mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 9.xml

<div2 id="Ps.x" n="x" next="Ps.xi" prev="Ps.ix" progress="24.59%" title="Chapter IX">
<h2 id="Ps.x-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.x-p0.2">PSALM IX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.x-p1">In this psalm, I. David praises God for pleading
his cause, and giving him victory over his enemies and the enemies
of his country (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.1-Ps.9.6" parsed="|Ps|9|1|9|6" passage="Ps 9:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>),
and calls upon others to join with him in his songs of praise,
<scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.11-Ps.9.12" parsed="|Ps|9|11|9|12" passage="Ps 9:11,12">ver. 11, 12</scripRef>. II. He prays
to God that he might have still further occasion to praise him, for
his own deliverances and the confusion of his enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.13-Ps.9.14 Bible:Ps.9.19 Bible:Ps.9.20" parsed="|Ps|9|13|9|14;|Ps|9|19|0|0;|Ps|9|20|0|0" passage="Ps 9:13,14,19,20">ver. 13, 14, 19, 20</scripRef>. III. He
triumphs in the assurance he had of God's judging the world
(<scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.7-Ps.9.8" parsed="|Ps|9|7|9|8" passage="Ps 9:7,8">ver. 7, 8</scripRef>), protecting his
oppressed people (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.9-Ps.9.10 Bible:Ps.9.18" parsed="|Ps|9|9|9|10;|Ps|9|18|0|0" passage="Ps 9:9,10,18">ver. 9, 10,
18</scripRef>), and bringing his and their implacable enemies to
ruin, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.15-Ps.9.17" parsed="|Ps|9|15|9|17" passage="Ps 9:15-17">ver. 15-17</scripRef>. This is
very applicable to the kingdom of the Messiah, the enemies of which
have been in part destroyed already, and shall be yet more and more
till they all be made his footstool, which we are to assure
ourselves of, that God may have the glory and we may take the
comfort.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.x-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9" parsed="|Ps|9|0|0|0" passage="Ps 9" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.x-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.1-Ps.9.10" parsed="|Ps|9|1|9|10" passage="Ps 9:1-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.9.1-Ps.9.10">
<h4 id="Ps.x-p1.9">Devout Acknowledgments.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.x-p1.10">
<p id="Ps.x-p2">To the chief musician upon Muth-labben. A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.x-p3">1 I will praise <i>thee,</i> <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p3.1">O Lord</span>, with my whole heart; I will show forth
all thy marvellous works.   2 I will be glad and rejoice in
thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.   3
When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at
thy presence.   4 For thou hast maintained my right and my
cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.   5 Thou hast
rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put
out their name for ever and ever.   6 O thou enemy,
destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed
cities; their memorial is perished with them.   7 But the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p3.2">Lord</span> shall endure for ever: he hath
prepared his throne for judgment.   8 And he shall judge the
world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in
uprightness.   9 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p3.3">Lord</span> also
will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
  10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
for thou, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p3.4">Lord</span>, hast not forsaken
them that seek thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p4">The title of this psalm gives a very
uncertain sound concerning the occasion of penning it. It is upon
<i>Muth-labben,</i> which some make to refer to the death of
Goliath, others of Nabal, others of Absalom; but I incline to think
it signifies only some tone, or some musical instrument, to which
this psalm was intended to be sung; and that the enemies David is
here triumphing in the defeat of are the Philistines, and the other
neighbouring nations that opposed his settlement in the throne,
whom he contested with and subdued in the beginning of his reign,
<scripRef id="Ps.x-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.8" parsed="|2Sam|5|8|0|0" passage="2Sa 5:8">2 Sam. v. 8</scripRef>. In these
verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p5">I. David excites and engages himself to
praise God for his mercies and the great things he had of late done
for him and his government, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.1-Ps.9.2" parsed="|Ps|9|1|9|2" passage="Ps 9:1,2"><i>v.</i>
1, 2</scripRef>. Note, 1. God expects suitable returns of praise
from those for whom he has done marvellous works. 2. If we would
praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity, with our
hearts, and not only with our lips, and be lively and fervent in
the duty, with our <i>whole heart.</i> 3. When we give thanks for
some one particular mercy we should take occasion thence to
remember former mercies and so to <i>show forth all his marvellous
works.</i> 4. Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, as thankful
praise is the language of holy joy: <i>I will be glad and rejoice
in thee.</i> 5. Whatever occurs to make us glad, our joy must pass
through it, and terminate in God only: <i>I will be glad and
rejoice in thee,</i> not in the gift so much as in the giver. 6.
Joy and praise are properly expressed by singing psalms. 7. When
God has shown himself to be above the proud enemies of the church
we must take occasion thence to give glory to him as the <i>Most
High.</i> 8. The triumphs of the Redeemer ought to be the triumphs
of the redeemed; see <scripRef id="Ps.x-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.10 Bible:Rev.19.5 Bible:Rev.15.3-Rev.15.4" parsed="|Rev|12|10|0|0;|Rev|19|5|0|0;|Rev|15|3|15|4" passage="Re 12:10,19:5,Re 15:3,4">Rev. xii. 10; xix. 5; xv. 3,
4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p6">II. He acknowledges the almighty power of
God as that which the strongest and stoutest of his enemies were no
way able to contest with or stand before, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.3" parsed="|Ps|9|3|0|0" passage="Ps 9:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. But, 1. They are forced to turn
back. Their policy and their courage fail them, so that they
cannot, they dare not, push forward in their enterprises, but
retire with precipitation. 2. When once they turn back, they fall
and perish; even their retreat will be their ruin, and they will
save themselves no more by flying than by fighting. If Haman begin
to fall before Mordecai, he is a lost man, and shall prevail no
more; see <scripRef id="Ps.x-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.13" parsed="|Esth|6|13|0|0" passage="Es 6:13">Esther vi. 13</scripRef>. 3.
The presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, are
sufficient for the destruction of his and his people's enemies.
That is easily done which a man does with his very presence; with
<i>that</i> God confounds his enemies, such a presence has he. This
was fulfilled when our Lord Jesus, with one word, <i>I am he,</i>
made his enemies to <i>fall back at his presence</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:John.18.6" parsed="|John|18|6|0|0" passage="Joh 18:6">John xviii. 6</scripRef>) and he could, at the
same time, have made them perish. 4. When the enemies of God's
church are put to confusion we must ascribe their discomfiture to
the power, not of instruments, but of his presence, and give him
all the glory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p7">III. He gives to God the glory of his
righteousness, in his appearing on his behalf (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.4" parsed="|Ps|9|4|0|0" passage="Ps 9:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast maintained my right
and my cause,</i> that is, my righteous cause; when that came on,
<i>thou satest in the throne, judging right.</i>" Observe, 1. God
sits in the throne of judgment. To him it belongs to decide
controversies, to determine appeals, to avenge the injured, and to
punish the injurious; for he has said, <i>Vengeance is mine.</i> 2.
We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth and that
with him there is no unrighteousness. Far be it from God that he
should pervert justice. If there seem to us to be some irregularity
in the present decisions of Providence, yet these, instead of
shaking our belief of God's justice, may serve to strengthen our
belief of the judgment to come, which will set all to-rights. 3.
Whoever disown and desert a just and injured cause, we may be sure
that the righteous God will maintain it and plead it with jealousy,
and will never suffer it to be run down.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p8">IV. He records, with joy, the triumphs of
the God of heaven over all the powers of hell and attends those
triumphs with his praises, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.5" parsed="|Ps|9|5|0|0" passage="Ps 9:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. By three steps the power and justice of God had
proceeded against the heathen, and wicked people, who were enemies
to the king God had lately set up upon his holy hill of Zion. 1. He
had checked them: "<i>Thou hast rebuked the heathen,</i> hast given
them real proofs of thy displeasure against them." This he did
before he destroyed them, that they might take warning by the
rebukes of Providence and so prevent their own destruction. 2. He
had cut them off: <i>Thou hast destroyed the wicked.</i> The wicked
are marked for destruction, and some are made monuments of God's
vindictive justice and destructive power in this world. 3. He had
buried them in oblivion and perpetual infamy, had put out their
name for ever, that they should never be remembered with any
respect.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p9">V. He exults over the enemy whom God thus
appears against (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.6" parsed="|Ps|9|6|0|0" passage="Ps 9:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): <i>Thou hast destroyed cities.</i> Either, "Thou, O
enemy! hast destroyed our cities, at least in intention and
imagination," or "Thou, O God! hast destroyed their cities by the
desolation brought upon their country." It may be taken either way;
for the psalmist will have the enemy to know, 1. That their
destruction is just and that God was but reckoning with them for
all the mischief which they had done and designed against his
people. The malicious and vexatious neighbours of Israel, as the
Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Syrians, had made
incursions upon them (when there was no king in Israel to fight
their battles), had destroyed their cities and done what they could
to make their memorial perish with them. But now the wheel was
turned upon them; their destructions of Israel had come to a
perpetual end; they shall now cease to spoil and must themselves be
spoiled, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.1-Isa.33.2" parsed="|Isa|33|1|33|2" passage="Isa 33:1,2">Isa. xxxiii. 1</scripRef>.
2. That it is total and final, such a destruction as should make a
perpetual end of them, so that the very memorial of their cities
should perish with them, So devouring a thing is time, and much
more such desolations do the righteous judgments of God make upon
sinners, that great and populous cities have been reduced to such
ruins that their very memorial has perished, and those who have
sought them could not find where they stood; but we look for a city
that has stronger foundations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p10">VI. He comforts himself and others in God,
and pleases himself with the thoughts of him. 1. With the thoughts
of his eternity. On this earth we see nothing durable, even strong
cities are buried in rubbish and forgotten; <i>but the Lord shall
endure for ever,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.7" parsed="|Ps|9|7|0|0" passage="Ps 9:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. There is no change of his being; his felicity, power,
and perfection, are out of the reach of all the combined forces of
hell and earth; they may put an end to our liberties, our
privileges, our lives, but our God is still the same, and sits even
upon the floods, unshaken, undisturbed, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.29.10 Bible:Ps.93.2" parsed="|Ps|29|10|0|0;|Ps|93|2|0|0" passage="Ps 29:10,93:2">Ps. xxix. 10; xciii. 2</scripRef>. 2. With the
thoughts of his sovereignty both in government and judgment: <i>He
has prepared his throne,</i> has fixed it by his infinite wisdom,
has fixed it by his immutable counsel. It is the great support and
comfort of good people, when the power of the church's enemies is
threatening and the posture of its affairs melancholy and
perplexed, that God now rules the world and will shortly judge the
world. 3. With the thoughts of his justice and righteousness in all
the administrations of his government. He does all every day, he
will do all at the last day, according to the eternal unalterable
rules of equity (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.8" parsed="|Ps|9|8|0|0" passage="Ps 9:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>): <i>He shall judge the world,</i> all persons and all
controversies, <i>shall minister judgment to the people</i> (shall
determine their lot both in this and in the future state) in
righteousness and <i>in uprightness,</i> so that there shall not be
the least colour of exception against it. 4. With the thoughts of
that peculiar favour which God bears to his own people and the
special protection which he takes them under. The Lord, who endures
for ever, is their everlasting strength and protection; he that
judges the world will be sure to judge for them, when at any time
they are injured or distressed (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.9" parsed="|Ps|9|9|0|0" passage="Ps 9:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>He will be a refuge for the
oppressed,</i> a high place, a strong place, for the oppressed,
<i>in times of trouble.</i> It is the lot of God's people to be
oppressed in this world and to have troublous times appointed to
them. Perhaps God may not immediately appear for them as their
deliverer and avenger; but, in the midst of their distresses, they
may by faith flee to him as their refuge and may depend upon his
power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be
done them. 5. With the thoughts of that sweet satisfaction and
repose of mind which those have that make God their refuge
(<scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.10" parsed="|Ps|9|10|0|0" passage="Ps 9:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "<i>Those
that know thy name will put their trust in thee,</i> as I have
done" (for the grace of God is the same in all the saints), "and
then they will find, as I have found, that thou dost not forsake
those that seek thee;" for the favour of God is the same towards
all the saints. Note, (1.) The better God is known the more he is
trusted. Those who know him to be a God of infinite wisdom will
trust him <i>further than they can see him</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.35.14" parsed="|Job|35|14|0|0" passage="Job 35:14">Job xxxv. 14</scripRef>); those who know him to be a
God of almighty power will trust him when creature-confidences fail
and they have nothing else to trust to (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.20.12" parsed="|2Chr|20|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 20:12">2 Chron. xx. 12</scripRef>); and those who know him to
be a God of infinite grace and goodness will trust him <i>though he
slay them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.x-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.13.15" parsed="|Job|13|15|0|0" passage="Job 13:15">Job xiii.
15</scripRef>. Those who know him to be a God of inviolable truth
and faithfulness will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon
that, though the performance be deferred and intermediate
providences seem to contradict it. Those who know him to be the
Father of spirits, and an everlasting Father, will trust him with
their souls as their main care and trust in him at all times, even
to the end. (2.) The more God is trusted the more he is sought
unto. If we trust God we shall seek him by faithful and fervent
prayer, and by a constant care to approve ourselves to him in the
whole course of our conversations. (3.) God never did, nor ever
will, disown or desert any that duly seek to him and trust in him.
Though he afflict them, he will not leave them comfortless; though
he seem to forsake them for a while, yet he will gather them with
everlasting mercies.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.x-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.11-Ps.9.20" parsed="|Ps|9|11|9|20" passage="Ps 9:11-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.9.11-Ps.9.20">
<h4 id="Ps.x-p10.10">A Call to Praise God; Certain Ruin of the
Wicked.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.x-p11">11 Sing praises to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p11.1">Lord</span>, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the
people his doings.   12 When he maketh inquisition for blood,
he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
  13 Have mercy upon me, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p11.2">O
Lord</span>; consider my trouble <i>which I suffer</i> of them that
hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:   14
That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter
of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.   15 The heathen are
sunk down in the pit <i>that</i> they made: in the net which they
hid is their own foot taken.   16 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p11.3">Lord</span> is known <i>by</i> the judgment
<i>which</i> he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his
own hands. Higgaion. Selah.   17 The wicked shall be turned
into hell, <i>and</i> all the nations that forget God.   18
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the
poor shall <i>not</i> perish for ever.   19 Arise, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p11.4">O Lord</span>; let not man prevail: let the
heathen be judged in thy sight.   20 Put them in fear, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.x-p11.5">O Lord</span>: <i>that</i> the nations may know
themselves <i>to be but</i> men. Selah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p12">In these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p13">I. David, having praised God himself, calls
upon and invites others to praise him likewise, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.11" parsed="|Ps|9|11|0|0" passage="Ps 9:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Those who believe God is greatly
to be praised not only desire to do that work better themselves,
but desire that others also may join with them in it and would
gladly be instrumental to bring them to it: <i>Sing praises to the
Lord who dwelleth in Zion.</i> As the special residence of his
glory is in heaven, so the special residence of his grace is in his
church, of which Zion was a type. There he meets his people with
his promises and graces, and there he expects they should meet him
with their praises and services. In all our praises we should have
an eye to God as dwelling in Zion, in a special manner present in
the assemblies of his people, as their protector and patron. He
resolved himself to show forth God's marvellous works (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.1" parsed="|Ps|9|1|0|0" passage="Ps 9:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and here he calls upon
others to <i>declare among the people his doings.</i> He commands
his own subjects to do it, for the honour of God, of their country,
and of their holy religion; he courts his neighbours to do it, to
sing praises, not, as hitherto, to their false gods, but to Jehovah
who dwelleth in Zion, to the God of Israel, and to own among the
heathen that <i>the Lord has done great things for his people
Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.3-Ps.126.4" parsed="|Ps|126|3|126|4" passage="Ps 126:3,4">Ps. cxxvi. 3,
4</scripRef>. Let them particularly take notice of the justice of
God in avenging the blood of his people Israel on the Philistines
and their other wicked neighbours, who had, in making war upon
them, used them barbarously and given them no quarter, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.12" parsed="|Ps|9|12|0|0" passage="Ps 9:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. When God comes to
<i>make inquisition for blood</i> by his judgments on earth, before
he comes to do it by the judgment of the great day, <i>he remembers
them,</i> remembers every drop of the innocent blood which they
have shed, and will return it sevenfold upon the head of the
blood-thirsty; he will give them blood to drink, for they are
worthy. This assurance he might well build upon that word
(<scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.43" parsed="|Deut|32|43|0|0" passage="De 32:43">Deut. xxxii. 43</scripRef>), <i>He
will avenge the blood of his servants.</i> Note, There is a day
coming when God will make inquisition for blood, when he will
discover what has been shed secretly, and avenge what has been shed
unjustly; see <scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.21 Bible:Jer.51.35" parsed="|Isa|26|21|0|0;|Jer|51|35|0|0" passage="Isa 26:21,Jer 51:35">Isa. xxvi.
21; Jer. li. 35</scripRef>. In that day it will appear how precious
the blood of God's people is to him (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.14" parsed="|Ps|72|14|0|0" passage="Ps 72:14">Ps. lxxii. 14</scripRef>), when it must all be accounted
for. It will then appear that he has not forgotten <i>the cry of
the humble,</i> neither the cry of their blood nor the cry of their
prayers, but that both are sealed up among his treasures.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p14">II. David, having praised God for former
mercies and deliverances, earnestly prays that God would still
appear for him; for he sees not all things put under him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p15">1. He prays, (1.) That God would be
compassionate to him (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.13" parsed="|Ps|9|13|0|0" passage="Ps 9:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>): "<i>Have mercy upon me,</i> who, having misery
only, and no merit, to speak for me, must depend upon mercy for
relief." (2.) That he would be concerned for him. He is not
particular in his request, lest he should seem to prescribe to God;
but submits himself to the wisdom and will of God in this modest
request, "<i>Lord, consider my trouble,</i> and do for me as thou
thinkest fit."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p16">2. He pleads, (1.) The malice of his
enemies, the trouble which he suffered from those that hated him,
and hatred is a cruel passion. (2.) The experience he had had of
divine succours and the expectation he now had of the continuance
of them, as the necessity of his case required: "<i>O thou that
liftest me up,</i> that canst do it, that hast done it, that wilt
do it, whose prerogative it is to lift up thy people <i>from the
gates of death!</i>" We are never brought so low, so near to death,
but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and
eternal death, we may thence take encouragement to hope that in all
our distresses he will be a very present help to us. (3.) His
sincere purpose to praise God when his victories should be
completed (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.14" parsed="|Ps|9|14|0|0" passage="Ps 9:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>):
"Lord, save me, not that I may have the comfort and credit of the
deliverance, but that thou mayest have the glory, <i>that I may
show forth all thy praise,</i> and that publicly, <i>in the gates
of the daughter of Zion;</i>" there God was said to dwell
(<scripRef id="Ps.x-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.11" parsed="|Ps|9|11|0|0" passage="Ps 9:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>) and there
David would attend him, with joy in God's salvation, typical of the
great salvation which was to be wrought out by the Son of
David.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p17">III. David by faith foresees and foretels
the certain ruin of all wicked people, both in this world and in
that to come.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p18">1. In this world, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.15-Ps.9.16" parsed="|Ps|9|15|9|16" passage="Ps 9:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. God executes judgment
upon them when the measure of their iniquities is full, and does
it, (1.) So as to put shame upon them and make their fall
inglorious; for they sink into the pit which they themselves digged
(<scripRef id="Ps.x-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.7.15" parsed="|Ps|7|15|0|0" passage="Ps 7:15">Ps. vii. 15</scripRef>), they are
taken in the net which they themselves laid for the ensnaring of
God's people, and they are snared in the work of their own hands.
In all the struggles David had with the Philistines they were the
aggressors, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.17 Bible:2Sam.5.22" parsed="|2Sam|5|17|0|0;|2Sam|5|22|0|0" passage="2Sa 5:17,22">2 Sam. v. 17,
22</scripRef>. And other nations were subdued by those ward in
which they embroiled themselves. The overruling providence of God
frequently so orders it that persecutors and oppressors are brought
to ruin by those very projects which they intended to be
destructive to the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves;
prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon
themselves. Thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it
becomes visible to all that the destruction of sinners is not only
meritoriously, but efficiently, of themselves, which will fill them
with the utmost confusion. (2.) So as to get honour to himself:
<i>The Lord is known,</i> that is, he makes himself known, by these
judgments which he executes. It is known that there is a God who
judges in the earth, that he is a righteous God, and one that hates
sin and will punish it. In these judgments the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men. The psalmist therefore adds here a note extraordinary,
commanding special regard, <i>Higgaion;</i> it is a thing to be
carefully observed and meditated upon. What we see of present
judgments, and what we believe of the judgment to come, ought to be
the subject of our frequent and serious meditations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p19">2. In the other world (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.17" parsed="|Ps|9|17|0|0" passage="Ps 9:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>The wicked shall be turned
into hell,</i> as captives into the prison-house, even <i>all the
nations that forget God.</i> Note, (1.) Forgetfulness of God is the
cause of all the wickedness of the wicked. (2.) There are nations
of those that forget God, multitudes that live without God in the
world, many great and many mighty nations, that never regard him
nor desire the knowledge of his ways. (3.) Hell will, at last, be
the portion of such, a state of everlasting misery and
torment—<i>Sheol,</i> a pit of destruction, in which they and all
their comforts will be for ever lost and buried. Though there be
nations of them, yet they shall be turned into hell, like sheep
into the slaughter-house (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.49.14" parsed="|Ps|49|14|0|0" passage="Ps 49:14">Ps. xlix.
14</scripRef>), and their being so numerous will not be any
security or ease to them, nor any loss to God or the least
impeachment of his goodness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p20">IV. David encourages the people of God to
wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred,
<scripRef id="Ps.x-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.18" parsed="|Ps|9|18|0|0" passage="Ps 9:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. The needy may
think themselves, and others may think them, forgotten for a while,
and their expectation of help from God may seem to have perished
and to have been for ever frustrated. But he that believes does not
make haste; the vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it
shall speak. We may build upon it as undoubtedly true that God's
people, God's elect, shall not always be forgotten, nor shall they
be disappointed of their hopes from the promise. God will not only
remember them, at last, but will make it to appear that he never
did forget them; it is impossible he should, though a woman may
forget her sucking child.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p21">V. He concludes with prayer that God would
humble the pride, break the power, and blast the projects, of all
the wicked enemies of his church: "<i>Arise, O Lord!</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.19" parsed="|Ps|9|19|0|0" passage="Ps 9:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), stir up thy self, exert
thy power, take thy seat, and deal with all these proud and daring
enemies of thy name, and cause, and people." 1. "Lord, restrain
them, and set bounds to their malice: <i>Let not man prevail;</i>
consult thy own honour, and let not weak and mortal men prevail
against the kingdom and interest of the almighty and immortal God.
<i>Shall mortal man be too hard for God, too strong for his
Maker?</i>" 2. "Lord, reckon with them: <i>Let the heathen be
judges in thy sight,</i> that is, let them be plainly called to an
account for all the dishonour done to thee and the mischief done to
thy people." Impenitent sinners will be punished in God's sight;
and, when their day of grace is over, the bowels even of infinite
mercy will not relent towards them, <scripRef id="Ps.x-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.10" parsed="|Rev|14|10|0|0" passage="Re 14:10">Rev. xiv. 10</scripRef>. 3. "Lord, frighten them: <i>Put
them in fear, O Lord!</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.x-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.20" parsed="|Ps|9|20|0|0" passage="Ps 9:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>), strike a terror upon them, make them afraid with
thy judgments." God knows how to make the strongest and stoutest of
men to tremble and to flee when none pursues, and thereby he makes
them know and own that they are but men; they are but weak men,
unable to stand before the holy God—sinful men, the guilt of whose
consciences make them subject to alarms. Note, It is a very
desirable thing, much for the glory of God and the peace and
welfare of the universe, that men should know and consider
themselves to be but men, depending creatures, mutable, mortal, and
accountable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.x-p22">In singing this psalm we must give to God
the glory of his justice in pleading his people's cause against his
and their enemies, and encourage ourselves to wait for the year of
the redeemed and the year of recompences for the controversy of
Zion, even the final destruction of all anti-christian powers and
factions, to which many of the ancients apply this psalm.</p>
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