mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 145.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxlvi" n="cxlvi" next="Ps.cxlvii" prev="Ps.cxlv" progress="70.65%" title="Chapter CXLV">
<h2 id="Ps.cxlvi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxlvi-p0.2">PSALM CXLV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxlvi-p1">The five foregoing psalms were all of a piece, all
full of prayers; this, and the five that follow it to the end of
the book, are all of a piece too, all full of praises; and though
only this is entitled David's psalm yet we have no reason to think
but that they were all his as well as all the foregoing prayers.
And it is observable, 1. That after five psalms of prayer follow
six psalms of praise; for those that are much in prayer shall not
want matter for praise, and those that have sped in prayer must
abound in praise. Our thanksgivings for mercy, when we have
received it, should even exceed our supplications for it when we
were in pursuit of it. David, in the last of his begging psalms,
had promised to praise God (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.9" parsed="|Ps|145|9|0|0" passage="Ps 145:9">Ps. cxlv.
9</scripRef>), and here he performs his promise. 2. That the book
of Psalms concludes with psalms of praise, all praise, for praise,
is the conclusion of the whole matter; it is that in which all the
psalms centre. And it intimates that God's people, towards the end
of their life, should abound much in praise, and the rather
because, at the end of their life, they hope to remove to the world
of everlasting praise, and the nearer they come to heaven the more
they should accustom themselves to the work of heaven. This is one
of those psalms which are composed alphabetically (as <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25" parsed="|Ps|25|0|0|0" passage="Ps. 25">Ps. 25</scripRef> and
34, &amp;c.), that it might be the more easily committed to memory,
and kept in mind. The Jewish writers justly extol this psalm as a
star of the first magnitude in this bright constellation; and some
of them have an extravagant saying concerning it, not much unlike
some of the popish superstitions, That whosoever will sing this
psalm constantly three times a day shall certainly be happy in the
world to come. In this psalm, I. David engages himself and others
to praise God, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.1-Ps.145.2 Bible:Ps.145.4-Ps.145.7 Bible:Ps.145.10-Ps.145.12" parsed="|Ps|145|1|145|2;|Ps|145|4|145|7;|Ps|145|10|145|12" passage="Ps 145:1,2,4-7,10-12">ver. 1, 2,
4-7, 10-12</scripRef>. II. He fastens upon those things that are
proper matter for praise, God's greatness (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.3" parsed="|Ps|145|3|0|0" passage="Ps 145:3">ver . 3</scripRef>), his goodness (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.8-Ps.145.9" parsed="|Ps|145|8|145|9" passage="Ps 145:8,9">ver. 8, 9</scripRef>), the proofs of both in the
administration of his kingdom (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.13" parsed="|Ps|145|13|0|0" passage="Ps 145:13">ver.
13</scripRef>), the kingdom of providence (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.14-Ps.145.16" parsed="|Ps|145|14|145|16" passage="Ps 145:14-16">ver. 14-16</scripRef>), the kingdom of grace
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.17-Ps.145.20" parsed="|Ps|145|17|145|20" passage="Ps 145:17-20">ver. 17-20</scripRef>), and then
he concludes with a resolution to continue praising God (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.21" parsed="|Ps|145|21|0|0" passage="Ps 145:21">ver. 21</scripRef>) with which resolution our
hearts must be filled, and in which they must be fixed, in singing
this psalm.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145" parsed="|Ps|145|0|0|0" passage="Ps 145" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.1-Ps.145.9" parsed="|Ps|145|1|145|9" passage="Ps 145:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.145.1-Ps.145.9">
<h4 id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.12">Grateful Acknowledgments.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxlvi-p1.13">
<p id="Ps.cxlvi-p2">David's <i>psalm</i> of praise.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxlvi-p3">1 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will
bless thy name for ever and ever.   2 Every day will I bless
thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.   3 Great
<i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p3.1">Lord</span>, and greatly to
be praised; and his greatness <i>is</i> unsearchable.   4 One
generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy
mighty acts.   5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy
majesty, and of thy wondrous works.   6 And <i>men</i> shall
speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy
greatness.   7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy
great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.   8 The
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p3.2">Lord</span> <i>is</i> gracious, and full of
compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.   9 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p3.3">Lord</span> <i>is</i> good to all: and his tender
mercies <i>are</i> over all his works.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p4">The entitling of this <i>David's psalm of
praise</i> may intimate not only that he was the penman of it, but
that he took a particular pleasure in it and sung it often; it was
his companion wherever he went. In this former part of the psalm
God's glorious attributes are praised, as, in the latter part of
the psalm, his kingdom and the administration of it. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p5">I. Who shall be employed in giving glory to
God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p6">1. Whatever others do, the psalmist will
himself be much in praising God. To this good work he here excites
himself, engages himself, and has his heart much enlarged in it.
What he does, that he will do, having more and more satisfaction in
it. It was his duty; it was his delight. Observe, (1.) How he
expresses the work itself: "<i>I will extol thee, and bless thy
name</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.1" parsed="|Ps|145|1|0|0" passage="Ps 145:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>); I
will speak well of thee, as thou hast made thyself known, and will
therein express my own high thoughts of thee and endeavour to raise
the like in others." When we speak honourably of God, this is
graciously interpreted and accepted as an extolling of him. Again
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.2" parsed="|Ps|145|2|0|0" passage="Ps 145:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>I will
bless thee, I will praise thy name;</i> the repetition intimates
the fervency of his affection to this work, the fixedness of his
purpose to abound in it, and the frequency of his performances
therein. Again (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.5" parsed="|Ps|145|5|0|0" passage="Ps 145:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): <i>I will speak of thy honour,</i> and (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.6" parsed="|Ps|145|6|0|0" passage="Ps 145:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) <i>I will declare thy
greatness.</i> He would give glory to God, not only in his solemn
devotions, but in his common conversation. If the heart be full of
God, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak with
reverence, to his praise, upon all occasions. What subject of
discourse can we find more noble, more copious, more pleasant,
useful, and unexceptionable, than the glory of God? (2.) How he
expresses his resolution to persevere in it. [1.] He will be
constant to this work: <i>Every day will I bless thee.</i> Praising
God must be our daily work. No day must pass, though ever so busy a
day, though ever so sorrowful a day, without praising God. We ought
to reckon it the most needful of our daily employments, and the
most delightful of our daily comforts. God is every day blessing
us, doing well for us; there is therefore reason that we should be
every day blessing him, speaking well of him. [2.] He will continue
in it: <i>I will bless</i> thee <i>for ever and ever,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.1-Ps.145.2" parsed="|Ps|145|1|145|2" passage="Ps 145:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1 and again <i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
This intimates, <i>First,</i> That he resolved to continue in this
work to the end of his life, throughout <i>his ever</i> in this
world. <i>Secondly,</i> That the psalms he penned should be made
use of in praising God by the church to the end of time, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.30" parsed="|2Chr|29|30|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:30">2 Chron. xxix. 30</scripRef>. <i>Thirdly,</i>
That he hoped to be praising God to all eternity in the other
world. Those that make praise their constant work on earth shall
have it their everlasting bliss in heaven.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p7">2. He doubts not but others also would be
forward to this work. (1.) "They shall concur in it now; they shall
join with me in it: When <i>I declare thy greatness men shall speak
of</i> it (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.6" parsed="|Ps|145|6|0|0" passage="Ps 145:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>);
<i>they shall abundantly utter it</i>" (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.7" parsed="|Ps|145|7|0|0" passage="Ps 145:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), or <i>pour it out</i> (as the
word is); they shall praise God with a gracious fluency, better
than the most curious oratory. David's zeal would provoke many, and
it has done so. (2.) "They shall keep it up when I am gone, in an
uninterrupted succession (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.4" parsed="|Ps|145|4|0|0" passage="Ps 145:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): <i>One generation shall praise thy works to
another.</i>" The generation that is going off shall tell them to
that which is rising up, shall tell what they have seen in their
days and what they have heard from their fathers; they <i>shall</i>
fully and particularly <i>declare thy mighty acts</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.3" parsed="|Ps|78|3|0|0" passage="Ps 78:3">Ps. lxxviii. 3</scripRef>); and the generation
that is rising up shall follow the example of that which is going
off: so that the death of God's worshippers shall be no diminution
of his worship, for a new generation shall rise up in their room to
carry on that good work, more or less, to the end of time, when it
shall be left to that world to do it in which there is no
succession of generations.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p8">II. What we must give to God the glory
of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p9">1. Of his greatness and his great works. We
must declare, <i>Great is the Lord,</i> his presence infinite, his
power irresistible, his brightness insupportable, his majesty
awful, his dominion boundless, and his sovereignty incontestable;
and therefore there is no dispute, but <i>great is the Lord,
and,</i> if great, then <i>greatly to be praised,</i> with all that
is within us, to the utmost of our power, and with all the
circumstances of solemnity imaginable. His greatness indeed cannot
be comprehended, for it is unsearchable; who can conceive or
express how great God is? But then it is so much the more to be
praised. When we cannot, by searching, find the bottom, we must sit
down at the brink, and adore the depth, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.33" parsed="|Rom|11|33|0|0" passage="Ro 11:33">Rom. xi. 33</scripRef>. God is great, for, (1.) His
majesty is glorious in the upper world, above the heavens, where he
has set his glory; and when we are declaring his greatness we must
not fail to <i>speak of the glorious honour of his majesty,</i> the
splendour of the glory of his majesty (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.5" parsed="|Ps|145|5|0|0" passage="Ps 145:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), how brightly he shines in the
upper world, so as to dazzle the eyes of the angels themselves, and
oblige them to cover their faces, as unable to bear the lustre of
it. (2.) His works are wondrous in this lower world. The
preservation, maintenance, and government of all the creatures,
proclaim the Creator very great. When therefore we declare his
greatness we must observe the unquestionable proofs of it, and must
<i>declare his mighty acts</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.4" parsed="|Ps|145|4|0|0" passage="Ps 145:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), <i>speak of his wondrous
works</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.5" parsed="|Ps|145|5|0|0" passage="Ps 145:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>),
<i>the might of his terrible acts,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.6" parsed="|Ps|145|6|0|0" passage="Ps 145:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. We must see God acting and
working in all the affairs of this lower world. Various instruments
are used, but in all events God is the supreme director; it is he
that performs all things. Much of his power is seen in the
operations of his providence (they are <i>mighty acts,</i> such as
cannot be paralleled by the strength of any creature), and much of
his justice—they are <i>terrible acts,</i> awful to saints,
dreadful to sinners. These we should take all occasions to speak
of, observing the finger of God, his hand, his arm, in all, that we
may marvel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p10">2. Of his goodness; this is his glory,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.33.19" parsed="|Exod|33|19|0|0" passage="Ex 33:19">Exod. xxxiii. 19</scripRef>. It is
what he glories in (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.34.6-Exod.34.7" parsed="|Exod|34|6|34|7" passage="Ex 34:6,7">Exod. xxxiv. 6,
7</scripRef>), and it is what we must give him the glory of:
<i>They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great
goodness,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.7" parsed="|Ps|145|7|0|0" passage="Ps 145:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.
God's goodness is great goodness, the treasures of it can never be
exhausted, nay, they can never be lessened, for he ever will be as
rich in mercy as he ever was. It is memorable goodness; it is what
we ought always to lay before us, always to have in mind and
preserve the memorials of, for it is <i>worthy to be had in
everlasting remembrance;</i> and the remembrance we retain of God's
goodness we should utter, we should <i>abundantly utter,</i> as
those who are full of it, very full of it, and desire that others
may be acquainted and affected with it. But, whenever we utter
God's great goodness, we must not forget, at the same time, to
<i>sing of his righteousness;</i> for, as he is gracious in
rewarding those that serve him faithfully, so he is righteous in
punishing those that rebel against him. Impartial and inflexible
justice is as surely in God as inexhaustible goodness; and we must
sing of both together, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.22" parsed="|Rom|11|22|0|0" passage="Ro 11:22">Rom. xi.
22</scripRef>. (1.) There is a fountain of goodness in God's nature
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.8" parsed="|Ps|145|8|0|0" passage="Ps 145:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>The Lord
is gracious</i> to those that serve him; he is <i>full of
compassion</i> to those that need him, <i>slow to anger</i> to
those that have offended him, <i>and of great mercy</i> to all that
seek him and sue to him. He is ready to give, and ready to forgive,
more ready than we are to ask, than we are to repent. (2.) There
are streams of goodness in all the dispensations of his providence,
<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.9" parsed="|Ps|145|9|0|0" passage="Ps 145:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. As he is good,
so he does good; he <i>is good to all,</i> to all his creatures,
from the highest angel to the meanest worm, to all but devils and
damned sinners, that have shut themselves out from his goodness.
<i>His tender mercies are over all his works.</i> [1.] All his
works, all his creatures, receive the fruits of his merciful care
and bounty. It is extended to them all; he hates nothing that he
has made. [2.] The works of his mercy out-shine all his other
works, and declare him more than any of them. In nothing will the
glory of God be for ever so illustrious as in the vessels of mercy
ordained to glory. To the divine goodness will the everlasting
hallelujahs of all the saints be sung.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.10-Ps.145.21" parsed="|Ps|145|10|145|21" passage="Ps 145:10-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.145.10-Ps.145.21">
<h4 id="Ps.cxlvi-p10.8">Grateful Acknowledgments.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11">10 All thy works shall praise thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.1">O Lord</span>; and thy saints shall bless thee.  
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy
power;   12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.   13 Thy kingdom
<i>is</i> an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion <i>endureth</i>
throughout all generations.   14 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.2">Lord</span> upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all
<i>those that be</i> bowed down.   15 The eyes of all wait
upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.   16
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living
thing.   17 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.3">Lord</span> <i>is</i>
righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.   18 The
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.4">Lord</span> <i>is</i> nigh unto all them
that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.   19
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear
their cry, and will save them.   20 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.5">Lord</span> preserveth all them that love him: but all
the wicked will he destroy.   21 My mouth shall speak the
praise of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxlvi-p11.6">Lord</span>: and let all
flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p12">The greatness and goodness of him who is
<i>optimus et maximus</i>—<i>the best and greatest</i> of beings,
were celebrated in the former part of the psalm; here, in these
verses, we are taught to give him <i>the glory of his kingdom,</i>
in the administration of which his greatness and goodness shine so
clearly, so very brightly. Observe, as before,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p13">I. From whom the tribute of praise is
expected (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.10" parsed="|Ps|145|10|0|0" passage="Ps 145:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>):
<i>All</i> God's <i>works shall praise</i> him. They all minister
to us matter for praise, and so praise him according to their
capacity; even those that refuse to give him honour he will get
himself honour upon. But his <i>saints</i> do <i>bless</i> him, not
only as they have peculiar blessings from him, which other
creatures have not, but as they praise him actively, while his
other works praise him only objectively. They bless him, for they
collect the rent or tribute of praise from the inferior creatures,
and pay it into the treasury above. All God's works do praise him,
as the beautiful building praises the builder or the well-drawn
picture praises the painter; but the saints bless him as the
children of prudent tender parents rise up and call them blessed.
Of all God's works, his saints, the workmanship of his grace, the
first-fruits of his creatures, have most reason to bless him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p14">II. For what this praise is to be given:
<i>They shall speak of thy kingdom.</i> The kingdom of God among
men is a thing to be often thought of and often spoken of. As,
before, he had magnified God's greatness and goodness in general,
so here he magnifies them with application to his kingdom. Consider
then,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p15">1. The greatness of his kingdom. It is
great indeed, for all the kings and kingdoms of the earth are under
his control. To show the greatness of God's kingdom, he observes,
(1.) The pomp of it. Would we by faith look within the veil, we
should see, and, believing, we should <i>speak of the glory of his
kingdom</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.11" parsed="|Ps|145|11|0|0" passage="Ps 145:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), <i>the glorious majesty of</i> it (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.12" parsed="|Ps|145|12|0|0" passage="Ps 145:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), for he has prepared
his throne in the heavens, and it is high and lifted up, and
surrounded with an innumerable company of angels. The courts of
Solomon and Ahasuerus were magnificent; but, compared with the
glorious majesty of God's kingdom, they were but as glow-worms to
the sun. The consideration of this should strike an awe upon us in
all our approaches to God. (2.) The power of it: When <i>they speak
of the glory of</i> God's <i>kingdom</i> they must <i>talk of</i>
his <i>power,</i> the extent of it, the efficacy of it—his power,
by which he can do any thing and does every thing he pleases
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.11" parsed="|Ps|145|11|0|0" passage="Ps 145:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); and, as a
proof of it, let them <i>make known his mighty acts</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.12" parsed="|Ps|145|12|0|0" passage="Ps 145:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), that <i>the sons of
men</i> may be invited to yield themselves his willing subjects and
so put themselves under the protection of such a mighty potentate.
(3.) The perpetuity of it, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.13" parsed="|Ps|145|13|0|0" passage="Ps 145:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. The thrones of earthly princes totter, and the
flowers of their crowns wither, monarchies come to an end; but,
Lord, <i>thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.</i> God will govern
the world to the end of time, when the Mediator, who is now
entrusted with the administration of his kingdom, shall deliver it
up to God, even the Father, that he may be all in all to eternity.
His <i>dominion endures throughout all generations,</i> for he
himself is eternal, and his counsels are unchangeable and uniform;
and Satan, who has set up a kingdom in opposition to him, is
conquered and in a chain.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p16">2. The goodness of his kingdom. His royal
style and title are, <i>The Lord God, gracious and merciful;</i>
and his government answers to his title. The goodness of God
appears in what he does,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p17">(1.) For all the creatures in general
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.15-Ps.145.16" parsed="|Ps|145|15|145|16" passage="Ps 145:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>): He
<i>provides food for all flesh,</i> and therein appears his
everlasting mercy, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.136.25" parsed="|Ps|136|25|0|0" passage="Ps 136:25">Ps. cxxxvi.
25</scripRef>. All the creatures live upon God, and, as they had
their being from him at first, so from him they have all the
supports of their being and on him they depend for the continuance
of it. [1.] The eye of their expectation attends upon him: <i>The
eyes of all wait on thee.</i> The inferior creatures indeed have
not the knowledge of God, nor are capable of it, and yet they are
said to <i>wait upon God,</i> because they seek their food
according to the instinct which the God of nature has put into them
(and <i>they sow not, neither do they reap,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.26" parsed="|Matt|6|26|0|0" passage="Mt 6:26">Matt. vi. 26</scripRef>), and because they take what the
God of nature has provided for them, in the time and way that he
has appointed, and are content with it. [2.] The hand of his bounty
is stretched out to them: <i>Thou givest them their meat in due
season,</i> the meat proper for them, and in the proper time, when
they need it; so that none of the creatures ordinarily perish for
want of food, no, not in the winter. <i>Thou openest thy hand</i>
freely and liberally, <i>and satisfiest the desire of every living
thing,</i> except some of the unreasonable children of men, that
will be satisfied with nothing, but are still complaining, still
crying, <i>Give, give.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p18">(2.) For the children of men in particular,
whom he governs as reasonable creatures.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p19">[1.] He does none of them any wrong, for
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.17" parsed="|Ps|145|17|0|0" passage="Ps 145:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>) <i>the Lord
is righteous in all his ways,</i> and not unrighteous in any of
them; he is <i>holy,</i> and acts like himself, with a perfect
rectitude <i>in all his works.</i> In all the acts of government he
is just, injurious to none, but administering justice to all.
<i>The ways of the lord are equal,</i> though ours are unequal. In
giving laws, in deciding controversies, in recompensing services,
and punishing offences, he is incontestably just, and we are bound
to own that he is so.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p20">[2.] He does all of them good, his own
people in a special manner.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p21"><i>First,</i> He supports those that are
sinking, and it is his honour to help the weak, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.14" parsed="|Ps|145|14|0|0" passage="Ps 145:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. He <i>upholds all that
fall,</i> in that, though they fall, they are not utterly cast
down. Many of the children of men are brought very low by sickness
and other distresses, and seem ready to drop into the grave, and
yet Providence wonderfully upholds them, raises them up, and says,
<i>Return,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3">Ps. cx. 3</scripRef>.
If all had died who once seemed dying, the world would have been
very thin. Many of the children of God, who have been ready to fall
into sin, to fall into despair, have experienced his goodness in
preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces
and comforts, so that, though they fell, they were <i>not utterly
cast down,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.24" parsed="|Ps|37|24|0|0" passage="Ps 37:24">Ps. xxxvii.
24</scripRef>. If those who were <i>bowed down</i> by oppression
and affliction are <i>raised up,</i> it was God that raised them.
And, with respect to all those <i>that are heavy-laden</i> under
the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease
them, he will raise them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p22"><i>Secondly,</i> He is very ready to hear
and answer the prayers of his people, <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.18-Ps.145.19" parsed="|Ps|145|18|145|19" passage="Ps 145:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>. In this appears the
grace of his kingdom, that his subjects have not only liberty of
petitioning, but all the encouragement that can be to petition. 1.
The grant is very rich, that God will be <i>nigh to all that call
upon him;</i> he will be always within call of their prayers, and
they shall always find themselves within reach of his help. If <i>a
neighbour that is near is better than a brother afar off</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.10" parsed="|Prov|27|10|0|0" passage="Pr 27:10">Prov. xxvii. 10</scripRef>), much
more a God that is near. Nay, he will not only be <i>nigh to
them,</i> that they may have the satisfaction of being heard, but
<i>he will fulfil</i> their <i>desires;</i> they shall have what
they ask and find that they seek. It was said (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.16" parsed="|Ps|145|16|0|0" passage="Ps 145:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>) that he <i>satisfies the
desire of every living thing,</i> much more <i>will he fulfil the
desire of those that fear him;</i> for he that feeds his birds will
not starve his babes. <i>He will hear their call and will save
them;</i> that is hearing them to purpose, as he heard David (that
is, saved him) <i>from the horn of the unicorn,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.21" parsed="|Ps|22|21|0|0" passage="Ps 22:21">Ps. xxii. 21</scripRef>. 2. The proviso is very
reasonable. He will hear and help us, (1.) If we <i>fear him,</i>
if we worship and serve him with a holy awe of him; for otherwise
how can we expect that he should accept us? (2.) If we <i>call upon
him in truth;</i> for he desires truth in the inward part. We must
be faithful to God, and sincere in our professions of dependence on
him, and devotedness to him. In all devotions inward impressions
must be answerable to the outward expressions, else they are not
performed in truth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p23"><i>Thirdly,</i> He takes those under his
special protection who have a confidence and complacency in him
(<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.20" parsed="|Ps|145|20|0|0" passage="Ps 145:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>The
Lord preserves all those that love him;</i> they lie exposed in
this world, but he, by preserving them in their integrity, will
effectually secure them, that no real evil shall befal them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p24">[3.] If any are destroyed they may thank
themselves: <i>All the wicked he will destroy,</i> but they have by
their wickedness fitted themselves for destruction. This magnifies
his goodness in the protection of the righteous, that <i>with their
eyes they shall see the reward of the wicked</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.8" parsed="|Ps|91|8|0|0" passage="Ps 91:8">Ps. xci. 8</scripRef>); and God will by this
means preserve his people, even by destroying the wicked that would
do them a mischief.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxlvi-p25"><i>Lastly,</i> The psalmist concludes, 1.
With a resolution to give glory to God himself (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.21" parsed="|Ps|145|21|0|0" passage="Ps 145:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): <i>My mouth shall speak the
praise of the Lord.</i> When we have said what we can, in praising
God, still there is more to be said, and therefore we must not only
begin our thanksgivings with this purpose, as he did (<scripRef id="Ps.cxlvi-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.1" parsed="|Ps|145|1|0|0" passage="Ps 145:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), but conclude them with
it, as he does here, because we shall presently have occasion to
begin again. As the end of one mercy is the beginning of another,
so should the end of one thanksgiving be. While I have breath to
draw, my mouth shall still speak God's praises. 2. With a call to
others to do so too: <i>Let all flesh,</i> all mankind, <i>bless
his holy name for ever and ever.</i> Some of mankind shall be
blessing God for ever; it is a pity but that they should be all so
engaged.</p>
</div></div2>