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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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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 CXLII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This psalm is a prayer, the substance of which David offered up to God
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when he was forced by Saul to take shelter in a cave, and which he
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afterwards penned in this form. Here is,
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I. The complaint he makes to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>)
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of the subtlety, strength, and malice, of his enemies
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:3,6">ver. 3, 6</A>),
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and the coldness and indifference of his friends,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:4">ver. 4</A>.
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II. The comfort he takes in God that he knew his case
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:3">ver. 3</A>)
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and was his refuge,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:5">ver. 5</A>.
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III. His expectation from God that he would hear and deliver him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>.
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IV His expectation from the righteous that they would join with him in
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praises,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:7">ver. 7</A>.
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Those that are troubled in mind, body, or estate, may, in singing this
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psalm (if they sing it in some measure with David's spirit), both
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warrant his complaints and fetch in his comforts.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps142_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps142_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps142_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's 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>Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 I cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with
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my voice; with my voice unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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did I make my supplication.
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2 I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my
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trouble.
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3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest
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my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a
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snare for me.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Whether it was in the cave of <I>Adullam,</I> or that of <I>Engedi,</I>
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that David prayed this prayer, is not material; it is plain that he was
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in distress. It was a great disgrace to so great a soldier, so great a
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courtier, to be put to such shifts for his own safety, and a great
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terror to be so hotly pursued and every moment in expectation of death;
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yet then he had such a presence of mind as to pray this prayer, and,
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wherever he was, still had his religion about him. Prayers and tears
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were his weapons, and, when he durst not stretch forth his hands
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against his prince, he lifted them up to his God. There is no cave so
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deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls
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in prayer, to God. He calls this prayer <I>Maschil--a psalm of
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instruction,</I> because of the good lessons he had himself learnt in
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the cave, learnt on his knees, which he desired to teach others. In
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these verses observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How David complained to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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When the danger was over he was not ashamed to own (as great spirits
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sometimes are) the fright he had been in and the application he had
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made to God. Let no men of the first rank think it any diminution or
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disparagement to them, when they are in affliction, to cry to God, and
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to cry like children to their parents when any thing frightens them.
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<I>David poured out his complaint,</I> which denotes a free and full
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complaint; he was copious and particular in it. His heart was as full
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of his grievances as it could hold, but he made himself easy by pouring
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them out before the Lord; and this he did with great fervency: <I>He
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cried unto the Lord with his voice,</I> with the voice of his mind (so
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some think), for, being hidden in the cave, he durst not speak with an
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audible voice, lest that should betray him; but mental prayer is vocal
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to God, and he hears the groanings which cannot, or dare not, be
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uttered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:26">Rom. viii. 26</A>.
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Two things David laid open to God, in this complaint:--
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1. His distress. He exhibited a remonstrance or memorial of his case:
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<I>I showed before him my trouble,</I> and all the circumstances of it.
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He did not prescribe to God, nor show him his trouble, as if God did
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not know it without his showing; but as one that put a confidence in
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God, desired to keep up communion with him, and was willing to refer
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himself entirely to him, he unbosomed himself to him, humbly laid the
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matter before him, and then cheerfully left it with him. We are apt to
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show our trouble too much to ourselves, aggravating it, and poring upon
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it, which does us no service, whereas by showing it to God we might
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cast the care upon him who careth for us, and thereby ease ourselves.
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Nor should we allow of any complaint to ourselves or others which we
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cannot with due decency and sincerity of devotion make to God, and
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stand to before him.
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2. His desire. When he made his complaint he <I>made his
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supplication</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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not claiming relief as a debt, but humbly begging it as a favour.
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Complainants must be suppliants, for God will be sought unto.</P>
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<P>
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II. What he complained of: "<I>In the way wherein I walked,</I>
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suspecting no danger, <I>have they privily laid a snare for me,</I> to
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entrap me." Saul gave Michal his daughter to David on purpose that she
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might be <I>a snare to him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+18:21">1 Sam. xviii. 21</A>.
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This he complains of to God, that every thing was done with a design
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against him. If he had gone out of his way, and met with snares, he
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might have thanked himself; but when he met with them in the way of his
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duty he might with humble boldness tell God of them.</P>
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<P>
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III. What comforted him in the midst of these complaints
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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"<I>When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,</I> and ready to sink
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under the burden of grief and fear, when I was quite at a loss and
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ready to despair, <I>then thou knewest my path,</I> that is, then it
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was a pleasure to me to think that thou knewest it. Thou knewest my
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sincerity, the right path which I have walked in, and that I am not
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such a one as my persecutors represent me. Thou knewest my condition in
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all the particulars of it; when my spirit was so overwhelmed that I
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could not distinctly show it, this comforted me, that thou knewest it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+23:10">Job xxiii. 10</A>.
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Thou knewest it, that is, thou didst protect, preserve, and secure it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+31:7,De+2:7">Ps. xxxi. 7; Deut. ii. 7</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps142_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps142_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps142_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps142_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>Complaints and Petitions.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 I looked on <I>my</I> right hand, and beheld, but <I>there was</I> no
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man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my
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soul.
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5 I cried unto thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: I said, Thou <I>art</I> my refuge <I>and</I>
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my portion in the land of the living.
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6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me
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from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
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7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the
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righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully
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with me.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The psalmist here tells us, for our instruction,
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1. How he was disowned and deserted by his friends,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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When he was in favour at court he seemed to have a great interest, but
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when he was made an out-law, and it was dangerous for any one to
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harbour him (witness Ahimelech's fate), then <I>no man would know
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him,</I> but every body was shy of him. He looked <I>on his right
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hand</I> for an advocate
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+109:31">Ps. cix. 31</A>),
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some friend or other to speak a good word for him; but, since
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Jonathan's appearing for him had like to have cost him his life, nobody
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was willing to venture in defence of his innocency, but all were ready
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to say they knew nothing of the matter. He looked round to see if any
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would open their doors to him; but <I>refuge failed him.</I> None of
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all his old friends would give him a night's lodging, or direct him to
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any place of secresy and safety. How many good men have been deceived
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by such swallow-friends, who are gone when winter comes! David's life
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was exceedingly precious, and yet, when he was unjustly proscribed,
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<I>no man cared for it,</I> nor would move a hand for the protection of
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it. Herein he was a type of Christ, who, in his sufferings for us, was
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forsaken of all men, even of his own disciples, and trod the wine-press
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alone, for there was <I>none to help, none to uphold,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:5">Isa. lxiii. 5</A>.
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2. How he then found satisfaction in God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Lovers and friends stood aloof from him, and it was in vain to call to
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them. "But," said he, "<I>I cried unto thee, O Lord!</I> who knowest
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me, and carest for me, when none else will, and wilt not fail me nor
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forsake me when men do;" for God is constant in his love. David tells
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us what he said to God in the cave: "<I>Thou art my refuge and my
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portion in the land of the living;</I> I depend upon thee to be so,
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<I>my refuge</I> to save me from being miserable, <I>my portion</I> to
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make me happy. The cave I am in is but a poor refuge. Lord, <I>thy
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name</I> is the <I>strong tower</I> that <I>I run into.</I> Thou art
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<I>my refuge,</I> in whom alone I shall think myself safe. The crown I
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am in hopes of is but a poor portion; I can never think myself well
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provided for till I know that <I>the Lord is the portion of my
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inheritance and of my cup.</I>" Those who in sincerity take the Lord
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for their God shall find him all-sufficient both as a refuge and as a
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portion, so that, as no evil shall hurt them, so no good shall be
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wanting to them; and they may humbly claim their interest: "<I>Lord,
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thou art my refuge and my portion;</I> every thing else is a refuge of
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lies and a portion of no value. Thou art so <I>in the land of the
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living,</I> that is, while I live and have my being, whether in this
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world or in a better." There is enough in God to answer all the
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necessities of this present time. We live in a world of dangers and
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wants; but what danger need we fear if God is our refuge, or what wants
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if he be our portion? Heaven, which alone deserves to be called <I>the
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land of the living,</I> will be to all believers both a refuge and a
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portion.
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3. How, in this satisfaction, he addressed himself to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+142:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>):
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"Lord, give a gracious <I>ear to my cry,</I> the cry of my affliction,
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the cry of my supplication, for <I>I am brought very low,</I> and, if
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thou help me not, I shall be quite sunk. Lord, <I>deliver me from my
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persecutors,</I> either tie their hands or turn their hearts, break
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their power or blast their projects, restrain them or rescue me, <I>for
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they are stronger than I,</I> and it will be thy honour to take part
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with the weakest. Deliver me from them, or I shall be ruined by them,
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for I am not yet myself a match for them. Lord, <I>bring my soul out of
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prison,</I> not only bring me safe out of this cave, but bring me out
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of all my perplexities." We may apply it spiritually: the souls of good
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men are often straitened by doubts and fears, cramped and fettered
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through the weakness of faith and the prevalency of corruption; and it
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is then their duty and interest to apply themselves to God, and beg of
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him to set them at liberty and to enlarge their hearts, that they may
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<I>run the way of his commandments.</I>
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4. How much he expected his deliverance would redound to the glory of
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God.
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(1.) By his own thanksgivings, into which his present complaints would
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then be turned: "<I>Bring my soul out of prison,</I> not that I may
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enjoy myself and my friends and live at ease, no, nor that I may secure
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my country, but <I>that I may praise thy name.</I>" This we should have
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an eye to, in all our prayers to God for deliverance out of trouble,
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that we may have occasion to praise God and may live to his praise.
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This is the greatest comfort of temporal mercies that they furnish us
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with matter, and give us opportunity, for the excellent duty of praise.
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(2.) By the thanksgivings of many on his behalf
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:11">2 Cor. i. 11</A>):
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"When I am enlarged <I>the righteous shall encompass me about;</I> for
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<I>my cause they shall make thee a crown of praise,</I> so the Chaldee.
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They shall flock about me to congratulate me on my deliverance, to hear
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my experiences, and to receive (Maschil) instructions from me; they
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shall encompass me, to join with me in my thanksgivings, <I>because
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thou shalt</I> have dealt <I>bountifully with me.</I>" Note, The
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mercies of others ought to be the matter of our praises to God; and the
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praises of others, on our behalf, ought to be both desired and rejoiced
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in by us.</P>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC19141.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC19143.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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