Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Chapter 53
The corruption of man by nature.
—This psalm is almost the same as the 14th. 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.