angela hormberg

Tag: Matthew Henry’s Commentary

  • 2025 Rtb: Job 1-2

    2025

    Read Through the Bible

    Day 5: Job 1-2

    “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:20-22)

    “But [Job] said unto [his wife], Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).

    Both of these scriptures stood out to me as models for how to respond in suffering.

    Matthew Henry notes, “[Job] was sincere in his religion; he was perfect; not sinless, as he himself owns (Job 9:20)If I say I am perfect, I shall be proved perverse. But, having a respect to all God’s commandments, aiming at perfection, he was really as good as he seemed to be, and did not dissemble in his profession of piety; his heart was sound and his eye single. Sincerity is gospel perfection. I [Matthew Henry] know no religion without it” (3).

    Here Job’s sincerity is tested, and he is proved faithful.

    This is challenging. How will I react in the face of adversity? Will my heart prove true.

    Oh, Lord, please make my heart true and sincere. Draw me close to you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

    Henry, Matthew. “Volume 3: Job to Song of Solomon.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 51

    Psalm 51

    Commonplace –

    Here is a Psalm that teaches us how to confess our sin.

    “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

    Relying on God’s mercy and lovingkindness, the Psalmist asks God to cancel his sins. The Psalmist teaches us to:

    • Acknowledge sinfulness
    • Confess the sin
    • Ask for cleansing
    • Pray to be made to hear joy and gladness
    • Ask God to hide the sin from His face
    • Ask for a clean heart and right spirit
    • Ask for God and His Holy Spirit to remain and not leave
    • Pray for the restoration of the joy of salvation
    • Pray to be upheld by God
    • Pray that the lesson learned can be used to testify to sinners of the goodness of God, so others will be converted and God will be glorified
    • Pray for deliverance from guilt

    Matthew Henry notes that David, the writer of Psalm 51, “saw, more than ever, what an unclean heart he had, and sadly laments it, and therefore begs of God (whose prerogative it is to create) that He would create in [David] a clean heart. [God] only that made the heart can new-make it; and to His power nothing is impossible” (353.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 51.” 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

  • 2025 Rtb: Genesis 8-9

    2025

    Read Through the Bible

    Day 4: Genesis 8-9

    “And God remembered Noah” (Genesis 8).

    What an interesting way to begin the chapter. Does God forget man?

    According to Matthew Henry, “This is an express after the manner of men; for not any of his creatures, much less any of his people are forgotten of God” (Henry 52). Henry cites Luke 12:6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of this is forgotten before God?” and Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she sould not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”

    So, if God does not forget man, what do we do with Genesis 8:1? Matthew Henry writes, “Noah himself, though one that had found grace in the eyes of the Lord, yet seemed to be forgotten in the ark, and perhaps began to think himself so; for we do not find that God told him how long he should be confined and when he should be released. Very good men have sometimes been ready to conclude themselves forgotten of God, especially when their afflictions have been unusually grievous and long. Perhaps Noah, though a great believer, yet when he found the flood continuing so long after it might reasonably be presumed to have done its work, was tempted to fear lest he that shut him i would keep him in, and began to expostulate, How long wilt thou forget me? But at length God returned in mercy to him, and this is expressed by remembering him. Note, Those that remember God shall certainly be remembered by him, how desolate and disconsolate soever their condition may be. He will appoint them a set time and remember them” (52). Henry cites Job 14:13 “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep ,e secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!”

    Henry, Matthew. “Volume 1: Genesis.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 50

    Psalm 50

    Commonplace –

    Matthew Henry noted that, along with Psalm 49, Psalm 50 was also a sermon. While Psalm 49 was a call to forget the things of this world and focus on eternity, Psalm 50 teaches us how to live in the world while being “not of the world” (John 17:14). To the saints, the psalmist calls for offerings of thanksgiving. To the wicked, the psalmist declares they hate instruction and ignore God’s word.

    “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High” (Psalm 50:14).

    Daily believers should offer God thanksgiving. There is always something to be thankful for and training our minds to focus on these things is a great help. While thanking God for His provision, it also sets our mind aright, shifting our eyes heavenward away from our physical circumstances. Thanksgiving is essential in times of plenty and times of need: physical and/or spiritual. When we are happy and content, we give thanks, and, in so doing, we acknowledge it is all God’s provision not our own work. Again, when we are downhearted and destitute, we give thanks, because our suffering draws our hearts and focus to God, and we recognize our need for Him. Our need is more obvious in times of suffering than times of lack, which indicates we should be on our guard in times of plenty, when we are less likely to seek God.

    Wicked are those that: hate instruction, ignore God’s word, collaborate with thieves, partake with adulterers, speak lies and slander. To the wicked,

    “These things thou hast done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes” (Psalm 50:21).

    The psalmist leaves us the following to consider:

    “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordeth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23).

    About this psalm, Matthew Henry noted, “This psalm, as [Psalm 49], is a psalm of instruction, in singing which we are to teach and admonish one another; it is a psalm of reproof and admonition, in singing which we are to teach and admonish one another” (Henry 346).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 50.” 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

  • 2025 Rtb: Genesis 5-7

    2025

    Read Through the Bible

    Day 3: Genesis 5-7

    Genesis 5 covers the family line from Adam to Noah. Genesis 6 and 7 provide the account of the flood.

    “And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).

    Here we have a model of obedience given to us in the Old Testament: Noah. Noah received what God told him and did according to God’s instructions. We are told “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). Contrast this with the men of Noah’s time, who was wicked and “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

    Later, Christ came as the ultimate model of obedience, even unto death. Christ knew God’s word intimately and was able to counter Satan’s misuse of it, when being tempted, and understand and employ God’s word correctly. Christ was a man of prayer, often going off alone to pray. In his final hours with his disciples at the Mount of Olives, he instructed them, “Pray that ye not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40).

    Heeding Christ’s command is essential in life. In order to avoid being like those, who died in the flood during the days of Noah and whose every thought was evil continually, we must seek to be in prayer and occupied with things of God, so we avoid temptation.

    Lord, help me to bring into captivity every thought and pray continually, so that my mind is fixed on You and things above. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

    Henry, Matthew. “Volume 1: Genesis.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 49

    Psalm 49

    Commonplace –

    “This psalm is a sermon” (Henry 341).

    “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah” (Psalm 49:15).

    But God! I have often heard this phrase used in church. After a parishioner describes a hard time in their life, they will insert this phrase at the end marking a major turning point in their story. What follows is a testimony to God’s faithfulness in their life in the midst of a dark time. In Psalm 49, the author does the same thing. Or should I say that the author laid down in the Psalms the model for how we should confront adversity in our life:

    • State the struggle, problem, sin
    • Proclaim: “But God”
    • Testify to God’s goodness in help during the struggle, problem, sin

    This simple three step response to life’s problems is essential to overcoming whatever suffering we are going through in life, because it shifts our focus from the problem to the solution. Focusing on God is always the solution, staring at the problem is not.

    In Psalm 49, the sermon is all about where we place our trust: God or things. This Psalm is an excellent outline of how to write a sermon, and I will address the technical aspects of that in another post. For now, I would like to focus on the psalmist’s answer to overcoming suffering, which, if you recall, Elisabeth Elliot gave a very worthy definition of:

    Suffering is having what you don’t want and wanting what you don’t have (Suffering Is Never for Nothing).

    In their book, The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You, the authors note,

    There may be times when we are not in a place where we are free from pain, but we can still experience God’s amazing redemption. An often-quoted passage in II Corinthians 12 describes how the apostle Paul learned a key lesson. When he was stuck with a tormenting problem which did not go away even though he pleaded with the Lord three times, he got an answer he was not looking for: God works through weakness. What a profound discovery – [Paul] learned to delight in “weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions and in difficulties.” The good news of the Gospel is that God wants to be with us in the middle of our struggles. That is precisely when He exercises His strength in us. Paul learned to let God be in charge, and to stop asking God to end his hardship. God’s strength flowed through him because Paul stopped trying to be in control. He let God take over, and God was able to use him more effectively. Paul could delight in suffering because he found it was an opportunity for God’s strength to work through him” (7).

    The shift in going from a life focusing on the problem to focusing on God, requires a shift in mindset. When we consider why things are happening in our lives, it’s important to consider eternity. In Psalm 49, the psalmist is preaching against putting faith in wealth and power, which reside here in the physical world, and preaching for putting faith in God, who resides outside of this physical time and place in eternity. The psalmist urges the reader to consider their physical end: everyone dies. The most important thing to consider is: where will I spend eternity?

    For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever (Psalm 49:8).

    As Matthew Henry points out, “It is certainly true that the redemption of the soul is precious and ceaseth for ever; that is, life, when it is gone it cannot be recalled, by any human art, or worldy price. But this looks further, to the eternal redemption which was to be wrought out by the Messiah, who the Old-testament saints had an eye to as the Redeemer. Everlasting life is a jewel of too great a value to be purchased by the wealth of this world.” And further on he states, “Christ did that for us which all the riches of the world could not do; well therefore may He be dearer to us than any worldly things. Christ did for us which a brother, a friend, could not do for us, no not one of the best estate or interest; and therefore those that love father or brother more than Him are not worthy of Him. This likewise shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which could never buy them.

    Suffering is for the moment, but our souls are eternal. When we consider events in light of eternity, pondering how we can turn what is happening to us into an opportunity to glorify God is key.

    Works Cited

    Elliot, Elisabeth. Suffering is Never for Nothing. B&H Publishing Group, 2019.

    Friesen, James G., et al. The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You. Morris Publishing, 2000.

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 49.” 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

  • 2025 Rtb: Genesis 3-4

    2025

    Read Through the Bible

    Day 2: Genesis 3-4

    Genesis 3 opens with the serpent. The author of Genesis immediately alerts the reader in verse 1 that the serpent is not trustworthy, when he calls him ‘subtile’, which means cunning or crafty, and, from the interaction between the serpent and Eve, we observe the serpent’s craftiness. The serpent doesn’t outright direct Eve to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17), but he draws her eyes and her attention to the tree and its fruit. Matthew Henry gives good advice in this area, “Those that would not eat the forbidden fruit must not come near the forbidden tree. Avoid it, pass not by it, (Prov 4.15)” (Henry 18).

    Yesterday, I focused on the command God gave Adam regarding the trees in the Garden:

    “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

    However, when the serpent asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1b), Eve incorrectly recollects the command and responds:

    “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hat said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:2-3).

    Eve, unfortunately, added “neither shall ye touch it”. Matthew Henry notes, “Neither shall you not touch it, seems to have been added with good intention, not (as some think) tacitly to reflect upon the command as too strict…but to make a fence about it: ‘We must not eat, therefore we will not touch. It is forbidden in the highest degree, and the authority of the prohibition is sacred to us’ ” (Henry 18). However, Eve meant it, the serpent did not relent and seized his opportunity to draw her to doubt and temptation: “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:4-5).

    This is a good place to stop and ponder how we are drawn to temptation. Like Eve, we know the path of obedience, but we are led astray by:

    • Our reason
      • “the tree was good for food” (3:6)
    • Our eyes, our senses
      • “it was pleasant to the eyes (3:6)
    • Our selfish desires
      • “a tree to be desired to make one wise” (3:6)

    “It is a dangerous thing to treat with a temptation, which ought at first to be rejected with disdain and abhorrence” (Henry 18).

    Lord, help me to set my gaze upon you and not be beguiled by my own reason, senses and desires. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

    Henry, Matthew. “Volume 1: Genesis.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 48

    Psalm 48

    Commonplace –

    Psalm 48 “is a triumphant song” (Henry 339). Indeed, it is! The psalmist begins with a declaration of God’s greatness.

    “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His Holiness” (Psalm 48:1).

    God’s residence is in Zion, the home of His Holy Mountain, the sight of which astounds kings but brings comfort to God’s people. It is a mountain of refuge, where Christians consider God’s lovingkindness, are glad for His trustworthy judgments and marvel over His strength. In other words, it is a place of rejoicing, when we are elated and a place of encouragement, when we are downhearted. We are reminded

    “God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14).

    I can’t help but be reminded of the beautiful hymn, “We’re Marching to Zion”, when I read Psalm 48. Here is a youtube of my favorite version of this song.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 48.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • 2025 Rtb: Genesis 1-2

    2025

    Read Through the Bible

    Genesis 1-2

    Here begins the 2025 Read Through the Bible journey. Genesis 1 and 2 lay a foundation for all that is to come in the remaining 65 books of the Bible and the rest of human history.

    “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1)

    Chapter 1 is a record of the first six days of creation. Chapter 2 opens with Day 7 being declared sacred and holy and a day of rest and provides a more detailed record of the first days of Adam and Eve.

    Between these first two chapters, the first that stood out most to me was 2:17

    “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

    Later, this verse will be important, because Eve incorrectly refers to it, when she is speaking to the serpent. God was speaking to Adam, when he issued this command. Did Adam confuse the command when retelling it to Eve? Did Eve inaccurately understand the command, when Adam was retelling it to her? Did she intentionally choose to misrepresent the command to the serpent? This side of eternity we will never know. But it is good to be reminded of the true command.

    It is important to attend to what we are reading, so that we may correctly represent God’s words to unbelievers, who may not have a Bible and be able to recall it to ourselves, when we are in need. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul instructs Timothy that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”. Accuracy is important in hiding God’s word in our hearts and instructing others in the ways of righteousness.

    Recently, I have been convicted of my lack in the area of scripture memorization. It is my desire to intentionally increase the number of scripture verses I have stored up. This verse is a reminder to attend and memorize these verses with accuracy.

    Lord, help me to know your Word and store it in my heart that you may use it to teach, correct and reprove me, as needed.

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

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 47

    Psalm 47

    Commonplace –

    Psalm 47 is a Psalm of praise. We are called to join with all people in clapping our hands and praising the triumphant works of God

    Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalm 47:6)

    This psalm reminds us that God is always triumphant, reigns over saved and heathen, alike, and sits on His holy throne. I appreciate Matthew Henry’s observation,

    “The psalmist, having his own heart filled with great and good thoughts of God, endeavours to engage all about him in the blessed work of praise, as one convinced that God is worthy of all blessing and praise, and as one grieved as his own and others’ backwardness to and barrenness in this work” (Henry 337).

    It’s also a good time to be reminded that a psalm is a sacred hymn and is intended to be sung. Following is an example of Psalm 47 being sung. It is presented by St. George’s Church and is available on their Youtube channel.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 47.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

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

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg