Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard ] How vain and foolish is the talk, "To love God for his benefits to us is mercenary, and cannot be pure love!" Whether pure or impure, there is no other love that can flow from the heart of the creature to its Creator. We love him, said the holiest of Christ's disciples, because he first loved us; and the increase of our love and filial obedience is in proportion to the increased sense we have of our obligation to him. We love him for the benefits bestowed on us. Love begets love.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - We have many reasons for loving the Lord, but are most affected by his loving-kindness when relieved out of deep distress. When a poor sinne is awakened to a sense of his state, and fears that he must soon sin under the just wrath of God, then he finds trouble and sorrow. But le all such call upon the Lord to deliver their souls, and they will fin him gracious and true to his promise. Neither ignorance nor guilt wil hinder their salvation, when they put their trust in the Lord. Let u all speak of God as we have found him; and have we ever found his otherwise than just and good? It is of his mercies that we are no consumed. Let those who labour and are heavy laden come to him, tha they may find rest to their souls; and if at all drawn from their rest let them haste to return, remembering how bountifully the Lord ha dealt with them. We should deem ourselves bound to walk as in his presence. It is a great mercy to be kept from being swallowed up with over-much sorrow. It is a great mercy for God to hold us by the righ hand, so that we are not overcome and overthrown by a temptation. But when we enter the heavenly rest, deliverance from sin and sorrow wil be complete; we shall behold the glory of the Lord, and walk in his presence with delight we cannot now conceive.
Original Hebrew אהבתי157 כי3588 ישׁמע8085 יהוה3068 את853 קולי6963 תחנוני׃8469
