Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

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Chapter Outline
David encourages himself in God. (1–7)
He prays for, and prophesies the destruction (8–13)
of, his persecutors.

Verses 1–7


The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom
the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray,
that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to
keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power
and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.


Verses 8–13


Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of the wicked, nor further their evil
devices. False accusers will bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine
vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's presence, and give him thanks for evermore.
This is true thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all our deliverances, we
should serve God the more closely and cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used
by men, are righteous in the sight of God, being justified by the righteousness of Christ, which is
imputed to them, and received by faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and righteously;
these give thanks to the Lord, for the righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every
blessing of grace, and mercy of life.


Chapter 141


Chapter Outline
David prays for God's acceptance and (1–4)
assistance.
That God would appear for his rescue. (5–10)

Verses 1–4


Make haste unto me. Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more
fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they
will be as acceptable to God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old. Prayer is
a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil
of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we
live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we have need to pray that we may neither be drawn

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