1 To the chiefe Musician for the sonnes of Korah. Wee haue heard with our eares, O God, our fathers haue told vs, what worke thou didst in their dayes, in the times of old.
2 How thou didst driue out the heathen with thy hand, & plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
3 For they got not the land in possession by their owne sword, neither did their owne arme saue them: but thy right hand, and thine arme, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a fauour vnto them.
4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliuerances for Iacob.
5 Through thee will wee push downe our enemies: through thy Name will wee tread them vnder that rise vp against vs.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword saue me.
7 But thou hast saued vs from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated vs.
8 In God we boast all the day long: and praise thy Name for euer. Selah.
9 But thou hast cast off and put vs to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest vs to turne backe from the enemie: and they which hate vs, spoile for themselues.
11 Thou hast giuen vs like sheepe appointed for meate: and hast scattered vs among the heathen.
12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and doest not increase thy wealth by their price.
13 Thou makest vs a reproch to our neighbours, a scorne and a derision to them that are round about vs.
14 Thou makest vs a by-word among the heathen: a shaking of the head among the people.
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath couered me.
16 For the voice of him that reproacheth, and blasphemeth: by reason of the enemie and auenger.
17 All this is come vpon vs; yet haue wee not forgotten thee, neither haue we dealt falsly in thy couenant.
18 Our heart is not turned backe: neither haue our steps declined from thy way,
19 Though thou hast sore broken vs in the place of dragons, and couered vs with the shadow of death.
20 If wee haue forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange God:
21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yea for thy sake are wee killed all the day long: wee are counted as sheepe for the slaughter.
23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast vs not off for euer.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our affliction, and our oppression?
25 For our soule is bowed downe to the dust; our belly cleaueth vnto the earth.
26 Arise for our helpe, and redeeme vs for thy mercies sake.
A petition for succour and relief.
1-8 Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.
9-16 The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that he has cast them off, and that his name and truth will be dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them, but what is permitted from above.
17-26 In afflictions, we must not seek relief by any sinful compliance; but should continually meditate on the truth, purity, and knowledge of our heart-searching God. Hearts sins and secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for. He knows the secret of the heart, therefore judges of the words and actions. While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to God, we should not suffer them to drive us from our comfort in God. Let us take care that prosperity and ease do not render us careless and lukewarm. The church of God cannot be prevailed on by persecution to forget God; the believer's heart does not turn back from God. The Spirit of prophecy had reference to those who suffered unto death, for the testimony of Christ. Observe the pleas used, ver. #25,26|. Not their own merit and righteousness, but the poor sinner's pleas. None that belong to Christ shall be cast off, but every one of them shall be saved, and that for ever. The mercy of God, purchased, promised, and constantly flowing forth, and offered to believers, does away every doubt arising from our sins; while we pray in faith, Redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.