. xi. 39</A>),
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but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that
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make the Lord their God, their fortress. There being no reason to
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question his sufficiency, fitly does it follow, <I>In him will I
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trust.</I> If Jehovah be our God, our refuge, and our fortress, what
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can we desire which we may not be sure to find in him? He is neither
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fickle nor false, neither weak nor mortal; he is God and not man, and
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therefore there is no danger of being disappointed in him. <I>We know
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whom we have trusted.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. The great encouragement he gives to others to do likewise, not
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only from his own experience of the comfort of it (for in that there
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might possibly be a fallacy), but from the truth of God's promise, in
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which there neither is nor can be any deceit
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>,
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&c.): <I>Surely he shall deliver thee.</I> Those who have themselves
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found the comfort of making God their refuge cannot but desire that
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others may do so. Now here it is promised,</P>
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<P>
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1. That believers shall be kept from those mischiefs which they are in
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imminent danger of, and which would be fatal to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>from the snare of the fowler,</I> which is laid unseen and catches
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the unwary prey on a sudden, and <I>from the noisome pestilence,</I>
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which seizes men unawares and against which there is no guard. This
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promise protects,
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(1.) The natural life, and is often fulfilled in our preservation from
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those dangers which are very threatening and very near, while yet we
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ourselves are not apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of
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<I>the snare of the fowler.</I> We owe it, more than we are sensible,
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to the care of the divine Providence that we have been kept from
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infectious diseases and out of the hands of the wicked and
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unreasonable.
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(2.) The spiritual life, which is protected by divine grace from the
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temptations of Satan, which are as the <I>snares of the fowler,</I> and
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from the contagion of sin, which is the <I>noisome pestilence.</I> He
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that has given grace to be the glory of the soul will create a defence
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upon all that glory.</P>
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<P>
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2. That God himself will be their protector; those must needs be safe
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who have him for their keeper, and successful for whom he undertakes
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>He shall cover thee,</I> shall keep thee <I>secret</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+31:20">Ps. xxxi. 20</A>),
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and so keep thee safe,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</A>.
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God protects believers,
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(1.) With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in
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that, <I>He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his wings,</I>
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which alludes to the hen <I>gathering her chickens under wings,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:37">Matt. xxiii. 37</A>.
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By natural instinct she not only protects them, but calls them under
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that protection when she sees them in danger, not only keeps them safe,
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but cherishes them and keeps them warm. To this the great God is
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pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the
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chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the
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shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the
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periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to
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<I>trust under the wings of the God of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ru+2:12">Ruth ii. 12</A>.
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(2.) With the greatest power and efficacy. Wings and feathers, though
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spread with the greatest tenderness, are yet weak, and easily broken
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through, and therefore it is added, <I>His truth shall be thy shield
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and buckler,</I> a strong defence. God is willing to guard his people
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as the hen is to guard the chickens, and as able as a man of war in
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armour.</P>
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<P>
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3. That he will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of
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evil,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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Here is,
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(1.) Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us;
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night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous
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will in neither period think themselves safe. When we are retired into
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our chambers, our beds, and have made all as safe as we can about us,
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yet there is terror by night, from thieves and robbers, winds and
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storms, besides those things that are the creatures of fancy and
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imagination, which are often most frightful of all. We read of <I>fear
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in the night,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:8">Cant. iii. 8</A>.
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There is also a <I>pestilence that walketh in darkness,</I> as that was
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which slew the first-born of the Egyptians, and the army of the
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Assyrians. No locks nor bars can shut out diseases, while we carry
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about with us in our bodies the seeds of them. But surely in the
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day-time, when we can look about us, we are not so much in danger; yes,
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there is an <I>arrow that flieth by day</I> too, and yet flies unseen;
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there is a destruction that wasteth at high-noon, when we are awake and
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have all our friends about us; even then we cannot secure ourselves,
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nor can they secure us. It was in the day-time that that pestilence
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wasted which was sent to chastise David for numbering the people, on
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occasion of which some think this psalm was penned. But,
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(2.) Here is great security promised to believers in the midst of this
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danger: "<I>Thou shalt not be afraid.</I> God by his grace will keep
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thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath torment)
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in the midst of the greatest dangers. Wisdom shall keep thee from being
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causelessly afraid, and faith shall keep thee from being inordinately
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afraid. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow, as knowing that though
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it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it take away the natural life,
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yet it shall be so far from doing any prejudice to the spiritual life
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that it shall be its perfection." A believer <I>needs not</I> fear, and
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therefore <I>should not</I> fear, any arrow, because the point is off,
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the poison is out. <I>O death! where is thy sting?</I> It is also
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under divine direction, and will hit where God appoints and not
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otherwise. Every bullet has its commission. Whatever is done our
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heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to be afraid of
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that.</P>
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<P>
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4. That they shall be preserved in common calamities, in a
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distinguishing way
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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"When death rides in triumph, and diseases rage, so that <I>thousands
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and ten thousands</I> fall, fall by sickness, or fall by the sword in
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battle, <I>fall at thy side, at thy right hand,</I> and the sight of
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their fall is enough to frighten thee, and if they fall by the
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pestilence their falling so near thee may be likely to infect thee,
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<I>yet it shall not come nigh thee,</I> the death shall not, the fear
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of death shall not." Those that preserve their purity in times of
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general corruption may trust God with their safety in times of general
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desolation. When multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must
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be awakened to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be <I>afraid
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with any amazement,</I> nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many
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do all their life-time, <I>through fear of death,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:15">Heb. ii. 15</A>.
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The sprinkling of blood secured the first-born of Israel when thousands
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fell. Nay, it is promised to God's people that they shall have the
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satisfaction of seeing, not only God's promises fulfilled to them, but
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his threatenings fulfilled upon those that hate them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>Only with thy eyes shalt thou behold and see the just reward of the
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wicked,</I> which perhaps refers to the destruction of the first-born
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of Egypt by the pestilence, which was both the punishment of the
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oppressors and the enlargement of the oppressed; this Israel saw when
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they saw themselves unhurt, untouched. As it will aggravate the
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damnation of sinners that with their eyes they shall behold and see the
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reward of the righteous
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+13:28">Luke xiii. 28</A>),
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so it will magnify the salvation of the saints that with their eyes
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they shall behold and see the destruction of the wicked,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:24,Ps+58:10">Isa. lxvi. 24; Ps. lviii. 10</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps91_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps91_16"> </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>The Security of Believers.</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>9 Because thou hast made the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>which is</I> my refuge, <I>even</I>
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the most High, thy habitation;
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10 There shall no evil befal thee, neither shall any plague
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come nigh thy dwelling.
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11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee
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in all thy ways.
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12 They shall bear thee up in <I>their</I> hands, lest thou dash thy
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foot against a stone.
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13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and
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the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
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14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I
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deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my
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name.
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15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I <I>will be</I>
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with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
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16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my
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salvation.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here are more promises to the same purport with those in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1-8">foregoing verses</A>,
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and they are exceedingly great and precious, and sure to all the
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seed.</P>
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<P>
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I. The psalmist assures believers of divine protection, from his own
|
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experience; and that which he says is the word of God, and what we may
|
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rely upon. Observe,
|
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|
1. The character of those who shall have the benefit and comfort of
|
|
these promises; it is much the same with that,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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They are such as make <I>the Most High their habitation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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as are continually with God and rest in him, as make his name both
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their temple and their strong tower, as dwell in love and so dwell in
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God. It is our duty to be at home in God, to make our choice of him,
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|
and then to live our life in him as our habitation, to converse with
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him, and delight in him, and depend upon him; and then it shall be our
|
|
privilege to be at home in God; we shall be welcome to him as a man to
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|
his own habitation, without any let, hindrance, or molestation, from
|
|
the arrests of the law or the clamours of conscience; then too we shall
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be safe in him, shall be kept in <I>perfect peace,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:3">Isa. xxvi. 3</A>.
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To encourage us to make the Lord our habitation, and to hope for safety
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and satisfaction in him, the psalmist intimates the comfort he had had
|
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in doing so: "He whom thou makest thy <I>habitation is my refuge;</I>
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and I have found him firm and faithful, and in him there is room
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|
enough, and shelter enough, both for thee and me." <I>In my father's
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|
house</I> there <I>are many mansions,</I> one needs not crowd another,
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|
much less crowd out another.
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2. The promises that are sure to all those who have thus made <I>the
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|
Most High</I> their <I>habitation.</I>
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(1.) That, whatever happens to them, nothing shall hurt them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>There shall no evil befal thee;</I> though trouble or affliction
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|
befal thee, yet there shall be no real evil in it, for it shall come
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|
from the love of God and shall be sanctified; it shall come, not for
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|
thy hurt, but for thy good; and though, for <I>the present, it be not
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|
joyous but grievous,</I> yet, in the end, it shall yield so well that
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|
thou thyself shalt own <I>no evil befel thee.</I> It is not an evil, an
|
|
only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of good
|
|
by it. Nay, not thy person only, but thy dwelling, shall be taken under
|
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the divine protection: <I>There shall no plague come nigh</I> that,
|
|
nothing to do thee or thine any damage." <I>Nihil accidere bono viro
|
|
mali potest--No evil can befal a good man.</I> Seneca <I>De
|
|
Providentia.</I>
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(2.) That the angels of light shall be serviceable to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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This is a precious promise, and speaks a great deal both of honour and
|
|
comfort to the saints, nor is it ever the worse for being quoted and
|
|
abused by the devil in tempting Christ,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:6">Matt. iv. 6</A>.
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|
Observe,
|
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[1.] The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. He who is
|
|
the Lord of the angels, who gave them their being and gives laws to
|
|
them, whose they are and whom they were made to serve, <I>he shall give
|
|
his angels a charge over thee,</I> not only over the church in general,
|
|
but over every particular believer. The angels <I>keep the charge of
|
|
the Lord their God;</I> and this is the charge they receive from him.
|
|
It denotes the great care God takes of the saints, in that the angels
|
|
themselves shall be charged with them, and employed for them. The
|
|
charge is <I>to keep thee in all thy ways;</I> here is a limitation of
|
|
the promise: They <I>shall keep thee in thy ways,</I> that is, "as long
|
|
as thou keepest in the way of thy duty;" those that go out of that way
|
|
put themselves out of God's protection. This word the devil left out
|
|
when he quoted the promise to enforce a temptation, knowing how much it
|
|
made against him. But observe the extent of the promise; it is <I>to
|
|
keep thee in all thy ways:</I> even where there is no apparent danger
|
|
yet we need it, and where there is the most imminent danger we shall
|
|
have it. Wherever the saints go the angels are charged with them, as
|
|
the servants are with the children.
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|
|
|
[2.] The care which the angels take of the saints, pursuant to this
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|
charge: <I>They shall bear thee up in their hands,</I> which denotes
|
|
both their great ability and their great affection. They are able to
|
|
bear up the saints out of the reach of danger, and they do it with all
|
|
the tenderness and affection wherewith the nurse carries the little
|
|
child about in her arms; it speaks us helpless and them helpful. They
|
|
are condescending in their ministrations; they keep the feet of the
|
|
saints, lest they <I>dash them against a stone,</I> lest they stumble
|
|
and fall into sin and into trouble.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That the powers of darkness shall be triumphed over by them
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder.</I> The devil is called
|
|
<I>a roaring lion, the old serpent, the red dragon;</I> so that to this
|
|
promise the apostle seems to refer in that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+16:20">Rom. xvi. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet.</I> Christ has
|
|
broken the serpent's head, spoiled our spiritual enemies
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:15">Col. ii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and through him <I>we are more than conquerors;</I> for Christ calls
|
|
us, as Joshua called the captains of Israel, to come and set our feet
|
|
on the necks of vanquished enemies. Some think that this promise had
|
|
its full accomplishment in Christ, and the miraculous power which he
|
|
had over the whole creation, healing the sick, casting out devils, and
|
|
particularly putting it into his disciples' commission that they should
|
|
<I>take up serpents,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:18">Mark xvi. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
It may be applied to that care of the divine Providence by which we are
|
|
preserved from ravenous noxious creatures (<I>the wild beasts of the
|
|
field shall be at peace with thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+5:23">Job v. 23</A>);
|
|
|
|
nay, and have ways and means of taming them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+3:7">Jam. iii. 7</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He brings in God himself speaking words of comfort to the saints,
|
|
and declaring the mercy he had in store for them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:14-16"><I>v.</I> 14-16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some make this to be spoken to the angels as the reason of the charge
|
|
given them concerning the saints, as if he had said, "Take care of
|
|
them, for they are dear to me, and I have a tender concern for them."
|
|
And now, as before, we must observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. To whom these promises do belong; they are described by three
|
|
characters:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) They are such as know God's name. His nature we cannot fully know;
|
|
but by his name he has made himself known, and with that we must
|
|
acquaint ourselves.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are such as have set their love upon him; and those who
|
|
rightly know him will love him, will place their love upon him as the
|
|
only adequate object of it, will let out their love towards him with
|
|
pleasure and enlargement, and will fix their love upon him with a
|
|
resolution never to remove it to any rival.
|
|
|
|
(3.) They are such as call upon him, as by prayer keep up a constant
|
|
correspondence with him, and in every difficult case refer themselves
|
|
to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What the promises are which God makes to the saints.
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he will, in due time, deliver them out of trouble: <I>I will
|
|
deliver him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>
|
|
|
|
and again
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
denoting a double deliverance, living and dying, a deliverance in
|
|
trouble and a deliverance out of trouble. If God proportions the
|
|
degree and continuance of our troubles to our strength, if he keeps us
|
|
from offending him in our troubles, and makes our death our discharge,
|
|
at length, from all our troubles, then this promise is fulfilled. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+34:19,2Ti+3:11,4:18">Ps. xxxiv. 19;
|
|
2 Tim. iii. 11; iv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he will, in the mean time, <I>be with them in trouble,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
If he does not immediately put a period to their afflictions, yet they
|
|
shall have his gracious presence with them in their troubles; he will
|
|
take notice of their sorrows, and <I>know their souls in adversity,</I>
|
|
will visit them graciously by his word and Spirit, and converse with
|
|
them, will take their part, will support and comfort them, and sanctify
|
|
their afflictions to them, which will be the surest token of his
|
|
presence with them in their troubles.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That herein he will answer their prayers: <I>He shall call upon
|
|
me;</I> I will pour upon him the spirit of prayer, <I>and</I> then <I>I
|
|
will answer,</I> answer by promises
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:8">Ps. lxxxv. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
answer by providences, bringing in seasonable relief, and answer by
|
|
graces, <I>strengthening them with strength in their souls</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:3">Ps. cxxxviii. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
thus he answered Paul with <I>grace sufficient,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+12:9">2 Cor. xii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
(4.) That he will exalt and dignify them: <I>I will set him on
|
|
high,</I> out of the reach of trouble, above the stormy region, on a
|
|
rock <I>above the waves,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:16">Isa. xxxiii. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall be enabled, by the grace of God, to look down upon the
|
|
things of this world with a holy contempt and indifference, to look up
|
|
to the things of the other world with a holy ambition and concern; and
|
|
then they are set on high. <I>I will honour him;</I> those are truly
|
|
honourable whom God puts honour upon by taking them into covenant and
|
|
communion with himself and designing them for his kingdom and glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:26">John xii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
(5.) That they shall have a sufficiency of life in this world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>With length of days will I satisfy him;</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] They shall live long enough: they shall be continued in this world
|
|
till they have done the work they were sent into this world for and are
|
|
ready for heaven, and that is long enough. Who would wish to live a day
|
|
longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him?
|
|
|
|
[2.] They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall wean
|
|
them from the world and make them willing to leave it. A man may die
|
|
young, and yet die full of days, <I>satur dierum--satisfied with
|
|
living.</I> A wicked worldly man is not satisfied, no, not with long
|
|
life; he still cries, <I>Give, give.</I> But he that has his treasure
|
|
and heart in another world has soon enough of this; he would not live
|
|
always.
|
|
|
|
(6.) That they shall have an eternal life in the other world. This
|
|
crowns the blessedness: <I>I will show him my salvation,</I> show him
|
|
<I>the Messiah</I> (so some); good old Simeon was then satisfied with
|
|
long life when he could say, <I>My eyes have seen thy salvation,</I>
|
|
nor was there any greater joy to the Old-Testament saints than to see
|
|
Christ's day, though at a distance. It is more probably that the word
|
|
refers to the better country, that is, the heavenly, which the
|
|
patriarchs desired and sought: he <I>will show him</I> that, bring him
|
|
to that blessed state, the felicity of which consists so much in seeing
|
|
that face to face which we here see through a glass darkly; and, in the
|
|
mean time, he will give him a prospect of it. All these promises, some
|
|
think, point primarily at Christ, and had their accomplishment in his
|
|
resurrection and exaltation.</P>
|
|
|
|
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