Hope Road

I was reading Psalm 94 recently. I especially love these verses:

“For the Lord will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage… If the Lord had not been my help, my soul soon would have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul… the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.” (vv. 14, 18-19, 22)

And I really appreciate Matthew Henry’s commentary:

“He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed.

We are beholden, not only to God’s power, but to His pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give Him the glory, and encourage our brethren.

The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our view more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel.

The world’s comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God’s comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is His people’s Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure.”

Filed under: Scripture on July 12th, 2008