c) For the preparation of those materials for his purpose: "He healeth", etc. Ps 147:3.— G.R.
Verse 2. The Lord is Architect, Builder, Sustainer, Restorer, and Owner of the Church. In each relation let him be praised.
Verse 2. The Great Gatherer.
1. Strange persons sought for.
2. Special search and means made use of.
3. Selected centre to which he brings them.
4. Singular exhibition of them for ever and ever in heaven.
Verse 2. First the church built and then the sinners gathered into it. A prosperous state of the church within necessary to her increase from without.
Verse 2. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 1302: "Good Cheer for Outcasts."
Verse 2. Upbuilding and Ingathering.
1. The church may be in a fallen condition.
2. Its upbuilding is the Lord's work.
3. He accomplishes it by gathering together its outcast citizens.— C.A.D.
Verse 3. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 53: "Healing for the Wounded."
Verse 3. God a true physician, and a tender nurse.— J.F.
Verses 3-4. Heaven's Brilliants, and Earth's Broken Hearts.
1. The Proprietor of the Stars with the Wounded. The stars left kingless for broken hearts. Jehovah! with lint and liniment and a woman's hand. Who binds together the stars, shall bind firmly grieved hearts.
2. The Gentle Heart healer with the Stars. Be all power intrusted to such tenderness. Its comely splendour. God guides the stars with an eye on wounded hearts. The hopefulness of prayer.
3. Hearts, Stars, and Eternity. Some hearts shall "shine as the stars." Some stars shall expire in "blackness of darkness." God's hand and eye are everywhere making justice certain. Trust and sing.— W.B.H.
Verses 3-4. God's Compassion and Power.
1. Striking diversity of God's cares: "hearts" and "stars."
2. Wonderful variety of God's operations. Gently caring for human hearts. Preserving the order, regularity, and stability of creation.
3. Blessed results of God's work. Broken hearts healed; wounds bound up. Light, harmony, and beauty in the heavens.
4. Mighty encouragement to trust in God. God takes care of the universe; may I not entrust my life, my soul, to him? Where he rules unquestioned there is light and harmony; let me not resist his will in my life.— C.A.D.
Verse 5. A contemplation of God's greatness.
1. Great in his essential nature.
2. Great in Power.
3. Great in wisdom. Let us draw inferences concerning the insignificance of man, & c.
Verse 6. Reversal.
1. In the estimate of the world the meek are cast down and the wicked lifted up.
2. In the judgment of heaven the meek are lifted up and the wicked cast down.
3. The judgment of heaven will, in the end, be found the true one.— C.A.D.
Verse 7. The use and benefit of singing.
Verse 8. God in all. The unity of his plan; the cooperation of divine forces; the condescending mercy of the result.
Verse 9. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 672: "The Ravens' Cry."
Verse 11. The singularity of our God, and of his favour. For which he is to be praised.
1. The objects of that favour distinguished.
a) From physical strength.
b) From mental vigour.
c) From self reliance.
d) From mere capacity for service.
2. The objects of that favour described.
a) By emotions relating to God.
b) By the weakest forms of spiritual life.
c) By the highest degrees of it; for the maturest saint fears and hopes.
d) By the sacred blend of it. Fear of our guilt, hope of his mercy. Fear of self, confidence in God. Hope of perseverance, fear of sinning. Hope of heaven, fear of coming short. Hope of perfection, mourning defects.
3. The blessing of that favour implied.
a) God loves to think of them.
b) To be with them.
c) To minister to them.
d) To meet them in their fears and their hopes.
e) To reward them for ever.
Verse 11. He takes pleasure in their persons, emotions, desires, devotions, hopes, and characters.— W.W.
Verse 12.
1. The Lord whom we praise.
2. His praise in our houses—Jerusalem.
3. Our praise in his house—Zion.
Verse 13. A Strong Church.
1. The utility and value of a strong church.
2. The marks which distinguish it.
a) Gates well kept.
b) Increase of membership.
c) The converts blessed to others.
3. The important care of a strong church: to trace all blessing to Zion's God.— W.B.H.
Verses 14-15. See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 425: "Peace at Home, and Prosperity Abroad."
Verses 14-15. Church blessings.
1. Peace.
2. Food.
3. Missionary energy.
4. The presence of God: the source of all blessing.
Verse 15. ( second clause ). See "Spurgeon's Sermons", No. 1607: "The Swiftly Running Word."
Verse 16. The unexpected results of adversity: snow acting as wool.
Verses 16-18. See "Spurgeon's Sermons, "No. 670: "Frost and Thaw."
Verse 19.
1. God's people.
2. God's Word.
3. God's revelation to the soul.
4. God's praise for this special revelation.
Verse 20. He hath not dealt so with any nation... Praise ye the Lord. The sweet Psalmist of Israel, a man skilful in praises, doth begin and end this Psalm with Hallelujah. In the body of the Psalm he doth set forth the mercy of God, both towards all creatures in general in his common providence, and towards his church in particular. So in this close of the Psalm: "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, and his statutes to Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation." In the original 'tis, "He hath not dealt so with every nation": that is, with any nation. In the text you may observe a position and a conclusion. A position; and that is, that God deals in a singular way of mercy with his people above all other people. And then the conclusion: "Praise ye the Lord." Doctrine. That God deals in a singular way of mercy with his people, and therefore expects singular praises from his people.— Joseph Alleine (1633-1668), in "A Thanksgiving Sermon."
Verse 20. See the wonderful goodness of God, who besides the light of nature, has committed to us the sacred Scriptures. The heathen are enveloped in ignorance. As for his judgments, they have not known them. They have the oracles of the Sybils, but not the writings of Moses and the apostles. How many live in the region of death, where the bright star of Scripture has never appeared! We have the blessed Book of God to resolve all our doubts, and to point out a way of life to us. "Lord, how is it thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Joh 14:22.— Thomas Watson.
Verse 20. Electing Grace inspires the Heart with Praise.
1. God's love has chosen us. Hallelujah.
2. God has intrusted us with his truth. Hallelujah.
3. God has made us almoners of his bounty. Hallelujah.
4. God through us is to save the world. Hallelujah.— W.B.H.