mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 40.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xli" n="xli" next="Ps.xlii" prev="Ps.xl" progress="35.29%" title="Chapter XL">
<h2 id="Ps.xli-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xli-p0.2">PSALM XL.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xli-p1">It should seem David penned this psalm upon
occasion of his deliverance, by the power and goodness of God, from
some great and pressing trouble, by which he was in danger of being
overwhelmed; probably it was some trouble of mind arising from a
sense of sin and of God's displeasure against him for it; whatever
it was, the same Spirit that indited his praises for that
deliverance was in him, at the same time, a Spirit of prophecy,
testifying of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should
follow; or, ere he was aware, he was led to speak of his
undertaking, and the discharge of his undertaking, in words that
must be applied to Christ only; and therefore how far the praises
that here go before that illustrious prophecy, and the prayers that
follow, may safely and profitably be applied to him it will be
worth while to consider. In this psalm, I. David records God's
favour to him in delivering him out of his deep distress, with
thankfulness to his praise, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40 Bible:Ps.1" parsed="|Ps|40|0|0|0;|Ps|1|0|5|0" passage="Ps 40 1-5">ver.
1-5</scripRef>. II. Thence he takes occasion to speak of the work
of our redemption by Christ, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40 Bible:Ps.6" parsed="|Ps|40|0|0|0;|Ps|6|0|10|0" passage="Ps 40 6-10">ver.
6-10</scripRef>. III. That gives him encouragement to pray to God
for mercy and grace both for himself and for his friends, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40 Bible:Ps.11" parsed="|Ps|40|0|0|0;|Ps|11|0|17|0" passage="Ps 40 11-17">ver. 11-17</scripRef>. If, in singing this
psalm, we mix faith with the prophecy of Christ, and join in
sincerity with the praises and prayers here offered up, we make
melody with our hearts to the Lord.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xli-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40" parsed="|Ps|40|0|0|0" passage="Ps 40" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xli-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.1-Ps.40.5" parsed="|Ps|40|1|40|5" passage="Ps 40:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.40.1-Ps.40.5">
<h4 id="Ps.xli-p1.6">The Benefit of Confidence in
God.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xli-p1.7">
<p id="Ps.xli-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xli-p3">1 I waited patiently for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p3.1">Lord</span>; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
  2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the
miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, <i>and</i> established my
goings.   3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
<i>even</i> praise unto our God: many shall see <i>it,</i> and
fear, and shall trust in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p3.2">Lord</span>.
  4 Blessed <i>is</i> that man that maketh the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p3.3">Lord</span> his trust, and respecteth not the proud,
nor such as turn aside to lies.   5 Many, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p3.4">O Lord</span> my God, <i>are</i> thy wonderful works
<i>which</i> thou hast done, and thy thoughts <i>which are</i> to
us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: <i>if</i> I
would declare and speak <i>of them,</i> they are more than can be
numbered.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p4">In these verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p5">I. The great distress and trouble that the
psalmist had been in. He had been plunged into a horrible pit and
into miry clay (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.2" parsed="|Ps|40|2|0|0" passage="Ps 40:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), out of which he could not work himself, and in which
he found himself sinking yet further. He says nothing here either
of the sickness of his body or the insults of his enemies, and
therefore we have reason to think it was some inward disquiet and
perplexity of spirit that was now his greatest grievance.
Despondency of spirit under the sense of Gods withdrawings, and
prevailing doubts and fears about the eternal state, are indeed a
horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child
of God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p6">II. His humble attendance upon God and his
believing expectations from him in those depths: <i>I waited
patiently for the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.1" parsed="|Ps|40|1|0|0" passage="Ps 40:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. <i>Waiting, I waited.</i> He expected relief from no
other than from God; the same hand that tears must heal, that
smites must bind up (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.6.1" parsed="|Hos|6|1|0|0" passage="Ho 6:1">Hos. vi.
1</scripRef>), or it will never be done. From God he expected
relief, and he was big with expectation, not doubting but it would
come in due time. There is power enough in God to help the weakest,
and grace enough in God to help the unworthiest, of all his people
that trust in him. But he waited patiently, which intimates that
the relief did not come quickly; yet he doubted not but it would
come, and resolved to continue believing, and hoping, and praying,
till it did come. Those whose expectation is from God may wait with
assurance, but must wait with patience. Now this is very applicable
to Christ. His agony, both in the garden and on the cross, was the
same continued, and it was a horrible pit and miry clay. Then was
his soul troubled and exceedingly sorrowful; but then he prayed,
<i>Father, glorify thy name; Father, save me;</i> then he kept hold
of his relation to his Father, "My God, my God," and thus waited
patiently for him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p7">III. His comfortable experience of God's
goodness to him in his distress, which he records for the honour of
God and his own and others' encouragement.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p8">1. God answered his prayers: <i>He inclined
unto me and heard my cry.</i> Those that wait patiently for God,
though they may wait long, do not wait in vain. Our Lord Jesus was
<i>heard in that he feared,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.5.7" parsed="|Heb|5|7|0|0" passage="Heb 5:7">Heb. v.
7</scripRef>. Nay, he was sure that the Father heard him
always.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p9">2. He silenced his fears, and stilled the
tumult of his spirits, and gave him a settled peace of conscience
(<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.2" parsed="|Ps|40|2|0|0" passage="Ps 40:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): "He
<i>brought me up out of that horrible pit</i> of despondency and
despair, scattered the clouds, and shone brightly upon my soul,
with the assurances of his favour; and not only so, but <i>set my
feet upon a rock and established my goings.</i>" Those that have
been under the prevalency of a religious melancholy, and by the
grace of God have been relieved, may apply this very feelingly to
themselves; they are brought up out of a horrible pit. (1.) The
mercy is completed by the setting of their feet upon a rock, where
they find firm footing, are as much elevated with the hopes of
heaven as they were before cast down with the fears of hell. Christ
is the rock on which a poor soul may stand fast, and on whose
meditation alone between us and God we can build any solid hopes or
satisfaction. (2.) It is continued in the establishment of their
goings. Where God has given a stedfast hope he expects there should
be a steady regular conversation; and, if that be the blessed fruit
of it, we have reason to acknowledge, with abundance of
thankfulness, the riches and power of his grace.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p10">3. He filled him with joy, as well as
peace, in believing: "<i>He has put a new song in my mouth;</i> he
has given me cause to rejoice and a heart to rejoice." He was
brought, as it were, into a new world, and that filled his mouth
with a new song, <i>even praise to our God;</i> for to his praise
and glory must all our songs be sung. Fresh mercies, especially
such as we never before received, call for new songs. This is
applicable to our Lord Jesus in his reception to paradise, his
resurrection from the grave, and his exaltation to the joy and
glory set before him; he was brought out of the horrible pit, set
upon a rock, and had a new song put into his mouth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p11">IV. The good improvement that should be
made of this instance of God's goodness to David.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p12">1. David's experience would be an
encouragement to many to hope in God, and, for that end, he leaves
it here upon record: <i>Many shall see, and fear, and trust in the
Lord.</i> They shall fear the Lord and his justice, which brought
David, and the Son of David, into that horrible pit, and shall say,
<i>If this be done to the green tree, what shall be done to the
dry?</i> They shall fear the Lord and his goodness, in filling the
mouth of David, and the Son of David, with new songs of joy and
praise. There is a holy reverent fear of God, which is not only
consistent with, but the foundation of, our hope in him. They shall
not fear him and shun him, but fear him and trust in him in their
greatest straits, not doubting but to find him as able and ready to
help as David did in his distress. God's dealings with our Lord
Jesus are our great encouragement to trust in God; when it pleased
the Lord to bruise him, and put him to grief for our sins, he
demanded our debt from him; and when he raised him from the dead,
and set him at his own right hand, he made it to appear that he had
accepted the payment he made and was satisfied with it; and what
greater encouragement can we have to fear and worship God and
to<i>trust in him?.</i> See <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.4.25 Bible:Rom.5.1-Rom.5.2" parsed="|Rom|4|25|0|0;|Rom|5|1|5|2" passage="Ro 4:25,5:1,2">Rom.
iv. 25; v. 1, 2</scripRef>. The psalmist invites others to make God
their hope, as he did, by pronouncing those happy that do so
(<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.4" parsed="|Ps|40|4|0|0" passage="Ps 40:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): "<i>Blessed
is the man that makes the Lord his trust,</i> and him only (that
has great and good thoughts of him, and is entirely devoted to
him), <i>and respects not the proud,</i> does not do as those do
that trust in themselves, nor depends upon those who proudly
encourage others to trust in them; for both the one and the other
turn aside to lies, as indeed all those do that turn aside from
God." This is applicable, particularly, to our faith in Christ.
Blessed are those that trust in him, and in his righteousness
alone, and respect not the proud Pharisees, that set up their own
righteousness in competition with that, that will not be governed
by their dictates, nor turn aside to lies, with the unbelieving
Jews, who <i>submit not to the righteousness of God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.10.3" parsed="|Rom|10|3|0|0" passage="Ro 10:3">Rom. x. 3</scripRef>. Blessed are those that
escape this temptation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p13">2. The joyful sense he had of this mercy
led him to observe, with thankfulness, the many other favours he
had received from God, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.5" parsed="|Ps|40|5|0|0" passage="Ps 40:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. When God puts new songs into our mouth we must not
forget our former songs, but repeat them: "<i>Many, O Lord my God!
are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,</i> both for me and
others; this is but one of many." Many are the benefits with which
we are daily loaded both by the providence and by the grace of God.
(1.) They are his works, not only the gifts of his bounty, but the
operations of his power. He works for us, he works in us, and thus
he favours us with matter, not only for thanks, but for praise.
(2.) They are his wonderful works, the contrivance of them
admirable, his condescension to us in bestowing them upon us
admirable; eternity itself will be short enough to be spent in the
admiration of them. (3.) All his wonderful works are the product of
his thoughts to us-ward. He does all <i>according to the counsel of
his own will</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.11" parsed="|Eph|1|11|0|0" passage="Eph 1:11">Eph. i.
11</scripRef>), the purposes of his grace <i>which he purposed in
himself,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.11" parsed="|Eph|3|11|0|0" passage="Eph 3:11">Eph. iii. 11</scripRef>.
They are the projects of infinite wisdom, the designs of
everlasting love (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.2.7 Bible:Jer.31.3" parsed="|1Cor|2|7|0|0;|Jer|31|3|0|0" passage="1Co 2:7,Jer 31:3">1 Cor. ii.
7, Jer. xxxi. 3</scripRef>), <i>thoughts of good and not of
evil,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.29.11" parsed="|Jer|29|11|0|0" passage="Jer 29:11">Jer. xxix. 11</scripRef>.
His gifts and callings will <i>therefore</i> be without repentance,
because they are not sudden resolves, but the result of his
thoughts, his many thoughts, to us-ward. (4.) They are innumerable;
they cannot be methodized or <i>reckoned up in order.</i> There is
an order in all God's works, but there are so many that present
themselves to our view at once that we know not where to begin nor
which to name next; the order of them, and their natural references
and dependencies, and how the links of the golden chain are joined,
are a mystery to us, and what we shall not be able to account for
till the veil be rent and the mystery of God finished. Nor can they
be counted, not the very heads of them. When we have said the most
we can of the wonders of divine love to us we must conclude with an
<i>et cætera—and such like,</i> and adore the depth, despairing to
find the bottom.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xli-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.6-Ps.40.10" parsed="|Ps|40|6|40|10" passage="Ps 40:6-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.40.6-Ps.40.10">
<h4 id="Ps.xli-p13.7">Insufficiency of the Legal Sacrifices; The
Efficacy of Christ's Sacrifice.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xli-p14">6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;
mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast
thou not required.   7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume
of the book <i>it is</i> written of me,   8 I delight to do
thy will, O my God: yea, thy law <i>is</i> within my heart.  
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I
have not refrained my lips, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p14.1">O Lord</span>,
thou knowest.   10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my
heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have
not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great
congregation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p15">The psalmist, being struck with amazement
at the wonderful works that God had done for his people, is
strangely carried out here to foretel that work of wonder which
excels all the rest and is the foundation and fountain of all, that
of our redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ. God's thoughts, which
were to us-ward concerning that work, were the most curious, the
most copious, the most gracious, and therefore to be most admired.
This paragraph is quoted by the apostle (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.5-Heb.10.7" parsed="|Heb|10|5|10|7" passage="Heb 10:5-7">Heb. x. 5</scripRef>, &amp;c.) and applied to Christ
and his undertaking for us. As in the institutions, so in the
devotions, of the Old Testament saints were aware of; and, when the
apostle would show us the Redeemer's voluntary undertaking of his
work, he does not fetch his account out of the book of God's secret
counsels, which belong not to us, but from the things revealed.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p16">I. The utter insufficiency of the legal
sacrifices to atone for sin in order to our peace with God and our
happiness in him: <i>Sacrifice and offering thou didst not
desire;</i> thou wouldst not have the Redeemer to offer them.
Something he must have to offer, but not these (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.3" parsed="|Heb|8|3|0|0" passage="Heb 8:3">Heb. viii. 3</scripRef>); therefore he must not be of the
house of Aaron, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.14" parsed="|Heb|7|14|0|0" passage="Heb 7:14">Heb. vii.
14</scripRef>. Or, In the days of the Messiah burnt-offering and
sin-offering will be no longer required, but all those ceremonial
institutions will be abolished. But that is not all: even while the
law concerning them was in full force it might be said, God did not
desire them, nor accept them, for their own sake. They could not
take away the guilt of sin by satisfying God's justice. The life of
a sheep, which is so much inferior in value to that of a man
(<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.12" parsed="|Matt|12|12|0|0" passage="Mt 12:12">Matt. xii. 12</scripRef>), could not
pretend to be an equivalent, much less an expedient to preserve the
honour of God's government and laws and repair the injury done to
that honour by the sin of man. They could not take away the terror
of sin by pacifying the conscience, nor the power of sin by
sanctifying the nature; it was impossible, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p16.4" passage="Heb 9:9,10:1-4">Heb. ix. 9; x. 1-4</scripRef>. What there was in
them that was valuable resulted from their reference to Jesus
Christ, of whom they were types—shadows indeed, but shadows of
good things to come, and trials of the faith and obedience of God's
people, of their obedience to
the law, and their faith in the gospel. But the Substance must come,
which is Christ, who must bring that glory to God, and that grace to
man which it was impossible those sacrifices should ever do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p17">II. The designation of our Lord Jesus to
the work and office of Mediator: <i>My ears hast thou opened.</i>
God the Father disposed him to the undertaking (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.5-Isa.50.6" parsed="|Isa|50|5|50|6" passage="Isa 50:5,6">Isa. l. 5, 6</scripRef>) and then obliged him to go
through with it. <i>My ear hast thou digged.</i> It is supposed to
allude to the law and custom of binding servants to serve for ever
by boring their ear to the doorpost; see <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.21.6" parsed="|Exod|21|6|0|0" passage="Ex 21:6">Exod. xxi. 6</scripRef>. Our Lord Jesus was so in love
with his undertaking that he would not go out free from it, and
therefore engaged to persevere for ever in it; and for this reason
<i>he is able to save us to the uttermost,</i> because he has
engaged to serve his Father to the uttermost, who upholds him in
it, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.42.1" parsed="|Isa|42|1|0|0" passage="Isa 42:1">Isa. xlii. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p18">III. His own voluntary consent to this
undertaking: "<i>Then said I, Lo, I come;</i> then, when sacrifice
and offering would not do, rather than the work should be undone; I
said, Lo, I come, to enter the lists with the powers of darkness,
and to advance the interests of God's glory and kingdom." This
intimates three things:—1. That he freely offered himself to this
service, to which he was under no obligation at all prior to his
own voluntary engagement. It was no sooner proposed to him than,
with the greatest cheerfulness, he consented to it, and was
wonderfully well pleased with the undertaking. Had he not been
perfectly voluntary in it, he could not have been a surety, he
could not have been a sacrifice; for it is by this will (this
<i>animus offerentis—mind of the offerer</i>) that we are
sanctified, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.10" parsed="|Heb|10|10|0|0" passage="Heb 10:10">Heb. x. 10</scripRef>. 2.
That he firmly obliged himself to it: "I come; I promise to come in
the fulness of time." And therefore the apostle says, "It was when
he came into the world that he had an actual regard to this
promise, by which he had <i>engaged his heart to approach unto
God.</i>" He thus entered into bonds, not only to show the
greatness of his love, but because he was to have the honour of his
undertaking before he had fully performed it. Though the price was
not paid, it was secured to be paid, so that he was the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. 3. That he frankly owned himself
engaged: He said, <i>Lo, I come,</i> said it all along to the Old
Testament saints, who therefore knew him by the title of <b><i>ho
erchomenos</i></b>—<i>He that should come.</i> This word was the
foundation on which they built their faith and hope, and which they
looked and longed for the accomplishment of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p19">IV. The reason why he came, in pursuance of
his undertaking—because <i>in the volume of the book it was
written of him,</i> 1. In the close rolls of the divine decree and
counsel; there it was written that his ear was opened, and he said,
<i>Lo, I come;</i> there the covenant of redemption was recorded,
the counsel of redemption was recorded, the counsel of peace
between the Father and the Son; and to that he had an eye in all he
did, the commandment he received of his Father. 2. In the letters
patent of the Old Testament. Moses and all the prophets testified
of him; in all the volumes of that book something or other was
written of him, which he had an eye to, that all might be
accomplished, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:John.19.28" parsed="|John|19|28|0|0" passage="Joh 19:28">John xix.
28</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p20">V. The pleasure he took in his undertaking.
Having freely offered himself to it, he did not fail, nor was
discouraged, but proceeded with all possible satisfaction to
himself (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.8-Ps.40.9" parsed="|Ps|40|8|40|9" passage="Ps 40:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>):
<i>I delight to do thy will, O my God!</i> It was to Christ his meat
and drink to go on with the work appointed to him (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:John.3.34" parsed="|John|3|34|0|0" passage="Joh 3:34">John iv. 34</scripRef>); and the reason here
given is, <i>Thy law is within my heart;</i> it is written there,
it rules there. It is meant of the law concerning the work and
office of the Mediator, what he was to do and suffer; this law was
dear to him and had an influence upon him in his whole undertaking.
Note, When the law of God is written in our hearts our duty will be
our delight.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p21">VI. The publication of the gospel to the
children of men, even <i>in the great congregation,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.9-Ps.40.10" parsed="|Ps|40|9|40|10" passage="Ps 40:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. The same that as a
priest wrought out redemption for us, as a prophet, by his own
preaching first, then by his apostles, and still by his word and
Spirit, makes it known to us. The <i>great salvation began to be
spoken by the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.3" parsed="|Heb|2|3|0|0" passage="Heb 2:3">Heb. ii.
3</scripRef>. It is the gospel of Christ that is preached to all
nations. Observe, 1. What it is that is preached: It is
<i>righteousness</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.9" parsed="|Ps|40|9|0|0" passage="Ps 40:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), God's righteousness (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.10" parsed="|Ps|40|10|0|0" passage="Ps 40:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), the everlasting righteousness
which Christ has brought in (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.24" parsed="|Dan|9|24|0|0" passage="Da 9:24">Dan. ix.
24</scripRef>); compare <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.1.16-Rom.1.17" parsed="|Rom|1|16|1|17" passage="Ro 1:16,17">Rom. i. 16,
17</scripRef>. It is God's <i>faithfulness</i> to his promise, and
the salvation which had long been looked for. It is God's
<i>lovingkindness</i> and his <i>truth,</i> his mercy according to
his word. Note, In the work of our redemption we ought to take
notice how brightly all the divine attributions shine, and give to
God the praise of each of them. 2. To whom it is preached—<i>to
the great congregation,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.9" parsed="|Ps|40|9|0|0" passage="Ps 40:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef> and again <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.10" parsed="|Ps|40|10|0|0" passage="Ps 40:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. When Christ was here on earth he preached to
multitudes, thousands at a time. The gospel was preached both to
Jews and Gentiles, to great congregations of both. Solemn religious
assemblies are a divine institution, and in them the glory of God,
in the face of Christ, ought to be both praised to the glory of God
and preached for the edification of men. 3. How it is
preached—freely and openly: <i>I have not refrained my lips; I
have not hid it; I have not concealed it.</i> This intimates that
whoever undertook to preach the gospel of Christ would be in great
temptation to hide it and conceal it, because it must be preached
with great contention and in the face of great opposition; but
Christ himself, and those whom he called to that work, set their
faces <i>as a flint</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p21.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.7" parsed="|Isa|50|7|0|0" passage="Isa 50:7">Isa. l.
7</scripRef>) and were wonderfully carried on in it. It is well for
us that they were so, for by this means our eyes come to see this
joyful light and our ears to hear this joyful sound, which
otherwise we might for ever have perished in ignorance of.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xli-p21.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.11-Ps.40.17" parsed="|Ps|40|11|40|17" passage="Ps 40:11-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.40.11-Ps.40.17">
<h4 id="Ps.xli-p21.11">Encouragement in Prayer.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xli-p22">11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me,
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p22.1">O Lord</span>: let thy lovingkindness and
thy truth continually preserve me.   12 For innumerable evils
have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me,
so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of
mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.   13 Be pleased,
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p22.2">O Lord</span>, to deliver me: <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p22.3">O Lord</span>, make haste to help me.   14 Let
them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to
destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish
me evil.   15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame
that say unto me, Aha, aha.   16 Let all those that seek thee
rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say
continually, The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xli-p22.4">Lord</span> be magnified.
  17 But I <i>am</i> poor and needy; <i>yet</i> the Lord
thinketh upon me: thou <i>art</i> my help and my deliverer; make no
tarrying, O my God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p23">The psalmist, having meditated upon the
work of redemption, and spoken of it in the person of the Messiah,
now comes to make improvement of the doctrine of his mediation
between us and God, and therefore speaks in his own person. Christ
having done his Father's will, and finished his work, and given
orders for the preaching of the gospel to every creature, we are
encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, for mercy and
grace.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p24">I. This may encourage us to pray for the
mercy of God, and to put ourselves under the protection of that
mercy, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.11" parsed="|Ps|40|11|0|0" passage="Ps 40:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. "Lord,
thou hast not spared thy Son, nor withheld him; <i>withhold not
thou thy tender mercies</i> then, which thou hast laid up for us in
him; for wilt thou not <i>with him also freely give us all
things?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.32" parsed="|Rom|8|32|0|0" passage="Ro 8:32">Rom. viii. 32</scripRef>.
<i>Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve
me.</i>" The best saints are in continual danger, and see
themselves undone if they be not continually preserved by the grace
of God; and the everlasting lovingkindness and truth of God are
what we have to depend upon for our preservation to the heavenly
kingdom, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.61.7" parsed="|Ps|61|7|0|0" passage="Ps 61:7">Ps. lxi. 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p25">II. This may encourage us in reference to
the guilt of sin, that Jesus Christ has done that towards our
discharge from it which sacrifice and offering could not do. See
here, 1. The frightful sight he had of sin, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.12" parsed="|Ps|40|12|0|0" passage="Ps 40:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. This was it that made the
discovery he was now favoured with of a Redeemer very welcome to
him. He saw his iniquities to be evils, the worst of evils; he saw
that they <i>compassed him about;</i> in all the reviews of his
life, and his reflections upon each step of it, still he discovered
something amiss. The threatening consequences of his sin surrounded
him. Look which way he would, he saw some mischief or other waiting
for him, which he was conscious to himself his sins had deserved.
He saw them taking hold of him, arresting him, as the bailiff does
the poor debtor; he saw them to be innumerable and <i>more than the
hairs of his head.</i> Convinced awakened consciences are
apprehensive of danger from the numberless number of the sins of
infirmity which seem small as hairs, but, being numerous, are very
dangerous. <i>Who can understand his errors?</i> God numbers our
hairs (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.10.30" parsed="|Matt|10|30|0|0" passage="Mt 10:30">Matt. x. 30</scripRef>), which
yet we cannot number; so he keeps an account of our sins, which we
keep no account of. The sight of sin so oppressed him that he could
not hold up his head—<i>I am not able to look up;</i> much less
could he keep up his heart—<i>therefore my heart fails me.</i>
Note, The sight of our sins in their own colours would drive us to
distraction, if we had not at the same time some sight of a
Saviour. 2. The careful recourse he had to God under the sense of
sin (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.13" parsed="|Ps|40|13|0|0" passage="Ps 40:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>); seeing
himself brought by his sins to the very brink of ruin, eternal
ruin, with what a holy passion does he cry out, "<i>Be pleased, O
Lord! to deliver me</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.13" parsed="|Ps|40|13|0|0" passage="Ps 40:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>); O save me from the wrath to come, and the present
terrors I am in through the apprehensions of that wrath! I am
undone, I die, I perish, without speedy relief. In a case of this
nature, where the bliss of an immortal soul is concerned, delays
are dangerous; therefore, <i>O Lord! make haste to help
me.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p26">III. This may encourage us to hope for
victory over our spiritual enemies that seek after our souls to
destroy them (<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.14" parsed="|Ps|40|14|0|0" passage="Ps 40:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), the roaring lion that goes about continually
seeking to devour. If Christ has triumphed over them, we through
him, shall be more than conquerors. In the belief of this we may
pray, with humble boldness, <i>Let them be ashamed and confounded
together,</i> and <i>driven backward,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.14" parsed="|Ps|40|14|0|0" passage="Ps 40:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. <i>Let them be desolate,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.15" parsed="|Ps|40|15|0|0" passage="Ps 40:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Both the
conversion of a sinner and the glorification of a saint are great
disappointments to Satan, who does his utmost, with all his power
and subtlety, to hinder both. Now, our Lord Jesus having undertaken
to bring about the salvation of all his chosen, we may in faith
pray that, in both these ways, that great adversary may be
confounded. When a child of God is brought into that horrible pit,
and the miry clay, Satan cries <i>Aha! aha!</i> thinking he has
gained his point; but he shall rage when he sees the brand plucked
out of the fire, and shall be <i>desolate, for a reward of his
shame. The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan! The accuser of the brethren
is cast out.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p27">IV. This may encourage all that seek God,
and love his salvation, to rejoice in him and to praise him,
<scripRef id="Ps.xli-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.16" parsed="|Ps|40|16|0|0" passage="Ps 40:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. See here, 1.
The character of good people. Conformably to the laws of natural
religion, they seek God, desire his favour, and in all their
exigencies apply to him, as a people should seek unto their God;
and conformably to the laws of revealed religion they <i>love his
salvation,</i> that great salvation of which the prophets enquired
and searched diligently, which the Redeemer undertook to work out
when he said, <i>Lo, I come.</i> All that shall be saved love the
salvation not only as a salvation from hell, but a salvation from
sin. 2. The happiness secured to good people by this prophetic
prayer. Those that seek God shall <i>rejoice and be glad in
him,</i> and with good reason, for he will not only be found of
them but will be their bountiful rewarder. Those that love his
salvation shall be filled with the joy of his salvation, and shall
<i>say continually, The Lord be magnified;</i> and thus they shall
have a heaven upon earth. Blessed are those that are thus still
praising God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xli-p28">V. This may encourage the saints, in
distress and affliction, to trust in God and comfort themselves in
him, <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.17" parsed="|Ps|40|17|0|0" passage="Ps 40:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. David
himself was one of these: <i>I am poor and needy</i> (a king,
perhaps now on the throne, and yet, being troubled in spirit, he
calls himself <i>poor and needy,</i> in want and distress, lost and
undone without a Saviour), <i>yet the Lord thinketh upon me</i> in
and through the Mediator, by whom we are made accepted. Men forget
the poor and needy, and seldom think of them; but God's thoughts,
towards them (which he had spoken of <scripRef id="Ps.xli-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.5" parsed="|Ps|40|5|0|0" passage="Ps 40:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>) are their support and comfort.
They may assure themselves that God is their help under their
troubles, and will be, in due time, their deliverer out of their
troubles, and will make no long tarrying; for <i>the vision is for
an appointed time,</i> and therefore, <i>though it tarry,</i> we
may <i>wait for it,</i> for it shall come; <i>it will come, it will
not tarry.</i></p>
</div></div2>