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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms IX].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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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 IX.</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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In this psalm,
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I. David praises God for pleading his cause, and giving him victory
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over his enemies and the enemies of his country
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>),
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and calls upon others to join with him in his songs of praise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>.
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II. He prays to God that he might have still further occasion to praise
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him, for his own deliverances and the confusion of his enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:13,14,19,20">ver. 13, 14, 19, 20</A>.
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III. He triumphs in the assurance he had of God's judging the world
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>),
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protecting his oppressed people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:9,10,18">ver. 9, 10, 18</A>),
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and bringing his and their implacable enemies to ruin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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This is very applicable to the kingdom of the Messiah, the enemies of
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which have been in part destroyed already, and shall be yet more and
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more till they all be made his footstool, which we are to assure
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ourselves of, that God may have the glory and we may take the
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comfort.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps9_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_10"> </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>Devout Acknowledgments.</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>To the chief musician upon Muth-labben. A psalm of David.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 I will praise <I>thee,</I> O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, with my whole heart; I will show
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forth all thy marvellous works.
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2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy
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name, O thou most High.
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3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish
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at thy presence.
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4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest
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in the throne judging right.
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5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the
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wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
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6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and
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thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
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7 But the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his
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throne for judgment.
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8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall
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minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
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9 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in
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times of trouble.
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10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
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for thou, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The title of this psalm gives a very uncertain sound concerning the
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occasion of penning it. It is upon <I>Muth-labben,</I> which some make
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to refer to the death of Goliath, others of Nabal, others of Absalom;
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but I incline to think it signifies only some tone, or some musical
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instrument, to which this psalm was intended to be sung; and that the
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enemies David is here triumphing in the defeat of are the Philistines,
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and the other neighbouring nations that opposed his settlement in the
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throne, whom he contested with and subdued in the beginning of his
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reign,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+5:8">2 Sam. v. 8</A>.
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In these verses,</P>
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<P>
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I. David excites and engages himself to praise God for his mercies and
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the great things he had of late done for him and his government,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Note,
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1. God expects suitable returns of praise from those for whom
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he has done marvellous works.
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2. If we would praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity,
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with our hearts, and not only with our lips, and be lively and fervent
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in the duty, with our <I>whole heart.</I>
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3. When we give thanks for some one particular mercy we should take
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occasion thence to remember former mercies and so to <I>show forth all
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his marvellous works.</I>
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4. Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, as thankful praise is the
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language of holy joy: <I>I will be glad and rejoice in thee.</I>
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5. Whatever occurs to make us glad, our joy must pass through it, and
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terminate in God only: <I>I will be glad and rejoice in thee,</I> not
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in the gift so much as in the giver.
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6. Joy and praise are properly expressed by singing psalms.
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7. When God has shown himself to be above the proud enemies of the
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church we must take occasion thence to give glory to him as the <I>Most
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High.</I>
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8. The triumphs of the Redeemer ought to be the triumphs of the
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redeemed; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:10,19:5,Re+15:3,4">Rev. xii. 10;
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xix. 5; xv. 3, 4</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. He acknowledges the almighty power of God as that which the
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strongest and stoutest of his enemies were no way able to contest with
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or stand before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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But,
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1. They are forced to turn back. Their policy and their courage fail
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them, so that they cannot, they dare not, push forward in their
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enterprises, but retire with precipitation.
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2. When once they turn back, they fall and perish; even their retreat
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will be their ruin, and they will save themselves no more by flying
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than by fighting. If Haman begin to fall before Mordecai, he is a lost
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man, and shall prevail no more; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+6:13">Esther vi. 13</A>.
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3. The presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, are sufficient
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for the destruction of his and his people's enemies. That is easily
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done which a man does with his very presence; with <I>that</I> God
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confounds his enemies, such a presence has he. This was fulfilled when
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our Lord Jesus, with one word, <I>I am he,</I> made his enemies to
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<I>fall back at his presence</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:6">John xviii. 6</A>)
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and he could, at the same time, have made them perish.
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4. When the enemies of God's church are put to confusion we must
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ascribe their discomfiture to the power, not of instruments, but of his
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presence, and give him all the glory.</P>
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<P>
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III. He gives to God the glory of his righteousness, in his appearing
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on his behalf
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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"<I>Thou hast maintained my right and my cause,</I> that is, my
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righteous cause; when that came on, <I>thou satest in the throne,
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judging right.</I>" Observe,
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1. God sits in the throne of judgment. To him it belongs to decide
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controversies, to determine appeals, to avenge the injured, and to
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punish the injurious; for he has said, <I>Vengeance is mine.</I>
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2. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth and that
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with him there is no unrighteousness. Far be it from God that he should
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pervert justice. If there seem to us to be some irregularity in the
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present decisions of Providence, yet these, instead of shaking our
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belief of God's justice, may serve to strengthen our belief of the
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judgment to come, which will set all to-rights.
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3. Whoever disown and desert a just and injured cause, we may be sure
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that the righteous God will maintain it and plead it with jealousy, and
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will never suffer it to be run down.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He records, with joy, the triumphs of the God of heaven over all
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the powers of hell and attends those triumphs with his praises,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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By three steps the power and justice of God had proceeded against the
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heathen, and wicked people, who were enemies to the king God had lately
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set up upon his holy hill of Zion.
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1. He had checked them: "<I>Thou hast rebuked the heathen,</I> hast
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given them real proofs of thy displeasure against them." This he did
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before he destroyed them, that they might take warning by the rebukes
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of Providence and so prevent their own destruction.
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2. He had cut them off: <I>Thou hast destroyed the wicked.</I> The
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wicked are marked for destruction, and some are made monuments of God's
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vindictive justice and destructive power in this world.
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3. He had buried them in oblivion and perpetual infamy, had put out
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their name for ever, that they should never be remembered with any
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respect.</P>
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<P>
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V. He exults over the enemy whom God thus appears against
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Thou hast destroyed cities.</I> Either, "Thou, O enemy! hast
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destroyed our cities, at least in intention and imagination," or "Thou,
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O God! hast destroyed their cities by the desolation brought upon their
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country." It may be taken either way; for the psalmist will have the
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enemy to know,
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1. That their destruction is just and that God was but reckoning with
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them for all the mischief which they had done and designed against his
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people. The malicious and vexatious neighbours of Israel, as the
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Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Syrians, had made
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incursions upon them (when there was no king in Israel to fight their
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battles), had destroyed their cities and done what they could to make
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their memorial perish with them. But now the wheel was turned upon
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them; their destructions of Israel had come to a perpetual end; they
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shall now cease to spoil and must themselves be spoiled,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:1,2">Isa. xxxiii. 1</A>.
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2. That it is total and final, such a destruction as should make a
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perpetual end of them, so that the very memorial of their cities should
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perish with them, So devouring a thing is time, and much more such
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desolations do the righteous judgments of God make upon sinners, that
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great and populous cities have been reduced to such ruins that their
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very memorial has perished, and those who have sought them could not
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find where they stood; but we look for a city that has stronger
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foundations.</P>
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<P>
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VI. He comforts himself and others in God, and pleases himself with the
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thoughts of him.
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1. With the thoughts of his eternity. On this earth we see nothing
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durable, even strong cities are buried in rubbish and forgotten; <I>but
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the Lord shall endure for ever,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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There is no change of his being; his felicity, power, and perfection,
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are out of the reach of all the combined forces of hell and earth; they
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may put an end to our liberties, our privileges, our lives, but our God
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is still the same, and sits even upon the floods, unshaken,
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undisturbed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+29:10,93:2">Ps. xxix. 10; xciii. 2</A>.
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2. With the thoughts of his sovereignty both in government and
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judgment: <I>He has prepared his throne,</I> has fixed it by his
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infinite wisdom, has fixed it by his immutable counsel. It is the great
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support and comfort of good people, when the power of the church's
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enemies is threatening and the posture of its affairs melancholy and
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perplexed, that God now rules the world and will shortly judge the
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world.
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3. With the thoughts of his justice and righteousness in all the
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administrations of his government. He does all every day, he will do
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all at the last day, according to the eternal unalterable rules of
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equity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>He shall judge the world,</I> all persons and all controversies,
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<I>shall minister judgment to the people</I> (shall determine their lot
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both in this and in the future state) in righteousness and <I>in
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uprightness,</I> so that there shall not be the least colour of
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exception against it.
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4. With the thoughts of that peculiar favour which God bears to his own
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people and the special protection which he takes them under. The Lord,
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who endures for ever, is their everlasting strength and protection; he
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that judges the world will be sure to judge for them, when at any time
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they are injured or distressed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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<I>He will be a refuge for the oppressed,</I> a high place, a strong
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place, for the oppressed, <I>in times of trouble.</I> It is the lot of
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God's people to be oppressed in this world and to have troublous times
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appointed to them. Perhaps God may not immediately appear for them as
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their deliverer and avenger; but, in the midst of their distresses,
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they may by faith flee to him as their refuge and may depend upon his
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power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be done
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them.
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5. With the thoughts of that sweet satisfaction and repose of mind
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which those have that make God their refuge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>Those that know thy name will put their trust in thee,</I> as I
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have done" (for the grace of God is the same in all the saints), "and
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then they will find, as I have found, that thou dost not forsake those
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that seek thee;" for the favour of God is the same towards all the
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saints. Note,
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(1.) The better God is known the more he is trusted. Those who know him
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to be a God of infinite wisdom will trust him <I>further than they can
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see him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+35:14">Job xxxv. 14</A>);
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those who know him to be a God of almighty power will trust him when
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creature-confidences fail and they have nothing else to trust to
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+20:12">2 Chron. xx. 12</A>);
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and those who know him to be a God of infinite grace and goodness will
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trust him <I>though he slay them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+13:15">Job xiii. 15</A>.
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Those who know him to be a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness
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will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that, though the
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performance be deferred and intermediate providences seem to contradict
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it. Those who know him to be the Father of spirits, and an everlasting
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Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care and trust in
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him at all times, even to the end.
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(2.) The more God is trusted the more he is sought unto. If we trust
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God we shall seek him by faithful and fervent prayer, and by a constant
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care to approve ourselves to him in the whole course of our
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conversations.
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(3.) God never did, nor ever will, disown or desert any that duly seek
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to him and trust in him. Though he afflict them, he will not leave
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them comfortless; though he seem to forsake them for a while, yet he
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will gather them with everlasting mercies.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps9_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps9_20"> </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>A Call to Praise God; Certain Ruin of the Wicked.</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>11 Sing praises to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, which dwelleth in Zion: declare
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among the people his doings.
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12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them:
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he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
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13 Have mercy upon me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; consider my trouble <I>which I
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suffer</I> of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the
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gates of death:
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14 That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the
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|
daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
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15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit <I>that</I> they made: in
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|
the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
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16 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> is known <I>by</I> the judgment <I>which</I> he executeth:
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the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion.
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|
Selah.
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|
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, <I>and</I> all the nations
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|
that forget God.
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18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation
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|
of the poor shall <I>not</I> perish for ever.
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19 Arise, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; let not man prevail: let the heathen be
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|
judged in thy sight.
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20 Put them in fear, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: <I>that</I> the nations may know
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themselves <I>to be but</I> men. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses,</P>
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|
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<P>
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I. David, having praised God himself, calls upon and invites others to
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praise him likewise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Those who believe God is greatly to be praised not only desire to do
|
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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:
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<I>Sing praises to the Lord who dwelleth in Zion.</I> As the special
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|
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
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|
the assemblies of his people, as their protector and patron. He
|
|
resolved himself to show forth God's marvellous works
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|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and here he calls upon others to <I>declare among the people his
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|
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
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|
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>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:3,4">Ps. cxxvi. 3, 4</A>.
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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
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|
neighbours, who had, in making war upon them, used them barbarously and
|
|
given them no quarter,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
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|
When God comes to <I>make inquisition for blood</I> by his judgments on
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|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:43">Deut. xxxii. 43</A>),
|
|
|
|
<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
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:21,Jer+51:35">Isa. xxvi. 21; Jer. li. 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
In that day it will appear how precious the blood of God's people is to
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:14">Ps. lxxii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
1. He prays,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That God would be compassionate to him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<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>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
"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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
1. In this world,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+7:15">Ps. vii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+5:17,22">2 Sam. v. 17, 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
2. In the other world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:14">Ps. xlix. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
IV. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation,
|
|
though it should be long deferred,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:10">Rev. xiv. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. "Lord, frighten them: <I>Put them in fear, O Lord!</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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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