up our trophies, it shall be "in the name of our God," he shall have all
the glory of our success, and no instrument shall have any part of the
honour that is due to him.— Matthew Henry.
Verse 5. "'We will set up our banners." Confession of Christ, as the
only name whereby we can be saved, is the "banner" which distinguishes his
faithful people. O that this confession were more distinct, more pure, more
zealous, in those who seem to be his followers, then would they be more
united, more bold, in the profession of their religion, more successful in
the cause of Christ, terrible as an army with "banners." Canticles 5:4.— W. Wilson.
Verse 5. "Our banners." Will you know the staff, the colours, and the
flag or streamer of this ensign? Why, the staff is his cross, the colours
are blood and water, and the streamer the gospel, or preaching of them to
the world. The staff that carried the colours, was of old time fashioned
like a cross, a cross bar near the top there was, from which the flag or
streamer hung; so as it were prefiguring, that all the hosts and armies of
the nations were one day to be gathered under the banner of the cross, to
which soldiers should daily flow out of all the nations and kingdoms of the
earth.— Mark Frank, 1613-1664.
Verse 5. "The Lord fulfil all thy petitions," for thyself and for
others, now that thou sittest on the right hand of the Father, pleading for
us and showing thy side and thy wounds.— Dionysius, quoted by Isaac Williams.
Verse 6. "Now know I." A sudden change of number, speaking in the
person of one, thereby to note the unity and consent of the people to this
prayer, as though they had been all one, and uttered it all with one mouth.
"The Lord will help his anointed;" that is, his king, whom he hath
established. See Psalm 2:2; 18:50. "And will hear him (see verse 1),
from his sanctuary." One readeth it thus—"from the heavens of his
holiness;" meaning, from heaven where his holiness dwelleth.— Thomas Wilcocks.
Verse 6. "He will hear him." I would be glad of the prayers of all the
churches of Christ; O that there were not a saint on earth but that I were
by name in his morning and evening prayer (whosoever that art that readest,
I beseech thee pray for me); but above all, let me have a property in those
prayers and intercessions that are proper only to Christ; I am sure then I
should never miscarry: Christ's prayers are heavenly, glorious, and very
effectual.— Isaac Ambrose, 1592-1674.
Verse 6. "His anointed." As priests, and sometimes kings and prophets,
were among the Jews anointed to their offices, so our Saviour was anointed
as a Prophet, to preach glad tidings to the meek; as a Priest, to bind up
the broken-hearted; and as a King to deliver the captives. As the unction
means designation and ordination, it is properly applied to the divine
person of the Mediator: he is spoken of as God, who was "anointed with the
oil of gladness above his fellows." Hebrews 1:8, 9. As the anointing with
the Holy Spirit signifies the gifts and aids of the Holy Spirit, it
terminates upon his human nature only, and not his divine person, which has
all the perfections in itself, and cannot properly, in the sense last
mentioned, be said to be anointed with the Holy Spirit. But yet as the
human nature is taken into a subsistence in his divine Person, the anointed
may properly enough be predicated and affirmed of his Person. The unction
of our Redeemer has a great stress laid upon it in Scripture. And
therefore we read, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of
God." "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?" 1 John
5:1; 2:22. Our Saviour's enemies were sensible of this, when they made an
order, that if "any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out
out of the synagogue." John 9:22. Our Saviour's anointing was superior
to that of any other, and more excellent as to the work to which he was
consecrated. The apostles and others, who are called his followers, had the
Spirit by measure, but Christ without measure. He is "fairer than the
sons of men" (Psalm 45:2); and had a glory as the "only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14, 16); and of his fullness the
apostles and all others receive. Christ's anointing answers to that of
Aaron his type; the precious ointment which was "poured upon his head, ran
down to the skirts of his garments." Psalm 133:2. Our Saviour was so
anointed, as to "fill all in all." Ephesians 1:23. He filleth all his
members, and all their faculties, with all those measures of the Spirit,
which they ever receive.— Condensed from John Hurrion, 1675-1731.
Verse 7. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will
remember the name of the Lord our God." About Michaelmas I was in the
utmost extremity, and having gone out in very fine weather, I contemplated
the azure heavens, and my heart was so strengthened in faith (which I do not
ascribe to my own powers, but solely to the grace of God), that I thought
within myself, "What an excellent thing it is when we have nothing, and can
rely upon nothing, but yet are acquainted with the living God, who made
heaven and earth, and place our confidence alone in him, which enables us to
be so tranquil even in necessity!" Although I was well aware that I
required something that very day, yet my heart was so strong in faith that I
was cheerful, and of good courage. On coming home I was immediately waited
upon by the overseer of the workmen and masons, who, as it was Saturday,
required money to pay their wages. He expected the money to be ready, which
he wished to go and pay, but enquired, however, whether I had received
anything. "Has anything arrived?" asked he. I answered, "No, but I have
faith in God." Scarcely had I uttered the words when a student was
announced, who brought me thirty dollars from some one, whom he would not
name. I then went into the room again, and asked the other "how much he
required this time for the workmen's wages?" He answered, "Thirty dollars."
"Here they are," said I, and enquired at the same time, "if he needed any
more?" He said, "No," which very much strengthened the faith of both of us,
since we so visibly saw the miraculous hand of God, who sent it at the very
moment when it was needed.— Augustus Herman Frank, 1663-1727.
Verse 7. "Some trust in chariots," etc. Vain is the confidence of all
wickedness. In war, chariots, horses, navies, numbers, discipline, former
successes, are relied on; but the battle is not to the strong. "Providence
favours the strong battalions" may sound well in a worldling's ear, but
neither Providence nor the Bible so teaches. In peace, riches, friends,
ships, farms, stocks, are relied upon, yet they can neither help nor save.
Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord.— William S. Plumer.
Verse 7. "We will remember the name of the Lord our God." By the name
of God is generally understood, in Holy Writ, the various properties and
attributes of God: these properties and attributes make up and constitute
the name of God. As when Solomon says, "The name of the Lord is a strong
tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe." And, by remembering,
considering, meditating upon this name of God, the psalmist represents
himself as comforted or strengthened, whatever might be the duties to which
he was called, or the dangers to which he was exposed. Others were for
looking to other sources of safety and strength, "some trusting in chariots,
and some in horses;" but the psalmist always set himself to the "remembering
the name of the Lord our God;" and always, it would seem, with satisfaction
and success. And here is the peculiarity of the passage on which we wish to
dwell, and from which we hope to draw important lessons and truths—the
psalmist "remembers the name of the Lord his God;" not any one property or
attribute of God; but the whole combination of divine perfections. And he
"remembers" this "name;" the expression implying, not a transient thought,
but meditation—consideration; and yet the result of the recollection is
gladness and confidence.— Henry Melvill.
Verse 7. It is easy to persuade papists to lean on priests and saints, on
old rags and painted pictures—on any idol; but it is hard to get a
Protestant to trust in the living God.— William Arnot, 1858.
Verse 7. Weak man cannot choose but have some confidence without himself
in case of apparent difficulties, and natural men do look first to some
earthly thing wherein they confide. "Some trust in chariots, and some in
horses," some in one creature, some in another. The believer must quit his
confidence in these things, whether he have them or want them, and must rely
on what God hath promised in his word to do unto us. "But we will remember
the name of the Lord our God." — David Dickson.
Verse 7. They that "trust in chariots and horses," will have no king
but Caesar; but the "armies in heaven" which follow thee have themselves no
arms, and no strength but in following thee.— Isaac Williams.
Verse 7. Numa being told that his enemies were coming upon him, as he was
offering sacrifices, thought it was sufficient for his safety that he could
say, I am about the service of my God. When Jehoshaphat had once
established a preaching ministry in all the cities of Judah, then, and not
till then, the fear of the Lord fell on the neighbouring nations, and they
made no war; albeit, he had before that placed forces in all the fenced
cities.— Charles Bradbury.
Verse 7.
"Some their warrior horses boast,
Some their chariots' marshall'd host;
But our trust we will proclaim
In our God Jehovah's name."
Richard Mant.
Verse 8. "They are brought down," from their horses and chariots in
which they trusted. Hebrew: they bowed down, as being unable to stand
longer because of their mortal wounds. Compare Judges 5:27. "Stand
upright." Standing firmly upon our legs, and keeping the field, as
conquerors use to do.— Matthew Poole.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
This Psalm has been much used for coronation, thanksgiving, and fast
sermons, and no end of nonsense and sickening flattery has been tacked
thereto by the trencher-chaplains of the world's church. If kings had been
devils, some of these gentry would have praised their horns and hoofs; for
although some of their royal highnesses have been very obedient servants of
the prince of darkness, these false prophets have dubbed them "most gracious
sovereigns," and have been as much dazzled in their presence as if they had
beheld the beatific vision.— C. H. S.
Whole Psalm. A loyal song and prayer for subjects of King Jesus.
Verse 1. Two great mercies in great trouble—hearing at the throne,
and defence from the throne.
Verses 1, 2.
I. The Lord's trouble in its nature and its cause.
II. How the Lord exercised himself in his trouble.
III. We ought not to be unmoved spectators of the trouble of Jesus.
Hamilton Verschoyle.
Verses 1-3. A model of good wishes for our friends.
I. They include personal piety. The person
who is spoken of prays, goes to the sanctuary, and offers sacrifice. We must
wish our friend grace.
II. They point upward. The
blessings are distinctly recognised as divine.
III. They do not exclude trouble.
IV. They are eminently spiritual. Acceptance, etc.
Verse 2. Sanctuary help—a suggestive topic.
Verse 3. God's ceaseless respect to the sacrifice of Jesus.
Verses 3, 4. The great privilege of this fourfold acceptance in the Beloved.
Verse 5. Joy in salvation, to be resolved on and practised.
Verse 5. Setting up the banner. Open avowal of allegiance, declaration
of war, index of perseverance, claim of possession, signal of triumph.
Verse 5 ( last clause ). The prevalence of our Lord's intercession, and
the acceptance of our prayers through him.
Verse 6. "His anointed." Our Lord as the Anointed. When? With what
unction? How? For what offices? etc.
Verse 6. "He will hear him." The ever-prevalent Intercessor.