angela hormberg

Tag: David

  • Psalm 2

    Psalm 2

    Commonplace –

    “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

    Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:10-11).

    The writer opens with a question: “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” What is this vanity? The writer is referring to people who reject God. This is an interesting follow up to Psalm 1, a psalm of instruction, which lays out the choice all men have between good and evil. In Psalm 2, the writer gives the reader a glimpse of life for those who choose evil; they will be punished for their evil actions. The psalmist ends with an entreaty to the reader to make the good choice, “Be wise therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:10-11).

    The result of choosing to follow God is a blessing: “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12b). Notice, the psalmist doesn’t say “Blessed will be“. This is important, because the blessing is present. One does not have to wait for it to happen; those who follow God are blessed in the present moment in the act of following God. The blessing is the peace that comes from doing the right thing.

    It is also important to note the Messianic message in this psalm: “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but little” (Psalm 2:12a). Here we are introduced to the Son of God and our need of Him. Allegiance to Him is a necessary element in choosing the good path. Matthew Henry notes this in his comments:

    “As the foregoing psalm was moral, and showed us our duty, so this is evangelical, and shows us our Saviour. Under the type of David’s kingdom (which was of divine appointment, met with much opposition, but prevailed at last) the kingdom of the Messiah, the son of David, is prophesied of, which is the primary intention and scope of this psalm” (196).

    Further on, Henry continues:

    “This psalm, as the former, is very fitly prefixed to this book of devotions, because, as it is necessary to our acceptance with God that we should be subject to the precepts of his law, so it is likewise that we should be subject to the grace of his gospel, and come to him in the name of a Mediator” (196).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 2.” 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 140

    Psalm 140

    Commonplace –

    “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

    Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence” (Psalm 140:12-13).

    The psalmist, David, opens this psalm with the very real prayer of protection from the evil man, the violent man, the wicked man, and the proud man. As we live in the world, we, too, must pray similar prayers of protection against these types of evil actors and mischief makers. David pleads for justice to be done and evil to be confounded. Then, he appropriately turns his gaze from that which surrounds him on earth upward to God, who holds the world in His hand. In the last two verses, David reorients his focus on God and, praising God and encouraging himself, reminds himself that God will keep watch and protection over His own. He closes with the confident words “the righteous shall give thanks…the upright shall dwell in thy presence” (Psalm 140:13).

    As Matthew Henry points out,

    “[David] assures all God’s afflicted people that their troubles would in due time end well (v.12,13), with which assurance we must comfort ourselves, and one another, in singing this psalm” (622).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 140.” 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 127

    Psalm 127

    Commonplace –

    “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

    As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

    Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 126:3-5).

    Psalm 127 is “for Solomon”, and it is good to keep this in mind as we read Psalm 127. As Matthew Henry notes, “[t]his is a family psalm” (601). What did David choose to write specifically for his son which was to be repeated aloud by pilgrims en route to festivals in Jerusalem?

    He admonished his son and the pilgrims to remember, that if one builds a house but fails to keep God as its head, it is built in vain. If one rises early and stays up late and is in a constant state of worry, one has failed to remember that it is God, who orders the day. But of the five verses that David wrote for Psalm 127, he focused the majority of them on children, specifically how children are a blessing from the Lord. Specifically, David notes the following about children:

    1. they are a heritage,
    2. they are a reward,
    3. they make a man mighty, and
    4. they bring happiness.

    This admonishment to parents is similar to what children are commanded in regard to their parents:

    “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12).

    Parents are to remember that children are a reward, and children are to remember to honor their parents. Obedience brings its own reward.

    It is good to reflect on all of these thoughts as we ponder the three main points David makes in Psalm 127:

    1. Make God the head of the home, otherwise one labors in vain.
    2. Remember everything one receives is from God, believing otherwise is simply vanity.
    3. Children are a heritage and a reward and make man mighty and happy.

    As Matthew Henry notes,

    “In singing this psalm, we must have our eye up unto God for success in all our undertakings and a blessing upon all our comforts and enjoyments, because every creature is that to us which he makes it to be and no more” (601).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 127.” 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 121

    Psalm 121

    Commonplace –

    “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

    In his description of this psalm, Matthew Henry writes:

    “…wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are exposed to danger more than we are aware of; and this psalm directs and encourages us to repose ourselves and our confidence in God, and by faith to put ourselves under his protection and commit ourselves to his care, which we must do, with an entire resignation and satisfaction, in singing this psalm” (593).

    In these opening verses, David is comforting himself with the understanding that his help comes from no earthly thing but from God, alone. Surely these words are a a comfort and encouragement when we feel alone and frightened. Whatever the reason, knowing we may at any time simply look to God for help is surely a thought to strengthen our spirit in times of need.

    David points out that God is the maker of heaven and earth, as a reminder that He who created everything is able to do anything. “He that made heaven and earth is sovereign Lord of all the hosts of both, and can make use of them as he pleases for the help of his people, and restrain them when he pleases from hurting his people” (594).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 121.” 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 109

    Psalm 109

    Commonplace –

    “Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, has done it” (Psalm 109:26-27).

    Henry suggests we take on the following mindset as we sing/pray this psalm.

    “In singing this psalm we must comfort ourselves with the believing foresight of the certain destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his church, and the certain salvation of all those that trust in God and keep close to him” (Henry 534).

    In particular, Henry notes,

    “God was David’s protector in his sufferings, and was present also with the Lord Jesus in his, stood at his right hand, so that he was not moved, saved his soul from those that pretended to be the judges of it, and received it into his own hands. Let all those that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him (Henry 537).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 109.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 101

    Psalm 101

    Commonplace –

    “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way” (Psalm 101:2).

    The title of Psalm 101 includes the description, “A Psalm of David”. As Matthew Henry notes,

    “David was certainly the penman of this psalm, and it has in it the genuine spirit of the man after God’s own heart; it is a solemn vow which he made to God when he took upon him the charge of a family and of the kingdom” (Henry 502).

    David was committed to God. Yes, he struggled, but his desire was to do his best for the Lord. Later, Christ came. He also was committed to God and desired to do His best for God. The Bible even tells us Jesus was tempted in every way we are tempted,

    “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, emphasis mine).

    Christ was able to do what David could not, “behave himself wisely in a perfect way”.

    In regard to living in a ‘perfect way’, Matthew Henry states,

    “When we make the word of God our rule, and are ruled by it, the glory of God our end, and aim at it, then we walk in a perfect way with a perfect heart” (Henry 503).

    We may struggle like David to maintain our solemn vow, but we can be like him and strive towards the goal and be ruled by it.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 101.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 75

    Psalm 75

    Commonplace –

    “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:7).

    Matthew Henry suggests that this psalm “does so exactly agree with David’s circumstances, at his coming to the crown after the death of Saul, that most interpreters apply it to that juncture” (426).

    Henry suggests the following in relation to this psalm,

    “In singing this psalm we must give to God the glory of all the revolutions of states and kingdoms, believing that they are all according to his counsel and that he will make them all to work for the good of his church” (Henry 426).

    Specifically, Henry notes,

    “In these verses we have two great doctrines laid down and two good inferences drawn from them, for the confirmaiton of what he had before said,

    I. Here are two great truths laid down concerning God’s government of the world, which we ought to mix faith with, both pertinent to the occasion: –

    1. That from God alone kings receive their power (v. 6,7) and therefore to God alone David would give praise of his advancement; having his power from God he would use it for him…
    2. That from God alone all must receive their doom (v.8): In the hand of the Lord there is a cup, which he puts into the hands of the children of men, a cup of providence, mixed up (as he thinks fit) of many ingredients, a cup of afflictions. The sufferings of Christ are called a cup, Matt 20:22; John 18:11.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 75.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 72

    Psalm 72

    Commonplace –

    “A psalm for Solomon” (Psalm 72).

    The first thing to notice about this Psalm is the subtitle, “A Psalm for Solomon”. This was a psalm written by King David for his son, Solomon.

    “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son” (Psalm 72:1).

    Matthew Henry noted,

    “This verse is a prayer for the king, even the king’s son.

    I. We may apply it to Solomon: Give him thy judgments, O God! and thy righteousness; make him a man, a king; make him a good man, a good king. (Henry 413).

    While David’s words were for Solomon, Henry also notes that the verse applies even to the coming king, King Jesus.

    “It is an expression of the satisfaction which all true believers take in the authority which the Lord Jesus has received from the Father: “Let him have all the power both in heaven and earth, and be the Lord our righteousness; let him be the great trustee of divine grace for all that are his; give it to him, that he may give it to us.”

    Henry also notes that we can come before God with this same prayer for our own children.

    “The best thing we can ask of God for our children is that God will give them wisdom and grace to know and do their duty; that is better than gold” (Henry 413).

    “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended” (Psalm 72:20).

    Of this verse, Matthew Henry wrote,

    “This was the last psalm that [David] ever penned, though not last in this collection; he penned it when he lay on his death-bed, and with this he breathes his last:

    “Let God be glorified, let the kingdom of the Messiah be set up, and kept up, in the world, and I have enough, I desire no more. With this let the prayers of David the son of Jesse be ended. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly” (Henry 416).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 72.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 71

    Psalm 71

    Commonplace –

    “O God, thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come” (Psalm 71:17-18).

    In his summary, Matthew Henry observed that this psalm was written by David

    “for the general use of God’s people in their afflictions, especially those they meet with in their declining years; for this psalm above any other, is fitted from the use of the old disciples of Jesus Christ” (409).

    Further on in his comments, Henry noted,

    “Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure that he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of old age their best days, and such as they shall have occasioned to say they have pleasure in.

    And thus will the old believer of one generation magnify God’s glory to the next generation.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 71.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg