mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 91.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xcii" n="xcii" next="Ps.xciii" prev="Ps.xci" progress="53.70%" title="Chapter XCI">
<h2 id="Ps.xcii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xcii-p0.2">PSALM XCI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xcii-p1">Some of the ancients were of opinion that Moses
was the penman, not only of the foregoing psalm, which is expressly
said to be his, but also of the eight that next follow it; but that
cannot be, for <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.95.1-Ps.95.11" parsed="|Ps|95|1|95|11" passage="Ps 95:1-11">Ps. xcv.</scripRef>
is expressly said to be penned by David, and long after Moses,
<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.4.7" parsed="|Heb|4|7|0|0" passage="Heb 4:7">Heb. iv. 7</scripRef>. It is probable
that this psalm also was penned by David; it is a writ of
protection for all true believers, not in the name of king David,
or under his broad seal; he needed it himself, especially if the
psalm was penned, as some conjecture it was, at the time of the
pestilence which was sent for his numbering the people; but in the
name of the King of kings, and under the broad seal of Heaven.
Observe, I. The psalmist's own resolution to take God for his
keeper (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.2" parsed="|Ps|91|2|0|0" passage="Ps 91:2">ver. 2</scripRef>), from which
he gives both direction and encouragement to others, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.9" parsed="|Ps|91|9|0|0" passage="Ps 91:9">ver. 9</scripRef>. II. The promises which are
here made, in God's name, to all those that do so in sincerity. 1.
They shall be taken under the peculiar care of Heaven, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1 Bible:Ps.91.4" parsed="|Ps|91|1|0|0;|Ps|91|4|0|0" passage="Ps 91:1,4">ver. 1, 4</scripRef>. 2. They shall be
delivered from the malice of the powers of darkness (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.3 Bible:Ps.91.5 Bible:Ps.91.6" parsed="|Ps|91|3|0|0;|Ps|91|5|0|0;|Ps|91|6|0|0" passage="Ps 91:3,5,6">ver. 3, 5, 6</scripRef>), and that by a
distinguishing preservation, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.7-Ps.91.8" parsed="|Ps|91|7|91|8" passage="Ps 91:7,8">ver. 7,
8</scripRef>. 3. They shall be the charge of the holy angels,
<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.10-Ps.91.12" parsed="|Ps|91|10|91|12" passage="Ps 91:10-12">ver. 10-12</scripRef>. 4. They
shall triumph over their enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.13" parsed="|Ps|91|13|0|0" passage="Ps 91:13">ver.
13</scripRef>. 5. They shall be the special favourites of God
himself, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.14-Ps.91.16" parsed="|Ps|91|14|91|16" passage="Ps 91:14-16">ver. 14-16</scripRef>. In
singing this we must shelter ourselves under, and then solace
ourselves in, the divine protection. Many think that to Christ, as
Mediator, these promises do primarily belong (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.49.2" parsed="|Isa|49|2|0|0" passage="Isa 49:2">Isa. xlix. 2</scripRef>), not because to him the devil
applied one of these promises (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.6" parsed="|Matt|4|6|0|0" passage="Mt 4:6">Matt. iv.
6</scripRef>), but because to him they are very applicable, and,
coming through him, they are more sweet and sure to all
believers.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xcii-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91" parsed="|Ps|91|0|0|0" passage="Ps 91" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xcii-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1-Ps.91.8" parsed="|Ps|91|1|91|8" passage="Ps 91:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.91.1-Ps.91.8">
<h4 id="Ps.xcii-p1.15">The Security of Believers.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xcii-p2">1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.   2 I
will say of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xcii-p2.1">Lord</span>, <i>He is</i>
my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.   3
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
<i>and</i> from the noisome pestilence.   4 He shall cover
thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his
truth <i>shall be thy</i> shield and buckler.   5 Thou shalt
not be afraid for the terror by night; <i>nor</i> for the arrow
<i>that</i> flieth by day;   6 <i>Nor</i> for the pestilence
<i>that</i> walketh in darkness; <i>nor</i> for the destruction
<i>that</i> wasteth at noonday.   7 A thousand shall fall at
thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; <i>but</i> it shall
not come nigh thee.   8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold
and see the reward of the wicked.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p3">In these verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p4">I. A great truth laid down in general, That
all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe
under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity
and security of mind at all times (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1" parsed="|Ps|91|1|0|0" passage="Ps 91:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>He that dwells,</i> that sits
down, <i>in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty;</i> he that by faith chooses God for
his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can
desire. Note, 1. It is the character of a true believer that he
<i>dwells in the secret place of the Most High;</i> he is at home
in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he
acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the
service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone
with God, to converse with him in solitude. 2. It is the privilege
and comfort of those that do so that they <i>abide under the shadow
of the Almighty;</i> he shelters them, and comes between them and
every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They
shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God's
protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p5">II. The psalmist's comfortable application
of this to himself (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.2" parsed="|Ps|91|2|0|0" passage="Ps 91:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>): <i>I will say of the Lord,</i> whatever others say
of him, "<i>He is my refuge;</i> I choose him as such, and confide
in him. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah,
the true and living God, He is <i>my refuge:</i> any other is a
<i>refuge of lies.</i> He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he
is <i>my fortress and strong-hold.</i>" Idolaters called their
idols <i>Mahuzzim,</i> their <i>most strong-hold</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.11.39" parsed="|Dan|11|39|0|0" passage="Da 11:39">Dan. xi. 39</scripRef>), but therein they
deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the
Lord their God, their fortress. There being no reason to question
his sufficiency, fitly does it follow, <i>In him will I trust.</i>
If Jehovah be our God, our refuge, and our fortress, what can we
desire which we may not be sure to find in him? He is neither
fickle nor false, neither weak nor mortal; he is God and not man,
and therefore there is no danger of being disappointed in him.
<i>We know whom we have trusted.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p6">III. The great encouragement he gives to
others to do likewise, not only from his own experience of the
comfort of it (for in that there might possibly be a fallacy), but
from the truth of God's promise, in which there neither is nor can
be any deceit (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.3-Ps.91.4" parsed="|Ps|91|3|91|4" passage="Ps 91:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>, &amp;c.): <i>Surely he shall deliver thee.</i> Those
who have themselves found the comfort of making God their refuge
cannot but desire that others may do so. Now here it is
promised,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p7">1. That believers shall be kept from those
mischiefs which they are in imminent danger of, and which would be
fatal to them (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.3" parsed="|Ps|91|3|0|0" passage="Ps 91:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>),
<i>from the snare of the fowler,</i> which is laid unseen and
catches the unwary prey on a sudden, and <i>from the noisome
pestilence,</i> which seizes men unawares and against which there
is no guard. This promise protects, (1.) The natural life, and is
often fulfilled in our preservation from those dangers which are
very threatening and very near, while yet we ourselves are not
apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of <i>the snare of
the fowler.</i> We owe it, more than we are sensible, to the care
of the divine Providence that we have been kept from infectious
diseases and out of the hands of the wicked and unreasonable. (2.)
The spiritual life, which is protected by divine grace from the
temptations of Satan, which are as the <i>snares of the fowler,</i>
and from the contagion of sin, which is the <i>noisome
pestilence.</i> He that has given grace to be the glory of the soul
will create a defence upon all that glory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p8">2. That God himself will be their
protector; those must needs be safe who have him for their keeper,
and successful for whom he undertakes (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.4" parsed="|Ps|91|4|0|0" passage="Ps 91:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>He shall cover thee,</i>
shall keep thee <i>secret</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.20" parsed="|Ps|31|20|0|0" passage="Ps 31:20">Ps.
xxxi. 20</scripRef>), and so keep thee safe, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.5" parsed="|Ps|27|5|0|0" passage="Ps 27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</scripRef>. God protects believers, (1.)
With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in
that, <i>He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his
wings,</i> which alludes to the hen <i>gathering her chickens under
wings,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.37" parsed="|Matt|23|37|0|0" passage="Mt 23:37">Matt. xxiii. 37</scripRef>.
By natural instinct she not only protects them, but calls them
under that protection when she sees them in danger, not only keeps
them safe, but cherishes them and keeps them warm. To this the
great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are
helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are
invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine
promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to
the true religion, that he has come to <i>trust under the wings of
the God of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.2.12" parsed="|Ruth|2|12|0|0" passage="Ru 2:12">Ruth ii.
12</scripRef>. (2.) With the greatest power and efficacy. Wings and
feathers, though spread with the greatest tenderness, are yet weak,
and easily broken through, and therefore it is added, <i>His truth
shall be thy shield and buckler,</i> a strong defence. God is
willing to guard his people as the hen is to guard the chickens,
and as able as a man of war in armour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p9">3. That he will not only keep them from
evil, but from the fear of evil, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.5-Ps.91.6" parsed="|Ps|91|5|91|6" passage="Ps 91:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Here is, (1.) Great danger
supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day
we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in
neither period think themselves safe. When we are retired into our
chambers, our beds, and have made all as safe as we can about us,
yet there is terror by night, from thieves and robbers, winds and
storms, besides those things that are the creatures of fancy and
imagination, which are often most frightful of all. We read of
<i>fear in the night,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Song.3.8" parsed="|Song|3|8|0|0" passage="So 3:8">Cant. iii.
8</scripRef>. There is also a <i>pestilence that walketh in
darkness,</i> as that was which slew the first-born of the
Egyptians, and the army of the Assyrians. No locks nor bars can
shut out diseases, while we carry about with us in our bodies the
seeds of them. But surely in the day-time, when we can look about
us, we are not so much in danger; yes, there is an <i>arrow that
flieth by day</i> too, and yet flies unseen; there is a destruction
that wasteth at high-noon, when we are awake and have all our
friends about us; even then we cannot secure ourselves, nor can
they secure us. It was in the day-time that that pestilence wasted
which was sent to chastise David for numbering the people, on
occasion of which some think this psalm was penned. But, (2.) Here
is great security promised to believers in the midst of this
danger: "<i>Thou shalt not be afraid.</i> God by his grace will
keep thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath
torment) in the midst of the greatest dangers. Wisdom shall keep
thee from being causelessly afraid, and faith shall keep thee from
being inordinately afraid. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow,
as knowing that though it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it
take away the natural life, yet it shall be so far from doing any
prejudice to the spiritual life that it shall be its perfection." A
believer <i>needs not</i> fear, and therefore <i>should not</i>
fear, any arrow, because the point is off, the poison is out. <i>O
death! where is thy sting?</i> It is also under divine direction,
and will hit where God appoints and not otherwise. Every bullet has
its commission. Whatever is done our heavenly Father's will is
done; and we have no reason to be afraid of that.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p10">4. That they shall be preserved in common
calamities, in a distinguishing way (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.7" parsed="|Ps|91|7|0|0" passage="Ps 91:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): "When death rides in triumph,
and diseases rage, so that <i>thousands and ten thousands</i> fall,
fall by sickness, or fall by the sword in battle, <i>fall at thy
side, at thy right hand,</i> and the sight of their fall is enough
to frighten thee, and if they fall by the pestilence their falling
so near thee may be likely to infect thee, <i>yet it shall not come
nigh thee,</i> the death shall not, the fear of death shall not."
Those that preserve their purity in times of general corruption may
trust God with their safety in times of general desolation. When
multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must be awakened
to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be <i>afraid with any
amazement,</i> nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many do
all their life-time, <i>through fear of death,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.15" parsed="|Heb|2|15|0|0" passage="Heb 2:15">Heb. ii. 15</scripRef>. The sprinkling of blood
secured the first-born of Israel when thousands fell. Nay, it is
promised to God's people that they shall have the satisfaction of
seeing, not only God's promises fulfilled to them, but his
threatenings fulfilled upon those that hate them (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.8" parsed="|Ps|91|8|0|0" passage="Ps 91:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>Only with thy eyes
shalt thou behold and see the just reward of the wicked,</i> which
perhaps refers to the destruction of the first-born of Egypt by the
pestilence, which was both the punishment of the oppressors and the
enlargement of the oppressed; this Israel saw when they saw
themselves unhurt, untouched. As it will aggravate the damnation of
sinners that with their eyes they shall behold and see the reward
of the righteous (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.13.28" parsed="|Luke|13|28|0|0" passage="Lu 13:28">Luke xiii.
28</scripRef>), so it will magnify the salvation of the saints that
with their eyes they shall behold and see the destruction of the
wicked, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.24 Bible:Ps.58.10" parsed="|Isa|66|24|0|0;|Ps|58|10|0|0" passage="Isa 66:24,Ps 58:10">Isa. lxvi. 24; Ps.
lviii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xcii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.9-Ps.91.16" parsed="|Ps|91|9|91|16" passage="Ps 91:9-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.91.9-Ps.91.16">
<h4 id="Ps.xcii-p10.7">The Security of Believers.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xcii-p11">9 Because thou hast made the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xcii-p11.1">Lord</span>, <i>which is</i> my refuge, <i>even</i> the
most High, thy habitation;   10 There shall no evil befal
thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.   11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways.   12 They shall bear thee up in <i>their</i> hands,
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.   13 Thou shalt tread
upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou
trample under feet.   14 Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he
hath known my name.   15 He shall call upon me, and I will
answer him: I <i>will be</i> with him in trouble; I will deliver
him, and honour him.   16 With long life will I satisfy him,
and show him my salvation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p12">Here are more promises to the same purport
with those in the <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1-Ps.91.8" parsed="|Ps|91|1|91|8" passage="Ps 91:1-8">foregoing
verses</scripRef>, and they are exceedingly great and precious, and
sure to all the seed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p13">I. The psalmist assures believers of divine
protection, from his own experience; and that which he says is the
word of God, and what we may rely upon. Observe, 1. The character
of those who shall have the benefit and comfort of these promises;
it is much the same with that, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1" parsed="|Ps|91|1|0|0" passage="Ps 91:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. They are such as make <i>the Most
High their habitation</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.9" parsed="|Ps|91|9|0|0" passage="Ps 91:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), as are continually with God and rest in him, as make
his name both their temple and their strong tower, as dwell in love
and so dwell in God. It is our duty to be at home in God, to make
our choice of him, and then to live our life in him as our
habitation, to converse with him, and delight in him, and depend
upon him; and then it shall be our privilege to be at home in God;
we shall be welcome to him as a man to his own habitation, without
any let, hindrance, or molestation, from the arrests of the law or
the clamours of conscience; then too we shall be safe in him, shall
be kept in <i>perfect peace,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.3" parsed="|Isa|26|3|0|0" passage="Isa 26:3">Isa.
xxvi. 3</scripRef>. To encourage us to make the Lord our
habitation, and to hope for safety and satisfaction in him, the
psalmist intimates the comfort he had had in doing so: "He whom
thou makest thy <i>habitation is my refuge;</i> and I have found
him firm and faithful, and in him there is room enough, and shelter
enough, both for thee and me." <i>In my father's house</i> there
<i>are many mansions,</i> one needs not crowd another, much less
crowd out another. 2. The promises that are sure to all those who
have thus made <i>the Most High</i> their <i>habitation.</i> (1.)
That, whatever happens to them, nothing shall hurt them (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.10" parsed="|Ps|91|10|0|0" passage="Ps 91:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "<i>There shall no
evil befal thee;</i> though trouble or affliction befal thee, yet
there shall be no real evil in it, for it shall come from the love
of God and shall be sanctified; it shall come, not for thy hurt,
but for thy good; and though, for <i>the present, it be not joyous
but grievous,</i> yet, in the end, it shall yield so well that thou
thyself shalt own <i>no evil befel thee.</i> It is not an evil, an
only evil, but there is a mixture of good in it and a product of
good by it. Nay, not thy person only, but thy dwelling, shall be
taken under the divine protection: <i>There shall no plague come
nigh</i> that, nothing to do thee or thine any damage." <i>Nihil
accidere bono viro mali potest—No evil can befal a good man.</i>
Seneca <i>De Providentia.</i> (2.) That the angels of light shall
be serviceable to them, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.11-Ps.91.12" parsed="|Ps|91|11|91|12" passage="Ps 91:11,12"><i>v.</i>
11, 12</scripRef>. This is a precious promise, and speaks a great
deal both of honour and comfort to the saints, nor is it ever the
worse for being quoted and abused by the devil in tempting Christ,
<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.6" parsed="|Matt|4|6|0|0" passage="Mt 4:6">Matt. iv. 6</scripRef>. Observe, [1.]
The charge given to the angels concerning the saints. He who is the
Lord of the angels, who gave them their being and gives laws to
them, whose they are and whom they were made to serve, <i>he shall
give his angels a charge over thee,</i> not only over the church in
general, but over every particular believer. The angels <i>keep the
charge of the Lord their God;</i> and this is the charge they
receive from him. It denotes the great care God takes of the
saints, in that the angels themselves shall be charged with them,
and employed for them. The charge is <i>to keep thee in all thy
ways;</i> here is a limitation of the promise: They <i>shall keep
thee in thy ways,</i> that is, "as long as thou keepest in the way
of thy duty;" those that go out of that way put themselves out of
God's protection. This word the devil left out when he quoted the
promise to enforce a temptation, knowing how much it made against
him. But observe the extent of the promise; it is <i>to keep thee
in all thy ways:</i> even where there is no apparent danger yet we
need it, and where there is the most imminent danger we shall have
it. Wherever the saints go the angels are charged with them, as the
servants are with the children. [2.] The care which the angels take
of the saints, pursuant to this charge: <i>They shall bear thee up
in their hands,</i> which denotes both their great ability and
their great affection. They are able to bear up the saints out of
the reach of danger, and they do it with all the tenderness and
affection wherewith the nurse carries the little child about in her
arms; it speaks us helpless and them helpful. They are
condescending in their ministrations; they keep the feet of the
saints, lest they <i>dash them against a stone,</i> lest they
stumble and fall into sin and into trouble. [3.] That the powers of
darkness shall be triumphed over by them (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.13" parsed="|Ps|91|13|0|0" passage="Ps 91:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>Thou shalt tread upon the
lion and adder.</i> The devil is called <i>a roaring lion, the old
serpent, the red dragon;</i> so that to this promise the apostle
seems to refer in that (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.16.20" parsed="|Rom|16|20|0|0" passage="Ro 16:20">Rom. xvi.
20</scripRef>), <i>The God of peace shall tread Satan under your
feet.</i> Christ has broken the serpent's head, spoiled our
spiritual enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.9" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.15" parsed="|Col|2|15|0|0" passage="Col 2:15">Col. ii.
15</scripRef>), and through him <i>we are more than conquerors;</i>
for Christ calls us, as Joshua called the captains of Israel, to
come and set our feet on the necks of vanquished enemies. Some
think that this promise had its full accomplishment in Christ, and
the miraculous power which he had over the whole creation, healing
the sick, casting out devils, and particularly putting it into his
disciples' commission that they should <i>take up serpents,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.10" osisRef="Bible:Mark.16.18" parsed="|Mark|16|18|0|0" passage="Mk 16:18">Mark xvi. 18</scripRef>. It may be
applied to that care of the divine Providence by which we are
preserved from ravenous noxious creatures (<i>the wild beasts of
the field shall be at peace with thee,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.11" osisRef="Bible:Job.5.23" parsed="|Job|5|23|0|0" passage="Job 5:23">Job v. 23</scripRef>); nay, and have ways and means of
taming them, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p13.12" osisRef="Bible:Jas.3.7" parsed="|Jas|3|7|0|0" passage="Jam 3:7">Jam. iii.
7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p14">II. He brings in God himself speaking words
of comfort to the saints, and declaring the mercy he had in store
for them, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.14-Ps.91.16" parsed="|Ps|91|14|91|16" passage="Ps 91:14-16"><i>v.</i>
14-16</scripRef>. Some make this to be spoken to the angels as the
reason of the charge given them concerning the saints, as if he had
said, "Take care of them, for they are dear to me, and I have a
tender concern for them." And now, as before, we must observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p15">1. To whom these promises do belong; they
are described by three characters:—(1.) They are such as know
God's name. His nature we cannot fully know; but by his name he has
made himself known, and with that we must acquaint ourselves. (2.)
They are such as have set their love upon him; and those who
rightly know him will love him, will place their love upon him as
the only adequate object of it, will let out their love towards him
with pleasure and enlargement, and will fix their love upon him
with a resolution never to remove it to any rival. (3.) They are
such as call upon him, as by prayer keep up a constant
correspondence with him, and in every difficult case refer
themselves to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xcii-p16">2. What the promises are which God makes to
the saints. (1.) That he will, in due time, deliver them out of
trouble: <i>I will deliver him</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.14" parsed="|Ps|91|14|0|0" passage="Ps 91:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef> and again <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.15" parsed="|Ps|91|15|0|0" passage="Ps 91:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), denoting a double deliverance,
living and dying, a deliverance in trouble and a deliverance out of
trouble. If God proportions the degree and continuance of our
troubles to our strength, if he keeps us from offending him in our
troubles, and makes our death our discharge, at length, from all
our troubles, then this promise is fulfilled. See <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.34.19 Bible:2Tim.3.11 Bible:2Tim.4.18" parsed="|Ps|34|19|0|0;|2Tim|3|11|0|0;|2Tim|4|18|0|0" passage="Ps 34:19,2Ti 3:11,4:18">Ps. xxxiv. 19; 2 Tim. iii. 11; iv.
18</scripRef>. (2.) That he will, in the mean time, <i>be with them
in trouble,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.15" parsed="|Ps|91|15|0|0" passage="Ps 91:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. If he does not immediately put a period to their
afflictions, yet they shall have his gracious presence with them in
their troubles; he will take notice of their sorrows, and <i>know
their souls in adversity,</i> will visit them graciously by his
word and Spirit, and converse with them, will take their part, will
support and comfort them, and sanctify their afflictions to them,
which will be the surest token of his presence with them in their
troubles. (3.) That herein he will answer their prayers: <i>He
shall call upon me;</i> I will pour upon him the spirit of prayer,
<i>and</i> then <i>I will answer,</i> answer by promises (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.85.8" parsed="|Ps|85|8|0|0" passage="Ps 85:8">Ps. lxxxv. 8</scripRef>), answer by providences,
bringing in seasonable relief, and answer by graces,
<i>strengthening them with strength in their souls</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.138.3" parsed="|Ps|138|3|0|0" passage="Ps 138:3">Ps. cxxxviii. 3</scripRef>); thus he answered
Paul with <i>grace sufficient,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.12.9" parsed="|2Cor|12|9|0|0" passage="2Co 12:9">2
Cor. xii. 9</scripRef>. (4.) That he will exalt and dignify them:
<i>I will set him on high,</i> out of the reach of trouble, above
the stormy region, on a rock <i>above the waves,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.16" parsed="|Isa|33|16|0|0" passage="Isa 33:16">Isa. xxxiii. 16</scripRef>. They shall be
enabled, by the grace of God, to look down upon the things of this
world with a holy contempt and indifference, to look up to the
things of the other world with a holy ambition and concern; and
then they are set on high. <i>I will honour him;</i> those are
truly honourable whom God puts honour upon by taking them into
covenant and communion with himself and designing them for his
kingdom and glory, <scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.9" osisRef="Bible:John.12.26" parsed="|John|12|26|0|0" passage="Joh 12:26">John xii.
26</scripRef>. (5.) That they shall have a sufficiency of life in
this world (<scripRef id="Ps.xcii-p16.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.16" parsed="|Ps|91|16|0|0" passage="Ps 91:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>):
<i>With length of days will I satisfy him;</i> that is, [1.] They
shall live long enough: they shall be continued in this world till
they have done the work they were sent into this world for and are
ready for heaven, and that is long enough. Who would wish to live a
day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him?
[2.] They shall think it long enough; for God by his grace shall
wean them from the world and make them willing to leave it. A man
may die young, and yet die full of days, <i>satur dierum—satisfied
with living.</i> A wicked worldly man is not satisfied, no, not
with long life; he still cries, <i>Give, give.</i> But he that has
his treasure and heart in another world has soon enough of this; he
would not live always. (6.) That they shall have an eternal life in
the other world. This crowns the blessedness: <i>I will show him my
salvation,</i> show him <i>the Messiah</i> (so some); good old
Simeon was then satisfied with long life when he could say, <i>My
eyes have seen thy salvation,</i> nor was there any greater joy to
the Old-Testament saints than to see Christ's day, though at a
distance. It is more probably that the word refers to the better
country, that is, the heavenly, which the patriarchs desired and
sought: he <i>will show him</i> that, bring him to that blessed
state, the felicity of which consists so much in seeing that face
to face which we here see through a glass darkly; and, in the mean
time, he will give him a prospect of it. All these promises, some
think, point primarily at Christ, and had their accomplishment in
his resurrection and exaltation.</p>
</div></div2>