mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="Ps.xxvii" prev="Ps.xxv" progress="29.49%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="Ps.xxvi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxvi-p0.2">PSALM XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxvi-p1">This psalm is full of devout affection to God, the
out-goings of holy desires towards his favour and grace and the
lively actings of faith in his promises. We may learn out of it, I.
What it is to pray, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.1 Bible:Ps.25.15" parsed="|Ps|25|1|0|0;|Ps|25|15|0|0" passage="Ps 25:1,15">ver. 1,
15</scripRef>. II. What we must pray for, the pardon of sin
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.6-Ps.25.7 Bible:Ps.25.18" parsed="|Ps|25|6|25|7;|Ps|25|18|0|0" passage="Ps 25:6,7,18">ver. 6, 7, 18</scripRef>),
direction in the way of duty (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.4-Ps.25.5" parsed="|Ps|25|4|25|5" passage="Ps 25:4,5">ver. 4,
5</scripRef>), the favour of God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.16" parsed="|Ps|25|16|0|0" passage="Ps 25:16">ver.
16</scripRef>), deliverance out of our troubles (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.17-Ps.25.18" parsed="|Ps|25|17|25|18" passage="Ps 25:17,18">ver. 17, 18</scripRef>), preservation from our
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.20-Ps.25.21" parsed="|Ps|25|20|25|21" passage="Ps 25:20,21">ver. 20, 21</scripRef>),
and the salvation of the church of God, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.22" parsed="|Ps|25|22|0|0" passage="Ps 25:22">ver. 22</scripRef>. III. What we may plead in prayer,
our confidence in God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.2-Ps.25.3 Bible:Ps.25.5 Bible:Ps.25.20 Bible:Ps.25.21" parsed="|Ps|25|2|25|3;|Ps|25|5|0|0;|Ps|25|20|0|0;|Ps|25|21|0|0" passage="Ps 25:2,3,5,20,21">ver.
2, 3, 5, 20, 21</scripRef>), our distress and the malice of our
enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.17 Bible:Ps.25.19" parsed="|Ps|25|17|0|0;|Ps|25|19|0|0" passage="Ps 25:17,19">ver. 17, 19</scripRef>),
our sincerity, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.21" parsed="|Ps|25|21|0|0" passage="Ps 25:21">ver. 21</scripRef>. IV.
What precious promises we have to encourage us in prayer, of
guidance and instruction (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.8-Ps.25.9 Bible:Ps.25.12" parsed="|Ps|25|8|25|9;|Ps|25|12|0|0" passage="Ps 25:8,9,12">ver. 8,
9, 12</scripRef>), the benefit of the covenant (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.10" parsed="|Ps|25|10|0|0" passage="Ps 25:10">ver. 10</scripRef>), and the pleasure of communion with
God, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.13-Ps.25.14" parsed="|Ps|25|13|25|14" passage="Ps 25:13,14">ver. 13, 14</scripRef>. It is
easy to apply the several passages of this psalm to ourselves in
the singing of it; for we have often troubles, and always sins, to
complain of at the throne of grace.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxvi-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25" parsed="|Ps|25|0|0|0" passage="Ps 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxvi-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.1-Ps.25.7" parsed="|Ps|25|1|25|7" passage="Ps 25:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.25.1-Ps.25.7">
<h4 id="Ps.xxvi-p1.16">Earnest Supplications.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xxvi-p1.17">
<p id="Ps.xxvi-p2">A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxvi-p3">1 Unto thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p3.1">O
Lord</span>, do I lift up my soul.   2 O my God, I trust in
thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
  3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be
ashamed which transgress without cause.   4 show me thy ways,
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p3.2">O Lord</span>; teach me thy paths.   5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou <i>art</i> the God of
my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.   6 Remember,
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p3.3">O Lord</span>, thy tender mercies and thy
lovingkindnesses; for they <i>have been</i> ever of old.   7
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according
to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p3.4">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p4">Here we have David's professions of desire
towards God and dependence on him. He often begins his psalms with
such professions, not to move God, but to move himself, and to
engage himself to answer those professions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p5">I. He professes his desire towards God:
<i>Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.1" parsed="|Ps|25|1|0|0" passage="Ps 25:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. In the foregoing psalm (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.24.4" parsed="|Ps|24|4|0|0" passage="Ps 24:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>) it was made the character
of a good man that he <i>has not lifted up his soul to vanity;</i>
and a call was given to the everlasting gates to lift up their
heads for the <i>King of glory to come in,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.1" parsed="|Ps|25|1|0|0" passage="Ps 25:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. To this character, to this call,
David here answers, "Lord, I lift up my soul, not to vanity, but to
thee." Note, In worshipping God we must lift up our souls to him.
Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God; God must be eyed and the
soul employed. <i>Sursum corda—Up with you hearts,</i> was
anciently used as a call to devotion. With a holy contempt of the
world and the things of it, by a fixed thought and active faith, we
must set God before us, and let out our desires towards him as the
fountain of our happiness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p6">II. He professes his dependence upon God
and begs for the benefit and comfort of that dependence (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.2" parsed="|Ps|25|2|0|0" passage="Ps 25:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>O my God! I trust in
thee.</i> His conscience witnessed for him that he had no
confidence in himself nor in any creature, and that he had no
diffidence of God or of his power or promise. He pleases himself
with this profession of faith in God. Having put his trust in God,
he is easy, is well satisfied, and quiet from the fear of evil; and
he pleads it with God whose honour it is to help those that honour
him by trusting in him. What men put a confidence in is either
their joy or their shame, according as it proves. Now David here,
under the direction of faith, prays earnestly, 1. That shame might
not be his lot: "<i>Let me not be ashamed</i> of my confidence in
thee; let me not be shaken from it by any prevailing fears, and let
me not be, in the issue, disappointed of what I depend upon thee
for; but, Lord, <i>keep what I have committed unto thee.</i>" Note,
If we make our confidence in God our stay, it shall not be our
shame; and, if we triumph in him, our enemies shall not triumph
over us, as they would if we should now sink under our fears, or
should, in the issue, come short of our hopes. 2. That it might not
be the lot of any that trusted in God. All the saints have obtained
a like precious faith; and therefore, doubtless, it will be alike
successful in the issue. Thus the communion of saints is kept up,
even by their praying one for another. True saints will make
supplication for all saints. It is certain that none who, by a
believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait
for him, shall be made ashamed of it. 3. That it might be the lot
of the transgressors; <i>Let those be ashamed that transgress
without cause,</i> or <i>vainly,</i> as the word is. (1.) Upon no
provocation. They revolt from God and their duty, from David and
his government (so some), without any occasion given them, not
being able to pretend any iniquity they have found in God, or that
in any thing he has wearied them. The weaker the temptation is by
which men are drawn to sin the stronger the corruption is by which
they are driven by it. Those are the worst transgressors that sin
for sinning-sake. (2.) To no purpose. They know their attempts
against God are fruitless; they imagine a vain thing, and therefore
they will soon be ashamed of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p7">III. He begs direction from God in the way
of his duty, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.4-Ps.25.5" parsed="|Ps|25|4|25|5" passage="Ps 25:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4,
5</scripRef>. Once and again he here prays to God to teach him. He
was a knowing man himself, but the most intelligent, the most
observant, both need and desire to be taught of God; from him we
must be ever learning. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p8">1. What he desired to learn: "<i>Teach
me,</i> not fine words or fine notions, but <i>thy ways, thy paths,
thy truth,</i> the ways in which thou walkest towards men, which
are <i>all mercy and truth</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.10" parsed="|Ps|25|10|0|0" passage="Ps 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), and the ways in which thou
wouldst have me to walk towards thee." Those are best taught who
understand their duty, and know <i>the good things they should
do,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.2.3" parsed="|Eccl|2|3|0|0" passage="Ec 2:3">Eccl. ii. 3</scripRef>. God's
<i>paths</i> and his <i>truth</i> are the same; divine laws are all
founded upon divine truths. The way of God's precepts is the way of
truth, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.30" parsed="|Ps|119|30|0|0" passage="Ps 119:30">Ps. cxix. 30</scripRef>.
Christ is both the way and the truth, and therefore we must learn
Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p9">2. What he desired of God, in order to
this. (1.) That he would enlighten his understanding concerning his
duty: "<i>Show me thy way,</i> and so <i>teach me.</i>" In doubtful
cases we should pray earnestly that God would make it plain to us
what he would have us to do. (2.) That he would incline his will to
do it, and strengthen him in it: "<i>Lead me,</i> and so teach me."
Not only as we lead one that is dimsighted, to keep him from
missing his way, but as we lead one that is sick, and feeble, and
faint, to help him forward in the way and to keep him from fainting
and falling. We go no further in the way to heaven than God is
pleased to lead us and to hold us up.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p10">3. What he pleads, (1.) His great
expectation from God: <i>Thou art the God of my salvation.</i>
Note, Those that choose salvation of God as their end, and make him
the God of their salvation, may come boldly to him for direction in
the way that leads to that end. If God save us, he will teach us
and lead us. He that gives salvation will give instruction. (2.)
His constant attendance on God: <i>On thee do I wait all the
day.</i> Whence should a servant expect direction what to do but
from his own master, on whom he waits all the day? If we sincerely
desire to know our duty, with a resolution to do it, we need not
question but that God will direct us in it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p11">IV. He appeals to God's infinite mercy, and
casts himself upon that, not pretending to any merit of his own
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.6" parsed="|Ps|25|6|0|0" passage="Ps 25:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): "<i>Remember,
O Lord! thy tender mercies,</i> and, for the sake of those mercies,
lead me, and teach me; for they <i>have been ever of old.</i>" 1.
"Thou always wast a merciful God; it is thy name, it is thy nature
and property, to show mercy." 2. "Thy counsels and designs of mercy
were from everlasting; the vessels of mercy were, before all
worlds, ordained to glory." 3. "The instances of thy mercy to the
church in general, and to me in particular, were early and ancient,
and constant hitherto; they began of old, and never ceased. Thou
hast taught me from my youth up, teach me now."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p12">V. He is in a special manner earnest for
the pardon of his sins (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.7" parsed="|Ps|25|7|0|0" passage="Ps 25:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>): "<i>O remember not the sins of my youth.</i> Lord,
remember thy mercies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.6" parsed="|Ps|25|6|0|0" passage="Ps 25:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>), which speak for me, and not my sins, which speak
against me." Here is, 1. An implicit confession of sin; he
specifies particularly the sins of his youth. Note, Our youthful
faults and follies should be matter of our repentance and
humiliation long after, because time does not wear out the guilt of
sin. Old people should mourn for the sinful mirth and be in pain
for the sinful pleasures of their youth. He aggravates his sins,
calling them his <i>transgressions;</i> and the more holy, just,
and good the law is, which sin is the transgression of, the more
exceedingly sinful it ought to appear to us. 2. An express petition
for mercy, (1.) That he might be acquitted from guilt: "<i>Remember
not the sins of my youth;</i> that is, remember them not against
me, lay them not to my charge, enter not into judgment with me for
them." When God pardons sin he is said to <i>remember it no
more,</i> which denotes a plenary remission; he forgives and
forgets. (2.) That he might be accepted in God's sight: "Remember
thou me; think on me for good, and come in seasonably for my
succour." We need desire no more to make us happy than for God to
remember us with favour. His plea is, "according to thy mercy, and
for thy goodness-sake." Note, It is God's goodness and not ours,
his mercy and not our own merit, that must be our plea for the
pardon of sin and all the good we stand in need of. This plea we
must always rely upon, as those that are sensible of our poverty
and unworthiness and as those that are satisfied of the riches of
God's mercy and grace.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxvi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.8-Ps.25.14" parsed="|Ps|25|8|25|14" passage="Ps 25:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.25.8-Ps.25.14">
<h4 id="Ps.xxvi-p12.4">Divine Goodness and Mercy.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxvi-p13">8 Good and upright <i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p13.1">Lord</span>: therefore will he teach sinners in the
way.   9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will
he teach his way.   10 All the paths of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p13.2">Lord</span> <i>are</i> mercy and truth unto such as
keep his covenant and his testimonies.   11 For thy name's
sake, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p13.3">O Lord</span>, pardon mine iniquity;
for it <i>is</i> great.   12 What man <i>is</i> he that
feareth the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p13.4">Lord</span>? him shall he teach
in the way <i>that</i> he shall choose.   13 His soul shall
dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.   14 The
secret of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p13.5">Lord</span> <i>is</i> with
them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p14">God's promises are here mixed with David's
prayers. Many petitions there were in the former part of the psalm,
and many we shall find in the latter; and here, in the middle of
the psalm, he meditates upon the promises, and by a lively faith
sucks and is satisfied from these breasts of consolation; for the
promises of God are not only the best foundation of prayer, telling
us what to pray for and encouraging our faith and hope in prayer,
but they are a present answer to prayer. Let the prayer be made
according to the promise, and then the promise may be read as a
return to the prayer; and we are to believe the prayer is heard
because the promise will be performed. But, in the midst of the
promises, we fine one petition which seems to come in somewhat
abruptly, and should have followed upon <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.7" parsed="|Ps|25|7|0|0" passage="Ps 25:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. It is that (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.11" parsed="|Ps|25|11|0|0" passage="Ps 25:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), <i>Pardon my iniquity.</i> But
prayers for the pardon of sin are never impertinent; we mingle sin
with all our actions, and therefore should mingle such prayers with
all our devotions. He enforces this petition with a double plea.
The former is very natural: "<i>For thy name's sake pardon my
iniquity,</i> because thou hast proclaimed thy name gracious and
merciful, pardoning iniquity, for thy glory-sake, for thy
promise-sake, for thy own sake," <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.25" parsed="|Isa|43|25|0|0" passage="Isa 43:25">Isa.
xliii. 25</scripRef>. But the latter is very surprising: "<i>Pardon
my iniquity, for it is great,</i> and the greater it is the more
will divine mercy be magnified in the forgiveness of it." It is the
glory of a great God to forgive great sins, to forgive iniquity,
transgression, and sin, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.34.7" parsed="|Exod|34|7|0|0" passage="Ex 34:7">Exod. xxxiv.
7</scripRef>. "It is great, and therefore I am undone, for ever
undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose for the pardon of it. It
is great; I see it to be so." The more we see of the heinousness of
our sins the better qualified we are to find mercy with God. When
we confess sin we must aggravate it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p15">Let us now take a view of the great and
precious promises which we have in these verses, and observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p16">I. To whom these promises belong and who
may expect the benefit of them. We are all sinners; and can we hope
for any advantage by them? Yes (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.8" parsed="|Ps|25|8|0|0" passage="Ps 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), He will teach sinners, though
they be sinners; for Christ came into the world to save sinners,
and, in order to that, to teach sinners, to call sinners to
repentance. These promises are sure to those who though they have
been sinners, have gone astray, yet now keep God's word, 1. To such
as keep his covenant and his testimonies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.10" parsed="|Ps|25|10|0|0" passage="Ps 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), such as take his precepts for
their rule and his promises for their portion, such as, having
taken God to be to them a God, live upon that, and, having given up
themselves to be him a people, live up to that. Though, through the
infirmity of the flesh, they sometimes break the command, yet by a
sincere repentance when at any time they do amiss, and a constant
adherence by faith to God as their God, they keep the covenant and
do not break that. 2. To such as fear him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.12" parsed="|Ps|25|12|0|0" passage="Ps 25:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef> and again <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.14" parsed="|Ps|25|14|0|0" passage="Ps 25:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), such as stand in awe of his
majesty and worship him with reverence, submit to his authority and
obey him with cheerfulness, dread his wrath and are afraid of
offending him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p17">II. Upon what these promises are grounded,
and what encouragement we have to build upon them. Here are two
things which ratify and confirm all the promises:—1. The
perfections of God's nature. We value the promise by the character
of him that makes its. We may therefore depend upon God's promises;
for <i>good and upright is the Lord,</i> and therefore he will be
as good as his word. He is so kind that he cannot deceive us, so
true that he cannot break his promise. <i>Faithful is he who hath
promised,</i> who also will do it. He was good in making the
promise, and therefore will be upright in performing it. 2. The
agreeableness of all he says and does with the perfections of his
nature (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.10" parsed="|Ps|25|10|0|0" passage="Ps 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>):
<i>All the paths of the Lord</i> (that is, all his promises and all
his providences) <i>are mercy and truth;</i> they are, like
himself, good and upright. All God's dealings with his people are
according to the mercy of his purposes and the truth of his
promises; all he does comes from love, covenant-love; and they may
see in it his mercy displayed and his word fulfilled. What a rich
satisfaction may this be to good people, that, whatever afflictions
they are exercised with, <i>All the paths of the Lord are mercy and
truth,</i> and so it will appear when they come to their journey's
end.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p18">III. What these promises are.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p19">1. That God will instruct and direct them
in the way of their duty. This is most insisted upon, because it is
an answer to David's prayers (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.4-Ps.25.5" parsed="|Ps|25|4|25|5" passage="Ps 25:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>), <i>Show me thy ways and
lead me.</i> We should fix our thoughts, and act our faith, most on
those promises which suit our present case. (1.) He will <i>teach
sinners in the way,</i> because they are sinners, and therefore
need teaching. When they see themselves sinners, and desire
teaching, then he will teach them the way of reconciliation to God,
the way to a well-grounded peace of conscience, and the way to
eternal life. He does, by his gospel, make this way known to all,
and, by his Spirit, open the understanding and guide penitent
sinners that enquire after it. The devil leads men blindfold to
hell, but God enlightens men's eyes, sets things before them in a
true light, and so leads them to heaven. (2.) <i>The meek will he
guide,</i> the meek will he teach, that is, those that are humble
and low in their own eyes, that are distrustful of themselves,
desirous to be taught, and honestly resolved to follow the divine
guidance. <i>Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.</i> These he will
guide <i>in judgment,</i> that is, by the rule of the written word;
he will guide them in that which is practical, which relates to sin
and duty, so that they may keep conscience void of offence; and he
will do it judiciously (so some), that is, he will suit his conduct
to their case; he will teach sinners with wisdom, tenderness, and
compassion, and as they are able to bear. He will teach them his
way. All good people make God's way their way, and desire to be
taught that; and those that do so shall be taught and led in that
way. (3.) <i>Him that feareth the Lord he will teach in the way
that he shall choose,</i> either in the way that God shall choose
or that the good man shall choose. It comes all to one, for he that
fears the Lord chooses the things that please him. If we choose the
right way, he that directed our choice will direct our steps, and
will lead us in it. If we choose wisely, God will give us grace to
walk wisely.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p20">2. That God will make them easy (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.13" parsed="|Ps|25|13|0|0" passage="Ps 25:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>His soul shall
dwell at ease, shall lodge in goodness,</i> marg. Those that devote
themselves to the fear of God, and give themselves to be taught of
God, will be easy, if it be not their own fault. The soul that is
sanctified by the grace of God, and, much more, that is comforted
by the peace of God, dwells at ease. Even when the body is sick and
lies in pain, yet the soul may dwell at ease in God, may return to
him, and repose in him as its rest. Many things occur to make us
uneasy, but there is enough in the covenant of grace to
counterbalance them all and to make us easy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p21">3. That he will give to them and theirs as
much of this world as is good for them: <i>His seed shall inherit
the earth.</i> Next to our care concerning our souls is our care
concerning our seed, and God has a blessing in store for the
generation of the upright. Those that fear God shall inherit the
earth, shall have a competency in it and the comfort of it, and
their children shall fare the better for their prayers when they
are gone.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p22">4. That God will admit them into the secret
of communion with himself (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.14" parsed="|Ps|25|14|0|0" passage="Ps 25:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): <i>The secret of the Lord is with those that fear
him.</i> They understand his word; for, <i>if any man do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:John.7.17" parsed="|John|7|17|0|0" passage="Joh 7:17">John vii. 17</scripRef>. Those that receive the
truth in the love of it, and experience the power of it, best
understand the mystery of it. They know the meaning of his
providence, and what God is doing with them, better than others.
<i>Shall I hide from Abraham the things that I do?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.18.17" parsed="|Gen|18|17|0|0" passage="Ge 18:17">Gen. xviii. 17</scripRef>. He call them not
<i>servants,</i> but <i>friends,</i> as he called Abraham. They
know by experience the blessings of the covenant and the pleasure
of that fellowship which gracious souls have with the Father and
with his Son Jesus Christ. This honour have all his saints.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxvi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.15-Ps.25.22" parsed="|Ps|25|15|25|22" passage="Ps 25:15-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.25.15-Ps.25.22">
<h4 id="Ps.xxvi-p22.5">Precious Promises;
Petitions.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxvi-p23">15 Mine eyes <i>are</i> ever toward the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxvi-p23.1">Lord</span>; for he shall pluck my feet out of
the net.   16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I
<i>am</i> desolate and afflicted.   17 The troubles of my
heart are enlarged: <i>O</i> bring thou me out of my distresses.
  18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my
sins.   19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they
hate me with cruel hatred.   20 O keep my soul, and deliver
me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.   21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
  22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p24">David, encouraged by the promises he had
been meditating upon, here renews his addresses to God, and
concludes the psalm, as he began, with professions of dependence
upon God and desire towards him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p25">I. He lays open before God the calamitous
condition he was in. His feet were in the net, held fast and
entangled, so that he could not extricate himself out of his
difficulties, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.15" parsed="|Ps|25|15|0|0" passage="Ps 25:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>.
He was <i>desolate and afflicted,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.16" parsed="|Ps|25|16|0|0" passage="Ps 25:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. It is common for those that are
afflicted to be desolate; their friends desert them then, and they
are themselves disposed to sit alone and keep silence, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Lam.3.28" parsed="|Lam|3|28|0|0" passage="La 3:28">Lam. iii. 28</scripRef>. David calls himself
<i>desolate and solitary</i> because he depended not upon his
servants and soldiers, but relied as entirely upon God as if he had
no prospect at all of help and succour from any creature. Being in
distress, in many distresses, <i>the troubles of his heart were
enlarged</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.17" parsed="|Ps|25|17|0|0" passage="Ps 25:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>), he grew more and more melancholy and troubled in
mind. Sense of sin afflicted him more than any thing else: this it
was that broke and wounded his spirit, and made his outward
troubles lie heavily upon him. He was in <i>affliction and
pain,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.18" parsed="|Ps|25|18|0|0" passage="Ps 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. His
enemies that persecuted him were many and malicious (they hated
him), and very barbarous; it was <i>with a cruel hatred</i> that
they hated him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p25.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.19" parsed="|Ps|25|19|0|0" passage="Ps 25:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. Such were Christ's enemies and the persecutors of
his church.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p26">II. He expresses the dependence he had upon
God in these distresses (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.15" parsed="|Ps|25|15|0|0" passage="Ps 25:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): <i>My eyes are ever towards the Lord.</i> Idolaters
were for gods that they could see with their bodily eyes, and they
had their eyes ever towards their idols, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.17.7-Isa.17.8" parsed="|Isa|17|7|17|8" passage="Isa 17:7,8">Isa. xvii. 7, 8</scripRef>. But it is an eye of faith
that we must have towards God, who is a Spirit, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.9.1" parsed="|Zech|9|1|0|0" passage="Zec 9:1">Zech. ix. 1</scripRef>. Our meditation of him must be
sweet, and we must always set him before us: in all our ways we
must acknowledge him and do all to his glory. Thus we must live a
life of communion with God, not only in ordinances, but in
providences, not only in acts of devotion, but in the whole course
of our conversation. David had the comfort of this in his
affliction; for, because his eyes were ever towards the Lord, he
doubted not but he would pluck his feet out of the net, that he
would deliver him from the corruptions of his own heart (so some),
from the designs of his enemies against him, so others. Those that
have their eye ever towards God shall not have their feet long in
the net. He repeats his profession of dependence upon God
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p26.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.20" parsed="|Ps|25|20|0|0" passage="Ps 25:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>)—<i>Let me
not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee;</i> and of expectation
from him—<i>I wait on thee,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p26.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.21" parsed="|Ps|25|21|0|0" passage="Ps 25:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. It is good thus to hope and
quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p27">III. He prays earnestly to God for relief
and succour,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p28">1. For himself.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p29">(1.) See how he begs, [1.] For the
remission of sin (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.18" parsed="|Ps|25|18|0|0" passage="Ps 25:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>): <i>Forgive all my sins.</i> Those were his heaviest
burdens, and which brought upon him all other burdens. He had
begged (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.7" parsed="|Ps|25|7|0|0" passage="Ps 25:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>) for the
pardon of the sins of his youth, and (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.11" parsed="|Ps|25|11|0|0" passage="Ps 25:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>) for the pardon of some one
particular iniquity that was remarkably great, which some think,
was his sin in the matter of Uriah. But here he prays, Lord,
<i>forgive all, take away all iniquity.</i> It is observable that,
as to his affliction, he asks for no more than God's regard to it:
"<i>Look upon my affliction and my pain,</i> and do with it as thou
pleasest." But, as to his sin, he asks for no less than a full
pardon: <i>Forgive all my sins.</i> When at any time we are in
trouble we should be more concerned about our sins, to get them
pardoned, than about our afflictions, to get them removed. Yet he
prays, [2.] For the redress of his grievances. His mind was
troubled for God's withdrawings from him and under the sense he had
of his displeasure against him for his sins; and therefore he prays
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.16" parsed="|Ps|25|16|0|0" passage="Ps 25:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), <i>Turn
thou unto me.</i> And, if God turn to us, no matter who turns from
us. His condition was troubled, and, in reference to that, he
prays, "<i>O bring thou me out of my distresses.</i> I see no way
of deliverance open; but thou canst either find one or make one."
His enemies were spiteful; and in reference to that, he prays,
"<i>O keep my soul</i> from falling into their hands, or else
<i>deliver me</i> out of their hands."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p30">(2.) Four things he mentions by way of plea
to enforce these petitions, and refers himself and them to God's
consideration:—[1.] He pleads God's mercy: <i>Have mercy upon
me.</i> Men of the greatest merits would be undone if they had not
to do with a God of infinite mercies. [2.] He pleads his own
misery, the distress he was in, his affliction and pain, especially
the troubles of his heart, all which made him the proper object of
divine mercy. [3.] He pleads the iniquity of his enemies: "Lord,
consider them, how cruel they are, and deliver me out of their
hands." [4.] He pleads his own integrity, <scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.12" parsed="|Ps|25|12|0|0" passage="Ps 25:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Though he had owned himself
guilty before God, and had confessed his sins against him, yet, as
to his enemies, he had the testimony of his conscience that he had
done them no wrong, which was his comfort when they hated him with
cruel hatred; and he prays that this might <i>preserve him,</i>
This intimates that he did not expect to be safe any longer than he
continued in his <i>integrity and uprightness,</i> and that, while
he did continue in it, he did not doubt of being safe. Sincerity
will be our best security in the worst of times. Integrity and
uprightness will be a man's preservation more than the wealth and
honour of the world can be. These will preserve us to the heavenly
kingdom. We should therefore pray to God to preserve us in our
integrity and then be assured that that will preserve us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxvi-p31">2. For the church of God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.22" parsed="|Ps|25|22|0|0" passage="Ps 25:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>): <i>Redeem Israel, O
God! out of all his troubles.</i> David was now in trouble himself,
but he thinks it not strange, since trouble is the lot of all God's
Israel. Why should any one member fare better than the whole body?
David's troubles were enlarged, and very earnest he was with God to
deliver him, yet he forgets not the distresses of God's church;
for, when we have ever so much business of our own at the throne of
grace, we must still remember to pray for the public. Good men have
little comfort in their own safety while the church is in distress
and danger. This prayer is a prophecy that God would, at length,
give David rest, and therewith give Israel rest from all their
enemies round about. It is a prophecy of the sending of the Messiah
in due time to <i>redeem Israel from his iniquities</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxvi-p31.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.130.8" parsed="|Ps|130|8|0|0" passage="Ps 130:8">Ps. cxxx. 8</scripRef>) and so to redeem them
from their troubles. It refers also to the happiness of the future
state. In heaven, and in heaven only, will God's Israel be
perfectly redeemed from all troubles.</p>
</div></div2>