1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders. 2I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 3When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You. 4For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously. 5You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever. 6The enemy has come to eternal ruin, and You have uprooted their cities; the very memory of them has vanished. 7But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment. 8He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity. 9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 11Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; proclaim His deeds among the nations. 12For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. 13Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death, 14that I may declare all Your praises— that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation. 15The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah 17The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations who forget God. 18For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed. 19Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence. 20Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah
Matthew Henry's Commentary
David praises God for protecting his people. (1-10) And for cause to praise him. (11-20) 1-10 If we would praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity, with our whole heart. When we give thanks for some one particular mercy, we should remember former mercies. Our joy must not be in the gift, so much as in the Giver. The triumphs of the Redeemer ought to be the triumphs of the redeemed. The almighty power of God is that which the strongest and stoutest of his enemies are no way able to stand before. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, and that with him there is no unrighteousness. His people may, by faith, flee to him as their Refuge, and may depend on his power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be done to them. Those who know him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that. Those who know him to be an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care, and trust in him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to him in the whole course of their lives. Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him? 11-20 Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.