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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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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 CXLIV.</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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The four preceding psalms seem to have been penned by David before his
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accession to the crown, when he was persecuted by Saul; this seems to
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have been penned afterwards, when he was still in trouble (for there is
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no condition in this world privileged with an exemption from trouble),
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the neighbouring nations molesting him and giving him disturbance,
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especially the Philistines,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+5:17">2 Sam. v. 17</A>.
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In this psalm,
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I. He acknowledges, with triumph and thankfulness, the great goodness
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of God to him in advancing him to the government ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. He prays to God to help him against the enemies who threatened him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:5-8,11">ver. 5-8
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and again ver. 11</A>.
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III. He rejoices in the assurance of victory over them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:9,10">ver. 9, 10</A>.
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IV. He prays for the prosperity of his own kingdom, and pleases
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himself with the hopes of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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In singing this psalm we may give God the glory of our spiritual
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privileges and advancements, and fetch in help from him against our
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spiritual enemies; we may pray for the prosperity of our souls, of our
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families, and of our land; and, in the opinion of some of the Jewish
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writers, we may refer the psalm to the Messiah and his kingdom.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps144_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_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>Grateful Acknowledgments of Divine Goodness; Prayer for Success against Enemies.</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><I>A psalm</I> of David.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Blessed <I>be</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> my strength,
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which teacheth my hands to war, <I>and</I> my fingers to fight:
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2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my
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deliverer; my shield, and <I>he</I> in whom I trust; who subdueth my
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people under me.
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3 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, what <I>is</I> man, that thou takest knowledge of him! <I>or</I>
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the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
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4 Man is like to vanity: his days <I>are</I> as a shadow that
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passeth away.
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5 Bow thy heavens, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and come down: touch the mountains,
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and they shall smoke.
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6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine
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arrows, and destroy them.
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7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of
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great waters, from the hand of strange children;
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8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand <I>is</I> a
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right hand of falsehood.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. David acknowledges his dependence upon God and his obligations to
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for
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former mercy; and when we are waiting upon God to bless us we should
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stir up ourselves to bless him. He gives to God the glory of two
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things:--</P>
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<P>
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1. What he was to him: <I>Blessed be the Lord my</I> rock
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>my goodness, my fortress,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He has in the covenant engaged himself to be so, and encouraged us,
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accordingly, to depend upon him; all the saints, who by faith have made
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him theirs, have found him not only to answer but to out do their
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expectations. David speaks of it here as the matter of his trust, and
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that which made him easy, as the matter of his triumph, and that which
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made him glad, and in which he gloried. See how he multiplies words to
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express the satisfaction he had in God and his interest in him.
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(1.) "He is <I>my strength,</I> on whom I stay, and from whom I have
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power both for my work and for my warfare, my rock to build on, to take
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shelter in." Even when we are weak we may <I>be strong in the Lord and
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in the power of his might.</I>
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(2.) "<I>My goodness,</I> not only good to me, but my chief good, in
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whose favour I place my felicity, and who is the author of all the
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goodness that is in me, and <I>from whom comes every good and perfect
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gift.</I>"
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(3.) "<I>My fortress,</I> and <I>my high tower,</I> in whom I think
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myself as safe as ever any prince thought himself in a castle or
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strong-hold." David had formerly sheltered himself in strong-holds at
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En-gedi
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:29">1 Sam. xxiii. 29</A>),
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which perhaps were natural fastnesses. He had lately made himself
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master of the strong-hold of Zion, which was fortified by art, and he
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<I>dwelt in the fort</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+5:7,9">2 Sam. v. 7, 9</A>),
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but he depends not on these. "Lord," says he, "thou art <I>my
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fortress</I> and <I>my high tower.</I>" The divine attributes and
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promises are fortifications to a believer, far exceeding those either
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of nature or art.
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(4.) <I>My deliverer,</I> and, as it is in the original, very
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emphatically, <I>my deliverer to me,</I> "not only a deliverer I have
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interest in, but who is always nigh unto me and makes all my
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deliverances turn to my real benefit."
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(5.) "<I>My shield,</I> to guard me against all the malignant darts
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that my enemies let fly at me, not only <I>my fortress</I> at home, but
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<I>my shield</I> abroad in the field of battle." Wherever a believer
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goes he carries his protection along with him. <I>Fear not, Abram, I am
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thy shield.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. What he had done for him. He was bred a shepherd, and seems not to
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have been designed by his parents, or himself for any thing more. But,
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(1.) God had made him a soldier. His hands had been used to the crook
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and his fingers to the harp, but God <I>taught his hands to war and his
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fingers to fight,</I> because he designed him for Israel's champion;
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and what God calls men to he either finds them or makes them fit for.
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Let the men of war give God the glory of all their military skill; the
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same that teaches the meanest husbandman his art teaches the greatest
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general his. It is a pity that any whose fingers God has taught to
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fight should fight against him or his kingdom among men. Those have
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special reason to acknowledge God with thankfulness who prove to be
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qualified for services which they themselves never thought of.
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(2.) God had made him a sovereign prince, had taught him to wield the
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sceptre as well as the sword, to rule as well as fight, the harder and
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nobler art of the two: He <I>subdueth my people under me.</I> The
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providence of God is to be acknowledged in making people subject to
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their prince, and so preserving the order and benefit of societies.
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There was a special hand of God inclining the people of Israel to be
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subject to David, pursuant to the promise God had made him; and it was
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typical of that great act of divine grace, the bringing of souls into
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subjection to the Lord Jesus and making them willing in the day of his
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power.</P>
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<P>
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II. He admires God's condescension to man and to himself in particular
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>):
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"<I>Lord, what is man,</I> what a poor little thing is he, <I>that thou
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takest knowledge of him, that thou makest account of him,</I> that he
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falls so much under thy cognizance and care, and that thou hast such a
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tender regard to any of that mean and worthless race as thou hast had
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to me!" Considering the many disgraces which the human nature lies
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under, we have reason to admire the honours God has put upon mankind in
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general (the saints especially, some in a particular manner, as David)
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and upon the Messiah (to whom those words are applied,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:6">Heb. ii. 6</A>),
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who was <I>highly exalted because he humbled himself to be found in
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fashion as a man,</I> and <I>has authority to execute judgment because
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he is the Son of man.</I> A question to this purport David asked
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:4">Ps. viii. 4</A>),
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and he illustrated the wonder by the consideration of the great dignity
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God has placed man in
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:5">Ps. viii. 5</A>),
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<I>Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour.</I> Here he illustrates
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it by the consideration of the meanness and mortality of man,
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notwithstanding the dignity put upon him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Man is like to vanity;</I> so frail is he, so weak, so helpless,
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compassed about with so many infirmities, and his continuance here so
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very short and uncertain, that he is as like as may be to vanity
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itself. Nay, he is vanity, he is so at his best estate. <I>His days</I>
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have little substance in them, considering how many of the thoughts and
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cares of an immortal soul are employed about a poor dying body; they
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<I>are as a shadow,</I> dark and flitting, transitory and finishing
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with the sun, and, when that sets, resolving itself into all shadow.
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They <I>are as a shadow that passeth away,</I> and there is no loss of
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it. David puts himself into the number of those that are thus mean and
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despicable.</P>
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<P>
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III. He begs of God to strengthen him and give him success against the
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enemies that invaded him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:5-8"><I>v.</I> 5-8</A>.
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He does not specify who they were that he was in fear of, but says,
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<I>Scatter them, destroy them.</I> God knew whom he meant, though he
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did not name them. But afterwards he describes them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>):
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"They are <I>strange children,</I> Philistines, aliens, bad neighbours
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to Israel, heathens, whom we are bound to be strange to and not to make
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any leagues with, and who therefore carry it strangely towards us."
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Notwithstanding the advantages with which God had blessed David's arms
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against them, they were still vexatious and treacherous, and men that
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one could put no confidence in: "One cannot take their word, for their
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<I>mouth speaketh vanity;</I> nay, if they give their hand upon it, or
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offer their hand to help you, there is no trusting them; for <I>their
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right hand is a right hand of falsehood.</I>" Against such as these we
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cannot defend ourselves, but we may depend on the God of truth and
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justice, who hates falsehood, to defend us from them.
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1. David prays that God would appear, that he would do something
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extraordinary, for the conviction of those who preferred their
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dunghill-deities before the God of Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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"<I>Bow thy heavens, O Lord!</I> and make it evident that they are
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indeed thine, and that thou art the Lord of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:1">Isa. lxvi. 1</A>.
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Let thy providence threaten my enemies, and look black upon them, as
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the clouds do on the earth when they are thick, and hang very low, big
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with a storm. Fight against those that fight against us, so that it
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may visibly appear that thou art for us. <I>Touch the mountains,</I>
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our strong and stately enemies, <I>and</I> let them <I>smoke.</I> Show
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thyself by the ministry of thy angels, as thou didst upon Mount Sinai."
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2. That he would appear against his enemies, that he would fight from
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heaven against them, as sometimes he had done, by lightnings, which are
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his arrows (his fiery darts, against which the hardest steel is no
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armour of proof, so penetrating is the force of lightning), that he
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himself would shoot these arrows, who, we are sure, never misses his
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mark, but hits where he aims.
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3. That he would appear for him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He begs for their destruction, in order to his own deliverance and the
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repose of his people: "<I>Send thy hand,</I> thy power, <I>from
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above,</I> for that way we look for help; <I>rid me and deliver me out
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of</I> these <I>great waters</I> that are ready to overflow me." God's
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time to help his people is when they are sinking and all other helps
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fail.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps144_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps144_15"> </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>Thanksgiving and Petitions; National Happiness Desired.</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 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery
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<I>and</I> an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
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10 <I>It is he</I> that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth
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David his servant from the hurtful sword.
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11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children,
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whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand <I>is</I> a right
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hand of falsehood:
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12 That our sons <I>may be</I> as plants grown up in their youth;
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<I>that</I> our daughters <I>may be</I> as corner stones, polished <I>after</I>
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the similitude of a palace:
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13 <I>That</I> our garners <I>may be</I> full, affording all manner of
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store: <I>that</I> our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten
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thousands in our streets:
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14 <I>That</I> our oxen <I>may be</I> strong to labour; <I>that there be</I>
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no breaking in, nor going out; that <I>there be</I> no complaining in
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our streets.
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15 Happy <I>is that</I> people, that is in such a case: <I>yea,</I> happy
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<I>is that</I> people, whose God <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The method is the same in this latter part of the psalm as in the
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former; David first gives glory to God and then begs mercy from
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him.</P>
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<P>
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I. He praises God for the experiences he had had of his goodness to him
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and the encouragements he had to expect further mercy from him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
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In the midst of his complaints concerning the power and treachery of
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his enemies, here is a holy exultation in his God: <I>I will sing a new
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song to thee, O God!</I> a song of praise for new mercies, for those
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compassions that are new every morning. Fresh favours call for fresh
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returns of thanks; nay, we must praise God for the mercies we hope for
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by his promise as well as those we have received by his providence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:20,21">2 Chron. xx. 20, 21</A>.
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He will join music with his songs of praise, to express and excite his
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holy joy in God; he will praise God <I>upon a psaltery of ten
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strings,</I> in the best manner, thinking all little enough to set
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forth the praises of God. He tells us what this new song shall be
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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<I>It is he that giveth salvation unto kings.</I> This intimates,
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1. That great kings cannot save themselves without him. Kings have
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their life-guards, and have armies at command, and all the means of
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safety that can be devised; but, after all, it is God that gives them
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their salvation, and secures them by those means, which he could do, if
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there were occasion, without them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+33:16">Ps. xxxiii. 16</A>.
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Kings are the protectors of their people, but it is God that is their
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protector. How much service do they owe him then with their power who
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gives them all their salvations!
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2. That good kings, who are his ministers for the good of their
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subjects, shall be protected and saved by him. He has engaged to give
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salvation to those kings that are his subjects and rule for him;
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witness the great things he had done for <I>David his servant,</I> whom
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he had many a time <I>delivered from the hurtful sword,</I> to which
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Saul's malice, and his own zeal for the service of his country, had
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often exposed him. This may refer to Christ the Son of David, and then
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it is a new song indeed, a New-Testament song. God delivered him from
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the hurtful sword, upheld him as his servant, and brought him off a
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conqueror over all the powers of darkness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+42:1,49:8">Isa. xlii. 1; xlix. 8</A>.
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To him he gave salvation, not for himself only, but for us, raising him
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up to be <I>a horn of salvation.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. He prays for the continuance of God's favour.</P>
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<P>
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1. That he might be delivered from the public enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Here he repeats his prayer and plea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.
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His persecutors were still of the same character, false and perfidious,
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and who would certainly over-reach an honest man and be too hard for
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him: "Therefore, Lord, do thou <I>deliver me from</I> them, for they
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are a strange sort of people."</P>
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<P>
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2. That he might see the public peace and prosperity: "Lord, let us
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have victory, that we may have quietness, which we shall never have
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while our enemies have it in their power to do us mischief." David, as
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a king, here expresses the earnest desire he had of the welfare of his
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people, wherein he was a type of Christ, who provides effectually for
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the good of his chosen. We have here,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The particular instances of that public prosperity which David
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desired for his people.
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[1.] A hopeful progeny
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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"<I>That our sons</I> and <I>our daughters may be</I> in all respects
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such as we could wish." He means not those only of his own family, but
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those of his subjects, that are the seed of the next generation. It
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adds much to the comfort and happiness of parents in this world to see
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their children promising and likely to do well. <I>First,</I> It is
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pleasant to see <I>our sons as plants grown up in their youth,</I> as
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olive-plants
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+128:1-6">Ps. cxxviii. 3</A>),
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the <I>planting of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:3">Isa. lxi. 3</A>),--
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to see them as plants, not as weeds, not as thorns,--to see them as
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plants growing great, not withered and blasted,--to see them of a
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healthful constitution, a quick capacity, a towardly disposition, and
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especially of a pious inclination, likely to bring forth fruit unto God
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in their day,--to see them <I>in their youth,</I> their growing time,
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increasing in every thing that is good, growing wiser and better, till
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they grow strong in spirit. <I>Secondly,</I> It is no less desirable to
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see <I>our daughters as corner-stones,</I> or corner-pillars,
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<I>polished after the similitude of a palace,</I> or temple. By
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daughters families are united and connected, to their mutual strength,
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as the parts of a building are by the corner-stones; and when they are
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graceful and beautiful both in body and mind they are then polished
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after the similitude of a nice and curious structure. When we see our
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daughters well-established and stayed with wisdom and discretion, as
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corner-stones are fastened in the building,--when we see them by faith
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united to Christ, as the chief corner-stone, adorned with the graces of
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God's Spirit, which are the polishing of that which is naturally rough,
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and <I>become women professing godliness,</I>--when we see them
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purified and consecrated to God as living temples, we think ourselves
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happy in them.
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[2.] Great plenty. Numerous families increase the care, perhaps more
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than the comfort, where there is not sufficient for their maintenance;
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and therefore he prays for a growing estate with a growing family.
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<I>First,</I> That their store-houses might be well-replenished with
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the fruits and products of the earth: <I>That our garners may be
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full,</I> like those of the good householder, who brings out of them
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things new and old (those things that are best new he has in that
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state, those that are best when they are kept he has in that
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state),--that we may have in them <I>all manner of stores,</I> for
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ourselves and our friends,--that, living plentifully, we may live not
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luxuriously, for then we abuse our plenty, but cheerfully and
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usefully,--that, having abundance, we may be thankful to God, generous
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to our friends, and charitable to the poor; otherwise, what profit is
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it to have our garners full?
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+5:3">Jam. v. 3</A>.
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<I>Secondly,</I> That their flocks might greatly increase: <I>That our
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sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands, in our</I> folds.
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Much of the wealth of their country consisted in their flocks
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:26">Prov. xxvii. 26</A>),
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and this is the case with ours too, else wool would not be, as it is, a
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staple commodity. The increase of our cattle is a blessing in which God
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is to be acknowledged. <I>Thirdly,</I> That their beasts designed for
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|
service might be fit for it: <I>That our oxen may be strong to
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labour</I> in the plough, <I>that they may be fat and fleshy</I> (so
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|
some), in good working case. We were none of us made to be idle, and
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|
therefore we should pray for bodily health, not that we may be easy and
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take our pleasures, but that we <I>may be strong to labour,</I> that we
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|
may do the work of our place and day, else we are worse than the
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beasts; for when they are strong it is for labour.
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[3.] An uninterrupted peace. <I>First,</I> That there be no war, <I>no
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|
breaking in</I> of invaders, <I>no going out</I> of deserters. "Let not
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|
our enemies break in upon us; let us not have occasion to march out
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|
against them." War brings with it abundance of mischiefs, whether it be
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|
offensive or defensive. <I>Secondly,</I> That there be no oppression
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|
nor faction--<I>no complaining in our streets,</I> that the people may
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have no cause to complain either of their government or of one another,
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nor may be so peevish as to complain without cause. It is desirable
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|
thus to dwell in quiet habitations.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) His reflection upon this description of the prosperity of the
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nation, which he so much desired
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+144:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
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<I>Happy are the people that are in such a case</I> (but it is seldom
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so, and never long so), <I>yea, happy are the people whose God is the
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|
Lord.</I> The relation of a people to God as theirs is here spoken of
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either,
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[1.] As that which is the fountain whence all those blessings flow.
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Happy are the Israelites if they faithfully adhere to the Lord as their
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God, for they may expect to be <I>in such a case.</I> National piety
|
|
commonly brings national prosperity; for nations as such, in their
|
|
national capacity, are capable of rewards and punishments only in this
|
|
life. Or,
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|
|
[2.] As that which is abundantly preferable to all these enjoyments.
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The psalmist began to say, as most do, <I>Happy are the people that are
|
|
in such a case;</I> those are blessed that prosper in the world. But he
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|
immediately corrects himself: <I>Yea, rather, happy are the people
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whose God is the Lord,</I> who have his favour, and love, and grace,
|
|
according to the tenour of the covenant, though they have not abundance
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|
of this world's goods. As all this, and much more, cannot make us
|
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happy, unless the Lord be our God, so, if he be, the want of this, the
|
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loss of this, nay, the reverse of this, cannot make us miserable.</P>
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