Psalms 124:1 «A Song of degrees of David. » If [it had not been] the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; Ver. 1. _If it had not been the Lord, &c._] God may far better say than our Henry VIII, _Cui adhaereo, praeest,_ He whose part I take is sure to prevail. But Christ hath ever been the... [ Continue Reading ]
If [it had not been] the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Ver. 2. _When men rose_] Monsters rather; but such as think themselves the only men alive, and us the only slaves and zanies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Ver. 3. _Then had they swallowed us up quick_] As the great fish do the little ones, as hungry lions, or wolves, ravin up their prey. Ptolemy Lathurus, king of Egypt, slew thirty thousand Jews, and compelled the living to... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Ver. 4. _Then the waters had overwhelmed us_] As once the Red Sea did the Egyptians, or as the general deluge did the old world. _ The stream had gone over our soul_] Neither could we have withstood it by any art or industry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Ver. 5. _Then the proud waters, &c._] The same again, to note the greatness both of the danger and of the deliverance. And it may teach us not lightly to pass over God's great blessings, but to make the most of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath not given us [as] a prey to their teeth. Ver. 6. _Blessed be the Lord, &c._] _Deo gratias,_ thanks be to God was much in Austin's mouth, and should be so in ours, but especially upon some signal deliverance. How was God blessed at Berachah? 2 Chronicles 20:26 _ As a... [ Continue Reading ]
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Ver. 7. _Our soul is escaped, &c._] Man's extremity is God's opportunity. See Gen 22:14 Ezekiel 37:11 2 Kings 19:3,4 . _ The snare is broken, &c._] God hath with as much ease delivered us as a b... [ Continue Reading ]
Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Ver. 8. _Our help is in the name of the Lord, &c._] Experience should breed confidence, Romans 5:4,5 2 Corinthians 1:10 Psa 48:14 Genesis 22:10,11, &c.; write up experiences therefore, oft rub them over, and then conclude as here, an... [ Continue Reading ]