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Morning Bible Reading - Psalms 53

  1 <> The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good.  2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God.  3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.  4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not called upon God.  5 There were they in great fear, [where] no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.  6 Oh that the salvation of Israel [were come] out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   6-9 The corruption of man by nature. --This psalm is almost the same as the 14th. The scope of it is to convince us of our sins. God, by the psalmist, here shows us how bad we are, and proves this by his own certain knowledge. He speaks terror to persecutors, the worst of sinners. He speaks encouragement to God|s persecuted people. How comes it that men are so bad? Because there is no fear of God before their eyes. Men|s bad practices flow from their bad principles; if they profess to know God, yet in works, because in thoughts, they deny him. See the folly of sin; he is a fool, in the account of God, whose judgment we are sure is right, that harbours such corrupt thoughts. And see the fruit of sin; to what it brings men, when their hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. See also the faith of the saints, and their hope and power as to the cure of this great evil. There will come a Saviour, a great salvation, a salvation from sin. God will save his church from its enemies. He will save all believers from their own sins, that they may not be led captive by them, which will be everlasting joy to them. From this work the Redeemer had his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins, Mt 1:21.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Psalms 53:1-999 

Morning Bible Reading - Psalms 54

  1 <> Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.  2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.  3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.  4 Behold, God [is] mine helper: the Lord [is] with them that uphold my soul.  5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.  6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for [it is] good.  7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen [his desire] upon mine enemies.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   0-999 Chapter Outline David complains of the malice of his enemies. (1-3) Assurance of the Divine favour and protection. (4-7)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   1-3 God is faithful, though men are not to be trusted, and it is well for us it is so. David has no other plea to depend upon than God|s name, no other power to depend upon than God|s strength, and these he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer to his prayers. Looking unto David, betrayed by the men of Judah, and to Jesus, betrayed by one of his apostles, what can we expect from any who have not set God before them, save ingratitude, treachery, malice, and cruelty? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah; Mark this. Let us set God before us at all times; for if we do not, we are in danger of despair.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   4-7 Behold, God is mine Helper. If we are for him, he is for us; and if he is for us, we need not fear. Every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. The Lord will in due time save his people, and in the mean time he sustains them, and bears them up, so that the spirit he has made shall not fail. There is truth in God|s threatenings, as well as in his promises; sinners that repent not, will find it so to their cost. David|s present deliverance was an earnest of further deliverance. He speaks of the completion of his deliverance as a thing done, though he had as yet many troubles before him; because, having God|s promise for it, he was as sure of it as if it was done already. The Lord would deliver him out of all his troubles. May he help us to bear our cross without repining, and at length bring us to share his victories and glory. Christians never should suffer the voice of praise and thanksgiving to cease in the church of the redeemed.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Psalms 54:1-999 

Morning Bible Reading - Psalms 55

  1 <> Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.  2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;  3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.  4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.  5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.  6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.  7 Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. Selah.  8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.  9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.  10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.  11 Wickedness [is] in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.  12 For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:  13 But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.  14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.  15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings, [and] among them.  16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.  17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.  18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.  19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.  20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.  21 [The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.  22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   0-999 Chapter Outline Prayer to God to manifest his favour. (1-8) The great wickedness and treachery of his enemies. (9-15) He is sure that God would in due time appear for him. (16-23)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   1-8 In these verses we have, 1. David praying. Prayer is a salve for every sore, and a relief to the spirit under every burden. 2. David weeping. Griefs are thus, in some measure, lessened, while those increase that have no vent given them. David in great alarm. We may well suppose him to be so, upon the breaking out of Absalom|s conspiracy, and the falling away of the people. Horror overwhelmed him. Probably the remembrance of his sin in the matter of Uriah added much to the terror. When under a guilty conscience we must mourn in our complaint, and even strong believers have for a time been filled with horror. But none ever was so overwhelmed as the holy Jesus, when it pleased the Lord to put him to grief, and to make his soul an offering for our sins. In his agony he prayed more earnestly, and was heard and delivered; trusting in him, and following him, we shall be supported under, and carried through all trials. See how David was weary of the treachery and ingratitude of men, and the cares and disappointments of his high station: he longed to hide himself in some desert from the fury and fickleness of his people. He aimed not at victory, but rest; a barren wilderness, so that he might be quiet. The wisest and best of men most earnestly covet peace and quietness, and the more when vexed and wearied with noise and clamour. This makes death desirable to a child of God, that it is a final escape from all the storms and tempests of this world, to perfect and everlasting rest.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   9-15 No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand. The true Christian must expect trials from professed friends, from those with whom he has been united; this will be very painful; but by looking unto Jesus we shall be enabled to bear it. Christ was betrayed by a companion, a disciple, an apostle, who resembled Ahithophel in his crimes and doom. Both were speedily overtaken by Divine vengeance. And this prayer is a prophecy of the utter, the everlasting ruin, of all who oppose and rebel against the Messiah.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   16-23 In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in their gloomy hours they suppose. His enemies should be reckoned with, and brought down; they could not ease themselves of their fears, as David could, by faith in God. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction, will certainly be brought down to the pit of destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially when attended with the temptations of Satan; there is also the burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under it is, to look to Christ, who bore it. Whatever it is that thou desirest God should give thee, leave it to him to give it in his own way and time. Care is a burden, it makes the heart stoop. We must commit our ways and works to the Lord; let him do as seemeth him good, and let us be satisfied. To cast our burden upon God, is to rest upon his providence and promise. And if we do so, he will carry us in the arms of his power, as a nurse carries a child; and will strengthen our spirits by his Spirit, so that they shall sustain the trial. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved; to be so shaken by any troubles, as to quit their duty to God, or their comfort in him. He will not suffer them to be utterly cast down. He, who bore the burden of our sorrows, desires us to leave to him to bear the burden of our cares, that, as he knows what is best for us, he may provide it accordingly. Why do not we trust Christ to govern the world which he redeemed?

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Psalms 55:1-999 

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Psalms 55:6-999 

Evening Bible Reading - Acts 27

  26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.  27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;  28 And sounded, and found [it] twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found [it] fifteen fathoms.  29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.  30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,  31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.  32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.  33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought [them] all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.  34 Wherefore I pray you to take [some] meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.  35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken [it], he began to eat.  36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took [some] meat.  37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.  38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.  39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.  40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed [themselves] unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.  41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.  42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.  43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from [their] purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast [themselves] first [into the sea], and get to land:  44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on [broken pieces] of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   30-38 God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God|s; we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general, often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. The comfort of God|s promises can only be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith, prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   39-44 The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan|s temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never to be secure. Though there is great difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, it shall, without fail, be brought to pass. It will come to pass that whatever the trials and dangers may be, in due time all believers will get safely to heaven. Lord Jesus, thou hast assured us that none of thine shall perish. Thou wilt bring them all safe to the heavenly shore. And what a pleasing landing will that be! Thou wilt present them to thy Father, and give thy Holy Spirit full possession of them for ever.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Acts 27:30-44 

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Acts 27:35-44