angela hormberg

Category: Matthew Henry’s Commentary

  • Psalm 138

    Psalm 138

    Commonplace –

    “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands” (Psalm 138:8).

    This psalm begins with David rousing his spirit to worship. Then, he reminds himself that in the past, when he cried out, God answered him and strengthened him. Next, David looks to the future, when everyone, including all the kings of the earth shall praise God. Finally, David arrives at the heart of his present troubles. He comforts himself with the knowledge that, as God helped him in the past, God will continue to help him today and into the future unto the point of perfecting him.

    This is an exemplary psalm for addressing God in our times of trouble. Following David’s steps:

    1. Rouse your spirit to worship
    2. Remind yourself of all the ways God has helped you in the past.
    3. Look to the future, when all the proud will be humbled and the entire earth will praise God.
    4. Present your troubles to God and know he will be a comfort in the present, as he was all the many times in the past.
    5. Know that God will continue to work all things which you encounter on your Christian walk to the good (Romans 8:28), perfecting you through everything as only He can.

    Let us sing with David, “O Lord, endureth for ever” (Psalm 138:8).

    As Matthew Henry points out,

    “In singing this psalm we must in like manner devote ourselves to God’s praise and glory and repose ourselves in his power and goodness” (617).

    In relation to verse 8, the last verse of the psalm, Henry concludes with

    “Whom he loves he loves to the end; and, as for God, his work is perfect” (619).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 138.” 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 137

    Psalm 137

    Commonplace –

    “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4).

    This is a song for the Israelites who were taken captive and dragged off to Babylon. It is a lament for what they left behind, Zion. They longed to return to their land. They were bitter towards their captors. In the midst of the enemy, the psalmist wondered how to sing a song to the Lord in a land where their voices were outnumbered by the enemy.

    The Israelites question was one the modern day Christian could also pose? How do I live like a Christian in the world? How does one live ‘in the world’ but not ‘be of the world’. The Sabbath is the day of week set aside for rest and remembering our faith, reflecting on our walk over the previous week and reminding ourselves how to walk out our Christian faith in the week to come. It’s the day where we get a little glimpse of Heaven, time spent in the presence of the Lord. Instead of focusing on an enemy, we should shift our focus to God and His power.

    Matthew Henry had the following thoughts about Psalm 137:

    “In singing this psalm we must be much affected with the concernments of the church, especially that part of it that is in affliction, laying the sorrows of God’s people near our hearts, comforting ourselves in the prospect of the deliverance of the church and the ruin of its enemies, in due time, but carefully avoiding all personal, and not mixing the leaven of our malice with our sacrifices” (616).

    It is important to walk with those who are suffering. My understanding of the comfort found in the ruin of the Church’s enemies is the comfort that comes when sin and evil are overcome. This happens on a personal level and a corporate level. It’s not hatred towards people but towards the evil in the world, which is the enemy of the church and all the Christians therein.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 137.” 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 136

    Psalm 136

    Commonplace –

    “…for his mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 136 refrain).

    The refrain, “for his mercy endureth forever”, is included in every verse of Psalm 136. With this psalm the writer is focused on the eternal aspect of God’s mercy and how that mercies shows up through the various roles God has taken on, for the benefit of his people, throughout time. Verses 1-9 focus on God, Creator. Verses 10-16 focus on God’s role as Rescuer, saving Israel from Egyptian bondage. Verses 17-22 focus on God as Defender of Israel, saving his people from wicked kings, Sihon and Og. Verses 23-24 focus on God’s role as Savior, remembering and redeeming His people from sin. Verse 25 focuses on God’s role as Provider, the One who gives us our daily bread. The opening verses, 1-3, and closing verse, 26, are a call to thankfulness from those who have been blessed by God’s enduring mercy.

    The beauty of this psalm is the exemplary way it models for us the appropriate way to put ourselves in a state of thankfulness.

    1. Call yourself to thankfulness – “O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever”.
    2. Recall the ways God’s mercy has shown up in your life – God as Creator, Rescuer, Defender, Savior, Provider.
    3. Close with thanks to God, Creator of heaven.

    As Matthew Henry notes,

    “…the mercy that is in God endures for ever; it is an inexhaustible fountain” (615).

    The fullness of His mercy is as available to us as it was to those in the past, and it never decreases. His mercy is always abounding.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 136.” 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 135

    Psalm 135

    Commonplace –

    “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

    They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

    They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

    They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them” (Psalm 135:15-18).

    Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise and thankfulness. The psalmist tells of all the great things the Lord has done for his chosen. This is an exemplary song of thanksgiving, teaching the reader how to count their blessings and give thanks to God for all He has done.

    In the midst of the psalm is a description of worshipers of false gods, particularly citing gold and silver. It’s interesting that those two metals are as elevated in modern society as they were in the ancient times and all times in between. So, the warning against false gods is still apropos today; you become like that which you worship. In this case, metal has no eyes to see or ears to hear. Therefore, the worshiper of such false gods will lose sight and hearing. The eyes of their heart will close, rendering them hard hearted, and their ears will close, leaving them deaf to the cries of their conscience.

    Matthew Henry gives a beautiful summary of this psalm,

    “This is one of the Hallelujah psalms; that is the title of it, and that is the Amen of it, both its Alpha and Omega” (612).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 135.” 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 134

    Psalm 134

    Commonplace –

    “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord” (Psalm 134:2).

    Psalm 134 closes out the Songs of Ascents or Songs of Degrees, which are Psalms 120-134. These songs were sung as the Pilgrims proceeded to Jerusalem for one of the feasts, and this final psalm in the group has the ring of safe arrival. The writer stirs up the servants of the Lord, who have been standing guard and serving overnight in the sanctuary, and asks them to lift up their hands and “bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion” (Psalm 124:2b-3). This is a call to praise, an encouragement to those who served patiently through the darkest hours. It has a ring of celebration for those who have arrived in the city, after their long journey, as they unite with those who live and serve in the Holy City. It is what is traditionally done, when those who are journeying home to visit their family finally arrive at their destination. The pilgrims cry out to those who have been waiting at home, serving diligently and praying faithfully, to offer praise to God: Praise the Lord! We are all together and safe. delivered by the God who made heaven and earth.

    Matthew Henry notes,

    “In singing this psalm, we must both stir up ourselves and give glory to God and encourage ourselves to hope for mercy and grace from him” (611).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 134.” 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 133

    Psalm 133

    Commonplace –

    “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

    This would have been an apt psalm for the pilgrims, who were singing the Psalms of Ascent, as they made their way to Jerusalem together. Along their journey, there would understandably have been small disagreements or strife among the pilgrims, whether it was within their own families or between other families. Singing this psalm would have beneficially united them in mind and spirit and, hopefully, helped smooth over differences in the interest of harmony.

    Matthew Henry will close out our discussion of this psalm with these final words,

    “This psalm is a brief encomium on unity and brotherly love, which, if we did not see the miseries of discord among men, we should think needless; but we cannot say too much, if were well we could say enough, to persuade people to live together in peace” (610).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 133.” 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 132

    Psalm 132

    Commonplace –

    “If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore” (Psalm 132:12).

    In this Song of Ascent, the author begins by telling the story of the the covenant between God and David. The first ten verses of the Psalm delve into David’s request that the Lord remember their covenant. He reminds the Lord that he swore not to sleep until a place was found for the ark of the covenant to rest. Later, this covenant was realized when the Lord allowed Solomon, David’s heir, to build the temple in Jerusalem. As the pilgrims marched towards Jerusalem singing this psalm, they were reminded of the fulfillment of this covenant. What David looked forward to, they were able to see fulfilled.

    In the second half of Psalm 132, verses 12-18, the Lord’s reply to David is recorded. The Lord promised David that if David’s children would remain true and keep the covenant and testimonies of the Lord, David’s line would remain on the throne and be blessed by God. In singing this psalm, the pilgrims are reminded of their place in the covenant as children of Israel. They also will receive blessing from God as heirs of David, if they remain true to God.

    As the pilgrims were heirs of the covenant, so are believing Christians, who have become heirs through faith in Christ. When we sing this psalm, we, too, are reminded of our role in the covenant. If we remain true to God, we, like the pilgrims, are recipients of His blessings, too.

    Matthew Henry notes that it has been suggested Solomon was the author of this psalm, which was in two parts:

    “1. [Solomon] pleads David’s piety towards God (v. 1-7).

    2. [Solomon] pleads God’s promise to David (v. 11-18).

    The former introduces his petition: the latter follows it as an answer to it” (607).

    Henry states, “In singing this psalm we must have a concern for the gospel church as the temple of God, and a dependence upon Christ as David our Kin, in whom the mercies of God are sure mercies” (607).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 132.” 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 131

    Psalm 131

    Commonplace –

    “Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever” (Psalm 131:3).

    David begins this psalm in a humble reflection. He acknowledges:

    1. he is not prideful,
    2. his eyes are not set on great achievements,
    3. he does not worry himself about important events outside his control, nor
    4. does he consider matters beyond himself.

    He compares his manner to that of a child, who has been weaned and can behave and maintain self control. In the last line of the psalm, he simply states that Israel’s hope is in the Lord.

    In this psalm, the psalmist is modeling how a believer should live. If we look at the opposite of each prideful trait he listed, we will come to a positive description of a believer. A believer is one who is

    1. humble,
    2. content with what he has accomplished in life,
    3. living peacefully in his day to day life, and
    4. focused only on those matters that concern him.

    Living life in this manner is a physical, day-to-day walking out of the believer’s hope in the Lord. One who lives in this manner lives in a way that reflects his complete faith that God is in control, and his hope rests solely in God, not his own actions or abilities. Matthew Henry notes, we may sing this psalm

    “…for the same purpose we read it, to teach and admonish ourselves, and one another, what we ought to be, with repentance that we have come short of being so, and humble prayer to God for his grace to make us so” (606).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 131.” 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 130

    Psalm 130

    Commonplace –

    “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130:4).

    Here we have the penitent heart. From the opening verse, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord”, the psalmist is expressing remorse over sin. The psalmist consoles himself with the reminder that with God there is forgiveness. What a gift that thought is when one is in the depths of despair over sin! We have hope of reconciliation, and we find that hope in the Word. Knowing we have forgiveness, we can wait patiently on the Lord as one who watches for the break of day; He is as trustworthy as the rising of the sun. The psalmist then offers consolation to his readers, “with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:6-7). He ends the psalm confidently believing that God will “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:8).

    Matthew Henry notes,

    “This psalm relates not to any temporal concern, either personal or public, but it is wholly taken up with the affairs of the soul. It is reckoned one of the seven penitential psalms, which have sometimes been made use of by penitents” (605).

    We can console ourselves with Psalm 130, when our sin is heavy on our heart, knowing God is faithful and merciful

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 130.” 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 129

    Psalm 129

    Commonplace –

    “The Lord is righteous; he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked” (Psalm 129:4).

    In this psalm, the writer is recalling times when their enemies have troubled them, yet the enemy did not prevail. The psalmist compares the wicked to a farmer, who plows the fields and sows his wickedness. Then, the psalmist asks that the plants of the wicked farmer wither, so they do not produce a crop. The psalmist prays that any who pass the wicked do not ask a blessing upon them.

    The theme of this psalm is justice. The writer recalls when God has punished the wicked in the past and prays that justice will be served on the wicked who are against him in the present. Again, there is the remembering the past and the reminding of God’s preservation of the good and punishment of the wicked, which serves to encourage the afflicted in the present.

    In reference to the last verse,

    “Neither do they which go by say,

    The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 129:8).

    In reference to verse 8, Matthew Henry notes,

    “It is a dangerous thing to let the church’s enemies have our good wishes in their designs against the church” (605).

    He cites 2 John 1:10-11

    “If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him God speed

    For he that biddeth God speed is a partaker of evil deeds” (2 Jon 10-11)”.

    It is fair warning that to even wish God speed upon an evil doer is considered an act of evil.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 129.” 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