The Reign of the Righteous King

721 Give the king thy judgments, O God, And thy righteousness unto the king's son.

2 He will judge thy people with righteousness, And thy poor with justice. 3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. 4 He will judge the poor of the people, He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6 He will come down like rain upon the mown grass, As showers that water the earth. 7 In his days shall the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace, till the moon be no more. 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he crieth, And the poor, that hath no helper. 13 He will have pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he will save. 14 He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence; And precious will their blood be in his sight: 15 And they shall live; and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: And men shall pray for him continually; They shall bless him all the day long. 16 There shall be abundance of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains; The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him; All nations shall call him happy.

18 Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things: 19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever; And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

The Fate of the Wicked

731 Surely God is good to Israel, [Even] to such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as [other] men; Neither are they plagued like [other] men. 6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. 8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily. 9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches. 13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency; 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end. 18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. 19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21 For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart: 22 So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand. 24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth; [But] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.

God's Election of Israel

91 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises; 5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6 But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: 7 neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. 9 For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10 And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac— 11 for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, 12 it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 9:1-15

Commentary on Romans 9:1-5

(Read Romans 9:1-5)

Being about to discuss the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, and to show that the whole agrees with the sovereign electing love of God, the apostle expresses strongly his affection for his people. He solemnly appeals to Christ; and his conscience, enlightened and directed by the Holy Spirit, bore witness to his sincerity. He would submit to be treated as "accursed," to be disgraced, crucified; and even for a time be in the deepest horror and distress; if he could rescue his nation from the destruction about to come upon them for their obstinate unbelief. To be insensible to the eternal condition of our fellow-creatures, is contrary both to the love required by the law, and the mercy of the gospel. They had long been professed worshippers of Jehovah. The law, and the national covenant which was grounded thereon, belonged to them. The temple worship was typical of salvation by the Messiah, and the means of communion with God. All the promises concerning Christ and his salvation were given to them. He is not only over all, as Mediator, but he is God blessed for ever.

Commentary on Romans 9:6-13

(Read Romans 9:6-13)

The rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatenings shall be fulfilled. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God therein wrought according to the counsel of his own will. God foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born in sin, by nature children of wrath even as others. If left to themselves they would have continued in sin through life; but for wise and holy reasons, not made known to us, he purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his perverseness. This instance of Esau and Jacob throws light upon the Divine conduct to the fallen race of man. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward privileges are bestowed on many who are not the children of God. There is, however, full encouragement to diligent use of the means of grace which God has appointed.

Commentary on Romans 9:14-24

(Read Romans 9:14-24)

Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hosea 13:9. God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind himself by his own covenant and promise, which is his revealed will. And this is, that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to Christ; but the drawing of souls in order to that coming, is an anticipating, distinguishing favour to whom he will. Why does he yet find fault? This is not an objection to be made by the creature against his Creator, by man against God. The truth, as it is in Jesus, abases man as nothing, as less than nothing, and advances God as sovereign Lord of all. Who art thou that art so foolish, so feeble, so unable to judge the Divine counsels? It becomes us to submit to him, not to reply against him. Would not men allow the infinite God the same sovereign right to manage the affairs of the creation, as the potter exercises in disposing of his clay, when of the same lump he makes one vessel to a more honourable, and one to a meaner use? God could do no wrong, however it might appear to men. God will make it appear that he hates sin. Also, he formed vessels filled with mercy. Sanctification is the preparation of the soul for glory. This is God's work. Sinners fit themselves for hell, but it is God who prepares saints for heaven; and all whom God designs for heaven hereafter, he fits for heaven now. Would we know who these vessels of mercy are? Those whom God has called; and these not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles. Surely there can be no unrighteousness in any of these Divine dispensations. Nor in God's exercising long-suffering, patience, and forbearance towards sinners under increasing guilt, before he brings utter destruction upon them. The fault is in the hardened sinner himself. As to all who love and fear God, however such truths appear beyond their reason to fathom, yet they should keep silence before him. It is the Lord alone who made us to differ; we should adore his pardoning mercy and new-creating grace, and give diligence to make our calling and election sure.