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I. THE POOR MAN. This does not principally refer to those that are poor in this world: for though it be very common that "the poor of this world are chosen to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom," yet this is not an universal rule. The "poor" here signifies such as Christ characterizes more fully by "the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). And this character implies the following ingredients.

(1) The poor man to whom Jehovah looks is deeply sensible of his own insufficiency, and that nothing but the enjoyment of God can make him happy (Psalm 4:6, 7; Psalm 73:25, 26; Psalm 18:15).

(2) This spiritual poverty implies deep humility and self-abasement.

(3) He who is poor in spirit is sensible of his need of the influences of Divine grace to sanctify and enrich him.

(4) He is deeply sensible of the absolute necessity of the righteousness of Christ for his justification.

(5) He is an importunate beggar at the throne of grace.

II. CONTRITION OF SPIRIT. The word "contrite" signifies one that is beaten or bruised with hard blows, or a heavy burden. And it belongs to the mourning penitent whose heart is broken and wounded for sin. Sin is an intolerable burden that crushes and bruises him, and he feels himself pained and sore under it.

III. Consider the remaining character of the happy man to whom the Lord will look: "HIM THAT TREMBLETH AT MY WORD." This character implies a tender sense of the great things of the Word, and a heart easily impressed with them as the most important realities. This was remarkably exemplified in the tender-hearted Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:19-28). The threatenings of the Word do not appear vain terms, nor great swelling words of vanity, but the most tremendous realities. Such an one cannot bear up under them, but would tremble, and fall, and die away, if not relieved by some happy promise of deliverance.

(S. Davies, M. A.)

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KJV: For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

WEB: For all these things has my hand made, and [so] all these things came to be," says Yahweh: "but to this man will I look, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.