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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms XLVI].</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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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM XLVI.</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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This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power, and
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providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of
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times, and directs us to give him the glory of what he has done for us
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and what he will do: probably it was penned upon occasion of David's
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victories over the neighbouring nations
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+8:1-18">2 Sam. viii.</A>),
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and the rest which God gave him from all his enemies round about. We
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are here taught,
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I. To take comfort in God when things look very black and threatening,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. To mention, to his praise, the great things he had wrought for his
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church against its enemies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:6-9">ver. 6-9</A>.
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III. To assure ourselves that God who has glorified his own name will
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glorify it yet again, and to comfort ourselves with that,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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We may, in singing it, apply it either to our spiritual enemies, and be
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more than conquerors over them, or to the public enemies of Christ's
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kingdom in the world and their threatening insults, endeavouring to
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preserve a holy security and serenity of mind when they seem most
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formidable. It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging
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news, he would say, Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps46_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God the Protection of His People.</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 for the sons of Korah. A song upon Alamoth.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 God <I>is</I> our refuge and strength, a very present help
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in trouble.
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2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and
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though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
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3 <I>Though</I> the waters thereof roar <I>and</I> be troubled, <I>though</I>
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the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
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4 <I>There is</I> a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the
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city of God, the holy <I>place</I> of the tabernacles of the most
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High.
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5 God <I>is</I> in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God
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shall help her, <I>and that</I> right early.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The psalmist here teaches us by his own example.</P>
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<P>
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I. To triumph in God, and his relation to us and presence with us,
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especially when we have had some fresh experiences of his appearing in
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our behalf
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>God is our refuge and strength;</I> we have found him so, he has
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engaged to be so, and he ever will be so. Are we pursued? God is our
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refuge to whom we may flee, and in whom we may be safe and think
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ourselves so; secure upon good grounds,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:10">Prov. xviii. 10</A>.
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Are we oppressed by troubles? Have we work to do and enemies to grapple
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with? God is our strength, to bear us up under our burdens, to fit us
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for all our services and sufferings; he will by his grace put strength
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into us, and on him we may stay ourselves. Are we in distress? He is a
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help, to do all that for us which we need, <I>a present help, a help
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found</I> (so the word is), one whom we have found to be so, a help on
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which we may write <I>Probatum est--It is tried,</I> as Christ is
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called a <I>tried stone,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+28:16">Isa. xxviii. 16</A>.
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Or, <I>a help at hand,</I> one that never is to seek for, but that is
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always near. Or, a <I>help sufficient,</I> a help accommodated to every
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case and exigence; whatever it is, he is a very present help; we cannot
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desire a better help, nor shall ever find the like in any creature.</P>
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<P>
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II. To triumph over the greatest dangers: <I>God is our strength and
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our help,</I> a God all-sufficient to us; <I>therefore will not we
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fear.</I> Those that with a holy reverence fear God need not with any
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amazement to be afraid of the power of hell or earth. <I>If God be for
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us, who can be against us;</I> to do us any harm? It is our duty, it is
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our privilege, to be thus fearless; it is an evidence of a clear
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conscience, of an honest heart, and of a lively faith in God and his
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providence and promise: "<I>We will not fear, though the earth be
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removed,</I> though all our creature-confidences fail us and sink us;
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nay, though that which should support us threaten to swallow us up, as
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the earth did Korah," for whose sons this psalm was penned, and, some
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think, by them; yet while we keep close to God, and have him for us, we
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will not fear, for we have no cause to fear;</P>
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<CENTER>
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<TABLE BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD>----Si fractus illabatur orbis,
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<BR>Impavidum ferient ruinæ.----Hor.
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<BR>
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<BR>--Let Jove's dread arm With thunder rend the spheres,
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<BR>Beneath the crush of worlds undaunted he appears.
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</TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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1. How threatening the danger is. We will suppose the earth to be
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removed, and thrown into the sea, even the mountains, the strongest and
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firmest parts of the earth, to lie buried in the unfathomed ocean; we
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will suppose the sea to roar and rage, and make a dreadful noise, and
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its foaming billows to insult the shore with so much violence as even
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to <I>shake the mountains,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Though kingdoms and states be in confusion, embroiled in wars, tossed
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with tumults, and their governments incontinual revolution--though
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their powers combine against the church and people of God, aim at no
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less than their ruin, and go very near to gain their point--yet will
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not we fear, knowing that all these troubles will end well for the
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church. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+93:4">Ps. xciii. 4</A>.
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If the earth be removed, those have reason to fear who have laid up
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their treasures on earth, and set their hearts upon it; but not those
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who have laid up for themselves treasures in heaven, and who expect to
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be most happy when <I>the earth and all the works that are therein
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shall be burnt up.</I> Let those be troubled at the troubling of the
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waters who build their confidence on such a floating foundation, but
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not those who are led to <I>the rock that is higher than they,</I> and
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find firm footing upon that rock.
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2. How well-grounded the defiance of this danger is, considering how
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well guarded the church is, and that interest which we are concerned
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for. It is not any private particular concern of our own that we are in
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pain about; no, it is the city of God, <I>the holy place of the
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tabernacles of the Most High;</I> it is the ark of God for which our
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hearts tremble. But, when we consider what God has provided for the
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comfort and safety of his church, we shall see reason to have our
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hearts fixed, and set above the fear of evil tidings. Here is,
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(1.) Joy to the church, even in the most melancholy and sorrowful times
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>There is a river the streams whereof shall make</I> it <I>glad,</I>
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even then when the waters of the sea roar and threaten it. It alludes
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to the waters of Siloam, which <I>went softly by Jerusalem</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:6,7">Isa. viii. 6, 7</A>):
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though of no great depth or breadth, yet the waters of it were made
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serviceable to the defence of Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+22:10,11">Isa. xxii. 10, 11</A>.
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But this must be understood spiritually; the covenant of grace is the
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river, the promises of which are the streams; or the Spirit of grace is
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the river
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:38,39">John vii. 38, 39</A>),
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the comforts of which are <I>the streams, that make glad the city of
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our God.</I> God's word and ordinances are rivers and streams with
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which God makes his saints glad in cloudy and dark days. God himself
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is to his church a place of <I>broad rivers and streams,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:21">Isa. xxxiii. 21</A>.
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The streams that make glad the city of God are not rapid, but gentle,
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like those of Siloam. Note, The spiritual comforts which are conveyed
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to the saints by soft and silent whispers, and which come not with
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observation, are sufficient to counterbalance the most loud and noisy
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threatenings of an angry and malicious world.
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(2.) Establishment to the church. Though heaven and earth are shaken,
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yet <I>God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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God has assured his church of his special presence with her and concern
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for her; his honour is embarked in her, he has set up his tabernacle in
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her and has undertaken the protection of it, and therefore she shall
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not be moved, that is,
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[1.] Not destroyed, not removed, as the earth may be
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The church shall survive the world, and be in bliss when that is in
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ruins. It is <I>built upon a rock,</I> and the <I>gates of hell shall
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not prevail against it.</I>
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[2.] Not disturbed, not much moved, with fears of the issue. If God be
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for us, if God be with us, we need not be moved at the most violent
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attempts made against us.
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(3.) Deliverance to the church, though her dangers be very great:
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<I>God shall help her;</I> and who then can hurt her? He shall help her
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under her troubles, that she shall not sink; nay, that the more she is
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afflicted the more she shall multiply. God shall help her out of her
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troubles, <I>and that right early</I>--when the morning appears; that
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is, very speedily, for he is <I>a present help</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and very seasonably, when things are brought to the last extremity and
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when the relief will be most welcome. This may be applied by
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particular believers to themselves; if God be in our hearts, in the
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midst of us, by his word dwelling richly in us, we shall be
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established, we shall be helped; let us therefore trust and not be
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afraid; all is well, and will end well.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps46_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps46_11"> </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>Confidence in God.</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>6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his
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voice, the earth melted.
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7 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts <I>is</I> with us; the God of Jacob <I>is</I> our
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refuge. Selah.
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8 Come, behold the works of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, what desolations he hath
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made in the earth.
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9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he
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breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the
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chariot in the fire.
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10 Be still, and know that I <I>am</I> God: I will be exalted among
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the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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11 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts <I>is</I> with us; the God of Jacob <I>is</I> our
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refuge. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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These verses give glory to God both as King of nations and as King of
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saints.</P>
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<P>
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I. As King of nations, ruling the world by his power and providence,
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and overruling all the affairs of the children of men to his own glory;
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he does according to his will among the inhabitants of the earth, and
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none may say, <I>What doest thou?</I>
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1. He checks the rage and breaks the power of the nations that oppose
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him and his interests in the world
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>The heathen raged</I> at David's coming to the throne, and at the
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setting up of the kingdom of the Son of David; compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:1,2">Ps. ii. 1, 2</A>.
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<I>The kingdoms were moved</I> with indignation, and rose in a
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tumultuous furious manner to oppose it; but God <I>uttered his voice,
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spoke to them in his wrath,</I> and they were moved in another sense,
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they were struck into confusion and consternation, put into disorder,
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and all their measures broken; the earth itself melted under them, so
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that they found no firm footing; their earthly hearts failed them for
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fear, and dissolved like snow before the sun. Such a melting of the
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spirits of the enemies is described,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+5:4,5">Judg. v. 4, 5</A>;
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and see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:25,26">Luke xxi. 25, 26</A>.
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2. When he pleases to draw his sword, and give it commission, he can
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make great havoc among the nations and lay all waste
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>Come, behold the works of the Lord;</I> they are to be observed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+66:5">Ps. lxvi. 5</A>),
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and to be sought out,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+111:2">Ps. cxi. 2</A>.
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All the operations of Providence must be considered as the works of the
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Lord, and his attributes and purposes must be taken notice of in them.
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Particularly take notice of the <I>desolations he has made in the
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earth,</I> among the enemies of his church, who thought to lay the land
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of Israel desolate. The destruction they designed to bring upon the
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church has been turned upon themselves. War is a tragedy which
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commonly destroys the stage it is acted on; David carried the war into
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the enemies' country; and O what desolations did it make there! Cities
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were burnt, countries laid waste, and armies of men cut off and laid in
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heaps upon heaps. Come and see the effects of desolating judgments, and
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stand in awe of God; say, <I>How terrible art thou in thy works!</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+66:3">Ps. lxvi. 3</A>.
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Let all that oppose him see this with terror, and expect the same cup
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of trembling to be put into their hands; let all that fear him and
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trust in him see it with pleasure, and not be afraid of the most
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formidable powers armed against the church. Let them gird themselves,
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but <I>they shall be broken to pieces.</I>
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3. When he pleases to sheathe his sword, he puts an end to the wars of
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the nations and crowns them with peace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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War and peace depend on his word and will, as much as storms and calms
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at sea do,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:25,29">Ps. cvii. 25, 29</A>.
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<I>He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth,</I> sometimes in
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pity to the nations, that they may have a breathing-time, when, by long
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wars with each other, they have run themselves out of breadth. Both
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sides perhaps are weary of the war, and willing to let it fall;
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expedients are found out for accommodation; martial princes are
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removed, and peace-makers set in their room; and then the bow is broken
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by consent, the spear cut asunder and turned into a pruning-hook, the
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sword beaten into a ploughshare, and the chariots of war are burned,
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there being no more occasion for them; or, rather, it may be meant of
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what he does, at other times, in favour of his own people. He makes
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those wars to cease that were waged against them and designed for their
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ruin. He breaks the enemies' bow that was drawn against them. <I>No
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weapon formed against Zion shall prosper,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:17">Isa. liv. 17</A>.
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The total destruction of Gog and Magog is prophetically described by
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the burning of their weapons of war
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+39:9,10">Ezek. xxxix. 9, 10</A>),
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which intimates likewise the church's perfect security and assurance of
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lasting peace, which made it needless to lay up those weapons of war
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for their own service. The bringing of a long war to a good issue is a
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work of the Lord, which we ought to behold with wonder and
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thankfulness.</P>
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<P>
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II. As King of saints, and as such we must own that <I>great and
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marvellous are his works,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+15:3">Rev. xv. 3</A>.
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He does and will do great things,</P>
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<P>
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1. For his own glory
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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<I>Be still, and know that I am God.</I>
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(1.) Let his enemies be still, and threaten no more, but know it, to
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|
their terror, that he is God, one infinitely above them, and that will
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|
certainly be too hard for them; let them rage no more, for it is all in
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|
vain: <I>he that sits in heaven, laughs at them;</I> and, in spite of
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|
all their impotent malice against his name and honour, he will be
|
|
exalted among the heathen and not merely among his own people, he will
|
|
be exalted in the earth and not merely in the church. Men will set up
|
|
themselves, will have their own way and do their own will; but let them
|
|
know that God will be exalted, he will have his way will do his own
|
|
will, will glorify his own name, and <I>wherein they deal proudly he
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|
will be above them,</I> and make them know that he is so.
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(2.) Let his own people be still; let them be calm and sedate, and
|
|
tremble no more, but know, to their comfort, that the Lord is God, he
|
|
is God alone, and will be exalted above the heathen; let him alone to
|
|
maintain his honour, to fulfil his own counsels and to support his own
|
|
interest in the world. Though we be depressed, yet let us not be
|
|
dejected, for we are sure that God will be exalted, and that may
|
|
satisfy us; he will work for his great name, and then no matter what
|
|
becomes of our little names. When we pray, <I>Father, glorify thy
|
|
name,</I> we ought to exercise faith upon the answer given to that
|
|
prayer when Christ himself prayed it, <I>I have both glorified it and I
|
|
will glorify it yet again.</I> Amen, Lord, so be it.</P>
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<P>
|
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2. For his people's safety and protection. He triumphs in the former:
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|
<I>I will be exalted;</I> they triumph in this,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>
|
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|
|
and again
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
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It is the burden of the song, "<I>The Lord of hosts is with us;</I> he
|
|
is on our side, he takes our part, is present with us and president
|
|
over us; <I>the God of Jacob is our refuge,</I> to whom we may flee,
|
|
and in whom we may confide and be sure of safety." Let all believers
|
|
triumph in this.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They have the presence of a God of power, of all power: <I>The
|
|
Lord of hosts is with us.</I> God is the Lord of hosts, for he has all
|
|
the creatures which are called <I>the hosts of heaven and earth</I> at
|
|
his beck and command, and he makes what use he pleases of them, as the
|
|
instruments either of his justice or of his mercy. This sovereign Lord
|
|
is with us, sides with us, acts with us, and has promised he will never
|
|
leave us. Hosts may be against us, but we need not fear them if the
|
|
Lord of hosts be with us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are under the protection of a God in covenant, who not only
|
|
is able to help them, but is engaged in honour and faithfulness to help
|
|
them. He is the God of Jacob, not only Jacob the person, but Jacob the
|
|
people; nay, and of all praying people, the spiritual seed of wrestling
|
|
Jacob; and he is our refuge, by whom we are sheltered and in whom we
|
|
are satisfied, who by his providence secures our welfare when without
|
|
are fightings, and who by his grace quiets our minds, and establishes
|
|
them, when within are fears. The Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has
|
|
been, is, and will be with us--has been, is and will be our refuge: the
|
|
original includes all; and well may <I>Selah</I> be added to it. Mark
|
|
this, and take the comfort of it, and say, <I>If God be for us, who can
|
|
be against us?</I></P>
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