Reading The Psalms Daily

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Ps 49:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Ps 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

Ps 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Ps 49:4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Ps 49:5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Ps 49:6 ¶ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

Ps 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

Ps 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Ps 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Ps 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Ps 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Ps 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Ps 49:13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

Ps 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Ps 49:15 ¶ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Ps 49:16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

Ps 49:17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Ps 49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

Ps 49:19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

Ps 49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.


Commentary on following page

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MHCC


A call for attention. (1-5)

  1-5 We seldom meet with a more solemn introduction: there is no truth of greater importance. Let all hear this with application to ourselves. The poor are in danger from undue desire toward the wealth of the world, as rich people from undue delight in it. The psalmist begins with applying it to himself, and that is the right method in which to treat of Divine things. Before he sets down the folly of carnal security, he lays down, from his own experience, the benefit and comfort of a holy, gracious security, which they enjoy who trust in God, and not in their worldly wealth. In the day of judgment, the iniquity of our heels, or of our steps, our past sins, will compass us. In those days, worldly, wicked people will be afraid; but wherefore should a man fear death who has God with him?

Folly of worldlings. (6-14)

6-14 Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, Re 1:18. This likewise shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which will never buy them. With all their wealth they cannot secure themselves from the stroke of death. Yet one generation after another applaud their maxims; and the character of a fool, as drawn by heavenly Wisdom itself, Lu 12:16-21, continues to be followed even among professed Christians. Death will ask the proud sinner, Where is thy wealth, thy pomp? And in the morning of the resurrection, when all that sleep in the dust shall awake, the upright shall be advanced to the highest honour, when the wicked shall be filled with everlasting shame and contempt, Da 12:2. Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage.

Against fear of death. (15-20)

15-20 Believers should not fear death. The distinction of men's outward conditions, how great soever in life, makes none at death; but the difference of men's spiritual states, though in this life it may seem of small account, yet at and after death is very great. The soul is often put for the life. The God of life, who was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. It includes the salvation of the soul from eternal ruin. Believers will be under strong temptation to envy the prosperity of sinners. Men will praise thee, and cry thee up, as having done well for thyself in raising an estate and family. But what will it avail to be approved of men, if God condemn us? Those that are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, have something of which death cannot strip them, nay, which death will improve; but as for worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world, so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out; we must leave all to others. The sum of the whole matter is, that it can profit a man nothing to gain the whole world, to become possessed of all its wealth and all its power, if he lose his own soul, and is cast away for want of that holy and heavenly wisdom which distinguishes man from the brutes, in his life and at his death. And are there men who can prefer the lot of the rich sinner to that of poor Lazarus, in life and death, and to eternity? Assuredly there are. What need then we have of the teaching of the Holy Ghost; when, with all our boasted powers, we are prone to such folly in the most important of all concerns!

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Ps 50:1 ¶ <<A Psalm of Asaph.>> The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof

Ps 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Ps 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

Ps 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Ps 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

Ps 50:6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

Ps 50:7 ¶ Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

Ps 50:8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

Ps 50:9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

Ps 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Ps 50:11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

Ps 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Ps 50:13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Ps 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Ps 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Ps 50:16 ¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Ps 50:17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

Ps 50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

Ps 50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

Ps 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

Ps 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Ps 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

Ps 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.


Comments on following page

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MHCC

The glory of God. (1-6)


  1-6 This psalm is a psalm of instruction. It tells of the coming of Christ and the day of judgment, in which God will call men to account; and the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of judgement. All the children of men are concerned to know the right way of worshipping the Lord, in spirit and in truth. In the great day, our God shall come, and make those hear his judgement who would not hearken to his law. Happy are those who come into the covenant of grace, by faith in the Redeemer's atoning sacrifice, and show the sincerity of their love by fruits of righteousness. When God rejects the services of those who rest in outside performances, he will graciously accept those who seek him aright. It is only by sacrifice, by Christ, the great Sacrifice, from whom the sacrifices of the law derived what value they had, that we can be accepted of God. True and righteous are his judgments; even sinners' own consciences will be forced to acknowledge the righteousness of God.

Sacrifices to be changed for prayers. (7-15)

7-15 To obey is better than sacrifice, and to love God and our neighbour better than all burnt-offerings. We are here warned not to rest in these performances. And let us beware of resting in any form. God demands the heart, and how can human inventions please him, when repentance, faith, and holiness are neglected? In the day of distress we must apply to the Lord by fervent prayer. Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us to him, not drive us from him. We must acknowledge him in all our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer ourselves wholly to him, and so give him glory. Thus must we keep up communion with God; meeting him with prayers under trials, and with praises in deliverances. A believing supplicant shall not only be graciously answered as to his petition, and so have cause for praising God, but shall also have grace to praise him.

Sincere obedience required. (16-23)

 
16-23 Hypocrisy is wickedness, which God will judge. And it is too common, for those who declare the Lord's statutes to others, to live in disobedience to them themselves. This delusion arises from the abuse of God's long-suffering, and a wilful mistake of his character and the intention of his gospel. The sins of sinners will be fully proved on them in the judgment of the great day. The day is coming when God will set their sins in order, sins of childhood and youth, of riper age and old age, to their everlasting shame and terror. Let those hitherto forgetful of God, given up to wickedness, or in any way negligent of salvation, consider their urgent danger. The patience of the Lord is very great. It is the more wonderful, because sinners make such ill use of it; but if they turn not, they shall be made to see their error when it is too late. Those that forget God, forget themselves; and it will never be right with them till they consider. Man's chief end is to glorify God: whoso offers praise, glorifies him, and his spiritual sacrifices shall be accepted. We must praise God, sacrifice praise, put it into the hands of the Priest, our Lord Jesus, who is also the altar: we must be fervent in spirit, praising the Lord. Let us thankfully accept God's mercy, and endeavour to glorify him in word and deed

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NKJV

Ps 51:1 ¶ <<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.>> Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

Ps 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

Ps 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Ps 51:7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Ps 51:8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Ps 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Ps 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Ps 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Ps 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Ps 51:14 ¶ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

Ps 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

Ps 51:16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.

Ps 51:18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Ps 51:19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.


Commentaries on following page

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MHCC

 The psalmist prays for mercy, humbly confessing and lamenting his sins. (1-6)

  1-6 David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children return, but to the Lord their God, who alone can heal them? He drew up, by Divine teaching, an account of the workings of his heart toward God. Those that truly repent of their sins, will not be ashamed to own their repentance. Also, he instructs others what to do, and what to say. David had not only done much, but suffered much in the cause of God; yet he flees to God's infinite mercy, and depends upon that alone for pardon and peace. He begs the pardon of sin. The blood of Christ, sprinkled upon the conscience, blots out the transgression, and, having reconciled us to God, reconciles us to ourselves. The believer longs to have the whole debt of his sins blotted out, and every stain cleansed; he would be thoroughly washed from all his sins; but the hypocrite always has some secret reserve, and would have some favourite lust spared. David had such a deep sense of his sin, that he was continually thinking of it, with sorrow and shame. His sin was committed against God, whose truth we deny by wilful sin; with him we deal deceitfully. And the truly penitent will ever trace back the streams of actual sin to the fountain of original depravity. He confesses his original corruption. This is that foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child, that proneness to evil, and that backwardness to good, which is the burden of the regenerate, and the ruin of the unregenerate. He is encouraged, in his repentance, to hope that God would graciously accept him. Thou desirest truth in the inward part; to this God looks, in a returning sinner. Where there is truth, God will give wisdom. Those who sincerely endeavour to do their duty shall be taught their duty; but they will expect good only from Divine grace overcoming their corrupt nature.

He pleads for pardon, that he may promote the glory of God and the conversion of sinners. (7-15)


 
7-15 Purge me with hyssop, with the blood of Christ applied to my soul by a lively faith, as the water of purification was sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop. The blood of Christ is called the blood of sprinkling, Heb 12:24. If this blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, cleanse us from our sin, then we shall be clean indeed, Heb 10:2. He asks not to be comforted, till he is first cleansed; if sin, the bitter root of sorrow, be taken away, he can pray in faith, Let me have a well-grounded peace, of thy creating, so that the bones broken by convictions may rejoice, may be comforted. Hide thy face from my sins; blot out all mine iniquities out of thy book; blot them out, as a cloud is blotted out and dispelled by the beams of the sun. And the believer desires renewal to holiness as much as the joy of salvation. David now saw, more than ever, what an unclean heart he had, and sadly laments it; but he sees it is not in his own power to amend it, and therefore begs God would create in him a clean heart. When the sinner feels this change is necessary, and reads the promise of God to that purpose, he begins to ask it. He knew he had by his sin grieved the Holy Spirit, and provoked him to withdraw. This he dreads more than anything. He prays that Divine comforts may be restored to him. When we give ourselves cause to doubt our interest in salvation, how can we expect the joy of it? This had made him weak; he prays, I am ready to fall, either into sin or into despair, therefore uphold me with thy Spirit. Thy Spirit is a free Spirit, a free Agent himself, working freely. And the more cheerful we are in our duty, the more constant we shall be to it. What is this but the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free, which is contrasted with the yoke of bondage? Ga 5:1. It is the Spirit of adoption spoken to the heart. Those to whom God is the God of salvation, he will deliver from guilt; for the salvation he is the God of, is salvation from sin. We may therefore plead with him, Lord, thou art the God of my salvation, therefore deliver me from the dominion of sin. And when the lips are opened, what should they speak but the praises of God for his forgiving mercy?

 God is pleased with a contrite heart, A prayer for the prosperity of Zion. (16-19)



16-19 Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.

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Version used NKJV

Ps 52:1 ¶ <<To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.">> Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.

Ps 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Ps 52:3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah

Ps 52:4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.

Ps 52:5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Ps 52:6 ¶ The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying,

Ps 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Ps 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

Ps 52:9 I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.



MHCC

The enemies of the truth and the church described, Their destruction. (1-5)

  1-5 Those that glory in sin, glory in their shame. The patience and forbearance of God are abused by sinners, to the hardening of their hearts in their wicked ways. But the enemies in vain boast in their mischief, while we have God's mercy to trust in. It will not save us from the guilt of lying, to be able to say, there was some truth in what we said, if we make it appear otherwise than it was. The more there is of craft and contrivance in any wickedness, the more there is of Satan in it. When good men die, they are transplanted from the land of the living on earth, to heaven, the garden of the Lord, where they shall take root for ever; but when wicked men die, they are rooted out, to perish for ever. The believer sees that God will destroy those who make not him their strength.

The righteous rejoice. (6-9)


6-9 Those wretchedly deceive themselves, who think to support themselves in power and wealth without God. The wicked man trusted in the abundance of his riches; he thought his wickedness would help him to keep his wealth. Right or wrong, he would get what he could, and keep what he had, and ruin any one that stood in his way; this he thought would strengthen him; but see what it comes to! Those who by faith and love dwell in the house of God, shall be like green olive-trees there. And that we may be as green olive-trees, we must live a life of faith and holy confidence in God and his grace. It adds much to the beauty of our profession, and to fruitfulness in every grace, to be much in praising God; and we never can want matter for praise. His name alone can be our refuge and strong tower. It is very good for us to wait on that saving name; there is nothing better to calm and quiet our spirits, when disturbed, and to keep us in the way of duty, when tempted to use any crooked courses for our relief, than to hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. None ever followed his guidance but it ended well.

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PS 53 ASV

Ps 53:1 <<For the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath. Maschil of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good.

Ps 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

Ps 53:3 Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

 Ps 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And call not upon God?

Ps 53:5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was; For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: Thou hast put them to shame, because of God hath rejected them.

Ps 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad




MHHC

The corruption of man by nature.
 
- This psalm is almost the same as the 14th (14:1-7). The scope of it is to convince us of our sins. God, by the psalmist, here shows us how bad we are, and proves this by his own certain knowledge. He speaks terror to persecutors, the worst of sinners. He speaks encouragement to God's persecuted people. How comes it that men are so bad? Because there is no fear of God before their eyes. Men's bad practices flow from their bad principles; if they profess to know God, yet in works, because in thoughts, they deny him. See the folly of sin; he is a fool, in the account of God, whose judgment we are sure is right, that harbours such corrupt thoughts. And see the fruit of sin; to what it brings men, when their hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. See also the faith of the saints, and their hope and power as to the cure of this great evil. There will come a Saviour, a great salvation, a salvation from sin. God will save his church from its enemies. He will save all believers from their own sins, that they may not be led captive by them, which will be everlasting joy to them. From this work the Redeemer had his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins, Mt 1:21.

Additional Scriptures for further personal study.


 Ps 10:4; 14:1; Ro 3:10

 Ps 53:2Ch 15:2; 19:3; Ps 33:13

 Jer 4:22

 Le 26:17,36; Ps 14:5; Pr 28:1; Eze 6:5

 Ps 14:7

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Ps 54:1 <<For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?>> Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me in thy might.

Ps 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

Ps 54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah

Ps 54:4 Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul.

Ps 54:5 He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.

Ps 54:6 With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee: I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.

Ps 54:7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.

MHCC

David complains of the malice of his enemies. (1-3)

1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.

Assurance of the Divine favour and protection. (4-7)

4-7 Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God's threatenings, as well as in his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it so to their cost. David's present deliverance was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completion of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him; because, having God's promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it was done already. The Lord would deliver him out of all his troubles. May he help us to bear our cross without repining, and at length bring us to share his victories and glory. Christians never should suffer the voice of praise and thanksgiving to cease in the church of the redeemed.

[airIam2worship]

Ps 55:1 <<For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.>> Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.

Ps 55:2 Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,

Ps 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.

Ps 55:4 My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Ps 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.

Ps 55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Ps 55:7 Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

Ps 55:8 I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

Ps 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Ps 55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

Ps 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.

Ps 55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:

Ps 55:13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.

Ps 55:14 We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.

Ps 55:15 Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.

Ps 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.

Ps 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.

Ps 55:18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove with me.

Ps 55:19 God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah The men who have no changes, And who fear not God.

Ps 55:20 He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

Ps 55:21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

Ps 55:22 Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Ps 55:23 But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

Commentary on following page:

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MHCC

PS 55

Prayer to God to manifest his favour. (1-8)

1-8 In these verses we have, 1. David praying. Prayer is a salve for every sore, and a relief to the spirit under every burden. 2. David weeping. Griefs are thus, in some measure, lessened, while those increase that have no vent given them. David in great alarm. We may well suppose him to be so, upon the breaking out of Absalom's conspiracy, and the falling away of the people. Horror overwhelmed him. Probably the remembrance of his sin in the matter of Uriah added much to the terror. When under a guilty conscience we must mourn in our complaint, and even strong believers have for a time been filled with horror. But none ever was so overwhelmed as the holy Jesus, when it pleased the Lord to put him to grief, and to make his soul an offering for our sins. In his agony he prayed more earnestly, and was heard and delivered; trusting in him, and following him, we shall be supported under, and carried through all trials. See how David was weary of the treachery and ingratitude of men, and the cares and disappointments of his high station: he longed to hide himself in some desert from the fury and fickleness of his people. He aimed not at victory, but rest; a barren wilderness, so that he might be quiet. The wisest and best of men most earnestly covet peace and quietness, and the more when vexed and wearied with noise and clamour. This makes death desirable to a child of God, that it is a final escape from all the storms and tempests of this world, to perfect and everlasting rest.

The great wickedness and treachery of his enemies. (9-15)

9-15 No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand. The true Christian must expect trials from professed friends, from those with whom he has been united; this will be very painful; but by looking unto Jesus we shall be enabled to bear it. Christ was betrayed by a companion, a disciple, an apostle, who resembled Ahithophel in his crimes and doom. Both were speedily overtaken by Divine vengeance. And this prayer is a prophecy of the utter, the everlasting ruin, of all who oppose and rebel against the Messiah.

He is sure that God would in due time appear for him. (16-23)

16-23 In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in their gloomy hours they suppose. His enemies should be reckoned with, and brought down; they could not ease themselves of their fears, as David could, by faith in God. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction, will certainly be brought down to the pit of destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially when attended with the temptations of satan; there is also the burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under it is, to look to Christ, who bore it. Whatever it is that thou desirest God should give thee, leave it to him to give it in his own way and time. Care is a burden, it makes the heart stoop. We must commit our ways and works to the Lord; let him do as seemeth him good, and let us be satisfied. To cast our burden upon God, is to rest upon his providence and promise. And if we do so, he will carry us in the arms of his power, as a nurse carries a child; and will strengthen our spirits by his Spirit, so that they shall sustain the trial. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved; to be so shaken by any troubles, as to quit their duty to God, or their comfort in him. He will not suffer them to be utterly cast down. He, who bore the burden of our sorrows, desires us to leave to him to bear the burden of our cares, that, as he knows what is best for us, he may provide it accordingly. Why do not we trust Christ to govern the world which he redeemed?

[airIam2worship]

Ps 56:1 <<For the Chief Musician; set to aJonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.>> Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

Ps 56:2 Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long; For they are many that fight proudly against me.

Ps 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

Ps 56:4 In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?

Ps 56:5 All the day long they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil.

Ps 56:6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul.

Ps 56:7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.

Ps 56:8 Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?

Ps 56:9 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: This I know, that God is for me.

Ps 56:10 In God (I will praise his word), In Jehovah (I will praise his word),

Ps 56:11 In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?

Ps 56:12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thank-offerings unto thee.

Ps 56:13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: Hast thou not delivered my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Commentary on following page

[airIam2worship]

MHCC

David seeks mercy from God, amidst the malice of his enemies. (1-7)

  1-7 Be merciful unto me, O God. This petition includes all the good for which we come to the throne of grace. If we obtain mercy there, we need no more to make us happy. It implies likewise our best plea, not our merit, but God's mercy, his free, rich mercy. We may flee to, and trust the mercy of God, when surrounded on all sides by difficulties and dangers. His enemies were too hard for him, if God did not help him. He resolves to make God's promises the matter of his praises, and so we have reason to make them. As we must not trust an arm of flesh when engaged for us, so we must not be afraid of an arm of flesh when stretched out against us. The sin of sinners will never be their security. Who knows the power of God's anger; how high it can reach, how forcibly it can strike?

He rests his faith on God's promises, and declares his obligation to praise him for mercies. (8-13)

8-13 The heavy and continued trials through which many of the Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check ourselves. David comforts himself, in his distress and fear, that God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs. God has a bottle and a book for his people's tears, both the tears for their sins, and those for their afflictions. He observes them with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do unto me; for man has no power but what is given him from above. Thy vows are upon me, O Lord; not as a burden, but as that by which I am known to be thy servant; as a bridle that restrains me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my duty. And vows of thankfulness properly accompany prayers for mercy. If God deliver us from sin, either from doing it, or by his pardoning mercy, he has delivered our souls from death, which is the wages of sin. Where the Lord has begun a good work he will carry it on and perfect it. David hopes that God would keep him even from the appearance of sin. We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve him without fear. If his grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, he will bring us to heaven, to walk before him for ever in light.

My Words.

What a loving God. As a mother, when my children were growing up if any one of them came to me with a hurt of any kind, their tears and sadness would move me so deeply the love I felt (and still feel) for them was so enormous that I would just hold them and let them know how much 'mommy loved them'
Our God loves us so much more than we could even imagine, even more than we love our children, that may seem impossible, but it is the truth.
My heart rejoices, when I think that the creator of all loves me!!!!!!

[airIam2worship]

Ps 57:1 For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tash-heth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.>> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until these calamities be overpast.

Ps 57:2 I will cry unto God Most High, Unto God that performeth all things for me.

Ps 57:3 He will send from heaven, and save me, When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.

Ps 57:4 My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Ps 57:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.

Ps 57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. Selah

Ps 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.

Ps 57:8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.

Ps 57:9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

Ps 57:10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies.

Ps 57:11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.



MHCC


David begins with prayer and complaint. (1-6)

  1-6 All David's dependence is upon God. The most eminent believers need often repeat the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." But if our souls trust in the Lord, this may assure us, in our utmost dangers, that our calamities will at length be overpast, and in the mean time, by faith and prayer, we must make him our refuge. Though God be most high, yet he condescends so low, as to take care that all things are made to work for good to his people. This is a good reason why we should pray earnestly. Look which way we will on this earth, refuge fails, no help appears; but we may look for it from heaven. If we have fled from the wrath to come, unto Jesus Christ, he that performed all things needful to purchase the salvation of his people, will do for us and in us all things needful for our enjoyment of it. It made David droop to think there should be those that bore him so much ill-will. But the mischief they designed against him, returned on themselves. And when David was in the greatest distress and disgrace, he did not pray, Lord, exalt me, but, Lord, exalt thine own name. Our best encouragement in prayer, is taken from the glory of God, and to that, more than to our own comfort, we should have regard in all our petitions for mercy.


He concludes with joy and praise. (7-11)

 
7-11 By lively faith, David's prayers and complaints are at once turned into praises. His heart is fixed; it is prepared for every event, being stayed upon God. If by the grace of God we are brought into this even, composed frame of mind, we have great reason to be thankful. Nothing is done to purpose, in religion, unless it is done with the heart. The heart must be fixed for the duty, put in frame for it; fixed in the duty by close attention. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when praising God; dull and sleepy devotions will never be acceptable to God. Let us awake early in the morning, to begin the day with God; early in the beginning of a mercy. When God comes toward us with his favours, let us go forth to meet him with our praises. David desired to bring others to join in praising God; and in his psalms, he is still praising God among the people, singing to Him among the nations. Let us seek to have our hearts fixed to praise his boundless mercy and unfailing faithfulness; and to glorify him with body, soul, and spirit, which are his. Let us earnestly pray that the blessings of the gospel may be sent through every land.

[airIam2worship]

Ps 58:1 For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam. Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Ps 58:2 Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

Ps 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

Ps 58:4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

Ps 58:5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.

Ps 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

Ps 58:7 Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

Ps 58:8 Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away, Like the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

Ps 58:9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

Ps 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

Ps 58:11 So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.


MHCC

Wicked judges described and reproved. (1-5)

1-5 When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen nature in others. The corruption of their nature was the root of bitterness. We may see in children the wickedness of the world beginning. They go astray from God and their duty as soon as possibly they can. And how soon will little children tell lies! It is our duty to take pains to teach them, and above all, earnestly to pray for converting grace to make our children new creatures. Though the poison be within, much of it may be kept from breaking forth to injure others. When the Saviour's words are duly regarded, the serpent becomes harmless. But those who refuse to hear heavenly wisdom, must perish miserably, for ever.

A prayer that they may be disabled, and their ruin predicted. (6-11)

6-11 David prayed that the enemies of God's church and people might be disabled to do further mischief. We may, in faith, pray against the designs of the enemies of the church. He foretells their ruin. And who knows the power of God's anger? The victories of the Just One, in his own person and that of his servants, over the enemies of man's salvation, produce a joy which springs not from revenge, but from a view of the Divine mercy, justice, and truth, shown in the redemption of the elect, the punishment of the ungodly, and the fulfilment of the promises. Whoever duly considers these things, will diligently seek the reward of righteousness, and adore the Providence which orders all thing aright in heaven and in earth.