Hints to Preachers

Verse 1.—The song of faith in troublous times. I. Our refuge. Our only, impregnable, accessible, delightful place of retreat is our God. II. Our strength. Our all-sufficient, unconquerable, honourable, and emboldening strength is our God. III. Our help. Ever near, sympathising, faithful, real, and potent is our God.

Verse 1.—“A very present help in trouble.” Religion never so valuable as in seasons of trouble, sickness, and death. God is present helping us to bear trouble, to improve it, and to survive it. Present by gracious communications and sweet manifestations; present most when he seems absent, restraining, overruling, and sanctifying trouble. Trust and wait.—James Smith.

Verse 2.—The reasons, advantages, and glory of holy courage.

Verses 2, 3.—I. The great and many causes for fear. 1. What might come—mountains, waters, etc., persecution, pestilence, etc. 2. What must come—afflictions, death, judgment. II. The great and one cause for not fearing. Fearlessness under such circumstances should be well grounded. God himself is our refuge, and we confiding in him are fearless.—G. Rogers.

Verse 4.—Glad tidings in sad times; or, the city of God in the times of trouble and confusion, watered with the river of consolation.—Ralph Erskine.

Verse 4.—What can this “river” be, but that blessed covenant to which David himself repaired in the time of trouble? ... And what are “the streams” of this river, but the outgoings and effects of this divine constitution? I. The blood of Jesus. II. The influences of the Holy Spirit. III. The doctrines and promises of the gospel. IV. The ordinances of religion. V. All the means of grace.—W. Jay.

Verse 4.—“Make glad the city of God.” There are four ways in which the streams of a river would gladden the citizens. I. The first regards prospect. II. The second regards traffic. III. The third regards fertility. IV. The fourth regards supply.—W. Jay.

Verse 4.—“City of God.” The church may be called “the city of God,” because, 1. He dwells in it (see verse 5). 2. He founded it and built it. 3. It derives all privileges and immunities from him. 4. He is the chief Ruler or Governor there. 5. It is his property. 6. He draws the rent of it.—Ralph Erskine.

Verses 4, 5.—To the church, Joy, Establishment, Deliverance.

Verse 6.—What man did and what God did.

Verse 8.—“Behold the works of the Lord.” I. They are worth beholding, for they are all like himself; well becoming his infinite power, wisdom, justice. II. Our eyes were given us for this very purpose—not for the beholding of vanity, not for the ensnaring or wounding of the soul; but for the use and honour of the Creator. III. The Lord delights to have his works beheld; he knows their excellency and perfection, and that the more they are seen and noted the more honour will accrue to the Maker of them. IV. None but we can do it; there is great reason then that we should carefully “behold,” etc. V. This shall be of great benefit to ourselves.—Bishop Hall.

Verse 8.—The desolations of the Lord, the consolation of his saints. I. A declaration of what has happened. II. A promise of what shall be achieved.—Spurgeon’s Sermons, No. 190.

Verse 9.—The Great Peacemaker, or the principles of the gospel our only hope, for the total abolition of war.

Verse 10.—“Be still, and know that I am God.” The sole consideration that God is God, sufficient to still all objections to his sovereignty.—Jonathan Edwards.

Verse 10.—“I am God.” 1. In that he is God, he is an absolutely and infinitely perfect being. 2. As he is God he is so great, that he is infinitely above all comprehension. 3. As he is God, all things are his own. 4. In that he is God, he is worthy to be sovereign over all things. 5. In that he is God, he will be sovereign, and will act as such. 6. In that he is God, he is able to avenge himself on those who oppose his sovereignty.—Jonathan Edwards.