My God and My Country

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 7:7-8

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return on high. 8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge thou me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine innocency that is in me.

Brethren:

Today’s commentary is an excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible

“He prays: Return thou on high, maintain thy own authority, resume thy royal throne of which they have despised the sovereignty, and the judgment-seat of which they have despised the sentence. Return on high, that is, visibly and in the sight of all, that it may be universally acknowledged that heaven itself owns and pleads David’s cause. Some make this to point at the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, who, when he returned to heaven (returned on high in his exalted state), had all judgment committed to him. Or it may refer to his second coming, when he shall return on high to this world, to execute judgment upon all. This return his injured people wait for, and pray for, and to it they appeal from the unjust censures of men.

He prays again: Judge me, judge for me, give sentence on my side.” To enforce this suit. He pleads that his cause was now brought into the proper court: The Lord shall judge the people He is the Judge of all the earth, and therefore no doubt he will do right and all will be obliged to acquiesce in his judgment. He insists upon his integrity as to all the matters in variance between him and Saul, and desires only to be judged, in this matter, according to his righteousness, and the sincerity of his heart in all the steps he had taken towards his preferment. He foretells that it would be much for the glory of God and the edification and comfort of his people if God would appear for him: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about; therefore do it for their sakes, that they may attend thee with their raises and services in the courts of thy house. First, They will do it of their own accord. God’s appearing on David’s behalf, and fulfilling his promise to him, would be such an instance of his righteousness, goodness, and faithfulness, as would greatly enlarge the hearts of all his faithful worshippers and fill their mouths with praise. David was the darling of his country, especially of all the good people in it; and therefore, when they saw him in a fair way to the throne, they would greatly rejoice and give thanks to God; crowds of them would attend his footstool with their praises for such a blessing to their land. Secondly, If David come into power, as God has promised him, he will take care to bring people to church by his influence upon them, and the ark shall not be neglected, as it was in the days of Saul. (Read 1 Chronicle 13:3.).”