CONTENTS There is somewhat of history in this Psalm, as referring to the desolations of the church; probably concerning the devastation made by the Chaldean. The Sacred Writer laments the sad event, and commits the cause unto the Lord. Maschil of Asaph. Psalms 74:1 This Psalm hath a mark put upon... [ Continue Reading ]
It is blessed under afflictions to be enabled to remind God of his covenant love and engagements. Pleading with God on this ground is blessed pleading. Reader! can you explain that paradox; the humblest believer is the boldest pleader. Yes! for he that hath seen most of Christ, and his covenant bloo... [ Continue Reading ]
The pleading soul here takes up many strong and unanswerable arguments to plead with God. He first sets out with reminding Jehovah, that the anger God hath manifested is against his people. Now, saith the prophet, should God's anger continue forever against his own redeemed? Whom should a father reg... [ Continue Reading ]
The Holy Ghost evidently intended by these sweet and precious verses, to teach the church, in all ages, how to adopt such arguments, in all our dealings with God, when under trial. The best thing I can say to my God in Christ, is, what my God hath first said to me. In past experience, the truest and... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is a beautiful acknowledgment of God, in his works of nature and providence, who had before been adored in his works of grace: and perhaps in allusion to the Lord's appearing for his people in times of danger, when in the wars of Joshua and in that of Deborah and Barak, the Lord arrested the co... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet, here appealing for the church's safety, makes use of an additional argument, namely, God's own honour and glory. For who is blasphemed, but the Lord? Whose name is abused, but the Lord's? Reader, do not fail to remark the strength of this plea. Moses and Joshua both had recourse to this... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is the great charter of a poor sinner's plea. It is as if the soul said, Look, O Lord, unto Jesus! Behold, O God, our shield! See the Lamb in the midst of the throne! Oh! blessed argument! God himself manifesting grace to the soul, in putting a plea into a poor sinner's heart, of God's own prov... [ Continue Reading ]
God had said, For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; Psalms 12:5. Well then, saith the church, in answer to this promise, Let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
The prayer closeth with a repetition of the two very powerful arguments; God's own cause, and the malice of the enemies. As if the church should say, It matters not what becomes of us; but, Lord, thine own glory is concerned in our salvation: arise then, O Lord our God, and, for thine own cause bles... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS READER, behold in this Psalm, the best and strongest arguments for the church to plead in sad times, namely, God's great name, and the security of his own honour in the salvation by Jesus. Let the enemies of the church seem to triumph as they may, with a high hand; and though they but t... [ Continue Reading ]