mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 86.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxxxvii" n="lxxxvii" next="Ps.lxxxviii" prev="Ps.lxxxvi" progress="51.59%" title="Chapter LXXXVI">
<h2 id="Ps.lxxxvii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxxxvii-p0.2">PSALM LXXXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1">This psalm is entitled "a prayer of David;"
probably it was not penned upon any particular occasion, but was a
prayer he often used himself, and recommended to others for their
use, especially in a day of affliction. Many think that David
penned this prayer as a type of Christ, "who in the days of his
flesh offered up strong cries," <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.7" parsed="|Heb|5|7|0|0" passage="Heb 5:7">Heb. v.
7</scripRef>. David, in this prayer (according to the nature of
that duty), I. Gives glory to God, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.8-Ps.86.10 Bible:Ps.86.12 Bible:Ps.86.13" parsed="|Ps|86|8|86|10;|Ps|86|12|0|0;|Ps|86|13|0|0" passage="Ps 86:8-10,12,13">ver. 8-10, 12, 13</scripRef>. II. Seeks for
grace and favour from God, that God would hear his prayers (
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.1 Bible:Ps.86.6 Bible:Ps.86.7" parsed="|Ps|86|1|0|0;|Ps|86|6|0|0;|Ps|86|7|0|0" passage="Ps 86:1,6,7">ver. 1, 6, 7</scripRef>), preserve
and save him, and be merciful to him ( <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.2-Ps.86.3 Bible:Ps.86.16" parsed="|Ps|86|2|86|3;|Ps|86|16|0|0" passage="Ps 86:2,3,16">ver. 2, 3, 16</scripRef>), that he would give him
joy, and grace, and strength, and put honour upon him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.4 Bible:Ps.86.11 Bible:Ps.86.17" parsed="|Ps|86|4|0|0;|Ps|86|11|0|0;|Ps|86|17|0|0" passage="Ps 86:4,11,17">ver. 4, 11, 17</scripRef>. He pleads God's
goodness ( <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.5 Bible:Ps.86.15" parsed="|Ps|86|5|0|0;|Ps|86|15|0|0" passage="Ps 86:5,15">ver. 5, 15</scripRef>)
and the malice of his enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.14" parsed="|Ps|86|14|0|0" passage="Ps 86:14">ver.
14</scripRef>. In singing this we must, as David did, lift up our
souls to God with application.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86" parsed="|Ps|86|0|0|0" passage="Ps 86" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.1-Ps.86.7" parsed="|Ps|86|1|86|7" passage="Ps 86:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.86.1-Ps.86.7">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.10">Humble Petitions.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p1.11">
<p id="Ps.lxxxvii-p2">A Prayer of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p3">1 Bow down thine ear, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p3.1">O
Lord</span>, hear me: for I <i>am</i> poor and needy.   2
Preserve my soul; for I <i>am</i> holy: O thou my God, save thy
servant that trusteth in thee.   3 Be merciful unto me, O
Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.   4 Rejoice the soul of thy
servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.   5 For
thou, Lord, <i>art</i> good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in
mercy unto all them that call upon thee.   6 Give ear, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p3.2">O Lord</span>, unto my prayer; and attend to the
voice of my supplications.   7 In the day of my trouble I will
call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p4">This psalm was published under the title of
<i>a prayer of David;</i> not as if David sung all his prayers, but
into some of his songs he inserted prayers; for a psalm will admit
the expressions of any pious and devout affections. But it is
observable how very plain the language of this psalm is, and how
little there is in it of poetic flights or figures, in comparison
with some other psalms; for the flourishes of wit are not the
proper ornaments of prayer. Now here we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5">I. The petitions he puts up to God. It is
true, prayer accidentally may preach, but it is most fit that (as
it is in this prayer) every passage should be directed to God, for
such is the nature of prayer as it is here described (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.4" parsed="|Ps|86|4|0|0" passage="Ps 86:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>Unto thee, O Lord! do
I lift up my soul,</i> as he had said <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.1" parsed="|Ps|25|1|0|0" passage="Ps 25:1">Ps. xxv. 1</scripRef>. In all the parts of prayer the
soul must ascend upon the wings of faith and holy desire, and be
lifted up to God, to meet the communications of his grace, and in
an expectation raised very high of great things from him. 1. He
begs that God would give a gracious audience to his prayers
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.1" parsed="|Ps|86|1|0|0" passage="Ps 86:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>Bow down
thy ear, O Lord! hear me.</i> When God hears our prayers it is
fitly said that he <i>bows down his ear</i> to them, for it is
admirable condescension in God that he is pleased to take notice of
such mean creatures as we are and such defective prayers as ours
are. He repeats this again (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.6" parsed="|Ps|86|6|0|0" passage="Ps 86:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): "<i>Give ear, O Lord! unto my prayer,</i> a
favourable ear, though it be whispered, though it be stammered;
<i>attend to the voice of my supplications.</i>" Not that God needs
to have his affection stirred up by any thing that we can say; but
thus we must express our desire of his favour. The Son of David
spoke it with assurance and pleasure (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:John.11.41-John.11.42" parsed="|John|11|41|11|42" passage="Joh 11:41,42">John xi. 41, 42</scripRef>), <i>Father, I thank thee
that thou hast heard me; and I know that thou hearest me
always.</i> 2. He begs that God would take him under his special
protection, and so be the author of his salvation (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.2" parsed="|Ps|86|2|0|0" passage="Ps 86:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>Preserve my soul;
save thy servant.</i> It was David's soul that was God's servant;
for those only serve God acceptably that <i>serve him with their
spirits.</i> David's concern is about his soul; if we understand it
of his natural life, it teaches us that the best self-preservation
is to commit ourselves to God's keeping and by faith and prayer to
make our Creator our preserver. But it may be understood of his
spiritual life, the life of the soul as distinct from the body:
"Preserve my soul from that one evil and dangerous thing to souls,
even from sin; preserve my soul, and so save me." All those whom
God will save he preserves, and will preserve them to his heavenly
kingdom. 3. He begs that God would look upon him with an eye of
pity and compassion (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.3" parsed="|Ps|86|3|0|0" passage="Ps 86:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): <i>Be merciful to me, O Lord!</i> It is mercy in God
to pardon our sins and to help us out of our distresses; both these
are included in this prayer, <i>God be merciful to me.</i> "Men
show no mercy; we ourselves deserve no mercy, but, Lord, for
mercy-sake, be <i>merciful unto me.</i>" 4. He begs that God would
fill him with inward comfort (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.4" parsed="|Ps|86|4|0|0" passage="Ps 86:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): <i>Rejoice the soul of thy servant.</i> It is God
only that can <i>put gladness into the heart and make the soul to
rejoice,</i> and then, and not till then, the joy is full; and, as
it is the duty of those who are God's servants to <i>serve him with
gladness,</i> so it is their privilege to be <i>filled with joy and
peace in believing,</i> and they may in faith pray, not only that
God will preserve their souls, but that he will rejoice their
souls, and the <i>joy of the Lord</i> will be <i>their
strength.</i> Observe, When he prays, <i>Rejoice my soul,</i> he
adds, <i>For unto thee do I lift up my soul.</i> Then we may expect
comfort from God when we take care to keep up our communion with
God: prayer is the nurse of spiritual joy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6">II. The pleas with which he enforces these
petitions. 1. He pleads his relation to God and interest in him:
"Thou art my God, to whom I have devoted myself, and on whom I
depend, and I am thy servant (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.2" parsed="|Ps|86|2|0|0" passage="Ps 86:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), in subjection to thee, and therefore looking for
protection from thee." 2. He pleads his distress: "<i>Hear me, for
I am poor and needy,</i> therefore I want thy help, therefore none
else will hear me." God is the poor man's King, whose glory it is
to <i>save the souls of the needy;</i> those who are poor in
spirit, who see themselves empty and necessitous, are most welcome
to the God of all grace. 3. He pleads God's good will towards all
that seek him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.5" parsed="|Ps|86|5|0|0" passage="Ps 86:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>):
"To thee do I <i>lift up my soul</i> in desire and expectation;
<i>for thou, Lord, art good;</i>" and whither should beggars go but
to the door of the good house-keeper? The goodness of God's nature
is a great encouragement to us in all our addresses to him. His
goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving. (1.) He is a
sin-pardoning God; not only he can forgive, but he is ready to
forgive, more ready to forgive than we are to repent. <i>I said, I
will confess, and thou forgavest,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.32.5" parsed="|Ps|32|5|0|0" passage="Ps 32:5">Ps. xxxii. 5</scripRef>. (2.) He is a prayer-hearing God;
he is plenteous in mercy, very full, and very free, both rich and
liberal unto <i>all those that call upon him;</i> he has
wherewithal to supply all their needs and is openhanded in granting
that supply. 4. He pleads God's good work in himself, by which he
had qualified him for the tokens of his favour. Three things were
wrought in him by divine grace, which he looked upon as earnests of
all good:—(1.) A conformity to God (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.2" parsed="|Ps|86|2|0|0" passage="Ps 86:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>I am holy,</i> therefore
preserve my soul; for those whom the Spirit sanctifies he will
preserve. He does not say this in pride and vain glory, but with
humble thankfulness to God. <i>I am one whom thou favourest</i> (so
the margin reads it), whom thou hast <i>set apart for thyself.</i>
If God has begun a good work of grace in us, we must own that
<i>the time was a time of love. Then was I in his eyes as one that
found favour,</i> and whom God hath taken into his favour he will
take under his protection. <i>All his saints are in thy hand,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.3" parsed="|Deut|33|3|0|0" passage="De 33:3">Deut. xxxiii. 3</scripRef>. Observe,
<i>I am needy</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.1" parsed="|Ps|86|1|0|0" passage="Ps 86:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>), yet <i>I am holy</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.2" parsed="|Ps|86|2|0|0" passage="Ps 86:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), holy and yet needy, <i>poor in
the world, but rich in faith.</i> Those who preserve their purity
in their greatest poverty may assure themselves that God will
preserve their comforts, will preserve their souls. (2.) A
confidence in God: <i>Save thy servant that trusteth in thee.</i>
Those that are holy must nevertheless not trust in themselves, nor
in their own righteousness, but only in God and his grace. Those
that trust in God may expect salvation from him. (3.) A disposition
to communion with God. He hopes God will answer his prayers,
because he had inclined him to pray. [1.] To be constant in prayer:
<i>I cry unto thee daily, and all the day,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.3" parsed="|Ps|86|3|0|0" passage="Ps 86:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. It is thus our duty to pray
always, without ceasing, and to continue instant in prayer; and
then we may hope to have our prayers heard which we make in the
time of trouble, if we have made conscience of the duty at other
times, at all times. It is comfortable if an affliction finds the
wheels of prayer a-going, and that they are not then to be set
a-going. [2.] To be inward with God in prayer, to <i>lift up his
soul</i> to him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.4" parsed="|Ps|86|4|0|0" passage="Ps 86:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. Then we may hope that God will meet us with his
mercies, when we in our prayers send forth our souls as it were to
meet him. [3.] To be in a special manner earnest with God in prayer
when he was in affliction (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.7" parsed="|Ps|86|7|0|0" passage="Ps 86:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>): "<i>In the day of my trouble,</i> whatever others
do, <i>I will call upon thee,</i> and commit my case to thee, for
thou wilt hear and answer me, and I shall not seek in vain, as
those did who cried, <i>O Baal! hear us; but there was no voice,
nor any that regarded,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.11" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.18.29" parsed="|1Kgs|18|29|0|0" passage="1Ki 18:29">1 Kings
xviii. 29</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.8-Ps.86.17" parsed="|Ps|86|8|86|17" passage="Ps 86:8-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.86.8-Ps.86.17">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxxvii-p6.13">Petitions and Praises; Prayer for Mercy and
Grace.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p7">8 Among the gods <i>there is</i> none like unto
thee, O Lord; neither <i>are there any works</i> like unto thy
works.   9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and
worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.   10
For thou <i>art</i> great, and doest wondrous things: thou
<i>art</i> God alone.   11 Teach me thy way, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p7.1">O Lord</span>; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart
to fear thy name.   12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with
all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.   13
For great <i>is</i> thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my
soul from the lowest hell.   14 O God, the proud are risen
against me, and the assemblies of violent <i>men</i> have sought
after my soul; and have not set thee before them.   15 But
thou, O Lord, <i>art</i> a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.   16 O turn
unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy
servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.   17 show me a
token for good; that they which hate me may see <i>it,</i> and be
ashamed: because thou, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p7.2">Lord</span>, hast
holpen me, and comforted me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p8">David is here going on in his prayer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9">I. He gives glory to God; for we ought in
our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory, to
him, with the most humble and reverent adorations. 1. As a being of
unparalleled perfection, such a one that there is none like him nor
any to be compared with him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.8" parsed="|Ps|86|8|0|0" passage="Ps 86:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. <i>Among the gods,</i> the false gods, whom the
heathens worshipped, the angels, the kings of the earth, among them
all, <i>there is none like unto thee, O Lord!</i> none so wise, so
mighty, so good; <i>neither are there any works like unto thy
works,</i> which is an undeniable proof that there is none like
him; his own works praise him, and the best way we have of praising
him is by acknowledging that there is none like him. 2. As the
fountain of all being and the centre of all praise (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.9" parsed="|Ps|86|9|0|0" passage="Ps 86:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast made all
nations,</i> made them all of one blood; they all derive their
being from thee, and have a constant dependence on thee, and
therefore <i>they shall come and worship before thee and glorify
thy name.</i>" This was in part fulfilled in the multitude of
proselytes to the Jewish religion in the days of David and Solomon,
but was to have its full accomplishment in the days of the Messiah,
when some out of every kingdom and nation should be effectually
brought in to praise God, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.9" parsed="|Rev|7|9|0|0" passage="Re 7:9">Rev. vii.
9</scripRef>. It was by Christ that God made all nations, for
without him was not any thing made that was made, and therefore
through Christ, and by the power of his gospel and grace, all
nations shall be brought to <i>worship before God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.23" parsed="|Isa|66|23|0|0" passage="Isa 66:23">Isa. lxvi. 23</scripRef>. 3. As a being
infinitely great (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.10" parsed="|Ps|86|10|0|0" passage="Ps 86:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): "Therefore all nations shall worship before thee,
because as King of nations <i>thou art great,</i> thy sovereignty
absolute and incontestable, thy majesty terrible and insupportable,
thy power universal and irresistible, thy riches vast and
inexhaustible, thy dominion boundless and unquestionable; and, for
the proof of this, <i>thou doest wondrous things,</i> which all
nations admire, and whence they might easily infer that thou art
God alone, not only none like thee, but none besides thee." Let us
always entertain great thoughts of this great God, and be filled
with holy admiration of this God who doeth wonders; and let him
alone have our hearts who is God alone. 4. As a being infinitely
good. Man is bad, very wicked and vile (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.14" parsed="|Ps|86|14|0|0" passage="Ps 86:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>); no mercy is to be expected
from him; <i>but thou, O Lord! art a God full of compassion, and
gracious,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.15" parsed="|Ps|86|15|0|0" passage="Ps 86:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>.
This is that attribute by which he proclaims his name, and by which
we are therefore to proclaim it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.34.6-Exod.34.7" parsed="|Exod|34|6|34|7" passage="Ex 34:6,7">Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7</scripRef>. It is his goodness that
is over all his works, and therefore should fill all our praises;
and this is our comfort, in reference to the wickedness of the
world we live in, that, however it be, God is good. Men are
barbarous, but God is gracious; men are false, but God is faithful.
God is not only compassionate, but full of compassion, and in him
<i>mercy rejoiceth against judgment.</i> He is long-suffering
towards us, though we forfeit his favour and provoke him to anger,
and he is <i>plenteous in mercy and truth,</i> as faithful in
performing as he was free in promising. 5. As a kind friend and
bountiful benefactor to him. We ought to praise God as good in
himself, but we do it most feelingly when we observe how good he
has been to us. This therefore the psalmist dwells upon with most
pleasure, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.12-Ps.86.13" parsed="|Ps|86|12|86|13" passage="Ps 86:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12,
13</scripRef>. He had said (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.9" parsed="|Ps|86|9|0|0" passage="Ps 86:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), <i>All nations shall praise thee, O Lord! and
glorify thy name.</i> It is some satisfaction to a good man to
think that others shall praise and glorify God, but it is his
greatest care and pleasure to do it himself. "Whatever others do"
(says David), "<i>I will praise thee, O Lord my God!</i> not only
as the Lord, but as my God; and I will do it with all my heart; I
will be ready to do it and cordial in it; I will do it with
cheerfulness and liveliness, with a sincere regard to thy honour;
for <i>I will glorify thy name,</i> not for a time, but for
evermore. I will do it as long as I live, and hope to be doing it
to eternity." With good reason does he resolve to be thus
particular in praising God, because God had shown him particular
favours: <i>For great is thy mercy towards me.</i> The fountain of
mercy is inexhaustibly full; the streams of mercy are inestimably
rich. When we speak of God's mercy to us, it becomes us thus to
magnify it: <i>Great is thy mercy towards me.</i> Of the greatness
of God's mercy he gives this instance, <i>Thou hast delivered my
soul from the lowest hell,</i> from death, from so great a death,
as St. Paul (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p9.11" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.1.10" parsed="|2Cor|1|10|0|0" passage="2Co 1:10">2 Cor. i. 10</scripRef>),
from eternal death, so even some of the Jewish writers understand
it. David knew he deserved to be cast off for ever into the lowest
hell for his sin in the matter of Uriah; but Nathan assured him
that the Lord had <i>taken away his sin,</i> and by that word he
was delivered from the lowest hell, and herein God's mercy was
great towards him. Even the best saints owe it, not to their own
merit, but to the mercy of God, that they are saved from the lowest
hell; and the consideration of that should greatly enlarge their
hearts in praising the mercy of God, which they are obliged to
glorify for evermore. So glorious; so gracious, a rescue from
everlasting misery, justly requires the return of everlasting
praise.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p10">II. He prays earnestly for mercy and grace
from God. He complains of the restless and implacable malice of his
enemies against him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.14" parsed="|Ps|86|14|0|0" passage="Ps 86:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): "Lord, be thou for me; for there are many against
me." He then takes notice of their character; they were <i>proud
men</i> that looked with disdain upon poor David. (Many are made
persecutors by their pride.) They were <i>violent men,</i> that
would carry all before them by force, right or wrong. They were
<i>terrible formidable men</i> (so some), that did what they could
to frighten all about them. He notices their number: There were
<i>assemblies</i> of them; they were men in authority and met in
councils and courts, or men for conversation, and met in clubs;
but, being assembled, they were the more capable of doing mischief.
He notices their enmity to him: "They <i>rise up against me</i> in
open rebellion; they not only plot, but they put their plots in
execution as far as they can; and the design is not only to depose
me, but to destroy me: they seek after my life, to slay me; after
my soul, to damn me, if it lay in their power." And, <i>lastly,</i>
He notices their distance and estrangement from God, which were at
the bottom of their enmity to David: "<i>They have not set thee
before them;</i> and what good can be expected from those that have
no fear of God before their eyes? Lord, appear against them, for
they are thy enemies as well as mine." His petitions are,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p11">1. For the operations of God's grace in
him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.11" parsed="|Ps|86|11|0|0" passage="Ps 86:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. He prays
that God would give him, (1.) An understanding heart, that he would
inform and instruct him concerning his duty: "<i>Teach me thy way,
O Lord!</i> the way that thou hast appointed me to walk in; when I
am in doubt concerning it, make it plain to me what I should do;
let me hear the voice saying, <i>This is the way,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.21" parsed="|Isa|30|21|0|0" passage="Isa 30:21">Isa. xxx. 21</scripRef>. David was well taught
in the things of God, and yet was sensible he needed further
instruction, and many a time could not trust his own judgment:
<i>Teach me thy way; I will walk in thy truth.</i> One would think
it should be, <i>Teach me thy truth, and I will walk in thy
way;</i> but it comes all to one; it is the way of truth that God
teaches and that we must choose to walk in, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.30" parsed="|Ps|119|30|0|0" passage="Ps 119:30">Ps. cxix. 30</scripRef>. Christ is the way and the
truth, and we must both learn Christ and walk in him. We cannot
walk in God's way and truth unless he teach us; and, if we expect
he should teach us, we must resolve to be governed by his
teachings, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.3" parsed="|Isa|2|3|0|0" passage="Isa 2:3">Isa. ii. 3</scripRef>. (2.)
An upright heart: "<i>Unite my heart to fear thy name.</i> Make me
sincere in religion. A hypocrite has a double heart; let mine be
single and entire for God, not divided between him and the world,
not straggling from him." Our hearts are apt to wander and hang
loose; their powers and faculties wander after a thousand foreign
things; we have therefore need of God's grace to unite them, that
we may serve God with all that is within us, and all little enough
to be employed in his service. "Let my heart be fixed for God, and
firm and faithful to him, and fervent in serving him; that is a
united heart."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxxvii-p12">2. For the tokens of God's favour to him,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxxvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.86.16-Ps.86.17" parsed="|Ps|86|16|86|17" passage="Ps 86:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. Three
things he here prays for:—(1.) That God would speak peace and
comfort to him: "<i>O turn unto me,</i> as to one thou lovest and
hast a kind and tender concern for. My enemies turn against me, my
friends turn from me; Lord, do thou turn to me and have mercy upon
me; it will be a comfort to me to know that thou pitiest me." (2.)
That God would work deliverance for him, and set him in safety:
"Give me <i>thy strength;</i> put strength into me, that I may help
myself, and put forth thy strength for me, that I may be saved out
of the hands of those that seek my ruin." He pleads relation: "I am
<i>thy servant;</i> I am so by birth, as <i>the son of thy
handmaid,</i> born in thy house, and therefore thou art my rightful
owner and proprietor, from whom I may expect protection. <i>I am
thine; save me.</i>" The children of godly parents, who were
betimes dedicated to the Lord, may plead it with him; if they come
under the discipline of his family, they are entitled to the
privileges of it. (3.) That God would put a reputation on him:
"<i>Show me a token for good;</i> make it to appear to others as
well as to myself that thou art doing me good, and designing
further good for me. Let me have some unquestionable illustrious
instances of thy favour to me, <i>that those who hate me may see
it, and be ashamed</i> of their enmity to me, as they will have
reason to be when they perceive that <i>thou, Lord, hast helped me
and comforted me,</i> and that therefore they have been striving
against God, opposing one whom he owns, and that they have been
striving in vain to ruin and vex one whom God himself has
undertaken to help and comfort." The joy of the saints shall be the
shame of their persecutors.</p>
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