mh_parser/scraps/Ps_59_8-Ps_59_17.html

<p>David here encourages himself, in reference to the threatening power of his enemies, with a pious resolution to wait upon God and a believing expectation that he should yet praise him.</p>
<p class="tab-1">I. He resolves to wait upon God (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.9" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.9">Ps. 59:9</a>): “<i>Because of his strength</i>” (either the strength of his enemies, the fear of which drove him to God, or because of God’s strength, the hope of which drew him to God) “<i>Will I wait upon thee</i>, with a believing dependence upon thee and confidence in thee.” It is our wisdom and duty, in times of danger and difficulty, to wait upon God; for he is our defence, our high place, in whom we shall be safe. He hopes, 1. That God will be to him a God of mercy (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.10" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.10">Ps. 59:10</a>): “<i>The God of my mercy shall prevent me</i> with the blessings of his goodness and the gifts of his mercy, prevent my fears, prevent my prayers, and be better to me than my own expectations.” It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to eye God, not only as the God of mercy, but as the God of our mercy, the author of all good in us and the giver of all good to us. Whatever mercy there is in God, it is laid up for us, and is ready to be laid out upon us. Justly does the psalmist call God’s mercy <i>his mercy</i>, for all the blessings of the new covenant are called <i>the sure mercies of David</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.55.3" href="/passage/?search=Isa.55.3">Isa. 55:3</a>); and they are <i>sure to all the seed</i>. 2. That he will be to his persecutors a God of vengeance. His expectation of this he expresses partly by way of prediction and partly by way of petition, which come all to one; for his prayer that it might be so amounts to a prophecy that it shall be so. Here are several things which he foretels concerning his enemies, or observers, that sought occasions against him and opportunity to do him a mischief, in all which he should see his desire, not a passionate or revengeful desire, but a believing desire upon them, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.10" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.10">Ps. 59:10</a>. (1.) He foresees that God would expose them to scorn, as they had indeed made themselves ridiculous, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.8" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.8">Ps. 59:8</a>. “They think <i>God does not hear them</i>, does not heed them; <i>but thou, O Lord! shalt laugh at them</i> for their folly, to think that he who planted the ear shall not hear, and <i>thou shalt have</i> not them only, but all such other heathenish people that live without God in the world, <i>in derision</i>.” Note, Atheists and persecutors are worthy to be laughed at and had in derision. See <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.4,Prov.1.26,Isa.37.22" href="/passage/?search=Ps.2.4,Prov.1.26,Isa.37.22"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.2.4">Ps. 2:4</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Prov.1.26">Prov. 1:26</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Isa.37.22">Isa. 37:22</span></a>. (2.) That God would make them standing monuments of his justice (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.11" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.11">Ps. 59:11</a>): <i>Slay them not</i>; let them not be killed outright, <i>lest my people forget</i>. If the execution be soon done, the impressions of it will not be keep, and therefore will not be durable, but will quickly wear off. Swift destructions startle men for the present, but they are soon forgotten, for which reason he prays that this might be gradual: “<i>Scatter them by thy power</i>, and let them carry about with them, in their wanderings, such tokens of God’s displeasure as may spread the notice of their punishment to all parts of the country.” Thus Cain himself, though a murderer, was not slain, lest the vengeance should be forgotten, but was sentenced to be <i>a fugitive and a vagabond</i>. Note, When we think God’s judgments come slowly upon sinners we must conclude that God has wise and holy ends in the gradual proceedings of his wrath. “So scatter them as that they may never again unite to do mischief, <i>bring them down, O Lord, our shield</i>!” If God has undertaken the protection of his people as their shie
<p class="tab-1">II. He expects to praise God, that God’s providence would find him matter for praise and that God’s grace would work in him a heart for praise, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.16,Ps.59.17" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.16,Ps.59.17"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.16">Ps. 59:16</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.17">17</span></a>. Observe,</p>
<p class="tab-1">1. What he would praise God for. (1.) He would praise his power and his mercy; both should be the subject-matter of his song. Power, without mercy, is to be dreaded; mercy, without power, is not what a man can expect much benefit from; but God’s power by which he is able to help us, and his mercy by which he is inclined to help us, will justly be the everlasting praise of all the saints. (2.) He would praise him because he had, many a time, and all along, found him his defence and his refuge in the day of trouble. God brings his people into trouble, that they may experience his power and mercy in protecting and sheltering them, and may have occasion to praise him. (3.) He would praise him because he had still a dependence upon him and a confidence in him, as his strength to support him and carry him on in his duty, his defence to keep him safe from evil, and the God of his mercy to make him happy and easy. He that is all this to us is certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services.</p>
<p class="tab-1">2. How he would praise God. (1.) He would <i>sing</i>. As that is a natural expression of joy, so it is an instituted ordinance for the exerting and exciting of holy joy and thankfulness. (2.) He would <i>sing aloud</i>, as one much affected with the glory of God, that was not ashamed to own it, and that desired to affect others with it. He will sing of God’s power, but he will sing aloud of his mercy; the consideration of that raises his affections more than any thing else. (3.) He would sing aloud <i>in the morning</i>, when his spirits were most fresh and lively. God’s compassions are new every morning, and therefore it is fit to begin the day with his praises. (4.) He would <i>sing unto God</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.59.17" href="/passage/?search=Ps.59.17">Ps. 59:17</a>), to his honour and glory, and with him in his eye. As we must direct our prayers to God, so to him we must direct our praises, and must look up, making melody to the Lord.</p>