he people of God are exhorted to praise him for his mercies
and care. (1-11) For the salvation and prosperity of the church.
(12-20)
Verses 1-11: Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely;
it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in
covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and
will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God
heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace,
assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others
praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's
knowledge is a dept that can never be fathomed. And while he
telleth the number of the stars, he condescends to hear the
broken-hearted sinner. While he feeds the young ravens, he will
not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and
melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, therefore no
fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from
clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield
the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist delights not
in things wherein sinners trust and glory; but a serious and
suitable regard to God is, in his sight, of very great price. We
are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under
the gracious influences of hope and fear united.
Verses 12-20: The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved
by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise
him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and
these are represented by his favours in the course of nature.
The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the
thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to
the wind, (Joh 3:8). Converting grace softens the heart that was
hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes
good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped
up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it
is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the
conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to
melt it and restore it to itself.
he people of God are exhorted to praise him for his mercies
and care. (1-11) For the salvation and prosperity of the church.
(12-20)