angela hormberg

Category: Matthew Henry’s Commentary

  • Psalm 12

    Psalm 12

    Commonplace –

    “Help, Lord” (Psalm 12:1a).

    Petition

    The situation is dire. David cries out, “Help, Lord” (v.1.). He lays before the Lord his charge against the wicked.

    1. They speak vanity with flattering lips.
    2. They speak with a double heart.
    3. They speak with pride and boasting.

    Grounds for Petition

    David details the situation resulting from the evil actions of the wicked.

    1. godly men cease
    2. the faithful fail

    Justification

    David asks God to keep and preserve the godly from the wicked. He quotes God’s own words back to him:

    “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him” (Psalm 12:5).

    Further, David compares God’s words to the vain words of the wicked. God’s words are “pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (v.6). Therefore, God’s words are more than enough evidence to support the petition for God’s intercession on behalf of the godly.

    Remembering and Reminding

    David reassures himself and the reader that God will resolve this situation and the godly will prevail: “Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:7). Remembering this brings peace in the midst of troubling circumstances. Reminding the reader of this is a help in times of trouble.

    Warning

    The psalm closes with a warning, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” (Psalm 12:8). Again, this is written for David and the reader. If vile men are elevated in a society, the wicked proliferate. It is our responsibility to be on guard against this, refrain from participating in anything that encourages the increase in wickedness, and to pray faithfully against it happening.

    Here is an excerpt of Matthew Henry’s summary of Psalm 12.

    “It is supposed that David penned this psalm in Saul’s reign, when there was a general decay of honesty and piety both in court and country, which he here complains of to God, and very feelingly, for he himself suffered by the treachery of false friends and the insolence of sworn enemies” (227).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 12.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 11

    Psalm 11

    Commonplace –

    “For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Psalm 11:7).

    From the beginning, David announces, “In the Lord put I my trust” (v.1a). He chooses to trust God. He makes a formal declaration of his trust. In a like manner, every new Christian makes this same declaration, when they choose to follow Christ. What happens when trouble comes and our faith is tested? This will be the subject of the psalm.

    Circumstances

    “For lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart” (v.2.). The wicked are ready to strike.

    Questioning

    “How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (v.1b.) and “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v.3.). Whether it was David’s friends, who were counseling him to flee, or his own fear, in a desperate situation, causing him to consider taking flight, he was in a situation where circumstances were dire. The first question is in response to a desire to run away from the present situation. Should I just leave? The second question is a follow up to the first and is about doing the right thing in a difficult situation. The enemy is powerful and they are going to succeed in their destruction, so what good would it do if I stay and fight, only to die in a losing situation?

    Considering

    In situations where circumstances are difficult, there is always a choice: trust God or not. This precedes all other questions, because it directs our choices, decisions, and actions to whatever questions follow. Even before the 1st question, when we are faced with decisions about stay or go or the 2nd question of whether this is the battle we should choose to fight or not, we must decide if we will be obedient to God and trust him first.

    Remembering

    The first step in trusting God is to remember everything we know about him, which is exactly what David does in verse 4:

    1. He is in his holy temple.
      • God is righteous.
    2. His throne is in heaven.
      • God is judge.
    3. His eyes behold the children of men.
      • God is present.
    4. He hates the wicked and all those that love violence.
      • The wicked will receive their judgment and portion: snares, fire and brimstone, and tempests.
    5. He loves righteousness.
      • He is on the side of the righteous.
    6. His countenance beholds the upright.
      • God sees the doers of good.

    Reaffirm

    After walking through this process of remembering, David is justified in his choice to trust God and not let present circumstances shake him from his faith.

    Answer

    This psalm does not supply us with answers. What it does do is teach us that in every circumstance we must pause and go through this exercise of recommitting ourselves to our original declaration of faith. Confirming our trust in God in desperate times enables us to encourage our soul to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. And that’s the next step, we must determine what step is the obedient step in the circumstance we are in at the moment. Then, we must take that step, because it is the step that brings us closer to God.

    Matthew Henry had some very good insight into this psalm.

    “If you destroy the foundations, if you take good people off from their hope in God, if you can persuade them that their religion is a cheat and a jest and can banter them out of that, your ruin them, and break their hearts indeed, and make them of all the men the most miserable.” The principles of religion are the foundations on which the faith and hope of the righteous are built. These we are concerned in interest as well as duty, to hold fast against all temptations to infidelity; for, if these be destroyed, if we let these go, What can the righteous do? Good people would be undone if they had not a God to go to, a God to trust to, and a future bliss to hope for” (226).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 11.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 10

    Psalm 10

    Commonplace –

    “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

    To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of earth may no more oppress” (Psalm 10:18).

    Psalms 9 and 10

    In the previous post on Psalm 9, the following was noted regarding Psalms 9 and 10:

    “John Parsons of Hebrew4Christians.com wrote the following in reference to Psalms 9 and 10:

    “David probably wrote Psalm 9 and 10 as a single psalm (“Psalm 9 in Hebrew”).

    Matthew Henry echoes this sentiment in his summary of Psalm 10:

    “The Septuagint translation joins this psalm with the ninth, and makes them but one; but the Hebrew makes it a distinct psalm, and the scope and style are certainly different” (222).

    If this understanding is correct, it explains why Psalm 10 does not begin as the psalms usually do, with praising God, but with a question to God. And Matthew Henry’s comment is on point. The two psalms are quite different.

    Psalm 10: The Case Against the Wicked

    In Psalm 10, David begins by asking,

    “Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).

    Psalm 10 is all about David presenting his case to God against the wicked.

    David begins by introducing evidence.

    The wicked person:

    1. persecutes the poor
    2. boast’s of his own heart’s desire and blesses those that covet
    3. never thinks of God
    4. is always proud
    5. curses, lies and commits fraud
    6. murders the innocent

    David makes his argument.

    Like a prosecutor in a courtroom, he brings the case before the judge and no sin of the wicked is omitted. Then, David asks the question on behalf of the victims,

    “Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it” (Psalm 10:13)

    and he continues,

    “Thou has seen it: for thou beholdest mischief and spit, to requite it with thy hand” (Psalm 10:14a),

    and also,

    “…the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou are the helper of the fatherless” (Psalm 10:14b).

    So, David

    1. asks, ‘what is the reason that the wicked regard God with contempt?’
    2. and he answers his own question, ‘because the wicked believes God will not punish him.’
    3. then, David notes that God, who is omniscient, knows and sees all this. Therefore, God should give the wicked his due, because the poor have committed themselves to God and God is the helper of the fatherless.
    4. Finally, David asks God to “Break thou the arm of the wicked and evil man” (v. 15a). Seek out evil and destroy it until it is all gone.

    David rests his case

    Relying on God’s justice and goodness, David closes by noting he, a humble man, has come before God and made a case for the poor and orphans and faithfully believes God will 1) prepare the heart of the victims and 2) hear their plea, which is for God to:

    “To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of earth may no more oppress” (Psalm 10:18).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 10.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    Parsons, John. “Psalm 9 in Hebrew”. Hebrew4Christians. https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/Psalm_9/psalm_9.html. Accessed 2 October 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 9

    Psalm 9

    Commonplace –

    “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works” (Psalm 9:1).

    He opens with praise

    It’s good to sit with this opening verse. David begins by focusing on God and his duty to God. He names these duties in verse 2:

    1. I will be glad.
    2. I will rejoice.
    3. I will sing praise.

    He remembers

    Then, David begins to speak of justice. God has delivered him from his enemies, and they have received punishment for destroying cities. Those destructions “are come to a perpetual end; their memorial is perished with them” (v.6.). In contrast, “the Lord shall endure for ever” (v.7.). This is a thought which brings comfort. Wicked people are punished for their wicked deeds. God endures forever. Matthew Henry notes the following, “The title of this psalm gives a very uncertain sound concerning the occasion of penning it. It is upon Muth-labben, which some make to refer to the death of Goliath, others of Nabal, others of Absalom; but I incline to think…that the enemies David is here triumphing in the defeat of are the Philistines, and the other neighboring nations” (218-219). Just reading all the possible times David was delivered from the hands of his enemies is a testimony and encouragement to us in times of trouble.

    He reminds

    Because God endures forever, we know good triumphs over evil. David lists the benefits of God’s eternal reign:

    1. He shall judge the world in righteousness.
    2. He will be a refuge for the oppressed.
    3. He will not forsake those who seek Him.
    4. He makes inquisition for blood.
    5. He hears and does not forget the cry of the humble.
    6. He will not forget the needy.
    7. He will not forget the poor.

    He petitions

    David beseeches God to “let the heathen be judged in thy sight” (v.19), and “Put them in fear, O Lord; that the nations may know themselves to be but men” (v.20).

    David also petitions God,

    “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death” (v.13).

    Psalms 9 and 10

    John Parsons of Hebrew4Christians.com wrote the following in reference to Psalms 9 and 10:

    “David probably wrote Psalm 9 and 10 as a single psalm. Jewish tradition says he wrote it after he killed Goliath” (“Psalm 9 in Hebrew”).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 9.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    Parsons, John. “Psalm 9 in Hebrew”. Hebrew4Christians. https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/Psalm_9/psalm_9.html. Accessed 2 October 2025.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 8

    Psalm 8

    Commonplace –

    “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of mine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8:2).

    and

    “What is man, that thou are mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4).

    “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1 and 9).

    David begins and ends this contemplative psalm with the same verse, praising God for his excellent name and His glory. In Psalm 8, David marvels over God’s kindness towards man:

    1. Even the children of men are recognized and loved by God, speaking God’s word in strength, stilling the enemy (v.2.).
    2. Even man, himself, is loved by God, placed a little lower than angels and above all creation.

    Why is God’s kindness so amazing? Because God as Creator does not have to love His creation, yet He does. Throughout the psalm, David recognizes God as Creator of all things: the heavens, the moon, the stars, beasts of the field, fowl of the air, fish and everything else in and of the sea. And God, Creator of all things, is mindful of everything He created. Note David’s emphasis on God’s recognition of children. Children were not prized, as they are often not prized today, but God takes notice of them and gives strength to children through his Word. Probably God’s recognition of His Creation is more of a marvel to David, who as King of Israel was aware of how difficult it is to keep an eye on his kingdom. It’s impossible for an earthly king to be attune to all the goings on of His Kingdom, yet God is mindful of the entire world and everything in it.

    But we can be mindful of the One, who is mindful of all things. We can acknowledge how excellent He is. And that is what Matthew Henry points us to in his summary.

    “This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably” (216).

    and

    “When we are observing the glory of God in the kingdom of nature and providence we should be led by that, and through that, to the contemplation of his glory in the kingdom of grace” (216).

    This psalm is an excellent example of how to meditate on God’s word, thinking about an aspect of God and considering it.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 8.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 7

    Psalm 7

    Commonplace –

    “I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high” (Psalm 7:17).

    David begins this psalm with a reminder to himself: “O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust” (v.1.). The circumstances surrounding David were harrowing and terrifying. His enemy was close at hand and threatening violence toward him. To combat his fear, David declares his trust in God and asks for God’s help. He entreats God to search him for sin and turn him over to the enemy, if sin is found within him. David is relying on God’s justice and righteousness.

    “The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me” (Psalm 7:8).

    and

    “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10).

    God’s righteousness is a gift. He is not a God of caprice. We do not have to wonder at what He will do; He will always do what is right and good. What we learn herein from David is trust and faith, even when the circumstances make it seem as if the wicked are winning. In this type of suffering, when we do good but evil appears to be winning, we join in suffering for the good. In his summary, Matthew Henry notes,

    “In this David was a type of Christ, who was himself, and still is in his members, thus injured, but will certainly be righted at last” (212).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 7.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 6

    Psalm 6

    Commonplace –

    “The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:9).

    Herein Psalm 6, verses 1-6 are David in misery. He begins by begging God for mercy. He God not to rebuke or chasten him, while God is angry and hot with displeasure. David expresses despair because he is physically and emotionally weak. He asks God how long his suffering will continue? He rationalizes with God that, if he, David, dies from his pain, who will live to praise God. David then returns to recounting his sorrow; he tells of all the tears he has cried. Finally, in verses 8-9, hope grows in David’s words; God has heard his prayer and will receive it.

    Did David receive an answer at just that moment? We are not told. It is only said, “Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hat heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer” (v. 9.). We do know that David received comfort in his prayers, which gave him hope.

    In his summary, Matthew Henry states,

    “David was a weeping prophet as well as Jeremiah, and this psalm is one of his lamentations: either it was penned in a time, or at least calculated for a time, of great trouble, both outward and inward” (210).

    As psalm such as this is an encouragement to us in our own times of trouble.

    “Is any afflicted? Is any sick? Let him sing this psalm” (Henry 210).

    And, finally, Henry notes,

    “This psalm is like the Book of Job” (210).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 6.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 5

    Psalm 5

    Commonplace –

    “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

    For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

    In Psalm 5, the opening lines are “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (v.1.) and “Hearken unto the voice of my cry” (v.2). In a similar manner in Psalm 4, David called out to God in the opening verse, “Hear me when I call, O God”. David comes before God as a member of His kingdom, as one who has the right to approach the throne. In both psalms, David is respectful, both times adding a specific attribute to God, when he addresses Him: “God of my righteousness “ (Psalm 4:1) and “my King and my God” (Psalm 5:2). David would have been very familiar with how to appropriately approach the throne of the ruler, as he was a King and was used to receiving requests from his own people. He is modeling for us to be bold but respectful when entering the spiritual throne room of God, as a member of His kingdom.

    Why is this important? It is important for a couple of reasons.

    1. It is a sign of reverence. It is important to acknowledge God’s place in the Kingdom as ruler, as it immediately puts one in a right attitude. We acknowledge we are His people, and He is our God; He is higher, and we are lower. He is God, and all power rests in Him. This isn’t because God needs us to acknowledge Him as higher, but it is for our peace, knowing we don’t rely on ourselves nor are we alone. We acknowledge His role as our provider and our dependence on His mercy. Unlike an earthly King, who is distant and difficult to approach, we have complete access to our King at all times.
    2. It is a sign of belonging. As members of God’s Kingdom, we have the right to come before Him and make our requests. We belong to Him. Therefore, we are not alone. David had this right through his heritage as a Hebrew; we have this right through faith in Christ.
    3. It is a sign of need. Pride melts away, when the heat of need refines us. We recognize we have needs that we cannot fulfill, which immediately brings us to a place of humility, which brings relief. No longer do we have to do everything, we can release that stress and turn it over to God, resting in the peace and comfort of knowing He is our Provider.

    After acknowledging God, David turns to instruction.

    1. When to pray. He models for the reader the appropriate time to turn to God, which is in the morning, not because this is the only time, but because it is when prayer should begin: immediately when we arise. By beginning with prayer in the morning, we set our sight immediately on that which is good.
    2. How to live. Reject evil, because evil has no place with God. We should avoid sin, lying, speaking with flattery, and any manner of evil, because God, in His goodness, cannot abide with it. Accept good by having a holy reverence of God, trusting in Him, and following after Him.
    3. Rejoice. By choosing God and good, we can and should rejoice in His blessing and protection.

    Following is excerpt of Matthew Henry’s summary of Psalm 5.

    “[Psalm 5] is a prayer, a solemn address to God, at a time when the psalmist was brought into distress by the malice of his enemies. Many such times passed over David, nay, there was scarcely any time of his life to which this psalm may not be accommodated, for in this he was a type of Christ, that he was continually beset with enemies, and his powerful and prevalent appeals to God, when he was so beset, pointed at Christ’s dependence on his Father and triumphs over the powers of darkness in the midst of his sufferings.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 5.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 4

    Psalm 4

    Commonplace –

    “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

    Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psalm 4:4-5).

    Psalm 4 is credited to David. David begins this psalm with a plea to God to be heard; he predicates his argument to be heard on God’s previous responses to his cries. In the past, God blessed him in his distress, and he is asking for the same again: “have mercy upon me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1b).

    David then turns to his oppressors and calls them out for their shaming him to stoke their own vanity. He warns them that God will hear him, when he prays.

    Then, David turns his face to God, and the glory of God fills him to overflowing as the wisdom pours out in his song. He instructs the reader in the way of the good in verses 5 and 6. This receiving from God and sharing with others has “put gladness in [his] heart” (v. 7), and his prayer has been answered. He receives the calm and comfort only God can impart: “for thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). In this psalm, David leads the reader from being perturbed to being at peace and the pathway is prayer.

    Matthew Henry paints a beautiful picture of David as we see him in Psalm 4.

    “David was a preacher, a royal preacher, as well as Solomon; many of his psalms are doctrinal and practical as well as devotional; the greatest part of this psalm is so, in which Wisdom cries to men, to the sons of men (as Prov. 8:4,5), to receive instruction” (204).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 4.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm Singing: Psalm 3

    Psalm Singing: Psalm 3

    From The Psalms of David in Metre

    “O Lord, how are my foes increas’d? against me many rise.

    May say of my soul, For him in God no succour lies.

    Yet thou my shield and glory art, th’ uplifter of mine head.

    I cry’d, and, from his holy hill, the Lord me answer made.

    I laid me down and slept; I wak’d for God sustained me.

    I will not fear though thousands ten set round against me be.

    Arise, O Lord; save me, my God; for thou my foes hast stroke

    All on the cheek-bone, and the teeth of wicked men hast broke.

    Salvation doth appertain unto the Lord alone:

    Thy blessing, Lord, for evermore thy people is upon” (3).

    Works Cited

    “Psalm 3.” The Psalms of David in Metre. Trinitartian Bible Society, 1998.