Psalms:65

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* Verse 1-5 - All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion , being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ , and acceptable through him . Praise is silent unto thee , as wanting words to express the great goodness of God . He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat , ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ . Our sins prevail against us ; we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our own : yet , as for our transgressions , of thine own free mercy , and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing , we shall not come into condemnation for them . Observe what it is to come into communion with God in order to blessedness . It is to converse with him as one we love and value ; it is to apply ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our dwelling-place . Observe how we come into communion with God ; only by God 's free choice . There is abundance of goodness in God 's house , and what is satisfying to the soul ; there is enough for all , enough for each : it is always ready ; and all without money and without price . By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God , and bring in comfort from him , wherever we are . But it is only through that blessed One , who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety , that sinners may expect or can find this happiness . * Verse 6-13 - That Almighty strength which sets fast the mountains , upholds the believer . That word which stills the stormy ocean , and speaks it into a calm , can silence our enemies . How contrary soever light and darkness are to each other , it is hard to say which is most welcome . Does the watchman wait for the morning ? so does the labourer earnestly desire the shades of evening . Some understand it of the morning and evening sacrifices . We are to look upon daily worship , both alone and with our families , to be the most needful of our daily occupations , the most delightful of our daily comforts . How much the fruitfulness of this lower part of the creation depends upon the influence of the upper , is easy to observe ; every good and perfect gift is from above . He who enriches the earth , which is filled with man 's sins , by his abundant and varied bounty , can neither want power nor will to feed the souls of his people . Temporal mercies to us unworthy creatures , shadow forth more important blessings . The rising of the Sun of righteousness , and the pouring forth of the influences of the Holy Spirit , that river of God , full of the waters of life and salvation , render the hard , barren , worthless hearts of sinners fruitful in every good work , and change the face of nations more than the sun and rain change the face of nature . Wherever the Lord passes , by his preached gospel , attended by his Holy Spirit , his paths drop fatness , and numbers are taught to rejoice in and praise him . They will descend upon the pastures of the wilderness , all the earth shall hear and embrace the gospel , and bring forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness which are , through Jesus Christ , to the glory of the Father . Manifold and marvellous , O Lord , are thy works , whether of nature or of grace ; surely in loving-kindness hast thou made them all . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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