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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM CXIX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all,
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and shines brightest in this constellation. It is much longer than any
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of them more than twice as long as any of them. It is not making long
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prayers that Christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which
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intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. It seems to
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me to be a collection of David's pious and devout ejaculations, the
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short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God, which he
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wrote down as they occurred, and, towards the latter end of his time,
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gathered out of his day-book where they lay scattered, added to them
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many like words, and digested them into this psalm, in which there is
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seldom any coherence between the verses, but, like Solomon's proverbs,
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it is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links. And we may not
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only learn, by the psalmist's example, to accustom ourselves to such
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pious ejaculations, which are an excellent means of maintaining
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constant communion with God, and keeping the heart in frame for the
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more solemn exercises of religion, but we must make use of the
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psalmist's words, both for the exciting and for the expressing of our
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devout affections; what some have said of this psalm is true, "He that
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shall read it considerately, it will either warm him or shame him." The
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composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into
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twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew
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alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the
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first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with
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Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm.
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Archbishop Tillotson says, It seems to have more of poetical skill and
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number in it than we at this distance can easily understand. Some have
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called it the saints' alphabet; and it were to be wished we had it as
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ready in our memories as the very letters of our alphabet, as ready as
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our A B C. Perhaps the penman found it of use to himself to observe
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this method, as it obliged him to seek for thoughts, and search for
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them, that he might fill up the quota of every part; and the letter he
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was to begin with might lead him to a word which might suggest a good
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sentence; and all little enough to raise any thing that is good in the
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barren soil of our hearts. However, it would be of use to the learners,
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a help to them both in committing it to memory and in calling it to
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mind upon occasion; by the letter the first word would be got, and that
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would bring in the whole verse; thus young people would the more easily
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learn it by heart and retain it the better even in old age. If any
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censure it as childish and trifling, because acrostics are now quite
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out of fashion, let them know that the royal psalmist despises their
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censure; he is a teacher of babes, and, if this method may be
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beneficial to them, he can easily stoop to it; if this to be vile, he
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will be yet more vile.</P>
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<P>
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II. The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make
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it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine
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revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment,
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but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist's own example,
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who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good
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impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and
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earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God's grace
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with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty. There are
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ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm,
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and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass
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of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which
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tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion
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which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the
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scripture, and drawn from it, are here called,
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1. God's law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign.
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2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of
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our obedience.
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3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and
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attested beyond contradiction.
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4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word
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signifies) lodged with us as a trust.
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5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent.
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6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and
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Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it.
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7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by
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them we must both judge and be judged.
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8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the
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rule and standard of righteousness.
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9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of
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perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the
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principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths. And I
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think there is but one verse (it is
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:122">ver. 122</A>)
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in all this long psalm in which there is not one or other of these ten
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words; only in three or four they are used concerning God's providence
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or David's practice (as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:75,84,121">ver. 75, 84, 121</A>),
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and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:132">ver. 132</A>
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they are called God's name. The great esteem and affection David had
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for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had
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of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than
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the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which
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may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and
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yet are so cold towards it. In singing this psalm there is work for all
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the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is
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the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God
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both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach
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and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions
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which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to
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comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet
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experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other
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to suit the case of every Christian. Is any afflicted? Is any merry?
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Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from
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being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who
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look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall
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find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very
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lively. And this, as many other of David's psalms, teaches us to be
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sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us;
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for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are
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more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of
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which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps119_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps119_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps119_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>1. ALEPH.</FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Blessed <I>are</I> the undefiled in the way, who walk in
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the law of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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2 Blessed <I>are</I> they that keep his testimonies, <I>and that</I> seek
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him with the whole heart.
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3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The psalmist here shows that godly people are happy people; they are,
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and shall be, blessed indeed. Felicity is the thing we all pretend to
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aim at and pursue. He does not say here wherein it consists; it is
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enough for us to know what we must do and be that we may attain to it,
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and that we are here told. All men would be happy, but few take the
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right way; God has here laid before us the right way, which we may be
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sure will end in happiness, though it be strait and narrow.
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Blessednesses are to the righteous; all manner of blessedness. Now
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observe the characters of the happy people. Those are happy,
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1. Who make the will of God the rule of all their actions, and govern
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themselves, in their whole conversation, by that rule: They <I>walk in
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the law of the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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God's word is a law to them, not only in this or that instance, but in
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the whole course of their conversation; they walk within the hedges of
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that law, which they dare not break through by doing any thing it
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forbids; and they walk in the paths of that law, which they will not
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trifle in, but <I>press forward</I> in them <I>towards the mark,</I>
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taking every step by rule and never walking at all adventures. This is
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<I>walking in God's ways</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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the ways which he has marked out to us and has appointed us to walk in.
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It will not serve us to make religion the subject of our discourse, but
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we must make it the rule of our walk; we must walk <I>in his ways,</I>
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not in the way of the world, or of our own hearts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+23:10,11,31:7">Job xxiii. 10, 11; xxxi. 7</A>.
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2. Who are upright and honest in their religion--<I>undefiled in the
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way,</I> not only who keep themselves pure from the pollutions of
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actual sin, <I>unspotted from the world,</I> but who are habitually
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sincere in their intentions, <I>in whose spirit there is no guile,</I>
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who are really as good as they seem to be and row the same way as they
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look.
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3. Who are true to the trust reposed in them as God's professing
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people. It was the honour of the Jews that <I>to them were committed
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the oracles of God;</I> and blessed are those who preserve pure and
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entire that sacred deposit, <I>who keep his testimonies</I> as a
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treasure of inestimable value, keep them as the apple of their eye, so
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keep them as to carry the comfort of them themselves to another world
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and leave the knowledge and profession of them to those who shall come
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after them in this world. Those who would <I>walk in the law of the
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Lord</I> must <I>keep his testimonies,</I> that is, his truths. Those
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will not long make conscience of good practices who do not adhere to
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good principles. Or <I>his testimonies</I> may denote his covenant; the
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ark of the covenant is called <I>the ark of the testimony.</I> Those do
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not keep covenant with God who do not keep the commandments of God.
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4. Who have a single eye to God as their chief good and highest end in
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all they do in religion
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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They <I>seek him with their whole
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heart.</I> They do not seek themselves and their own things, but God
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only; this is that which they aim at, that God may be glorified in
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their obedience and that they may be happy in God's acceptance. He is,
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and will be, the rewarder, the reward, of all those who thus <I>seek
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him diligently, seek him with the heart,</I> for that is it that God
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looks at and requires; and <I>with the whole heart,</I> for if the
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heart be divided between him and the world it is faulty.
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5. Who carefully avoid all sin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>They do no iniquity;</I> they do not allow themselves in any sin;
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they do not commit it as those do who are the servants of sin; they do
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not make a practice of it, do not make a trade of it. They are
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conscious to themselves of much iniquity that clogs them in the ways of
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God, but not of that iniquity which draws them out of those ways.
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Blessed and holy are those who thus exercise themselves <I>to have
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always consciences void of offence.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Ps119_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps119_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps119_6"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 Thou hast commanded <I>us</I> to keep thy precepts diligently.
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5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
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6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy
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commandments.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We are here taught,
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1. To own ourselves under the highest obligations to walk in God's law.
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The tempter would possess men with an opinion that they are at their
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liberty whether they will make the word of God their rule or no, that,
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though it may be good, yet it is not so necessary as they are made to
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believe it is. He taught our first parents to question the command:
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<I>Hath God said, You shall not eat?</I> And therefore we are concerned
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to be well established in this
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts,</I> to make religion
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our rule; and <I>to keep</I> them <I>diligently,</I> to make religion
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our business and to mind it carefully and constantly. We are bound, and
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must obey at our peril.
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2. To look up to God for wisdom and grace to do so
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>O that my ways were directed</I> accordingly! not only that all
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events concerning us may be so ordered and disposed by the providence
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of God as not to be in any thing a hindrance to us, but a furtherance
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rather, in the service of God, but that our hearts may be so guided and
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influenced by the Spirit of God that we may not in any thing transgress
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God's commandments--not only that our eyes may be directed to behold
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God's statutes, but our hearts directed to keep them. See how the
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desire and prayer of a good man exactly agree with the will and command
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of a good God: "Thou wouldest have me keep thy precepts, and, Lord, I
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fain would keep them." <I>This is the will of God, even our
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sanctification;</I> and it should be our will.
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3. To encourage ourselves in the way of our duty with a prospect of the
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comfort we shall find in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) It is the undoubted character of every good man that he has a
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<I>respect to all</I> God's <I>commandments.</I> He has a respect to
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the command, eyes it as his copy, aims to conform to it, is sorry
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wherein he comes short; and what he does in religion he does with a
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conscientious regard to the command, because it is his duty. He has
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<I>respect to all</I> the <I>commandments,</I> one as well as another,
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because they are all backed with the same authority
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:10,11">Jam. ii. 10, 11</A>)
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and all levelled at the same end, the glorifying of God in our
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happiness. Those who have a sincere respect to any command will have a
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general respect to every command, to the commands of both testaments
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and both tables, to the prohibitions and the precepts, to those that
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concern both the inward and the outward man, both the head and the
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heart, to those that forbid the most pleasant and gainful sins and to
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those that require the most difficult and hazardous duties.
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(2.) Those who have a sincere <I>respect to all</I> God's
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<I>commandments shall not be ashamed,</I> not only they will thereby be
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kept from doing that which will turn to their shame, but they shall
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have <I>confidence towards God</I> and boldness of access to the throne
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of his grace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:21">1 John iii. 21</A>.
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They shall have credit before men; their honesty will be their honour.
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And they shall have clearness and courage in their own souls; they
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shall not be ashamed to retire into themselves, nor to reflect upon
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themselves, for their hearts shall not condemn them. David speaks this
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with application to himself. Those that are upright may take the
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comfort of their uprightness. "As, if I be wicked, woe to me; so, if I
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be sincere, it is well with me."</P>
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<A NAME="Ps119_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps119_8"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall
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have learned thy righteous judgments.
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8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. David's endeavour to perfect himself in his religion, and to make
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himself (as we say) master of his business. He hopes to <I>learn</I>
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God's <I>righteous judgments.</I> He knew much, but he was still
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pressing forward and desired to know more, as knowing this, that <I>he
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had not yet attained;</I> but as far as perfection is attainable in
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this life he reached towards it, and would not take up short of it. As
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long as we live we must be scholars in Christ's school, and sit at his
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feet; but we should aim to be head-scholars, and to get into the
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highest form. God's judgments are all righteous, and therefore it is
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desirable not only to learn them, but to be learned in them, <I>mighty
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in the scriptures.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The use he would make of his divine learning. He coveted to be
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learned in the laws of God, not that he might make himself a name and
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interest among men, or fill his own head with entertaining
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speculations, but,
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1. That he might give God the glory of his learning: <I>I will praise
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thee when I have learned thy judgments,</I> intimating that he could
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not learn unless God taught him, and that divine instructions are
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special blessings, which we have reason to be thankful for. Though
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|
Christ keeps a free-school, and teaches without money and without
|
|
price, yet he expects his scholars should give him thanks both for his
|
|
word and for his Spirit; surely it is a mercy worth thanks to be taught
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|
so gainful a calling as religion is. Those have learned a good lesson
|
|
who have learned to praise God, for that is the work of angels, the
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work of heaven. It is an easy thing to praise God in word and tongue;
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but those only are well learned in this mystery who have learned to
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|
<I>praise</I> him <I>with uprightness of heart,</I> that is, are inward
|
|
with him in praising him, and sincerely aim at his glory in the course
|
|
of their conversation as well as in the exercises of devotion. God
|
|
accepts only the praises of the upright.
|
|
|
|
2. That he might himself come under the government of that learning:
|
|
<I>When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments I will keep thy
|
|
statutes.</I> We cannot keep them unless we learn them; but we learn
|
|
them in vain if we do not keep them. Those have well learned God's
|
|
statutes who have come up to a full resolution, in the strength of his
|
|
grace, to keep them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. His prayer to God not to leave him: "<I>O forsake me not!</I> that
|
|
is, leave me not to myself, withdraw not thy Spirit and grace from me,
|
|
for then <I>I shall</I> not <I>keep thy statutes.</I>" Good men see
|
|
themselves undone if God forsakes them; for then the tempter will be
|
|
too hard for them. "Though thou seem to forsake me, and threaten to
|
|
forsake me, and dost, for a time, withdraw from me, yet let not the
|
|
desertion be total and final; for that is hell. <I>O forsake me not
|
|
utterly!</I> for woe unto me if God departs from me."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_9"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>2. BETH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by
|
|
taking heed <I>thereto</I> according to thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. A weighty question asked. By what means may the next generation be
|
|
made better than this? <I>Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
|
|
way?</I> Cleansing implies that it is polluted. Besides the original
|
|
corruption we all brought into the world with us (from which we are not
|
|
cleansed unto this day), there are many particular sins which young
|
|
people are subject to, by which they defile their way, <I>youthful
|
|
lusts</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:22">2 Tim. ii. 22</A>);
|
|
|
|
these render their way offensive to God and disgraceful to themselves.
|
|
Young men are concerned to cleanse their way--to get their hearts
|
|
renewed and their lives reformed, to make clean, and keep clean, from
|
|
the <I>corruption that is in the world through lust,</I> that they may
|
|
have both a good conscience and a good name. Few young people do
|
|
themselves enquire by what means they may recover and preserve their
|
|
purity; and therefore David asks the question for them.
|
|
|
|
2. A satisfactory answer given to this question. Young men may
|
|
effectually <I>cleanse their way by taking heed thereto according
|
|
to</I> the word of God; and it is the honour of the word of God that it
|
|
has such power and is of such use both to particular persons and to
|
|
communities, whose happiness lies much in the virtue of their youth.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Young men must make the word of God their rule, must acquaint
|
|
themselves with it and resolve to conform themselves to it; that will
|
|
do more towards the cleansing of young men that the laws of princes or
|
|
the morals of philosophers.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They must carefully apply that rule and make use of it; they must
|
|
take heed to their way, must examine it by the word of God, as a
|
|
touchstone and standard, must rectify what is amiss in it by that
|
|
regulator and steer by that chart and compass. God's word will not do
|
|
without our watchfulness, and a constant regard both to it and to our
|
|
way, that we may compare them together. The ruin of young men is either
|
|
living at large (or by no rule at all) or choosing to themselves false
|
|
rules: let them ponder the path of their feet, and walk by
|
|
scripture-rules; so their way shall be clean, and they shall have the
|
|
comfort and credit of it here and for ever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_10"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander
|
|
from thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's experience of a good work God had wrought in him, which he
|
|
takes the comfort of and pleads with God: "<I>I have sought thee,</I>
|
|
sought to thee as my oracle, sought after thee as my happiness, sought
|
|
thee as my God; for <I>should not a people seek unto their God?</I> If
|
|
I have not yet found thee, <I>I have sought thee,</I> and thou never
|
|
saidst, Seek in vain, nor wilt say so to me, for <I>I have sought thee
|
|
with my heart, with my whole heart,</I> sought thee only, sought thee
|
|
diligently."
|
|
|
|
2. His prayer for the preservation of that work: "Thou that hast
|
|
inclined me to seek thy precepts, never suffer me to wander from them."
|
|
The best are sensible of their aptness to wander; and the more we have
|
|
found of the pleasure there is in keeping God's commandments the more
|
|
afraid we shall be of wandering from them and the more earnest we shall
|
|
be in prayer to God for his grace to prevent our wanderings.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_11"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
|
|
against thee.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The close application which David made of the word of God to
|
|
himself: <I>He hid it in his heart,</I> laid it up there, that it might
|
|
be ready to him whenever he had occasion to use it; he laid it up as
|
|
that which he valued highly, and had a warm regard for, and which he
|
|
was afraid of losing and being robbed of. God's word is a treasure
|
|
worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safely but in our hearts;
|
|
if we have it only in our houses and hands, enemies may take it from
|
|
us; if only in our heads, our memories may fail us: but if our hearts
|
|
be delivered into the mould of it, and the impressions of it remain on
|
|
our souls, it is safe.
|
|
|
|
2. The good uses he designed to make of it: <I>That I might not sin
|
|
against thee.</I> Good men are afraid of sin, and are in care to
|
|
prevent it; and the most effectual way to prevent is to hide God's word
|
|
in our hearts, that we may answer every temptation, as our Master did,
|
|
with, <I>It is written,</I> may oppose God's precepts to the dominion
|
|
of sin, his promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its
|
|
menaces.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_12"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Blessed <I>art</I> thou, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: teach me thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David gives glory to God: "<I>Blessed art thou, O Lord!</I> Thou art
|
|
infinitely happy in the enjoyment of thyself and hast no need of me or
|
|
my services; yet thou art pleased to reckon thyself honoured by them;
|
|
assist me therefore, and then accept me." In all our prayers we should
|
|
intermix praises.
|
|
|
|
2. He asks grace from God: "<I>Teach me thy statutes;</I> give me to
|
|
know and do my duty in every thing. Thou art the fountain of all
|
|
blessedness; O let me have this drop from that fountain, this blessing
|
|
from that blessedness: <I>Teach me thy statutes,</I> that I may know
|
|
how to bless thee, who art a blessed God, and that I may be blessed in
|
|
thee."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
|
|
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as <I>much as</I>
|
|
in all riches.
|
|
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy
|
|
ways.
|
|
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy
|
|
word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. David looks back with comfort upon the respect he had paid to the
|
|
word of God. He had the testimony of his conscience for him,
|
|
|
|
1. That he had edified others with what he had been taught out of the
|
|
word of God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.</I>
|
|
This he did, not only as a king in making orders, and giving judgment,
|
|
according to the word of God, nor only as a prophet by his psalms, but
|
|
in his common discourse. Thus he showed how full he was of the word of
|
|
God, and what a holy delight he took in his acquaintance with it; for
|
|
it is <I>out of the abundance of the heart</I> that <I>the mouth
|
|
speaks.</I> Thus he did good with his knowledge; he did not hide God's
|
|
word from others, but hid it for them; and, out of that <I>good
|
|
treasure in his heart,</I> brought <I>forth good things,</I> as the
|
|
householder out of his store <I>things new and old.</I> Those whose
|
|
hearts are fed with the bread of life should with their lips feed many.
|
|
He had prayed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
|
|
|
|
that God would teach him; and here he pleads, "Lord, I have endeavoured
|
|
to make a good use of the knowledge thou hast given me, therefore
|
|
increase it;" for <I>to him that has shall be given.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. That he had entertained himself with it: "<I>Lord, teach me thy
|
|
statutes;</I> for I desire no greater pleasure than to know and do them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I have rejoiced in the way of thy commandments,</I> in a constant
|
|
even course of obedience to thee; not only in the speculations and
|
|
histories of thy word, but in the precepts of it, and in that path of
|
|
serious godliness which they chalk out to me. <I>I have rejoiced in</I>
|
|
this <I>as much as in all riches,</I> as much as ever any worldling
|
|
rejoiced in the increase of his wealth. In the way of God's
|
|
commandments I can truly say, <I>Soul, take thy ease;</I>" in true
|
|
religion there is all riches, the unsearchable riches of Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He looks forward with a holy resolution never to cool in his
|
|
affection to the word of God; what he <I>does that he will do,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:12">2 Cor. xi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that have found pleasure in the ways of God are likely to proceed
|
|
and persevere in them.
|
|
|
|
1. He will dwell much upon them in his thoughts
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will meditate in thy precepts.</I> He not only discoursed of them
|
|
to others (many do that only to show their knowledge and authority),
|
|
but he communed with his own heart about them, and took pains to digest
|
|
in his own thoughts what he had declared, or had to declare, to others.
|
|
Note, God's words ought to be very much the subject of our thoughts.
|
|
|
|
2. He will have them always in his eye: <I>I will have respect unto
|
|
thy ways,</I> as the traveller has to his road, which he is in care not
|
|
to miss and always aims and endeavours to hit. We do not meditate on
|
|
God's precepts to good purpose unless we have respect to them as our
|
|
rule and our good thoughts produce good works and good intentions in
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
3. He will take a constant pleasure in communion with God and obedience
|
|
to him. It is not for a season that he rejoices in this light, but
|
|
"<I>I will</I> still, I will for ever, <I>delight myself in thy
|
|
statutes,</I> not only think of them, but do them with delight,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
David took more delight in God's statutes than in the pleasures of his
|
|
court or the honours of his camp, more than in his sword or in his
|
|
harp. When the law is written in the heart duty becomes a delight.
|
|
|
|
4. He will never forget what he has learned of the things of God:
|
|
"<I>I will not forget thy word,</I> not only I will not quite forget
|
|
it, but I will be mindful of it when I have occasion to use it." Those
|
|
that meditate in God's word, and delight in it, are in no great danger
|
|
of forgetting it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>3. GIMEL.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, <I>that</I> I may live,
|
|
and keep thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here taught,
|
|
|
|
1. That we owe our lives to God's mercy. David prays, <I>Deal
|
|
bountifully with</I> me, <I>that I may live.</I> It was God's bounty
|
|
that gave us life, that gave us this life; and the same bounty that
|
|
gave it continues it, and gives all the supports and comforts of it; if
|
|
these be withheld, we die, or, which is equivalent, our lives are
|
|
embittered and we become weary of them. If God deals in strict justice
|
|
with us, we die, we perish, we all perish; if these forfeited lives be
|
|
preserved and prolonged, it is because God deals bountifully with us,
|
|
according to his mercy, not according to our deserts. The continuance
|
|
of the most useful life is owing to God's bounty, and on that we must
|
|
have a continual dependence.
|
|
|
|
2. That therefore we ought to spend our lives in God's service. Life is
|
|
<I>therefore</I> a choice mercy, because it is an opportunity of
|
|
obeying God in this world, where there are so few that do glorify him;
|
|
and this David had in his eye: "Not <I>that I may live</I> and grow
|
|
rich, live and be merry, but <I>that I may live and keep thy word,</I>
|
|
may observe it myself and transmit it to those that shall come after,
|
|
which the longer I live the better I shall do."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_18"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out
|
|
of thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. That there are <I>wondrous things</I> in God's <I>law,</I> which we
|
|
are all concerned, and should covet, to <I>behold,</I> not only strange
|
|
things, which are very surprising and unexpected, but excellent things,
|
|
which are to be highly esteemed and valued, and things which were long
|
|
<I>hidden from the wise and prudent,</I> but are now <I>revealed unto
|
|
babes.</I> If there were wonders in the law, much more in the gospel,
|
|
where Christ is all in all, whose name is <I>Wonderful.</I> Well may
|
|
we, who are so nearly interested, desire to behold these wondrous
|
|
things, when the angels themselves reach <I>to look into them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:12">1 Pet. i. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that would see the wondrous things of God's law and gospel must
|
|
beg of him to <I>open their eyes</I> and to give them an understanding.
|
|
We are by nature blind to the things of God, till his grace cause the
|
|
scales to fall from our eyes; and even those in whose hearts God has
|
|
said, <I>Let there be light,</I> have yet need to be further
|
|
enlightened, and must still pray to God to open their eyes yet more and
|
|
more, that those who at first <I>saw men as trees walking</I> may come
|
|
to see all things clearly; and the more God opens our eyes the more
|
|
wonders we see in the word of God, which we saw not before.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_19"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>19 I <I>am</I> a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments
|
|
from me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
1. The acknowledgment which David makes of his own condition: <I>I am a
|
|
stranger in the earth.</I> We all are so, and all good people confess
|
|
themselves to be so; for heaven is their home, and the world is but
|
|
their inn, the land of their pilgrimage. David was a man that knew as
|
|
much of the world, and was as well known in it, as most men. God built
|
|
him a house, established his throne; strangers submitted to him, and
|
|
people that he had not known served him; he had a name like the names
|
|
of the great men, and yet he calls himself a stranger. We are all
|
|
strangers on earth and must so account ourselves.
|
|
|
|
2. The request he makes to God thereupon: <I>Hide not thy commandments
|
|
from me.</I> He means more: "Lord, show thy commandments to me; let me
|
|
never know the want of the word of God, but, as long as I live, give me
|
|
to be growing in my acquaintance with it. <I>I am a stranger,</I> and
|
|
therefore stand in need of a guide, a guard, a companion, a comforter;
|
|
let me have thy commandments always in view, for they will be all this
|
|
to me, all that a poor stranger can desire. <I>I am a stranger</I>
|
|
here, and must be gone shortly; by thy commandments let me be prepared
|
|
for my removal hence."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 My soul breaketh for the longing <I>that it hath</I> unto thy
|
|
judgments at all times.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David had prayed that God would open his eyes
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>)
|
|
|
|
and open the law
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
now here he pleads the earnestness of his desire for knowledge and
|
|
grace, for it is the fervent prayer that avails much.
|
|
|
|
1. His desire was importunate: <I>My soul breaketh for the longing it
|
|
hath to thy judgments,</I> or (as some read it) "<I>It is taken up, and
|
|
wholly employed, in longing for thy judgments;</I> the whole stream of
|
|
its desires runs in this channel. I shall think myself quite broken and
|
|
undone if I want the word of God, the direction, converse, and comfort
|
|
of it."
|
|
|
|
2. It was constant--<I>at all times.</I> It was not now and then, in a
|
|
good humour, that he was so fond of the word of God; but it is the
|
|
habitual temper of every sanctified soul to hunger after the word of
|
|
God as its necessary food, which there is no living without.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 Thou hast rebuked the proud <I>that are</I> cursed, which do err
|
|
from thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The wretched character of wicked people. The temper of their minds
|
|
is bad. They are <I>proud;</I> they magnify themselves above others.
|
|
And yet that is not all: they magnify themselves against God, and set
|
|
up their wills in competition with and opposition to the will of God,
|
|
as if their hearts, and tongues, and all, were their own. There is
|
|
something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin, and the tenour of
|
|
their lives is no better: They <I>do err from thy commandments,</I> as
|
|
Israel, that did <I>always err in their hearts;</I> they err in
|
|
judgment, and embrace principles contrary to thy commandments, and then
|
|
no wonder that they err in practice, and wilfully turn aside out of the
|
|
good way. This is the effect of their pride; for they say, <I>What is
|
|
the Almighty, that we should serve him?</I> As Pharaoh, <I>Who is the
|
|
Lord?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The wretched case of such. They are certainly cursed, for <I>God
|
|
resists the proud;</I> and those that throw off the commands of the law
|
|
lay themselves under its curse
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:10">Gal. iii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he that now <I>beholds them afar off</I> will shortly say to them,
|
|
<I>Go, you cursed.</I> The proud sinners bless themselves; God curses
|
|
them; and, though the most direful effects of this curse are reserved
|
|
for the other world, yet they are often severely rebuked in this world:
|
|
Providence crosses them, vexes them, and, wherein they dealt proudly,
|
|
God shows himself above them; and these rebukes are earnests of worse.
|
|
David took notice of the rebukes proud men were under, and it made him
|
|
cleave the more closely to the word of God and pray the more earnestly
|
|
that he might not <I>err from God's commandments.</I> Thus saints get
|
|
good by God's judgments on sinners.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_22"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy
|
|
testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays against the reproach and contempt of men, that they
|
|
might be <I>removed,</I> or (as the word is) <I>rolled, from off
|
|
him.</I> This intimates that they lay upon him, and that neither his
|
|
greatness nor his goodness could secure him from being libelled and
|
|
lampooned. Some despised him and endeavoured to make him mean; others
|
|
reproached him and endeavoured to make him odious. It has often been
|
|
the lot of those that do well to be ill-spoken of. It intimates that
|
|
they lay heavily upon him. Hard and foul words indeed break no bones,
|
|
and yet they are very grievous to a tender and ingenuous spirit;
|
|
therefore David prays, "Lord, <I>remove</I> them from me, that I may
|
|
not be thereby either driven from my duty or discouraged in it." God
|
|
has all men's hearts and tongues in his hand, and can silence lying
|
|
lips, and raise up a good name that is trodden in the dust. To him we
|
|
may appeal as the assertor of right and avenger of wrong, and may
|
|
depend on his promise that he will clear up our <I>righteousness as the
|
|
light,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:6">Ps. xxxvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Reproach and contempt may humble us and do us good and then it shall be
|
|
removed.
|
|
|
|
2. He pleads his constant adherence to the word and way of God: <I>For
|
|
I have kept thy testimonies.</I> He not only pleads his innocency, that
|
|
he was unjustly censured, but,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he was jeered for well-doing. He was despised and abused for
|
|
his strictness and zeal in religion; so that it was for God's name's
|
|
sake that he suffered reproach, and therefore he could with the more
|
|
assurance beg of God to appear for him. The reproach of God's people,
|
|
if it be not removed now, will be turned into the greater honour
|
|
shortly.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he was not jeered out of well-doing: "Lord, remove it from
|
|
me, <I>for I have kept thy testimonies</I> notwithstanding." If in a
|
|
day of trial we still retain our integrity, we may be sure it will end
|
|
well.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_23"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>23 Princes also did sit <I>and</I> speak against me: <I>but</I> thy
|
|
servant did meditate in thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
See here,
|
|
|
|
1. How David was abused even by great men, who should have known better
|
|
his character and his case, and have been more generous: <I>Princes did
|
|
sit,</I> sit in council, sit in judgment, and <I>speak against me.</I>
|
|
What even princes say is not always right; but it is sad when judgment
|
|
is thus turned to wormwood, when those that should be the protectors of
|
|
the innocent are their betrayers. Herein David was a type of Christ,
|
|
for they were the princes of this world that vilified and <I>crucified
|
|
the Lord of glory,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:8">1 Cor. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. What method he took to make himself easy under these abuses: he
|
|
<I>meditated in God's statutes,</I> went on in his duty, and did not
|
|
regard them; as a deaf man, he heard not. When they spoke against him,
|
|
he found that in the word of God which spoke for him, and spoke comfort
|
|
to him, and then none of these things moved him. Those that have
|
|
pleasure in communion with God may easily despise the censures of men,
|
|
even of princes.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>24 Thy testimonies also <I>are</I> my delight <I>and</I> my counsellors.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here David explains his meditating in God's statutes
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was of such use to him when princes sat and spoke against him.
|
|
|
|
1. Did the affliction make his sad? The word of God comforted him, and
|
|
was <I>his delight,</I> more his delight than any of the pleasures
|
|
either of court or camp, of city or country. Sometimes it proves that
|
|
the comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul
|
|
when other comforts are embittered.
|
|
|
|
2. Did it perplex him? Was he at a loss what to do when the princes
|
|
spoke against him? God's statutes were <I>his counsellors,</I> and they
|
|
counselled him to bear it patiently and commit his cause to God. God's
|
|
<I>testimonies</I> will be the best counsellors both to princes and
|
|
private persons. <I>They are the men of my counsel;</I> so the word is.
|
|
There will be found more safety and satisfaction in consulting them
|
|
than in the multitude of other counsellors. Observe here, Those that
|
|
would have God's testimonies to be their delight must take them for
|
|
their counsellors and be advised by them; and let those that take them
|
|
for their counsellors in close walking take them for their delight in
|
|
comfortable walking.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>4. DALETH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me
|
|
according to thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. David's complaint. We should have thought his soul soaring to
|
|
heaven; but he says himself, <I>My soul</I> not only rolls in the dust,
|
|
but <I>cleaves to the dust,</I> which is a complaint either,
|
|
|
|
1. Of his corruptions, his inclination to the world and the body (both
|
|
which are dust), and that which follows upon it, a deadness to holy
|
|
duties. When he would <I>do good evil was present with him.</I> God
|
|
intimated that Adam was not only mortal, but sinful, when he said,
|
|
<I>Dust thou art,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:19">Gen. iii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
David's complaint here is like St. Paul's of a body of death that he
|
|
carried about with him. The remainders of in-dwelling corruption are a
|
|
very grievous burden to a gracious soul. Or,
|
|
|
|
2. Of his afflictions, either trouble of mind or outward trouble.
|
|
<I>Without were fightings, within were fears,</I> and both together
|
|
brought him even to the <I>dust of death</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:15">Ps. xxii. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and his soul clave inseparably to it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. His petition for relief, and his plea to enforce that petition:
|
|
"<I>Quicken thou me according to thy word.</I> By thy providence put
|
|
life into my affairs, by thy grace put life into my affections; cure me
|
|
of my spiritual deadness and make me lively in my devotion." Note, When
|
|
we find ourselves dull we must go to God and beg of him to quicken us;
|
|
he has an eye to God's word as a means of quickening (for the words
|
|
which God speaks, <I>they are spirit and they are life</I> to those
|
|
that receive them), and as an encouragement to hope that God would
|
|
quicken him, having promised grace and comfort to all the saints, and
|
|
to David in particular. God's word must be our guide and plea in every
|
|
prayer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_27"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy
|
|
statutes.
|
|
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I
|
|
talk of thy wondrous works.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here,
|
|
|
|
1. The great intimacy and freedom that had been between David and his
|
|
God. David had opened his case, opened his very heart to God: "<I>I
|
|
have declared my ways,</I> and acknowledged thee in them all, have
|
|
taken thee along with me in all my designs and enterprises." Thus
|
|
<I>Jephthah uttered all his words,</I> and Hezekiah spread his letters,
|
|
<I>before the Lord. "I have declared my ways,</I> my wants, and
|
|
burdens, and troubles, that I meet with in my way, or my sins, my
|
|
by-ways (I have made an ingenuous confession of them), and <I>thou
|
|
heardest me,</I> heardest patiently all I had to say, and tookedst
|
|
cognizance of my case." It is an unspeakable comfort to a gracious soul
|
|
to think with what tenderness all its complaints are received by a
|
|
gracious God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:14,15">1 John v. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. David's earnest desire of the continuance of that intimacy, not by
|
|
visions and voices from heaven, but by the word and Spirit in an
|
|
ordinary way: <I>Teach me thy statutes,</I> that is, <I>Make me to
|
|
understand the way of thy precepts.</I> When he knew God had heard his
|
|
declaration of his ways he did not say, "Now, Lord, tell me my lot, and
|
|
let me know what the event will be;" but, "Now, Lord, tell me my duty;
|
|
let me know what thou wouldst have me to do as the case stands." Note,
|
|
Those who in all their ways acknowledge God may pray in faith that he
|
|
will <I>direct their steps</I> in the right way. And the surest way of
|
|
keeping up our communion with God is by learning his statutes and
|
|
walking intelligently in the <I>way of his precepts.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+1:6,7">1 John i. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. The good use he would make of this for the honour of God and the
|
|
edification of others: "Let me have a good understanding of <I>the way
|
|
of thy precepts;</I> give me a clear, distinct, and methodical
|
|
knowledge of divine things; <I>so shall I talk</I> with the more
|
|
assurance, and the more to the purpose, <I>of thy wondrous works.</I>"
|
|
We can talk with a better grace of God's wondrous works, the wonders of
|
|
providence, and especially the wonders of redeeming love, when we
|
|
understand the way of God's precepts and walk in that way.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according
|
|
unto thy word.
|
|
29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law
|
|
graciously.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's representation of his own griefs: <I>My soul melteth for
|
|
heaviness,</I> which is to the same purport with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>My soul cleaveth to the dust.</I> Heaviness in the heart of man
|
|
makes it to melt, to drop away like a candle that wastes. The penitent
|
|
soul melts in sorrow for sin, and even the patient soul may melt in the
|
|
sense of affliction, and it is then its interest to pour out its
|
|
supplication before God.
|
|
|
|
2. His request for God's grace.
|
|
|
|
(1.) That God would enable him to bear his affliction well and
|
|
graciously support him under it: "<I>Strengthen thou me</I> with
|
|
strength in my soul, <I>according to thy word,</I> which, as the bread
|
|
of life, strengthens man's heart to undergo whatever God is pleased to
|
|
inflict. Strengthen me to do the duties, resist the temptations, and
|
|
bear up under the burdens, of an afflicted state, that the spirit may
|
|
not fail. <I>Strengthen me according to</I> that <I>word</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:25">Deut. xxxiii. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>As thy days so shall thy strength be.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(2.) That God would keep him from using any unlawful indirect means for
|
|
the extricating of himself out of his troubles
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Remove from me the way of lying.</I> David was conscious to himself
|
|
of a proneness to this sin; he had, in a strait, cheated Ahimelech
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+21:2">1 Sam. xxi. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Achish,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+21:13,27:10"><I>v.</I> 13 and <I>ch.</I> xxvii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Great difficulties are great temptations to palliate a lie with the
|
|
colour of a pious fraud and a necessary self-defence; therefore David
|
|
prays that God would prevent him from falling into this sin any more,
|
|
lest he should settle in the way of it. A course of lying, of deceit
|
|
and dissimulation, is that which every good man dreads and which we are
|
|
all concerned to beg of God by his grace to keep us from.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That he might always be under the guidance and protection of God's
|
|
government: <I>Grant me thy law graciously;</I> grant me that to keep
|
|
me from the <I>way of lying.</I> David had the law written with his own
|
|
hand, for the king was obliged to transcribe a copy of it for his own
|
|
use
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:18">Deut. xvii. 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
but he prays that he might have it written in his heart; for then, and
|
|
then only, we have it indeed, and to good purpose. "Grant it me more
|
|
and more." Those that know and love the law of God cannot but desire to
|
|
know it more and love it better. "Grant it me <I>graciously;</I>" he
|
|
begs it as a special token of God's favour. Note, We ought to reckon
|
|
God's law a grant, a gift, an unspeakable gift, to value it, and pray
|
|
for it, and to give thanks for it accordingly. The divine code of
|
|
institutes and precepts is indeed a charter of privileges; and God is
|
|
truly gracious to those whom he makes gracious by giving them his
|
|
law.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_32"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid
|
|
<I>before me.</I>
|
|
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, put me not to
|
|
shame.
|
|
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt
|
|
enlarge my heart.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
I. That those who will make anything to purpose of their religion must
|
|
first make it their serious and deliberate choice; so David did: <I>I
|
|
have chosen the way of truth.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
1. The way of serious godliness is the way of truth; the principles it
|
|
is founded on are principles of eternal truth, and it is the only true
|
|
way to happiness.
|
|
|
|
2. We must choose to walk in this way, not because we know no other
|
|
way, but because we know no better; nay we know no other safe and good
|
|
way. Let us choose that way for our way, which we will walk in, though
|
|
it be narrow.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That those who have chosen the way of truth must have a constant
|
|
regard to the word of God as the rule of their walking: <I>Thy
|
|
judgments have I laid before me,</I> as he who learns to write lays his
|
|
copy before him, that he may write according to it, as the workman lays
|
|
his model and platform before him, that he may do his work exactly. As
|
|
we must have the word in our heart by an habitual conformity to it, so
|
|
we must have it in our eye by an actual regard to it upon all
|
|
occasions, that we may walk accurately and by rule.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. That those who make religion their choice and rule are likely to
|
|
adhere to it faithfully: "<I>I have stuck to thy testimonies</I> with
|
|
unchanged affection and an unshaken resolution, stuck to them at all
|
|
times, through all trials. <I>I have chosen them,</I> and therefore
|
|
<I>I have stuck</I> to them." Note, The choosing Christian is likely to
|
|
be the steady Christian; while those that are Christians by chance tack
|
|
about if the wind turn.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. That those who stick to the word of God may in faith expect and
|
|
pray for acceptance with God; for David means this when he begs,
|
|
"<I>Lord, put me not to shame;</I> that is, never leave me to do that
|
|
by which I shall shame myself, and do thou not reject my services,
|
|
which will put me to the greatest confusion."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. That the more comfort God gives us the more duty he expects from us,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
1. His resolution to go on vigorously in religion: <I>I will run the
|
|
way of thy commandments.</I> Those that are going to heaven should make
|
|
haste thither and be still pressing forward. It concerns us to redeem
|
|
time and take pains, and to go on in our business with cheerfulness. We
|
|
<I>then</I> run the way of our duty, when we are ready to it, and
|
|
pleasant in it, and <I>lay aside every weight,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:1">Heb. xii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. His dependence upon God for grace to do so: "I shall <I>then</I>
|
|
abound in thy work, <I>when thou shalt enlarge my heart.</I>" God, by
|
|
his Spirit, enlarges the hearts of his people when he gives them wisdom
|
|
(for that is called <I>largeness of heart,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+4:29">1 Kings iv. 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
when he <I>sheds abroad the love of God</I> in the heart, and puts
|
|
gladness there. The joy of our Lord should be wheels to our
|
|
obedience.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_34"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>5. HE.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>33 Teach me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the way of thy statutes; and I shall
|
|
keep it <I>unto</I> the end.
|
|
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I
|
|
shall observe it with <I>my</I> whole heart.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. David prays earnestly that God himself would be his teacher; he had
|
|
prophets, and wise men, and priests, about him, and was himself well
|
|
instructed in the law of God, yet he begs to be taught of God, as
|
|
knowing that <I>none teaches like him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+36:22">Job xxxvi. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. What he desires to be taught, not the notions or language of God's
|
|
statutes, but <I>the way</I> of them--"the way of applying them to
|
|
myself and governing myself by them; teach me the way of my duty which
|
|
thy statutes prescribe, and in every doubtful case let me know what
|
|
thou wouldst have me to do, let me hear the word behind me, saying,
|
|
<I>This is the way, walk in it</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+30:21">Isa. xxx. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. How he desires to be taught, in such a way as no man could teach
|
|
him: <I>Lord, give me understanding.</I> As the God of nature, he has
|
|
given us intellectual powers and faculties; but here we are taught to
|
|
pray that, as the God of grace, he would give us understanding to use
|
|
those powers and faculties about the great things which belong to our
|
|
peace, which, through the corruption of nature, we are averse to:
|
|
<I>Give me understanding,</I> an enlightened understanding; for it is
|
|
as good to have no understanding at all as not to have it sanctified.
|
|
Nor will the spirit of revelation in the word answer the end unless we
|
|
have the spirit of wisdom in the heart. This is that which we are
|
|
indebted to Christ for; for the <I>Son of God has come and has given us
|
|
understanding,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:20">1 John v. 20</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He promises faithfully that he would be a good scholar. If God
|
|
would teach him, he was sure he should learn to good purpose: "<I>I
|
|
shall keep thy law,</I> which I shall never do unless I be taught of
|
|
God, and therefore I earnestly desire that I may be taught." If God, by
|
|
his Spirit, give us a right and good understanding, we shall be,
|
|
|
|
1. Constant in our obedience: "<I>I shall keep it to the end,</I> to
|
|
the end of my life, which will be the surest proof of sincerity." It
|
|
will not avail the traveller to keep the way for a while, if he do not
|
|
keep it to the end of his journey.
|
|
|
|
2. Cordial in our obedience: <I>I shall observe it with my whole
|
|
heart,</I> with pleasure and delight, and with vigour and resolution.
|
|
That way which the whole heart goes the whole man goes; and that should
|
|
be the way of God's commandments, for the keeping of them is the whole
|
|
of man.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_36"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein
|
|
do I delight.
|
|
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to
|
|
covetousness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
He had before prayed to God to enlighten his understanding, that he
|
|
might know his duty, and not mistake concerning it; here he prays to
|
|
God to bow his will, and quicken the active powers of his soul, that he
|
|
might do his duty; for <I>it is God that works in us both to will and
|
|
to do,</I> as well as to understand, what is good,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:13">Phil. ii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Both the good head and the good heart are from the good grace of God,
|
|
and both are necessary to every good work. Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The grace he prays for.
|
|
|
|
1. That God would make him able to do his duty: "<I>Make me to go;</I>
|
|
strengthen me for every good work." Since we are not sufficient of
|
|
ourselves, our dependence must be upon the grace of God, for from him
|
|
all our sufficiency is. God puts his Spirit within us, and so causes us
|
|
to <I>walk in his statutes</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+36:27">Ezek. xxxvi. 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this is that which David here begs.
|
|
|
|
2. That God would make him willing to do it, and would, by his grace,
|
|
subdue the aversion he naturally had to it: "<I>Incline my heart to thy
|
|
testimonies,</I> to those things which thy testimonies prescribe; not
|
|
only make me willing to do my duty, as that which I must do and
|
|
therefore am concerned to make the best of, but make me desirous to do
|
|
my duty as that which is agreeable to the new nature and really
|
|
advantageous to me." Duty is then done with delight when the heart is
|
|
inclined to it: it is God's grace that inclines us, and the more
|
|
backward we find ourselves to it the more earnest we must be for that
|
|
grace.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The sin he prays against, and that is covetousness: "<I>Incline my
|
|
heart to keep thy testimonies,</I> and restrain and mortify the
|
|
inclination there is in me to <I>covetousness.</I>" That is a sin which
|
|
stands opposed to all God's testimonies; for the love of money is such
|
|
a sin as is the root of much sin, of all sin. Those therefore that
|
|
would have the love of God rooted in them must get the love of the
|
|
world rooted out of them; for <I>the friendship of the world is enmity
|
|
with God.</I> See in what way God deals with men, not by compulsion,
|
|
but he draws with the cords of a man, working in them an inclination to
|
|
that which is good and an aversion to that which is evil.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. His plea to enforce this prayer: "Lord, bring me to, and keep me
|
|
in, <I>the way of thy commandments, for therein do I delight;</I> and
|
|
therefore I pray thus earnestly for grace to walk in that way. Thou
|
|
hast wrought in me this delight in the way of thy commandments; wilt
|
|
thou not work in me an ability to walk in them, and so crown thy own
|
|
work?"</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_37"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; <I>and</I> quicken
|
|
thou me in thy way.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays for restraining grace, that he might be prevented and
|
|
kept back from that which would hinder him in the way of his duty:
|
|
<I>Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity.</I> The honours, pleasures,
|
|
and profits of the world are the vanities, the aspect and prospect of
|
|
which draw multitudes away from the paths of religion and godliness.
|
|
The eye, when fastened on these, infects the heart with the love of
|
|
them, and so it is alienated from God and divine things; and therefore,
|
|
as we ought to <I>make a covenant with our eyes,</I> and lay a charge
|
|
upon them, that they shall not wander after, much less fix upon, that
|
|
which is dangerous
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:1">Job xxxi. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
so we ought to pray that God by his providence would keep vanity out of
|
|
our sight and that by his grace he would keep us from being enamoured
|
|
with the sight of it.
|
|
|
|
2. He prays for constraining grace, that he might not only be kept from
|
|
every thing that would obstruct his progress heaven-ward, but might
|
|
have that grace which was necessary to forward him in that progress:
|
|
"<I>Quicken thou me in thy way;</I> quicken me to redeem time, to
|
|
improve opportunity, to press forward, and to do every duty with
|
|
liveliness and fervency of spirit." Beholding vanity deadens us and
|
|
slackens our pace; a traveller that stands gazing upon every object
|
|
that presents itself to his view will not rid ground; but, if our eyes
|
|
be kept from that which would divert us, our hearts will be kept to
|
|
that which will excite us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_38"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who <I>is devoted</I> to thy
|
|
fear.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is
|
|
|
|
1. The character of a good man, which is the work of God's grace in
|
|
him; he is <I>God's servant,</I> subject to his law and employed in his
|
|
work, that is, <I>devoted to his fear,</I> given up to his direction
|
|
and disposal, and taken up with high thoughts of him and all those acts
|
|
of devotion which have a tendency to his glory. Those are truly God's
|
|
servants who, though they have their infirmities and defects, are
|
|
sincerely <I>devoted to the fear of God</I> and have all their
|
|
affections and motions governed by that fear; they are engaged and
|
|
addicted to religion.
|
|
|
|
2. The confidence that a good man has towards God, in dependence upon
|
|
the word of his grace to him. Those that are God's servants may, in
|
|
faith and with humble boldness, pray that God would <I>establish his
|
|
word to them,</I> that is, that he would fulfil his promises to them in
|
|
due time, and in the mean time give them an assurance that they shall
|
|
be fulfilled. What God has promised we must pray for; we need not be so
|
|
aspiring as to ask more; we need not be so modest as to ask less.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_39"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments <I>are</I>
|
|
good.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays against <I>reproach,</I> as before,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
David was conscious to himself that he had done that which might give
|
|
<I>occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme,</I> which would
|
|
blemish his own reputation and turn to the dishonour of his family; now
|
|
he prays that God, who has all men's hearts and tongues in his hands,
|
|
would be pleased to prevent this, to <I>deliver him from all his
|
|
transgressions,</I> that he <I>might not be the reproach of the
|
|
foolish,</I> which he feared
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+39:8">Ps. xxxix. 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
or he means that reproach which his enemies unjustly loaded him with.
|
|
Let their <I>lying lips be put to silence.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He pleads the goodness of God's judgments: "Lord, thou sittest in
|
|
the throne, and <I>thy judgments are right</I> and <I>good,</I> just
|
|
and kind, to those that are wronged, and therefore to thee I appeal
|
|
from the unjust and unkind censures of men." It is a small thing to be
|
|
judged of man's judgment, while <I>he that judges us is the Lord.</I>
|
|
Or thus: "Thy word, and ways, and thy holy religion, are very good, but
|
|
the reproaches cast on me will fall on them; therefore, <I>Lord, turn
|
|
them away;</I> let not religion be wounded through my side."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_40"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy
|
|
righteousness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David professes the ardent affection he had to the word of God:
|
|
"<I>I have longed after thy precepts,</I> not only loved them, and
|
|
delighted in what I have already attained, but I have earnestly desired
|
|
to know them more and do them better, and am still pressing forward
|
|
towards perfection." Tastes of the sweetness of God's precepts will but
|
|
set us a longing after a more intimate acquaintance with them. He
|
|
appeals to God concerning this passionate desire after his precepts:
|
|
"<I>Behold, I have</I> thus loved, thus <I>longed;</I> thou knowest all
|
|
things, thou knowest that I am thus affected."
|
|
|
|
2. He prays for grace to enable him to answer this profession. "Thou
|
|
hast wrought in me this languishing desire, put life into me, that I
|
|
may prosecute it; <I>quicken me in thy righteousness,</I> in thy
|
|
righteous ways, according to thy righteous promise." Where God has
|
|
wrought to will he will work to do, and where he has wrought to desire
|
|
he will satisfy the desire.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_42"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>6. VAU.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>even</I> thy
|
|
salvation, according to thy word.
|
|
42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me:
|
|
for I trust in thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's prayer for the salvation of the Lord. "Lord, thou art my
|
|
Saviour; I am miserable in myself, and thou only canst make me happy;
|
|
<I>let thy salvation come to me.</I> Hasten temporal salvation to me
|
|
from my present distresses, and hasten me to the eternal salvation, by
|
|
giving me the necessary qualifications for it and the comfortable
|
|
pledges and foretastes of it."
|
|
|
|
2. David's dependence upon the grace and promise of God for that
|
|
salvation. These are the two pillars on which our hope is built, and
|
|
they will not fail us:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) The grace of God: <I>Let thy mercies come, even thy salvation.</I>
|
|
Our salvation must be attributed purely to God's mercy, and not to any
|
|
merit of our own. Eternal life must be expected as the <I>mercy of our
|
|
Lord Jesus Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:21">Jude 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Lord, I have by faith thy mercies in view; let me by prayer prevail to
|
|
have them come to me."
|
|
|
|
(2.) The promise of God: "<I>Let it come according to thy word,</I> thy
|
|
word of promise. <I>I trust in thy word,</I> and therefore may expect
|
|
the performance of the promise." We are not only allowed to trust in
|
|
God's word, but our trusting in it is the condition of our benefit by
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
3. David's expectation of the good assurance which that grace and
|
|
promise of God would give him: "<I>So shall I have wherewith to answer
|
|
him that reproaches me</I> for my confidence in God, as if it would
|
|
deceive me." When God saves those out of their troubles who trusted in
|
|
him he effectually silences those who would have <I>shamed that counsel
|
|
of the poor</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+14:6">Ps. xiv. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and their reproaches will be for ever silenced when the salvation of
|
|
the saints is completed; then it will appear, beyond dispute, that it
|
|
was not in vain to trust in God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_44"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for
|
|
I have hoped in thy judgments.
|
|
44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's humble petition for the tongue of the learned, that he might
|
|
know how to <I>speak a word in season</I> for the glory of God: <I>Take
|
|
not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.</I> He means, "Lord, let
|
|
the word of truth be always in my mouth; let me have the wisdom and
|
|
courage which are necessary to enable me both to use my knowledge for
|
|
the instruction of others, and, like the good householder, to bring out
|
|
of my treasury <I>things new and old,</I> and to make profession of my
|
|
faith whenever I am called to it." We have need to pray to God that we
|
|
may never be afraid or ashamed to own his truths and ways, nor deny him
|
|
before men. David found that he was sometimes at a loss, that the
|
|
<I>word of truth</I> was not so ready to him as it should have been,
|
|
but he prays, "Lord, let it not be taken utterly from me; let my always
|
|
have so much of it at hand as will be necessary to the due discharge of
|
|
my duty."
|
|
|
|
2. His humble profession of the heart of the upright, without which the
|
|
tongue of the learned, however it may be serviceable to others, will
|
|
stand us in no stead.
|
|
|
|
(1.) David professes his confidence in God: "Lord, make me ready and
|
|
mighty in the scriptures, <I>for I have hoped in those judgments</I> of
|
|
thy mouth, and, if they be not at hand, my support and defence have
|
|
departed from me."
|
|
|
|
(2.) He professes his resolution to adhere to his duty in the strength
|
|
of God's grace: "<I>So shall I keep thy law continually.</I> If I have
|
|
thy word not only in my heart, but in my mouth, I shall do all I should
|
|
do, stand complete in thy whole will." Thus shall the <I>man of God be
|
|
perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good word and work,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+3:17,Col+3:16">2 Tim. iii. 17; Col. iii. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe how he resolves to keep God's law,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Continually, without trifling. God must be served in a constant
|
|
course of obedience every day, and all the day long.
|
|
|
|
[2.] <I>For ever and ever,</I> without backsliding. We must never be
|
|
<I>weary of well-doing.</I> If we serve him to the end of our time on
|
|
earth, we shall be serving him in heaven to the endless ages of
|
|
eternity; so shall we <I>keep his law for ever and ever.</I> Or thus:
|
|
"Lord, let me have the word of truth in <I>my mouth,</I> that I may
|
|
commit that sacred deposit to the rising generation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:2">2 Tim. ii. 2</A>)
|
|
|
|
and by them it may be transmitted to succeeding ages; so shall thy law
|
|
be kept <I>for ever and ever,</I>" that is, from one generation to
|
|
another, according to that promise
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:21">Isa. lix. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>My word in thy mouth shall not depart out of the mouth of thy seed,
|
|
nor thy seed's seed.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_48"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
|
|
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will
|
|
not be ashamed.
|
|
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have
|
|
loved.
|
|
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I
|
|
have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We may observe in these verses,
|
|
|
|
1. What David experienced of an affection to the law of God: "<I>I seek
|
|
thy precepts,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
I desire to know and do my duty, and consult thy word accordingly; I do
|
|
all I can to <I>understand what the will of the Lord is</I> and to
|
|
discover the intimations of his mind. <I>I seek thy precepts,</I> for
|
|
<I>I have loved them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:47,48"><I>v.</I> 47, 48</A>.
|
|
|
|
I not only give consent to them as good, but take complacency in them
|
|
as good for me." All that love God love his government and therefore
|
|
love all his commandments.
|
|
|
|
2. What he expected from this. Five things he promises himself here in
|
|
the strength of God's grace:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he should be free and easy in his duty: "<I>I will walk at
|
|
liberty,</I> freed from that which is evil, not hampered with the
|
|
fetters of my own corruptions, and free to that which is good, doing it
|
|
not by constraint, but willingly." The service of sin is perfect
|
|
slavery; the service of God is perfect liberty. Licentiousness is
|
|
bondage to the greatest of tyrants; conscientiousness is freedom to the
|
|
meanest of prisoners,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:32,36,Lu+1:74,75">John viii. 32, 36; Luke i. 74, 75</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he should be bold and courageous in his duty: <I>I will speak
|
|
of thy testimonies also before kings.</I> Before David came to the
|
|
crown kings were sometimes his judges, as Saul, and Achish; but, if he
|
|
were called before them to give a reason of the hope that was in him,
|
|
he would <I>speak of God's testimonies,</I> and profess to build his
|
|
hope upon them and make them his council, his guards, his crown, his
|
|
all. We must never be afraid to own our religion, though it should
|
|
expose us to the wrath of kings, but speak of it as that which we will
|
|
live and die by, like the three children before Nebuchadnezzar,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+3:16,Ac+4:20">Dan. iii. 16; Acts iv. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
After David came to the crown kings were sometimes his companions; they
|
|
visited him and he returned their visits; but he did not, in
|
|
complaisance to them, talk of every thing but religion, for fear of
|
|
affronting them and making his conversation uneasy to them. No; God's
|
|
testimonies shall be the principal subject of his discourse with the
|
|
kings, not only to show that he was not ashamed of his religion, but to
|
|
instruct them in it and bring them over to it. It is good for kings to
|
|
hear of God's testimonies, and it will adorn the conversation of
|
|
princes themselves to speak of them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That he should be cheerful and pleasant in his duty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will delight myself in thy commandments,</I> in conversing with
|
|
them, in conforming to them. I will never be so well pleased with
|
|
myself as when I do that which is pleasing to God." The more delight we
|
|
take in the service of God the nearer we come to the perfection we aim
|
|
at.
|
|
|
|
(4.) That he should be diligent and vigorous in his duty: <I>I will
|
|
lift up my hands to thy commandments,</I> which denotes not only a
|
|
vehement desire towards them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+143:6">Ps. cxliii. 6</A>)
|
|
|
|
--"I will lay hold of them as one afraid of missing them, or letting
|
|
them go;" but a close application of mind to the observance of them--"I
|
|
will lay my hands to the command, not only to praise it, but practise
|
|
it; nay, I will lift up my hands to it, that is, I will put forth all
|
|
the strength I have to do it." The hands that hang down, through sloth
|
|
and discouragement, shall be lifted up,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:12">Heb. xii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
(5.) That he should be thoughtful and considerate in his duty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will meditate in thy statutes,</I> not only entertain myself with
|
|
thinking of them as matters of speculation, but contrive how I may
|
|
observe them in the best manner." By <I>this</I> it will appear that we
|
|
truly love God's commandments, if we apply both our minds and our hands
|
|
to them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_49"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec7"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>7. ZAIN.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou
|
|
hast caused me to hope.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two things David here pleads with God in prayer for that mercy and
|
|
grace which he hoped for, according to the word, by which his requests
|
|
were guided:--
|
|
|
|
1. That God had given him the promise on which he hoped: "Lord, I
|
|
desire no more than that thou wouldst <I>remember thy word unto thy
|
|
servant,</I> and <I>do as thou hast said;</I>" see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+17:23">1 Chron. xvii. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Thou art wise, and therefore wilt perfect what thou hast purposed, and
|
|
not change thy counsel. Thou art faithful, and therefore wilt perform
|
|
what thou hast promised, and not break thy word." Those that make God's
|
|
promises their portion may with humble boldness make them their plea.
|
|
"Lord, is not that the word which thou hast spoken; and wilt thou not
|
|
make it good?"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:9,Ex+33:12">Gen. xxxii. 9; Exod. xxxiii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That God, who had given him the promise in the word, had by his
|
|
grace wrought in him a hope in that promise and enabled him to depend
|
|
upon it, and had raised his expectations of great things from it. Has
|
|
God kindled in us desires towards spiritual blessings more than towards
|
|
any temporal good things, and will he not be so kind as to satisfy
|
|
those desires? Has he filled us with hopes of those blessings, and will
|
|
he not be so just as to accomplish these hopes? He that did by his
|
|
Spirit work faith in us will, according to our faith, work for us, and
|
|
will not disappoint us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_50"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>50 This <I>is</I> my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath
|
|
quickened me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is David's experience of benefit by the word.
|
|
|
|
1. As a means of his sanctification: "<I>Thy word has quickened me.</I>
|
|
It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me
|
|
lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is
|
|
good when I was backward and averse to it, and it has quickened me in
|
|
that which is good when I was cold and indifferent."
|
|
|
|
2. Therefore as a means of his consolation when he was in affliction
|
|
and needed something to support him: "Because thy word has quickened my
|
|
at other times, it has comforted me then." The word of God has much in
|
|
it that speaks <I>comfort in affliction;</I> but those only may apply
|
|
it to themselves who have experienced in some measure the quickening
|
|
power of the word. If through grace it make us holy, there is enough
|
|
in it to make us easy, in all conditions, under all events.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_51"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: <I>yet</I> have I not
|
|
declined from thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here tells us, and it will be of use to us to know it,
|
|
|
|
1. That he had been jeered for his religion. Though he was a man of
|
|
honour, a man of great prudence, and had done eminent services to his
|
|
country, yet, because he was a devout conscientious man, <I>the proud
|
|
had him greatly in derision;</I> they ridiculed him, bantered him, and
|
|
did all they could to expose him to contempt; they laughed at him for
|
|
his praying, and called it <I>cant,</I> for his seriousness, and called
|
|
it <I>mopishness,</I> for his strictness, and called it <I>needless
|
|
preciseness.</I> They were the proud that sat in the scorner's seat and
|
|
valued themselves on so doing.
|
|
|
|
2. That yet he had not been jeered out of his religion: "They have done
|
|
all they could to make me quit it for shame, but none of these things
|
|
move me: <I>I have not declined from thy law</I> for all this; but,
|
|
<I>if this be to be vile</I>" (as he said when Michal had him greatly
|
|
in derision), "<I>I will be yet more vile.</I>" He not only had not
|
|
quite forsaken the law, but had not so much as declined from it. We
|
|
must never shrink from any duty, nor let slip an opportunity of doing
|
|
good, for fear of the reproach of men, or their revilings. The
|
|
traveller goes on his way though the dogs bark at him. Those can bear
|
|
but little for Christ that cannot bear a hard word for him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_52"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and have
|
|
comforted myself.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When David was derided for his godliness he not only held fast his
|
|
integrity, but,
|
|
|
|
1. He comforted himself. He not only bore reproach, but bore it
|
|
cheerfully. It did not disturb his peace, nor break in upon the repose
|
|
of his spirit in God. It was a comfort to him to think that it was for
|
|
God's sake that he bore reproach, and that his worst enemies could find
|
|
<I>no occasion against him, save only in the matter of his God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+6:5">Dan. vi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that are derided for their adherence to God's law may comfort
|
|
themselves with this, that <I>the reproach of Christ</I> will prove, in
|
|
the end, <I>greater riches</I> to them <I>than the treasures of
|
|
Egypt.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. That which he comforted himself with was the remembrance of God's
|
|
<I>judgments of old,</I> the providences of God concerning his people
|
|
formerly, both in mercy to them and in justice against their
|
|
persecutors. God's judgments of old, in our own early days and in the
|
|
days of our fathers, are to be remembered by us for our comfort and
|
|
encouragement in the way of God, for he is still the same.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_53"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that
|
|
forsake thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The character of wicked people; he means those that are openly and
|
|
grossly wicked: <I>They forsake thy law.</I> Every sin is a
|
|
transgression of the law, but a course and way of wilful and avowed sin
|
|
is downright forsaking it and throwing it off.
|
|
|
|
2. The impression which the wickedness of the wicked made upon David;
|
|
it frightened him, it put him into an amazement. He trembled to think
|
|
of the dishonour thereby done to God, the gratification thereby given
|
|
to Satan, and the mischiefs thereby done to the souls of men. He
|
|
dreaded the consequences of it both to the sinners themselves (and
|
|
cried out, <I>O gather not my soul with sinners! let my enemy be as the
|
|
wicked</I>) and to the interests of God's kingdom among men, which he
|
|
was afraid would be thereby sunk and ruined. He does not say,
|
|
"<I>Horror has taken hold on me</I> because of their cruel designs
|
|
against me," but "because of the contempt they put on God and his law."
|
|
Sin is a monstrous horrible thing in the eyes of all that are
|
|
sanctified,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:30,23:14,Ho+6:10,Jer+2:12">Jer. v. 30; xxiii. 14;
|
|
Hos. vi. 10; Jer. ii. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_54"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my
|
|
pilgrimage.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's state and condition; he was <I>in the house of</I> his
|
|
<I>pilgrimage,</I> which may be understood either as his peculiar
|
|
trouble (he was often tossed and hurried, and forced to fly) or as his
|
|
lot in common with all. This world is the house of our pilgrimage, the
|
|
house in which we are pilgrims; it is our tabernacle; it is our inn. We
|
|
must confess ourselves <I>strangers and pilgrims upon earth,</I> who
|
|
are not at home here, nor must be here long. Even David's palace is but
|
|
the house of his pilgrimage.
|
|
|
|
2. His comfort in this state: "<I>Thy statutes have been my songs,</I>
|
|
with which I here entertain myself," as travellers are wont to divert
|
|
the thoughts of their weariness, and take off something of the
|
|
tediousness of their journey, by singing a pleasant song now and then.
|
|
David was the sweet singer of Israel, and here we are told whence he
|
|
fetched his songs; they were all borrowed from the word of God. God's
|
|
statutes were as familiar to him as the songs which a man is accustomed
|
|
to sing; and he conversed with them in his pilgrimage-solitudes. They
|
|
were as pleasant to him as songs, and <I>put gladness into his
|
|
heart</I> more than those have that <I>chant to the sound of the
|
|
viol,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+6:5">Amos vi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Is any afflicted</I> then? Let him sing over God's statutes, and try
|
|
if he cannot so <I>sing away sorrow,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:5">Ps. cxxxviii. 5</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_56"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>55 I have remembered thy name, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, in the night, and have
|
|
kept thy law.
|
|
56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The converse David had with the word of God; he kept it in mind, and
|
|
upon every occasion he called it to mind. God's name is the discovery
|
|
he has made of himself to us in and by his word. <I>This is his
|
|
memorial unto all generations,</I> and therefore we should always keep
|
|
it in memory--remember it <I>in the night,</I> upon a waking bed, when
|
|
we are communing with our own hearts. When others were sleeping David
|
|
was remembering God's name, and, by repeating that lesson, increasing
|
|
his acquaintance with it; in the night of affliction this he called to
|
|
mind.
|
|
|
|
2. The conscience be made of conforming to it. The due remembrance of
|
|
God's name, which is prefixed to his law, will have a great influence
|
|
upon our observance of the law: <I>I remembered thy name in the
|
|
night,</I> and therefore was careful to <I>keep thy law</I> all day.
|
|
How comfortable will it be in the reflection if our own hearts can
|
|
witness for us that we have thus remembered God's name, and kept his
|
|
law!
|
|
|
|
3. The advantage he got by it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:56"><I>v.</I> 56</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>This I had because I kept thy precepts.</I> Some understand this
|
|
indefinitely: <I>This I had</I> (that is I had that which satisfied me;
|
|
I had every thing that is comfortable) <I>because I kept thy
|
|
precepts.</I> Note, All that have made a business of religion will own
|
|
that it has turned to a good account, and that they have been
|
|
unspeakable gainers by it. Others refer it to what goes immediately
|
|
before: "I had the comfort of keeping thy law because I kept it." Note,
|
|
God's work is its own wages. A heart to obey the will of God is a most
|
|
valuable reward of obedience; and the more we do the more we may do,
|
|
and shall do, in the service of God; the branch that bears fruit is
|
|
made <I>more fruitful,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:2">John xv. 2</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_57"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec8"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>8. CHETH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>57 <I>Thou art</I> my portion, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: I have said that I
|
|
would keep thy words.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We may hence gather the character of a godly man.
|
|
|
|
1. He makes the favour of God his felicity: <I>Thou art my portion, O
|
|
Lord!</I> Others place their happiness in the wealth and honours of
|
|
this world. Their portion is in this life; they look no further; they
|
|
desire no more; these are <I>their good things,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:25">Luke xvi. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
But all that are sanctified take the Lord for the portion of their
|
|
inheritance and their cup, and nothing less will satisfy them. David
|
|
can appeal to God in this matter: "Lord, thou knowest that I have
|
|
chosen thee for my portion, and depend upon thee to make me happy."
|
|
|
|
2. He makes the law of God his rule: "<I>I have said that I would keep
|
|
thy words;</I> and what I have said by thy grace I will do, and will
|
|
abide by it to the end." Note, Those that take God for their portion
|
|
must take him for their prince, and swear allegiance to him; and,
|
|
having promised to <I>keep his word,</I> we must often put ourselves in
|
|
mind of our promise,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+39:1">Ps. xxxix. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_58"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>58 I intreated thy favour with <I>my</I> whole heart: be merciful
|
|
unto me according to thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David, having in the foregoing verse reflected upon his covenants with
|
|
God, here reflects upon his prayers to God, and renews his petition.
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. What he prayed for. Having taken God for his portion, he
|
|
<I>entreated his favour,</I> as one that knew he had forfeited it, was
|
|
unworthy of it, and yet undone without it, but for ever happy if he
|
|
could obtain it. We cannot demand God's favour as a debt, but must be
|
|
humble suppliants for it, that God will not only be reconciled to us,
|
|
but accept us and smile upon us. He prays, "<I>Be merciful to me,</I>
|
|
in the forgiveness of what I have done amiss, and in giving me grace to
|
|
do better for the future."
|
|
|
|
2. How he prayed--<I>with his whole heart,</I> as one that knew how to
|
|
value the blessing he prayed for. The gracious soul is entirely set
|
|
upon the favour of God, and is therefore importunate for it. <I>I will
|
|
not let thee go except thou bless me.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. What he pleaded--the promise of God: "<I>Be merciful to me,
|
|
according to thy word.</I> I desire the mercy promised, and depend upon
|
|
the promise for it." Those that are governed by the precepts of the
|
|
word and are resolved to keep them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:57"><I>v.</I> 57</A>)
|
|
|
|
may plead the promises of the word and take the comfort of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_59"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_60"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy
|
|
testimonies.
|
|
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David had said he <I>would keep God's word</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:57"><I>v.</I> 57</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it was well said; now here he tells us how and in what method he
|
|
pursued that resolution.
|
|
|
|
1. He <I>thought on his ways.</I> He thought beforehand what he should
|
|
do, pondering the path of his feet
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+4:26">Prov. iv. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he might walk surely, and not at all adventures. He thought after
|
|
what he had done, reflected upon his life past, and recollected the
|
|
paths he had walked in and the steps he had taken. The word signifies a
|
|
fixed abiding thought. Some make it an allusion to those who work
|
|
embroidery, who are very exact and careful to cover the least flaw, or
|
|
to those who cast up their accounts, who reckon with themselves, What
|
|
do I owe? What am I worth? "<I>I thought</I> not on my wealth (as the
|
|
covetous man,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:11">Ps. xlix. 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
but <I>on my ways,</I> not on what I have, but what I do:" for what we
|
|
do will follow us into another world when what we have must be left
|
|
behind. Many are critical enough in their remarks upon other people's
|
|
ways who never think of their own: but <I>let every man prove his own
|
|
work.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He <I>turned his feet to God's testimonies.</I> He determined to
|
|
make the word of God his rule, and to walk by that rule. He turned
|
|
from the by-paths to which he had turned aside, and returned to God's
|
|
testimonies. He turned not only his eye to them, but his feet, his
|
|
affections to the love of God's word and his conversation to the
|
|
practice of it. The bent and inclinations of his soul were towards
|
|
God's testimonies and his conversation was governed by them Penitent
|
|
reflections must produce pious resolutions.
|
|
|
|
3. He did this immediately and without demur
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I made haste
|
|
and delayed not.</I> When we are under convictions of sin we must
|
|
strike while the iron is hot, and not think to defer the prosecution of
|
|
them, as Felix did, to <I>a more convenient season.</I> When we are
|
|
called to duty we must lose no time, but set about it <I>to-day, while
|
|
it is called to-day.</I> Now this account which David here gives of
|
|
himself may refer either to his constant practice every day (he
|
|
reflected on his ways at night, directed his feet to God's testimonies
|
|
in the morning, and what his hand found to do that was good he did it
|
|
without delay), or it may refer to his first acquaintance with God and
|
|
religion, when he began to throw off the vanity of childhood and youth,
|
|
and to remember his Creator; that blessed change was, by the grace of
|
|
God, thus wrought. Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Conversion begins in serious consideration,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:28,Lu+15:17">Ezek. xviii. 28; Luke xv. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Consideration must end in a sound conversion. To what purpose have
|
|
we thought on our ways if we do not turn our feet with all speed to
|
|
God's testimonies?</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_61"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: <I>but</I> I have not
|
|
forgotten thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The malice of David's enemies against him. They were wicked men, who
|
|
hated him for his godliness. There were bands or troops of them
|
|
confederate against him. They did him all the mischief they could; they
|
|
robbed him; having endeavoured to take away his good name
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>),
|
|
|
|
they set upon his goods, and spoiled him of them, either by plunder in
|
|
time of war or by fines and confiscations under colour of law. Saul (it
|
|
is likely) seized his effects, Absalom his palace, and the Amalekites
|
|
rifled Ziklag. Worldly wealth is what we may be robbed of. David,
|
|
though a man of war, could not keep his own. <I>Thieves break through
|
|
and steal.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The testimony of David's conscience for him that he had held fast
|
|
his religion when he was stripped of every thing else, as Job did when
|
|
the bands of the Chaldeans and Sabeans had robbed him: <I>But I have
|
|
not forgotten thy law.</I> No care nor grief should drive God's word
|
|
out of our minds, or hinder our comfortable relish of it and converse
|
|
with it. Nor must we ever think the worse of the ways of God for any
|
|
trouble we meet with in those ways, nor fear being losers by our
|
|
religion at last, however we may be losers for it now.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_62"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of
|
|
thy righteous judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Though David is, in this psalm, much in prayer, yet he did not neglect
|
|
the duty of thanksgiving; for those that pray much will have much to
|
|
give thanks for. See,
|
|
|
|
1. How much God's hand was eyed in his thanksgivings. He does not say,
|
|
"<I>I will give thanks</I> because of thy favours to me, which I have
|
|
the comfort of," but, "<I>Because of thy righteous judgments,</I> all
|
|
the disposals of thy providence in wisdom and equity, which thou hast
|
|
the glory of." We must give thanks for the asserting of God's honour
|
|
and the accomplishing of his word in all he does in the government of
|
|
the world.
|
|
|
|
2. How much David's heart was set upon his thanksgivings. He would
|
|
<I>rise at midnight to give thanks</I> to God. Great and good thoughts
|
|
kept him awake, and refreshed him, instead of sleep; and so zealous was
|
|
he for the honour of God that when others were in their beds he was
|
|
upon his knees at his devotions. He did not affect to be seen of men in
|
|
it, but gave thanks in secret, where our heavenly Father sees. He had
|
|
praised God <I>in the courts of the Lord's house,</I> and yet he will
|
|
do it in his bed-chamber. Public worship will not excuse us from secret
|
|
worship. When David found his heart affected with God's judgments, he
|
|
immediately offered up those affections to God, in actual adorations,
|
|
not deferring, lest they should cool. Yet observe his reverence; he did
|
|
not lie still and give thanks, but rose out of his bed, perhaps in the
|
|
cold and in the dark, to do it the more solemnly. And see what a good
|
|
husband he was of time; when he could not lie and sleep, he would rise
|
|
and pray.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_63"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>63 I <I>am</I> a companion of all <I>them</I> that fear thee, and of them
|
|
that keep thy precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David had often expressed the great love he had to God; here he
|
|
expresses the great love he had to the people of God; and observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Why he loved them; not so much because they were his best friends,
|
|
most firm to his interest and most forward to serve him, but because
|
|
they were such as <I>feared God</I> and <I>kept his precepts,</I> and
|
|
so did him honour and helped to support his kingdom among men. Our love
|
|
to the saints is <I>then</I> sincere when we love them for the sake of
|
|
what we see of God in them and the service they do to him.
|
|
|
|
2. How he showed his love to them: He was <I>a companion of them.</I>
|
|
He had not only a spiritual communion with them in the same faith and
|
|
hope, but he joined with them in holy ordinances in the courts of the
|
|
Lord, where rich and poor, prince and peasant, meet together. He
|
|
sympathized with them in their joys and sorrows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:33">Heb. x. 33</A>);
|
|
|
|
he conversed familiarly with them, communicated his experiences to
|
|
them, and consulted theirs. He not only took such to be his companions
|
|
as did fear God, but he vouchsafed himself to be a companion with all,
|
|
with any, that did so, wherever he met with them. Though he was a king,
|
|
he would associate with the poorest of his subjects that feared God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+15:4,Jam+2:1">Ps. xv. 4; Jam. ii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_64"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>64 The earth, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy
|
|
statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David pleads that God is good to all the creatures according to
|
|
their necessities and capacities; as the heaven is full of God's glory,
|
|
so <I>the earth is full of his mercy,</I> full of the instances of his
|
|
pity and bounty. Not only the land of Canaan, where God is known and
|
|
worshipped, but the whole earth, in many parts of which he has no
|
|
homage paid him, is full of his mercy. Not only the children of men
|
|
upon the earth, but even the inferior creatures, taste of God's
|
|
goodness. <I>His tender mercies are over all his works.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He therefore prays that God would be good to him according to his
|
|
necessity and capacity: "<I>Teach me thy statutes.</I> Thou feedest the
|
|
young ravens that cry, with food proper for them; and wilt thou not
|
|
feed me with spiritual food, the bread of life, which my soul needs and
|
|
craves, and cannot subsist without? <I>The earth is full of thy
|
|
mercy;</I> and is not heaven too? Wilt thou not then give me spiritual
|
|
blessings in heavenly places?" A gracious heart will fetch an argument
|
|
from any thing to enforce a petition for divine teaching. Surely he
|
|
that will not let his birds be unfed will not let his children be
|
|
untaught.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_65"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_66"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec9"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>9. TETH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
|
|
according unto thy word.
|
|
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed
|
|
thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David makes a thankful acknowledgment of God's gracious dealings
|
|
with him all along: <I>Thou hast dealt well with thy servant.</I>
|
|
However God has dealt with us, we must own he has dealt <I>well</I>
|
|
with us, better than we deserve, and all in love and with design to
|
|
work for our good. In many instances God has done well for us beyond
|
|
our expectations. He has done well for all his servants; never any of
|
|
them complained that he had used them hardly. <I>Thou hast dealt well
|
|
with</I> me, not only according to thy mercy, but <I>according to thy
|
|
word.</I> God's favours look best when they are compared with the
|
|
promise and are seen flowing from that fountain.
|
|
|
|
2. Upon these experiences he grounds a petition for divine instruction:
|
|
"<I>Teach me good judgment and knowledge,</I> that, by thy grace, I may
|
|
render again, in some measure, according to the benefit done unto me."
|
|
Teach me <I>a good taste</I> (so the word signifies), a good relish, to
|
|
discern things that differ, to distinguish between truth and falsehood,
|
|
good and evil; for <I>the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes
|
|
meat.</I> We should pray to God for a sound mind, that we may have
|
|
<I>spiritual senses exercised,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:14">Heb. v. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Many have knowledge who have little judgment; those who have both are
|
|
well fortified against the snares of Satan and well furnished for the
|
|
service of God and their generation.
|
|
|
|
3. This petition is backed with a plea: "<I>For I have believed thy
|
|
commandments,</I> received them, and consented to them that they are
|
|
good, and submitted to their government; therefore, Lord, <I>teach
|
|
me.</I>" Where God has given a good heart a good head too many in faith
|
|
be prayed for.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_67"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept
|
|
thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here tells us what he had experienced,
|
|
|
|
1. Of the temptations of a prosperous condition: "<I>Before I was
|
|
afflicted,</I> while I lived in peace and plenty, and knew no sorrow,
|
|
<I>I went astray</I> from God and my duty." Sin is going astray; and we
|
|
are most apt to wander from God when we are easy and think ourselves at
|
|
home in the world. Prosperity is the unhappy occasion of much iniquity;
|
|
it makes people conceited of themselves, indulgent of the flesh,
|
|
forgetful of God, in love with the world, and deaf to the reproofs of
|
|
the word. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+30:6">Ps. xxx. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is good for us, when we are afflicted, to remember how and wherein
|
|
we went astray <I>before we were afflicted,</I> that we may answer the
|
|
end of the affliction.
|
|
|
|
2. Of the benefit of an afflicted state: "<I>Now have I kept thy
|
|
word,</I> and so have been recovered from my wanderings." God often
|
|
makes use of afflictions as a means to reduce those to himself who have
|
|
wandered from him. Sanctified afflictions humble us for sin and show us
|
|
the vanity of the world; they soften the heart, and open the ear to
|
|
discipline. The prodigal's distress brought him to himself first and
|
|
then to his father.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_68"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>68 Thou <I>art</I> good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David praises God's goodness and gives him the glory of it: <I>Thou
|
|
art good and doest good.</I> All who have any knowledge of God and
|
|
dealings with him wilt own that he does good, and therefore will
|
|
conclude that he is good. The streams of God's goodness are so
|
|
numerous, and run so full, so strong, to all the creatures, that we
|
|
must conclude the fountain that is in himself to be inexhaustible. We
|
|
cannot conceive how much good our God does every day, much less can we
|
|
conceive how good he is. Let us acknowledge it with admiration and
|
|
with holy love and thankfulness.
|
|
|
|
2. He prays for God's grace, and begs to be under the guidance and
|
|
influence of it: <I>Teach me thy statutes.</I> "Lord, thou doest good
|
|
to all, art the bountiful benefactor of all the creatures; this is the
|
|
good I beg thou wilt do to me,--Instruct me in my duty, incline me to
|
|
it, and enable me to do it. <I>Thou art good, and doest good;</I>
|
|
Lord, <I>teach me thy statutes,</I> that I may be good and do good, may
|
|
have a good heart and live a good life." It is an encouragement to poor
|
|
sinners to hope that God will <I>teach them his way</I> because he is
|
|
<I>good and upright,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+25:8">Ps. xxv. 8</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_69"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_70"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>69 The proud have forged a lie against me: <I>but</I> I will keep
|
|
thy precepts with <I>my</I> whole heart.
|
|
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; <I>but</I> I delight in thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here tells us how he was affected as to the proud and wicked
|
|
people that were about him.
|
|
|
|
1. He did not fear their malice, nor was he by it deterred from his
|
|
duty: <I>They have forged a lie against me.</I> Thus they aimed to take
|
|
away his good name. Nay, all we have in the world, even life itself,
|
|
may be brought into danger by those who make no conscience of forging a
|
|
lie. Those that were proud envied David's reputation, because it
|
|
eclipsed them, and therefore did all they could to blemish him. They
|
|
took a pride in trampling upon him. They therefore persuaded themselves
|
|
it was no sin to tell a deliberate lie if it might but expose him to
|
|
contempt. Their wicked wit forged lies, invented storied which there
|
|
was not the least colour for, to serve their wicked designs. And what
|
|
did David do when he was thus belied? He will bear it patiently; he
|
|
will keep that precept which forbids him to render railing for railing,
|
|
and will with all his heart sit down silently. He will go on in his
|
|
duty with constancy and resolution: "Let them say what they will, <I>I
|
|
will keep thy precepts,</I> and not dread their reproach."
|
|
|
|
2. He did not envy their prosperity, nor was he by it allured from his
|
|
duty. <I>Their heart is as fat as grease.</I> The proud are <I>at
|
|
ease</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+123:4">Ps. cxxiii. 4</A>);
|
|
|
|
they are full of the world, and the wealth and pleasures of it; and
|
|
this makes them,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Senseless, secure, and stupid; they are past feeling: thus the
|
|
phrase is used,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:10">Isa. vi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Make the heart of this people fat.</I> They are not sensible of the
|
|
touch of the word of God or his rod.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Sensual and voluptuous: "<I>Their eyes stand out with fatness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+73:7">Ps. lxxiii. 7</A>);
|
|
|
|
they roll themselves in the pleasures of sense, and take up with them
|
|
as their chief good; and much good may it do them. I would not change
|
|
conditions with them. <I>I delight in thy law;</I> I build my security
|
|
upon the promises of God's word and have pleasure enough in communion
|
|
with God, infinitely preferable to all their delights." The children of
|
|
God, who are acquainted with spiritual pleasures, need not envy the
|
|
children of this world their carnal pleasures.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_71"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>71 <I>It is</I> good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might
|
|
learn thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
See here,
|
|
|
|
1. That it has been the lot of the best saints to be afflicted. The
|
|
proud and the wicked lived in pomp and pleasure, while David, though he
|
|
kept close to God and his duty, was still in affliction. <I>Waters of a
|
|
full cup are wrung out to</I> God's people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+73:10">Ps. lxxiii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That it has been the advantage of God's people to be afflicted.
|
|
David could speak experimentally: <I>It was good for me;</I> many a
|
|
good lesson he had learnt by his afflictions, and many a good duty he
|
|
had been brought to which otherwise would have been unlearnt and
|
|
undone. <I>Therefore</I> God visited him with affliction, that he might
|
|
learn God's statutes; and the intention was answered: the afflictions
|
|
had contributed to the improvement of his knowledge and grace. He that
|
|
chastened him taught him. <I>The rod and reproof give wisdom.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_72"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>72 The law of thy mouth <I>is</I> better unto me than thousands of
|
|
gold and silver.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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|
|
|
This is a reason why David reckoned that when by his afflictions he
|
|
learned God's statutes, an the profit did so much counterbalance the
|
|
loss, he was really a gainer by them; for God's <I>law,</I> which he
|
|
got acquaintance with by his affliction, was <I>better</I> to him than
|
|
all the <I>gold and silver</I> which he lost by his affliction.
|
|
|
|
1. David had but a little of the word of God in comparison with what
|
|
we have, yet see how highly he valued it; how inexcusable then are we,
|
|
who have both the Old and New Testament complete, and yet account them
|
|
as a strange thing! Observe, <I>Therefore</I> he valued the law,
|
|
because it is <I>the law of God's mouth,</I> the revelation of his
|
|
will, and ratified by his authority.
|
|
|
|
2. He had a great deal of gold and silver in comparison with what we
|
|
have, yet see how little he valued it. His riches increased, and yet he
|
|
did not set his heart upon them, but upon the word of God. That was
|
|
better to him, yielded him better pleasures, and better maintenance,
|
|
and a better inheritance, than all the treasures he was master of.
|
|
Those that have read, and believe, David's <I>Psalms</I> and Solomon's
|
|
<I>Ecclesiastes,</I> cannot but prefer the word of God far before the
|
|
wealth of this world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_73"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec10"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>10. JOD.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me
|
|
understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David adores God as the God of nature and the author of his being:
|
|
<I>Thy hands have made me and fashioned me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+10:8">Job x. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Every man is as truly the work of God's hands as the first man was,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+139:15,16">Ps. cxxxix. 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thy hands have</I> not only <I>made me,</I> and given me a being,
|
|
otherwise I should never have been, but <I>fashioned me,</I> and given
|
|
me this being, this noble and excellent being, endued with these powers
|
|
and faculties;" and we must own that we are <I>fearfully and
|
|
wonderfully made.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He addresses himself to God as the God of grace, and begs he will be
|
|
the author of his new and better being. God made us to serve him and
|
|
enjoy him; but by sin we have made ourselves unable for his service and
|
|
indisposed for the enjoyment of him; and we must have a new and divine
|
|
nature, otherwise we had the human nature in vain; therefore David
|
|
prays, "Lord, since thou hast made me by thy power for thy glory, make
|
|
me anew by thy grace, that I may answer the ends of my creation and
|
|
live to some purpose: <I>Give me understanding, that I may learn thy
|
|
commandments.</I>" The way in which God recovers and secures his
|
|
interest in men is by giving them an understanding; for by that door he
|
|
enters into the soul and gains possession of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_74"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I
|
|
have hoped in thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The confidence of this good man in the hope of God's salvation:
|
|
"<I>I have hoped in thy word;</I> and I have not found it in vain to do
|
|
so; it has not failed me, nor have I been disappointed in my
|
|
expectations from it. It is a hope that <I>maketh not ashamed;</I> but
|
|
is present satisfaction, and fruition at last."
|
|
|
|
2. The concurrence of other good men with him in the joy of that
|
|
salvation: "<I>Those that fear thee will be glad when they see me</I>
|
|
relieved by my hope in thy word and delivered according to my hope."
|
|
The comforts which some of God's children have in God, and the favours
|
|
they have received from him, should be matter of joy to others of them.
|
|
Paul often expressed the hope that for God's grace to him thanks would
|
|
be rendered by many,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:11,4:15">2 Cor. i. 11; iv. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Or it may be taken more generally; good people are glad to see one
|
|
another; they are especially pleased with those who are eminent for
|
|
their hope in God's word.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_75"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>75 I know, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that thy judgments <I>are</I> right, and <I>that</I>
|
|
thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Still David is in affliction, and being so he owns,
|
|
|
|
1. That his sin was justly corrected: <I>I know, O Lord! that thy
|
|
judgments are right,</I> are righteousness itself. However God is
|
|
pleased to afflict us, he does us no wrong, nor can we charge him with
|
|
any iniquity, but most acknowledge that it is less than we have
|
|
deserved. We know that God is holy in his nature and wise and just in
|
|
all the acts of his government, and therefore we cannot but know, in
|
|
the general, that his <I>judgments are right,</I> though, in some
|
|
particular instances, there may be difficulties which we cannot easily
|
|
resolve.
|
|
|
|
2. That God's promise was graciously performed. The former may silence
|
|
us under our afflictions, and forbid us to repine, but this may satisfy
|
|
us, and enable us to rejoice; for afflictions are in the covenant, and
|
|
therefore they are not only not meant for our hurt, but they are really
|
|
intended for our good: "<I>In faithfulness thou hast afflicted me,</I>
|
|
pursuant to the great design of my salvation." It is easier to own, in
|
|
general, that God's <I>judgments are right,</I> than to own it when it
|
|
comes to be our own case; but David subscribes to it with application,
|
|
"Even my afflictions are just and kind."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_76"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_77"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort,
|
|
according to thy word unto thy servant.
|
|
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for
|
|
thy law <I>is</I> my delight.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. An earnest petition to God for his favour. Those that own the
|
|
justice of God in their afflictions (as David had done,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:75"><I>v.</I> 75</A>)
|
|
|
|
may, in faith, and with humble boldness, be earnest for the mercy of
|
|
God, and the tokens and fruits of that mercy, in their affliction. He
|
|
prays for God's <I>merciful kindness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:76"><I>v.</I> 76</A>),
|
|
|
|
his <I>tender mercies,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:77"><I>v.</I> 77</A>.
|
|
|
|
He can claim nothing as his due, but all his supports under his
|
|
affliction must come from mere mercy and compassion to one in misery,
|
|
one in want. "Let these <I>come to me,</I>" that is, "the evidence of
|
|
them (clear it up to me that thou hast a kindness for me, and mercy in
|
|
store), and the effects of them; let them work my relief and
|
|
deliverance."
|
|
|
|
2. The benefit he promised himself from God's lovingkindness: "Let it
|
|
<I>come to me for my comfort</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:76"><I>v.</I> 76</A>);
|
|
|
|
that will comfort me when nothing else will; that will comfort me
|
|
whatever grieves me." Gracious souls fetch all their comfort from a
|
|
gracious God, as the fountain of all happiness and joy: "Let it <I>come
|
|
to me, that I may live,</I> that is, that I may be revived, and my life
|
|
may be made sweet to me, for I have no joy of it while I am under God's
|
|
displeasure. <I>In his favour is life;</I> in his frowns are death." A
|
|
good man cannot live with any satisfaction any longer than he has some
|
|
tokens of God's favour to him.
|
|
|
|
3. His pleas for the benefits of God's favour. He pleads,
|
|
|
|
(1.) God's promise: "Let me have thy kindness, <I>according to thy word
|
|
unto thy servant,</I> the kindness which thou hast promised and because
|
|
thou hast promised it." Our Master has passed his word to all his
|
|
servants that he will be kind to them, and they may plead it with him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His own confidence and complacency in that promise: "<I>Thy law is
|
|
my delight;</I> I hope in thy word and rejoice in that hope." Note,
|
|
Those that delight in the law of God may depend upon the favour of God,
|
|
for it shall certainly make them happy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_78"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_79"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me
|
|
without a cause: <I>but</I> I will meditate in thy precepts.
|
|
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have
|
|
known thy testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here David shows,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How little he valued the will--will of sinners. There were those that
|
|
dealt perversely with him, that were peevish and ill-conditioned
|
|
towards him, that sought advantages against him, and misconstrued all
|
|
he said and did. Even those that deal most fairly may meet with those
|
|
that deal perversely. But David regarded it not, for,
|
|
|
|
1. He knew it was <I>without cause,</I> and that for his love they were
|
|
his adversaries. The causeless reproach, like the curse causeless, may
|
|
be easily slighted; it does not hurt us, and therefore should not move
|
|
us.
|
|
|
|
2. He could pray, in faith, that they might <I>be ashamed</I> of it;
|
|
God's dealing favourably with him might make them ashamed to think that
|
|
they had dealt perversely with him. "<I>Let</I> them <I>be ashamed,</I>
|
|
that is, let them be brought either to repentance or to ruin."
|
|
|
|
3. He could go on in the way of his duty, and find comfort in that.
|
|
"However they deal with me, <I>I will meditate in thy precepts,</I> and
|
|
entertain myself with them."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How much he valued the good-will of saints, and how desirous he was
|
|
to stand right in their opinion, and keep up his interest in them and
|
|
communion with them: <I>Let those that fear thee turn to me.</I> He
|
|
does not mean so much that they might side with him, and take up arms
|
|
in his cause, as that they might love him, and pray for him, and
|
|
associate with him. Good men desire the friendship and society of those
|
|
that are good. Some think it intimates that when David had been guilty
|
|
of that foul sin in the murder of Uriah, though he was a king, those
|
|
that feared God grew strange to him and turned from him, for they were
|
|
ashamed of him; this troubled him, and therefore he prays, Lord, let
|
|
them <I>turn to me again.</I> He desires especially the company of
|
|
those that were not only honest, but intelligent, <I>that have known
|
|
thy testimonies,</I> have good heads as well as good hearts, and whose
|
|
conversation will be edifying. It is desirable to have an intimacy with
|
|
such.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_80"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not
|
|
ashamed.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's prayer for sincerity, that his heart might be brought to
|
|
God's <I>statutes,</I> and that it might be <I>sound</I> in them, not
|
|
rotten and deceitful, that he might not rest in the form of godliness,
|
|
but be acquainted with the subject to the power of it,--that he might
|
|
be hearty and constant in religion, and that his soul might be in
|
|
health.
|
|
|
|
2. His dread of the consequences of hypocrisy: <I>That I be not
|
|
ashamed.</I> Shame is the portion of hypocrites, either here, if it be
|
|
repented of, or hereafter, if it be not: "<I>Let my heart be sound,</I>
|
|
that I fall not into scandalous sin, that I fall not quite off from the
|
|
ways of God, and so shame myself. <I>Let my heart be sound,</I> that I
|
|
may come <I>boldly to the throne of grace,</I> and may lift up my face
|
|
without spot at the great day."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_81"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_82"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec11"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>11. CAPH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: <I>but</I> I hope in
|
|
thy word.
|
|
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort
|
|
me?
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have the psalmist,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Longing for help from heaven: <I>My soul faints; my eyes fail.</I>
|
|
He longs <I>for the salvation of the Lord</I> and <I>for his word,</I>
|
|
that is, salvation according to the word. He is not thus eager for the
|
|
creatures of fancy, but for the objects of faith, salvation from the
|
|
present calamities under which he was groaning and the doubts and fears
|
|
which he was oppressed with. It may be understood of the coming of the
|
|
Messiah, and so he speaks in the name of the Old-Testament church; the
|
|
souls of the faithful even <I>fainted to see</I> that salvation of
|
|
which the prophets testified.
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:10">1 Pet. i. 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
their eyes failed for it. Abraham saw it at a distance, and so did
|
|
others, but at such a distance that it put their eyes to the stretch
|
|
and they could not stedfastly see it. David was now under prevailing
|
|
dejections, and, having been long so, his eyes cried our, "<I>When wilt
|
|
thou comfort me?</I> Comfort me with <I>thy salvation,</I> comfort me
|
|
with <I>thy word.</I>" Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The salvation and consolation of God's people are secured to them by
|
|
the word, which will certainly be fulfilled in its season.
|
|
|
|
2. The promised salvation and comfort may be, and often are, long
|
|
deferred, so that they are ready to faint and fall in the expectation
|
|
of them.
|
|
|
|
3. Though we think the time long ere the promised salvation and comfort
|
|
come, yet we must still keep our eye upon that salvation, and resolve
|
|
to take up with nothing short of it. "Thy salvation, thy word, thy
|
|
comfort, are what my heart is still upon."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Waiting for that help, assured that it will come, and tarrying till
|
|
it come: <I>But I hope in thy word;</I> and but for hope the heart
|
|
would break. When the <I>eyes fail</I> yet the faith must not; for
|
|
<I>the vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it shall speak
|
|
and shall not lie.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_83"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; <I>yet</I> do I not
|
|
forget thy statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David begs God would make haste to comfort him,
|
|
|
|
1. Because his affliction was great, and therefore he was an object of
|
|
God's pity: Lord, make haste to help me, <I>for I have become like a
|
|
bottle in the smoke,</I> a leathern bottle, which, if it hung any while
|
|
in the smoke, was not only blackened with soot, but dried, and parched,
|
|
and shrivelled up. David was thus wasted by age, and sickness, and
|
|
sorrow. See how affliction will mortify the strongest and stoutest of
|
|
men! David had been of a ruddy countenance, as fresh as a rose; but
|
|
now he is withered, his colour is gone, his cheeks are furrowed. Thus
|
|
does man's beauty consume under God's rebukes, as a moth fretting a
|
|
garment. A bottle, when it is thus wrinkled with smoke, is thrown by,
|
|
and there is no more use of it. Who will put wine into such old
|
|
bottles? Thus was David, in his low estate, looked upon <I>as a
|
|
despised broken vessel,</I> and as <I>a vessel in which there was no
|
|
pleasure.</I> Good men, when they are drooping and melancholy,
|
|
sometimes think themselves more slighted than really they are.
|
|
|
|
2. Because, though his affliction was great, yet it had not driven him
|
|
from his duty, and therefore he was within the reach of God's promise:
|
|
<I>Yet do I not forget thy statutes.</I> Whatever our outward condition
|
|
is we must not cool in our affection to the word of God, nor let that
|
|
slip out of our minds; no care, no grief, must crowd that out. As some
|
|
<I>drink and forget the law</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:5">Prov. xxxi. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
so others weep and forget the law; but we must in every condition, both
|
|
prosperous and adverse, have the things of God in remembrance; and, if
|
|
we be mindful of God's statutes, we may pray and hope that he will be
|
|
mindful of our sorrows, though for a time he seems to forget us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_84"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>84 How many <I>are</I> the days of thy servant? when wilt thou
|
|
execute judgment on them that persecute me?
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. David prays against the instruments of his troubles, that God would
|
|
make haste to execute judgment on those that persecuted him. He prays
|
|
not for power to avenge himself (he bore no malice to any), but that
|
|
God would take to himself the vengeance that belonged to him, and
|
|
<I>would repay</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:19">Rom. xii. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
as the God that <I>sits in the throne judging right.</I> There is a day
|
|
coming, and a great and terrible day it will be, when God will execute
|
|
judgment on all the proud persecutors of his people, <I>tribulation to
|
|
those that troubled them;</I> Enoch foretold it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:14">Jude 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
whose prophecy perhaps David here had an eye to; and that day we are to
|
|
look for and pray for the hastening of. <I>Come, Lord Jesus, come
|
|
quickly.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He pleads the long continuance of his trouble: "<I>How many are the
|
|
days of thy servant? The days of my life are but few</I>" (so some);
|
|
"therefore let them not all be miserable, and therefore make haste to
|
|
appear for me against my enemies, <I>before I go hence and shall be
|
|
seen no more.</I>" Or rather, "<I>The days of my affliction are
|
|
many;</I> thou seest, Lord, how many they be; when wilt thou return in
|
|
mercy to me? Sometimes, for the elect's sake, <I>the days of trouble
|
|
are shortened.</I> O let the days of my trouble be shortened; I am
|
|
<I>thy servant;</I> and therefore, as the eyes of a servant are to the
|
|
hand of his master, so are mine to thee, until thou have mercy on
|
|
me."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_85"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_86"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_87"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>85 The proud have digged pits for me, which <I>are</I> not after thy
|
|
law.
|
|
86 All thy commandments <I>are</I> faithful: they persecute me
|
|
wrongfully; help thou me.
|
|
87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not
|
|
thy precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David's state was <I>herein</I> a type and figure of the state both of
|
|
Christ and Christians that he was grievously persecuted; as there are
|
|
many of his psalms, so there are many of the verses of this psalm,
|
|
which complain of this, as those here. Here observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The account he gives of his persecutors and their malice against
|
|
him.
|
|
|
|
1. They were <I>proud,</I> and in their pride <I>they persecuted
|
|
him,</I> glorying in this, that they could trample upon one who was so
|
|
much cried up, and hoping to raise themselves on his ruins.
|
|
|
|
2. They were unjust: <I>They persecuted him wrongfully;</I> so far was
|
|
he from giving them any provocation that he had studied to oblige them;
|
|
but <I>for his love they were his adversaries.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. They were spiteful: <I>They dug pits for him,</I> which intimates
|
|
that they were deliberate in their designs against him and that what
|
|
they did was of malice prepense; it intimates likewise that they were
|
|
subtle and crafty, and had the serpent's head as well as the serpent's
|
|
venom, that they were industrious and would refuse no pains to do him a
|
|
mischief, and treacherous, laying snares in secret for him, as hunters
|
|
do take wild beasts,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+35:7">Ps. xxxv. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Such has been the enmity of the serpent's seed to the seed of the
|
|
woman.
|
|
|
|
4. They herein showed their enmity to God himself. The pits they <I>dug
|
|
for him</I> were <I>not after God's law;</I> he means they were very
|
|
much against his law, which forbids to <I>devise evil to our
|
|
neighbour,</I> and has particularly said, <I>Touch not my anointed.</I>
|
|
The law appointed that, if a man dug a pit which occasioned any
|
|
mischief, he should answer for the mischief
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+21:33,34">Exod. xxi. 33, 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more when it was dug with a mischievous design.
|
|
|
|
5. They carried on their designs against him so far that <I>they had
|
|
almost consumed him upon earth;</I> they went near to ruin him and all
|
|
his interests. It is possible that those who shall shortly be
|
|
consummate in heaven may be, for the present, <I>almost consumed on
|
|
earth;</I> and <I>it is of the Lord's mercies</I> (and, considering the
|
|
malice of their enemies, it is a miracle of mercy) <I>that they are not
|
|
quite consumed.</I> But the bush in which God is, though it burns,
|
|
shall not be burnt up.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. His application to God in his persecuted state.
|
|
|
|
1. He acknowledges the truth and goodness of his religion, though he
|
|
suffered: "However it be, <I>all thy commandments are faithful,</I> and
|
|
therefore, whatever I lose for my observance of them, I know I shall
|
|
not lose by it." True religion, if it be worth any thing, is worth
|
|
every thing, and therefore worth suffering for. "Men are false; I find
|
|
them do; men of low degree, men of high degree, are so, there is no
|
|
trusting them. But <I>all thy commandments are faithful;</I> on them I
|
|
may rely."
|
|
|
|
2. He begs that God would stand by him, and succour him: "<I>They
|
|
persecute me; help thou me;</I> help me under my troubles, that I may
|
|
bear them patiently, and as becomes me, and may still hold fast my
|
|
integrity, and in due time help me out of my troubles." <I>God help
|
|
me</I> is an excellent comprehensive prayer; it is a pity that it
|
|
should ever be used lightly and as a by-word.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. His adherence to his duty notwithstanding all the malice of his
|
|
persecutors
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:87"><I>v.</I> 87</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>But I forsook not thy precepts.</I> That which they aimed at was to
|
|
frighten him from the ways of God, but they could not prevail; he would
|
|
sooner forsake all that was dear to him in this world than forsake the
|
|
word of God, would sooner lose his life than lose the comfort of doing
|
|
his duty.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_88"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the
|
|
testimony of thy mouth.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David in care to be found in the way of his duty. His constant
|
|
desire and design are to <I>keep the testimony of God's mouth,</I> to
|
|
keep to it as his rule and to keep hold of it as his confidence and
|
|
portion for ever. This we must keep, whatever we lose.
|
|
|
|
2. David at prayer for divine grace to assist him therein: "<I>Quicken
|
|
me after thy lovingkindness</I> (make me alive and make me lively),
|
|
<I>so shall I keep thy testimonies,</I>" implying that otherwise he
|
|
should not keep them. We cannot proceed, nor persevere, in the good
|
|
way, unless God quicken us and put life into us; we are therefore here
|
|
taught to depend upon the grace of God for strength to do every good
|
|
work, and to depend upon it as grace, as purely the fruit of God's
|
|
favour. He had prayed before, <I>Quicken me in thy righteousness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>);
|
|
|
|
but here, <I>Quicken me after thy lovingkindness.</I> The surest token
|
|
of God's good-will toward us is his good work in us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_89"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_90"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_91"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec12"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>12. LAMED.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>89 For ever, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thy word is settled in heaven.
|
|
90 Thy faithfulness <I>is</I> unto all generations: thou hast
|
|
established the earth, and it abideth.
|
|
91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for
|
|
all <I>are</I> thy servants.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. The psalmist acknowledges the unchangeableness of the word of God
|
|
and of all his counsels: "<I>For ever, O Lord! thy word is settled.
|
|
Thou art for ever thyself</I> (so some read it); thou art the same, and
|
|
with thee there is no variableness, and this is a proof of it. <I>Thy
|
|
word,</I> by which the heavens were made, <I>is settled</I> there in
|
|
the abiding products of it;" or the settling of God's word in heaven is
|
|
opposed to the changes and revolutions that are here upon earth. <I>All
|
|
flesh is grass;</I> but <I>the word of the Lord endures for ever.</I>
|
|
It <I>is settled in heaven,</I> that is, in the secret counsel of God,
|
|
which is hidden in himself and is far above out of our sight, and is
|
|
immovable, <I>as mountains of brass.</I> And his revealed will is as
|
|
firm as his secret will; as he will fulfil the thoughts of his heart,
|
|
so no word of his shall <I>fall to the ground;</I> for it follows here,
|
|
<I>Thy faithfulness is unto all generations,</I> that is, the promise
|
|
is sure to every age of the church and it cannot be antiquated by lapse
|
|
of time. The promises that look ever so far forward shall be performed
|
|
in their season.
|
|
|
|
2. He produces, for proof of it, the constancy of the course of nature:
|
|
<I>Thou hast established the earth for ever and it abides;</I> it is
|
|
what it was at first made, and where it was at first placed, poised
|
|
with its own weight, and notwithstanding the convulsions in its own
|
|
bowels, the agitations of the sea that is interwoven with it, and the
|
|
violent concussions of the atmosphere that surrounds it, it remains
|
|
unmoved. "<I>They</I>" (the heavens and the earth and all the hosts of
|
|
both) "<I>continue to this day according to thy ordinances;</I> they
|
|
remain in the posts wherein thou hast set them; they fill up the place
|
|
assigned them, and answer the purposes for which they were intended."
|
|
The stability of the ordinances of the day and night, of heaven and
|
|
earth, is produced to prove the perpetuity of God's covenant,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:35,36,33:20,21">Jer. xxxi. 35, 36; xxxiii. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is by virtue of God's promise to Noah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:22">Gen. viii. 22</A>)
|
|
|
|
that <I>day and night, summer and winter,</I> observe a steady course.
|
|
"They have continued to this day, and shall still continue to the end
|
|
of time, acting according to the ordinances which were at first given
|
|
them; for all are thy servants; they do thy will, and set forth thy
|
|
glory, and in both <I>are thy servants.</I>" All the creatures are, in
|
|
their places, and according to their capacities, serviceable to their
|
|
Creator, and answer the ends of their creation; and shall man be the
|
|
only rebel, the only revolter from his allegiance, and the only
|
|
unprofitable burden of the earth?</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_92"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>92 Unless thy law <I>had been</I> my delights, I should then have
|
|
perished in mine affliction.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The great distress that David was in. He was in affliction, and
|
|
ready to <I>perish in his affliction,</I> not likely to die, so much as
|
|
likely to despair; he was ready to give up all for gone, and to look
|
|
upon himself as cut off from God's sight; he therefore admires the
|
|
goodness of God to him, that he had not perished, that he kept the
|
|
possession of his own soul, and was not driven out of his wits by his
|
|
troubles, but especially that he was enabled to keep close to his God
|
|
and was not driven off from his religion by them. Though we are not
|
|
kept from affliction, yet, if we are kept from perishing in our
|
|
affliction, we have no reason to say, <I>We have cleansed our hands in
|
|
vain;</I> or, <I>What profit is it that we have served God?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. His support in this distress. God's law was his delight,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It had been so formerly, and the remembrance of that was a comfort
|
|
to him, as it afforded him a good evidence of his integrity.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was so now in his affliction; it afforded him abundant matter
|
|
of comfort, and from these fountains of life he drew living waters,
|
|
when the cisterns of the creature were broken or dried up. His converse
|
|
with God's law, and his meditations on it, were his delightful
|
|
entertainment in solitude and sorrow. A Bible is a pleasant companion
|
|
at any time if we please.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_93"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast
|
|
quickened me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. A very good resolution: "<I>I will never forget thy precepts,</I>
|
|
but will always retain a remembrance of and regard to thy word as my
|
|
rule." It is a resolution for perpetuity, never to be altered. Note,
|
|
The best evidence of our love to the word of God is never to forget it.
|
|
We must resolve that we will never, at any time, cast off our religion,
|
|
and never, upon any occasion, lay aside our religion, but that we will
|
|
be constant to it and persevere in it.
|
|
|
|
2. A very good reason for it: "<I>For by them thou hast quickened
|
|
me;</I> not only they are quickening, but,"
|
|
|
|
(1.) "They have been so to me; I have found them so." Those speak best
|
|
of the things of God who speak by experience, who can say that by the
|
|
word the spiritual life has been begun in them, maintained and
|
|
strengthened in them, excited and comforted in them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) "Thou hast made them so;" the word of itself, without the grace of
|
|
God, would not quicken us. Ministers can but prophesy upon the dry
|
|
bones, they cannot put life into them; but, ordinarily, the grace of
|
|
God works by the word and makes use of it as a means of quickening, and
|
|
this is a good reason why we should never forget it, but should highly
|
|
value what God has put such honour upon, and dearly love what we have
|
|
found and hope still to find such benefit by. See here what is the best
|
|
help for bad memories, namely, good affections. If we are quickened by
|
|
the word, we shall never forget it; nay, that word that does really
|
|
quicken us to and in our duty is not forgotten; though the expressions
|
|
be lost, if the impressions remain, it is well.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_94"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>94 I <I>am</I> thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David claims relation to God: "<I>I am thine,</I> devoted to thee
|
|
and owned by thee, thine in covenant." He does not say, <I>Thou art
|
|
mine</I> (as Dr. Manton observes), though that follows of course,
|
|
because that were a higher challenge; but, <I>I am thine,</I>
|
|
expressing himself in a more humble and dutiful way of resignation; nor
|
|
does he say, <I>I am thus,</I> but, <I>I am thine,</I> not pleading his
|
|
own good property or qualification, but God's propriety in him: "<I>I
|
|
am thine,</I> not my own, not the world's."
|
|
|
|
2. He proves his claim: "<I>I have sought thy precepts;</I> I have
|
|
carefully enquired concerning my duty and diligently endeavoured to do
|
|
it." This will be the best evidence that we belong to God; all that are
|
|
his, though they have not found perfection, are seeking it.
|
|
|
|
3. He improves his claim: "<I>I am thine; save me;</I> save me from
|
|
sin, save me from ruin." Those that have in sincerity given up
|
|
themselves to God to be his may be sure that he will protect them and
|
|
preserve them to his heavenly kingdom,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:18">Mal. iii. 18</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_95"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: <I>but</I> I will
|
|
consider thy testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David complains of the malice of his enemies: <I>The wicked</I> (and
|
|
none but such would be enemies to so good a man) <I>have waited for me
|
|
to destroy me.</I> They were very cruel, and aimed at no less than his
|
|
destruction; they were very crafty, and sought all opportunities to do
|
|
him a mischief; and they were <I>confident</I> (they <I>expected,</I>
|
|
so some read it), that they should destroy him; they thought themselves
|
|
sure of their prey.
|
|
|
|
2. He comforts himself in the word of God as his protection: "While
|
|
they are contriving my destruction, <I>I consider thy testimonies,</I>
|
|
which secure to me my salvation." God's testimonies are <I>then</I>
|
|
likely to be our support, when we consider them, and dwell in our
|
|
thoughts upon them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_96"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>96 I have seen an end of all perfection: <I>but</I> thy commandment
|
|
<I>is</I> exceeding broad.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have David's testimony from his own experience,
|
|
|
|
1. Of the vanity of the world and its insufficiency to make us happy:
|
|
<I>I have seen an end of all perfection.</I> Poor perfection which one
|
|
sees an end of! Yet such are all those things in this world which pass
|
|
for perfections. David, in his time, had seen Goliath, the strongest,
|
|
overcome, Asahel, the swiftest, overtaken, Ahithophel, the wisest,
|
|
befooled, Absalom, the fairest, deformed; and, in short, he had <I>seen
|
|
an end of perfection,</I> of <I>all perfection.</I> He saw it by faith;
|
|
he saw it by observation; he saw an end of the perfection of the
|
|
creature both in respect of sufficiency (it was scanty and defective;
|
|
there is that to be done for us which the creature cannot do) and in
|
|
respect of continuance; it will not last our time, for it will not last
|
|
to eternity as we must. The glory of man is but as the flower of the
|
|
grass.
|
|
|
|
2. Of the fulness of the word of God, and its sufficiency for our
|
|
satisfaction: <I>But thy commandment is broad, exceedingly broad.</I>
|
|
The word of God reaches to all cases, to all times. The divine law lays
|
|
a restraint upon the whole man, is designed to sanctify us wholly.
|
|
There is a great deal required and forbidden in every commandment. The
|
|
divine promise (for that also is commanded) extends itself to all our
|
|
burdens, wants, and grievances, and has that in it which will make a
|
|
portion and happiness for us when we <I>have seen an end of all
|
|
perfection.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_97"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec13"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>13. MEM.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it <I>is</I> my meditation all the
|
|
day.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's inexpressible love to the word of God: <I>O how love I thy
|
|
law!</I> He protests his affection to the word of God with a holy
|
|
vehemency; he found that love to it in his heart which, considering the
|
|
corruption of his nature and the temptations of the world, he could not
|
|
but wonder at, and at that grace which had wrought it in him. He not
|
|
only loved the promises, but loved the law, and delighted in it after
|
|
the inner man.
|
|
|
|
2. An unexceptionable evidence of this. What we love we love to think
|
|
of; by <I>this</I> it appeared that David loved the word of God that it
|
|
was his <I>meditation.</I> He not only read the book of the law, but
|
|
digested what he read in his thoughts, and was delivered into it as
|
|
into a mould: it was his meditation not only in the night, when he was
|
|
silent and solitary, and had nothing else to do, but in the day, when
|
|
he was full of business and company; nay, and <I>all the day;</I> some
|
|
good thoughts were interwoven with his common thoughts, so full was he
|
|
of the word of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_98"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_99"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_100"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine
|
|
enemies: for they <I>are</I> ever with me.
|
|
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy
|
|
testimonies <I>are</I> my meditation.
|
|
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
|
|
precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here an account of David's learning, not that of the Egyptians,
|
|
but of the <I>Israelites indeed.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The good method by which he got it. In his youth he minded business
|
|
in the country as a shepherd; from his youth he minded business in the
|
|
court and camp. Which way then could he get any great stock of
|
|
learning? He tells us here how he came by it; he had it from God as the
|
|
author: <I>Thou hast made me wise.</I> All true wisdom is from God. He
|
|
had it by the word of God as the means, by <I>his commandments</I> and
|
|
<I>his testimonies.</I> These are able to <I>make us wise to
|
|
salvation</I> and <I>to furnish the man of God for every good work.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. These David took for his constant companions: "<I>They are ever with
|
|
me,</I> ever in my mind, ever in my eye." A good man, wherever he goes,
|
|
carries his Bible along with him, if not in his hands, yet in his head
|
|
and in his heart.
|
|
|
|
2. These he took for the delightful subject of his thoughts; they were
|
|
his <I>meditation,</I> not only as matters of speculation for his
|
|
entertainment, as scholars meditate on their notions, but as matters of
|
|
concern, for his right management, as men of business think of their
|
|
business, that they may do it in the best manner.
|
|
|
|
3. These he took for the commanding rules of all his actions: <I>I keep
|
|
thy precepts,</I> that is, I make conscience of doing my duty in every
|
|
thing. The best way to improve in knowledge is to abide and abound in
|
|
all the instances of serious godliness; for, <I>if any man do his will,
|
|
he shall know of the doctrine</I> of Christ, shall know more and more
|
|
of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:17">John vii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
The love of the truth prepares for the light of it; the <I>pure in
|
|
heart shall see God</I> here.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The great eminency he attained to in it. By studying and practising
|
|
God's commandments, and making them his rule, he learnt to <I>behave
|
|
himself wisely in all his ways,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+18:14">1 Sam. xviii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. He outwitted his enemies; God, by these means, made him wiser to
|
|
baffle and defeat their designs against him than they were to lay them.
|
|
Heavenly wisdom will carry the point, at last, against carnal policy.
|
|
By keeping the commandments we secure God on our side and make him our
|
|
friend, and therein are certainly wiser than those that make him their
|
|
enemy. By keeping the commandments we preserve in ourselves that peace
|
|
and quiet of mind which our enemies would rob us of, and so are wise
|
|
for ourselves, wiser than they are for themselves, for this world as
|
|
well as for the other.
|
|
|
|
2. He outstripped his <I>teachers,</I> and had more understanding than
|
|
all of them. He means either those who would have been his teachers,
|
|
who blamed his conduct and undertook to prescribe to him (by keeping
|
|
God's commandments he managed his matters so that it appeared, in the
|
|
event, he had taken the right measures and they had taken the wrong),
|
|
or those who should have been his teachers, the priests and Levites,
|
|
who sat in Moses's chair, and whose lips ought to have kept knowledge,
|
|
but who neglected the study of the law, and minded their honours and
|
|
revenues, and the formalities only of their religion; and so David, who
|
|
conversed much with the scriptures, by that means became more
|
|
intelligent than they. Or he may mean those who had been his teachers
|
|
when he was young; he built so well upon the foundation which they had
|
|
laid that, with the help of his Bible, he became able to teach them, to
|
|
teach them all. He was not now a babe that needed milk, but had
|
|
<I>spiritual senses exercised,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:14">Heb. v. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is no reflection upon our teachers, but rather an honour to them, to
|
|
improve so as really to excel them, and not to need them. By meditation
|
|
we preach to ourselves, and so we come to <I>understand more than our
|
|
teachers,</I> for we come to understand our own hearts, which they
|
|
cannot.
|
|
|
|
3. He outdid <I>the ancients,</I> either those of his day (he was
|
|
young, like Elihu, and they were very old, but his keeping God's
|
|
precepts taught more wisdom than the multitude of their years,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+32:7,8">Job xxxii. 7, 8</A>)
|
|
|
|
or those of former days; he himself quotes the proverb of the ancients
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
but the word of God gave him to understand things better than he could
|
|
do by tradition and all the learning that was handed down from
|
|
preceding ages. In short, the written word is a surer guide to heaven
|
|
than all the doctors and fathers, the teachers and ancients, of the
|
|
church; and the sacred writings kept, and kept to, will teach us more
|
|
wisdom than all their writings.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_101"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might
|
|
keep thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's care to avoid the ways of sin: "<I>I have refrained my feet
|
|
from the evil ways</I> they were ready to step aside into. I checked
|
|
myself and drew back as soon as I was aware that I was entering into
|
|
temptation." Though it was a broad way, a green way, a pleasant way,
|
|
and a way that many walked in, yet, being a sinful way, it was an evil
|
|
way, and he refrained his feet from it, foreseeing the end of that way.
|
|
And his care was universal; he shunned every evil way. <I>By the words
|
|
of thy lips I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:4">Ps. xvii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. His care to be found in the way of duty; <I>That I might keep thy
|
|
word,</I> and never transgress it. His abstaining from sin was,
|
|
|
|
(1.) An evidence that he did conscientiously aim to keep God's word and
|
|
had made that his rule.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was a means of his keeping God's word in the exercises of
|
|
religion; for we cannot with any comfort or boldness attend on God in
|
|
holy duties, so as in them to keep his word, while we are under guilt
|
|
or in any by-way.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_102"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast
|
|
taught me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's constancy in his religion. He had <I>not departed from God's
|
|
judgments;</I> he had not chosen any other rule than the word of God,
|
|
nor had he wilfully deviated from that rule. A constant adherence to
|
|
the ways of God in trying times will be a good evidence of our
|
|
integrity.
|
|
|
|
2. The cause of his constancy: "<I>For thou hast taught me;</I> that
|
|
is, they were divine instructions that I learned; I was satisfied that
|
|
the doctrine was of God, and therefore I stuck to it." Or rather, "It
|
|
was divine grace in my heart that enabled me to receive those
|
|
instructions." All the saints are taught of God, for he it is that
|
|
gives the understanding; and those, and those only, that are taught of
|
|
God, will continue to the end in the things that they have learned.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_103"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_104"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! <I>yea, sweeter</I> than
|
|
honey to my mouth!
|
|
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate
|
|
every false way.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The wonderful pleasure and delight which David took in the word of
|
|
God; it was <I>sweet to his taste, sweeter than honey.</I> There is
|
|
such a thing as a spiritual taste, an inward savour and relish of
|
|
divine things, such an evidence of them to ourselves, by experience, as
|
|
we cannot give to others. We have <I>heard him ourselves,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:2">John iv. 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
To this scripture-taste the word of God is sweet, very sweet, sweeter
|
|
than any of the gratifications of sense, even those that are most
|
|
delicious. David speaks as if he wanted words to express the
|
|
satisfaction he took in the discoveries of the divine will and grace;
|
|
no pleasure was comparable to it.
|
|
|
|
2. The unspeakable profit and advantage he gained by the word of God.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It helped him to a good head: "<I>Through thy precepts I get
|
|
understanding</I> to discern between truth and falsehood, good and
|
|
evil, so as not to mistake either in the conduct of my own life or in
|
|
advising others."
|
|
|
|
(2.) It helped him to a good heart: "<I>Therefore,</I> because I have
|
|
got understanding of the truth, <I>I hate every false way,</I> and am
|
|
stedfastly resolved not to turn aside into it." Observe here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The way of sin is a false way; it deceives, and will ruin, all
|
|
that walk in it; it is the wrong way, and yet it seems to a man right,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:12">Prov. xiv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is the character of every good man that he hates the way of
|
|
sin, and hates it because it is a false way; he not only refrains his
|
|
feet from it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:101"><I>v.</I> 101</A>),
|
|
|
|
but he <I>hates it,</I> has an antipathy to it and a dread of it.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Those who hate sin as sin will hate all sin, hate every false way,
|
|
because every false way leads to destruction. And,
|
|
|
|
[4.] The more understanding we get by the word of God the more rooted
|
|
will our hatred of sin be (for <I>to depart from evil, that is
|
|
understanding,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+28:28">Job xxviii. 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the more ready we are in the scriptures the better furnished we are
|
|
with answers to temptation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_105"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec14"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>14. NUN.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>105 NUN. Thy word <I>is</I> a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
|
|
path.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. The nature of the word of God, and the great intention of giving it
|
|
to the world; it is a <I>lamp and a light.</I> It discovers to us,
|
|
concerning God and ourselves, that which otherwise we could not have
|
|
known; it shows us what is amiss, and will be dangerous; it directs us
|
|
in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without
|
|
it. It is a lamp which we may set up by us, and take into our hands for
|
|
our own particular use,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:23">Prov. vi. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit; it
|
|
is like the lamps in the sanctuary, and the pillar of fire to Israel.
|
|
|
|
2. The use we should make of it. It must be not only a <I>light to out
|
|
eyes,</I> to gratify them, and fill our heads with speculations, but a
|
|
<I>light to our feet</I> and <I>to our path,</I> to direct us in the
|
|
right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our way in
|
|
general and in the particular steps we take in that way, that we may
|
|
not take a false way nor a false step in the right way. We are then
|
|
truly sensible of God's goodness to us in giving us such a lamp and
|
|
light when we make it a guide to our feet, our path.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_106"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>106 I have sworn, and I will perform <I>it,</I> that I will keep thy
|
|
righteous judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The notion David had of religion; it is <I>keeping God's righteous
|
|
judgments.</I> God's commands are his judgments, the dictates of
|
|
infinite wisdom. They are righteous judgments, consonant to the eternal
|
|
rules of equity, and it is our duty to keep them carefully.
|
|
|
|
2. The obligation he here laid upon himself to be religious, binding
|
|
himself, by his own promise, to that which he was already bound to by
|
|
the divine precept, and all little enough. "<I>I have sworn (I have
|
|
lifted up my head to the Lord, and I cannot go back</I>) and therefore
|
|
must go forward: <I>I will perform it.</I>" Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is good for us to bind ourselves with a solemn oath to be
|
|
religious. We must swear to the Lord as subjects swear allegiance to
|
|
their sovereign, promising fealty, appealing to God concerning our
|
|
sincerity in this promise, and owning ourselves liable to the curse of
|
|
we do not perform it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We must often call to mind the vows of God that are upon us, and
|
|
remember that we have sworn.
|
|
|
|
(3.) We must make conscience of performing unto the Lord our oaths (an
|
|
honest man will be as good as his word); nor have we sworn to our own
|
|
hurt, but it will be unspeakably to our hurt if we do not perform.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_107"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, according
|
|
unto thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The representation David makes of the sorrowful condition he was in:
|
|
<I>I am afflicted very much,</I> afflicted in spirit; he seems to mean
|
|
that especially. He laboured under many discouragements; without were
|
|
fightings, within were fears. This is often the lot of the best
|
|
saints; therefore think it not strange if sometimes it be ours.
|
|
|
|
2. The recourse he has to God in this condition; he prays for his
|
|
grace: "<I>Quicken me, O Lord!</I> make me lively, make me cheerful;
|
|
quicken me by afflictions to greater diligence in my work. <I>Quicken
|
|
me,</I> that is, deliver me out of my afflictions, which will be as
|
|
life from the dead." He pleads the promise of God, guides his desires
|
|
by it, and grounds his hopes upon it: <I>Quicken me according to thy
|
|
word.</I> David resolved to perform his promises to God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:106"><I>v.</I> 106</A>)
|
|
|
|
and therefore could, with humble boldness, beg of God to make good his
|
|
word to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_108"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth,
|
|
O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and teach me thy judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two things we are here taught to pray for, in reference to our
|
|
religious performances:--
|
|
|
|
1. Acceptance of them. This we must aim at in all we do in religion,
|
|
that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of the Lord. What
|
|
David here earnestly prays for the acceptance of are the
|
|
<I>free-will-offerings,</I> not of his purse, but of his <I>mouth,</I>
|
|
his prayers and praises. <I>The calves of our lips</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:2">Hos. xiv. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the fruit of our lips</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:15">Heb. i. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
these are the spiritual offerings which all Christians, as spiritual
|
|
priests, must offer to God; and they must be
|
|
<I>free-will-offerings,</I> for we must offer them abundantly and
|
|
cheerfully, and it is this willing mind that is accepted. The more
|
|
there is of freeness and willingness in the service of God the more
|
|
pleasing it is to him.
|
|
|
|
2. Assistance in them: <I>Teach me thy judgments.</I> We cannot offer
|
|
any thing to God which we have reason to think he will accept of, but
|
|
what he is pleased to instruct us in the doing of; and we must be as
|
|
earnest for the grace of God in us as for the favour of God towards
|
|
us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_109"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_110"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>109 My soul <I>is</I> continually in my hand: yet do I not forget
|
|
thy law.
|
|
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from
|
|
thy precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David in danger of losing his life. There is but a step between him
|
|
and death, for the <I>wicked have laid a snare</I> for him; Saul did so
|
|
many a time, because he hated him for his piety. Wherever he was he
|
|
found some design or other laid against him to take away his life, for
|
|
it was that they aimed at. What they could not effect by open force
|
|
they hoped to compass by treachery, which made him say, <I>My soul is
|
|
continually in my hand.</I> It was so with him, not only as a
|
|
<I>man</I> (so it is true of us all; wherever we are we lie exposed to
|
|
the strokes of death; what we carry in our hands is easily snatched
|
|
away from us by violence, or if sandy, as our life is, it easily of
|
|
itself slips through our fingers), but as a <I>man of war,</I> a
|
|
soldier, who often jeoparded his life in the high places of the field,
|
|
and especially as <I>a man after God's own heart,</I> and, as such,
|
|
hated and persecuted, and <I>always delivered to death</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:11">2 Cor. iv. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>killed all the day long.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. David in no danger of losing his religion, notwithstanding this,
|
|
thus in jeopardy every hour and yet constant to God and his duty. None
|
|
of these things move him; for,
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>does not forget the law,</I> and therefore he is likely to
|
|
persevere. In the multitude of his cares for his own safety he finds
|
|
room in his head and heart for the word of God, and has that in his
|
|
mind as fresh as ever; and where that dwells richly it will be a
|
|
<I>well of living water.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He has not yet erred from God's precepts, and therefore it is to
|
|
be hoped he will not. He had stood many a shock and kept his ground,
|
|
and surely that grace which had helped him hitherto would not fail him,
|
|
but would still prevent his wanderings.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_111"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_112"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for
|
|
they <I>are</I> the rejoicing of my heart.
|
|
112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway,
|
|
<I>even unto</I> the end.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The psalmist here in a most affectionate manner, like an Israelite
|
|
indeed, resolves to stick to the word of God and to live and die by
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He resolves to portion himself in it, and there to seek his
|
|
happiness, nay, there to enjoy it; "<I>Thy testimonies</I> (the truths,
|
|
the promises, of thy word) <I>have I taken as a heritage for ever, for
|
|
they are the rejoicing of my heart.</I>" The present delight he took in
|
|
them was an evidence that the good things contained in them were in his
|
|
account the best things, and the treasure which he set his heart upon.
|
|
|
|
1. He expected an eternal happiness in God's testimonies. The covenant
|
|
God had made with him was an everlasting covenant, and therefore he
|
|
took it as <I>a heritage for ever.</I> If he could not yet say, "They
|
|
are my heritage," yet he could say, "I have made choice of them for my
|
|
heritage; and will never take up with a portion in this life,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:14,15">Ps. xvii. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
God's testimonies are a heritage to all that have received the Spirit
|
|
of adoption; for, <I>if children, then heirs.</I> They are a
|
|
<I>heritage for ever,</I> and that no earthly heritage is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:4">1 Pet. i. 4</A>);
|
|
|
|
all the saints accept them as such, take up with them, live upon them,
|
|
and can therefore be content with but little of this world.
|
|
|
|
2. He enjoyed a present satisfaction in them: <I>They are the rejoicing
|
|
of my heart,</I> because they will be <I>my heritage for ever.</I> It
|
|
requires the heart of a good man to see his portion in the promise of
|
|
God and not in the possessions of this world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He resolves to govern himself by it and thence to take his
|
|
measures: <I>I have inclined my heart to do thy statutes.</I> Those
|
|
that would have the blessings of God's testimonies must come under the
|
|
bonds of his statutes. We must look for comfort only in the way of
|
|
duty, and that duty must be done,
|
|
|
|
1. With full consent and complacency: "<I>I have,</I> by the grace of
|
|
God, <I>inclined my heart to it,</I> and conquered the aversion I had
|
|
to it." A good man brings his heart to his work and then it is done
|
|
well. A gracious disposition to do the will of God is the acceptable
|
|
principle of all obedience.
|
|
|
|
2. With constancy and perseverance. He would perform God's statutes
|
|
always, in all instances, in the duty of every day, in a constant
|
|
course of holy walking, and this <I>to the end,</I> without weariness.
|
|
This is following the Lord fully.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_113"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec15"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>15. SAMECH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>113 I hate <I>vain</I> thoughts: but thy law do I love.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
1. David's dread of the risings of sin, and the first beginnings of it:
|
|
<I>I hate</I> vain <I>thoughts.</I> He does not mean that he hated them
|
|
in others, for there he could not discern them, but he hated them in
|
|
his own heart. Every good man makes conscience of his thoughts, for
|
|
they are words to God. Vain thoughts, how light soever most make of
|
|
them, are sinful and hurtful, and therefore we should account them
|
|
hateful and dreadful, for they do not only divert the mind from that
|
|
which is good, but open the door to all evil,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+4:14">Jer. iv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though David could not say that he was free from vain thoughts, yet he
|
|
could say that he hated them; he did not countenance them, nor give
|
|
them any entertainment, but did what he could to keep them out, at
|
|
least to keep them under. <I>The evil I do I allow not.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. David's delight in the rule of duty: <I>But thy law do I love,</I>
|
|
which forbids those vain thoughts, and threatens them. The more we love
|
|
the law of God the more we shall get the mastery of our vain thoughts,
|
|
the more hateful they will be to us, as being contrary to the whole
|
|
law, and the more watchful we shall be against them, lest they draw us
|
|
from that which we love.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_114"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>114 Thou <I>art</I> my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy
|
|
word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. God's care of David to protect and defend him, which he comforted
|
|
himself with when his enemies were very malicious against him: <I>Thou
|
|
art my hiding-place and my shield.</I> David, when Saul pursued him,
|
|
often betook himself to close places for shelter; in war he guarded
|
|
himself with his shield. Now God was both these to him, a hiding-place
|
|
to preserve him from danger and a shield to preserve him in danger, his
|
|
life from death and his soul from sin. Good people are safe under God's
|
|
protection. He is their <I>strength and their shield,</I> their <I>help
|
|
and their shield,</I> their <I>sun and their shield,</I> their
|
|
<I>shield and their great reward,</I> and here their <I>hiding-place
|
|
and their shield.</I> They may by faith retire to him, and repose in
|
|
him as their hiding-place, where they are kept in secret. They may by
|
|
faith oppose his power to all the might and malice of their enemies, as
|
|
their shield to quench every fiery dart.
|
|
|
|
2. David's confidence in God. He is safe, and therefore he is easy,
|
|
under the divine protection: "<I>I hope in thy word,</I> which has
|
|
acquainted me with thee and assured me of thy kindness to me." Those
|
|
who depend on God's promise shall have the benefit of his power and be
|
|
taken under his special protection.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_115"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the
|
|
commandments of my God.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's firm and fixed resolution to live a holy life: <I>I will
|
|
keep the commandments of my God.</I> Bravely resolved! like a saint,
|
|
like a soldier; for true courage consists in a steady resolution
|
|
against all sin and for all duty. Those that would keep God's
|
|
commandments must be often renewing their resolutions to do so: "<I>I
|
|
will keep them.</I> Whatever others do, this I will do; though I be
|
|
singular, though all about me be evil-doers, and desert me; whatever I
|
|
have done hitherto, I will for the future walk closely with God. They
|
|
are the commandments of God, of my God, and therefore I will keep them.
|
|
He is God and may command me, my God and will command me nothing but
|
|
what is for my good."
|
|
|
|
2. His farewell to bad company, pursuant to this resolution: <I>Depart
|
|
from me, you evil-doers.</I> Though David, as a good magistrate, was a
|
|
terror to evil-doers, yet there were many such, even about court,
|
|
intruding near his person; these he here abdicates, and resolves to
|
|
have no conversation with them. Note, Those that resolve to keep the
|
|
commandments of God must have no society with evil-doers; for bad
|
|
company is a great hindrance to a holy life. We must not choose wicked
|
|
people for our companions, nor be intimate with them; we must not do as
|
|
they do nor do as they would have us do,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:1,Eph+5:11">Ps. i. 1; Eph. v. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_116"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_117"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let
|
|
me not be ashamed of my hope.
|
|
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have
|
|
respect unto thy statutes continually.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays for sustaining grace; for this grace sufficient he
|
|
besought the Lord twice: <I>Uphold me;</I> and again, <I>Hold thou me
|
|
up.</I> He sees himself not only unable to go on in his duty by any
|
|
strength of his own, but in danger of falling into sin unless he was
|
|
prevented by divine grace; and therefore he is thus earnest for that
|
|
grace to uphold him in his integrity
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+41:12">Ps. xli. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
to keep him from falling and to keep him from tiring, that he might
|
|
neither turn aside to evil-doing nor be weary of well-doing. We stand
|
|
no longer than God holds us and go no further than he carries us.
|
|
|
|
2. He pleads earnestly for this grace.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He pleads the promise of God, his dependence upon the promise, and
|
|
his expectation from it: "<I>Uphold me, according to thy word,</I>
|
|
which word I hope in; and, if it be not performed, I shall be made
|
|
<I>ashamed of my hope,</I> and be called a fool for my credulity." But
|
|
those that hope in God's word may be sure that the word will not fail
|
|
them, and therefore their hope will not make them ashamed.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He pleads the great need he had of God's grace and the great
|
|
advantage it would be of to him: <I>Uphold me, that I may live,</I>
|
|
intimating that he could not live without the grace of God; he should
|
|
fall into sin, into death, into hell, if God did not hold him up; but,
|
|
supported by his hand, he shall live; his spiritual life shall be
|
|
maintained and be an earnest of eternal life. <I>Hold me up, and I
|
|
shall be safe,</I> out of danger and out of the fear of danger. Our
|
|
holy security is grounded on divine supports.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He pleads his resolution, in the strength of this grace, to
|
|
proceed in his duty: "<I>Hold me up,</I> and then <I>I will have
|
|
respect unto thy statutes continually</I> and never turn my eyes or
|
|
feet aside from them." <I>I will employ myself</I> (so some), I <I>will
|
|
delight myself</I> (so others) <I>in thy statutes.</I> If God's right
|
|
hand uphold us, we must, in his strength, go on in our duty both with
|
|
diligence and pleasure.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_118"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_119"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_120"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes:
|
|
for their deceit <I>is</I> falsehood.
|
|
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth <I>like</I> dross:
|
|
therefore I love thy testimonies.
|
|
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy
|
|
judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. God's judgment on wicked people, on those that <I>wander from his
|
|
statutes,</I> that take their measures from other rules and will not
|
|
have God to reign over them. All departure from God's statutes is
|
|
certainly an error, and will prove a fatal one. These are <I>the wicked
|
|
of the earth;</I> they mind earthly things, lay up their treasures in
|
|
the earth, live in pleasure on the earth, and are strangers and enemies
|
|
to heaven and heavenly things. Now see how God deals with them, that
|
|
you may neither fear them nor envy them.
|
|
|
|
1. He <I>treads them all down.</I> He brings them to ruin, to utter
|
|
ruin, to shameful ruin; he makes them his footstool. Though they are
|
|
ever so high, he can bring them low
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+2:9">Amos ii. 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
he has done it many a time, and he will do it, for he resists the proud
|
|
and will triumph over those that oppose his kingdom. Proud persecutors
|
|
trample upon his people, but, sooner or later, he will trample upon
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
2. He <I>puts them all away like dross.</I> Wicked people are as dross,
|
|
which, though it be mingled with the good metal in the ore, and seems
|
|
to be of the same substance with it, must be separated from it. And in
|
|
God's account they are worthless things, the scum and refuse of the
|
|
earth, and no more to be compared with the righteous than dross with
|
|
fine gold. There is a day coming which will put them away from among
|
|
the righteous
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+13:49">Matt. xiii. 49</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that they shall have no place <I>in their congregation</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:5">Ps. i. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
which will put them away into everlasting fire, the fittest place for
|
|
the dross. Sometimes, in this world, the wicked are, by the censures of
|
|
the church, or the sword of the magistrate, or the judgments of God,
|
|
<I>put away as dross,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:4,5">Prov. xxv. 4, 5</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The reasons of these judgments. God casts them off because they
|
|
<I>err from his statutes</I> (those that will not submit to the
|
|
commands of the word shall feel the curses of it) and because <I>their
|
|
deceit is falsehood,</I> that is, because they deceive themselves by
|
|
setting up false rules, in opposition to God's statutes, which they err
|
|
from, and because they go about to deceive others with their
|
|
hypocritical pretences of good and their crafty projects of mischief.
|
|
<I>Their cunning is falsehood,</I> so Dr. Hammond. The utmost of their
|
|
policy is treachery and perfidiousness; this the God of truth hates and
|
|
will punish.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The improvement David made of these judgments. He took notice of
|
|
them and received instruction from them. The ruin of the wicked helped
|
|
to increase,
|
|
|
|
1. His love to the word of God. "I see what comes of sin; <I>therefore
|
|
I love thy testimonies,</I> which warn me to take heed of those
|
|
dangerous courses and <I>keep me from the paths of the destroyer.</I>"
|
|
We see the word of Go fulfilled in his judgments on sin and sinners,
|
|
and therefore we should love it.
|
|
|
|
2. His fear of the wrath of God: <I>My flesh trembles for fear of
|
|
thee.</I> Instead of insulting over those who fell under God's
|
|
displeasure, he humbled himself. What we read and hear of the judgments
|
|
of God upon wicked people would make us,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To reverence his terrible majesty, and to stand in awe of him:
|
|
<I>Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+6:20">1 Sam. vi. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To fear lest we offend him and become obnoxious to his wrath. Good
|
|
men have need to be restrained from sin by <I>the terrors of the
|
|
Lord,</I> especially when judgment <I>begins at the house of God</I>
|
|
and hypocrites are discovered and <I>put away as dross.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_121"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_122"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec16"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>16. AIN.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine
|
|
oppressors.
|
|
122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud
|
|
oppress me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here appeals to God,
|
|
|
|
1. As his witness that he had not done wrong; he could truly say, "<I>I
|
|
have done judgment and justice,</I> that is, I have made conscience of
|
|
rendering to all their due, and have not by force or fraud hindered any
|
|
of their right." Take him as a king, he <I>executed judgment and
|
|
justice to all his people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+8:15">2 Sam. viii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Take him in a private capacity, he could appeal to Saul himself that
|
|
<I>there was no evil or transgression in his hand,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:11">1 Sam. xxiv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Honesty is the best policy and will be our rejoicing in the day
|
|
of evil.
|
|
|
|
2. As his Judge, that he might not be wronged. Having done justice for
|
|
others that were oppressed, he begs that God would do him justice and
|
|
avenge him of his adversaries: "<I>Be surety for thy servant, for
|
|
good;</I> undertake for me against those that would run me down and
|
|
ruin me." He is sensible that he cannot make his part good himself, and
|
|
therefore begs that God would appear for him. Christ is our surety with
|
|
God; and, if he be so, Providence shall be our surety against all the
|
|
world. Who or what shall harm us if God's power and goodness be engaged
|
|
for our protection and rescue? He does not prescribe to God what he
|
|
should do for him; only let it be <I>for good,</I> in such way and
|
|
manner as Infinite Wisdom sees best; "only <I>let me not be left to my
|
|
oppressors.</I>" Though David had <I>done judgment and justice,</I> yet
|
|
he had many enemies; but, having God for his friend, he hoped they
|
|
should not have their will against him; and in that hope he prayed
|
|
again, <I>Let not the proud oppress me.</I> David, one of the best of
|
|
men, was oppressed by the proud, whom God beholds afar off; the
|
|
condition therefore of the persecuted is better than that of the
|
|
persecutors, and will appear so at last.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_123"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy
|
|
righteousness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David, being oppressed, is here waiting and wishing for the salvation
|
|
of the Lord, which would make him easy.
|
|
|
|
1. He cannot but think that it comes slowly: <I>My eyes fail for thy
|
|
salvation.</I> His eyes were towards it and had been long so. He looked
|
|
for help from heaven (and we deceive ourselves if we look for it any
|
|
other way), but it did not come so soon as he expected, so that his
|
|
eyes began to fail, and he was sometimes ready to despair, and to think
|
|
that, because the salvation did not come when he looked for it, it
|
|
would never come. It is often the infirmity even of good men to be
|
|
weary of waiting God's time when <I>their</I> time has elapsed.
|
|
|
|
2. Yet he cannot hope that it comes surely; for he expects <I>the word
|
|
of God's righteousness,</I> and no other salvation than what is secured
|
|
by that word, which cannot fall to the ground because it is a word of
|
|
righteousness. Though our eyes fail, yet God's word does not, and
|
|
therefore those that build upon it, though now discouraged, shall in
|
|
due time see his salvation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_124"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_125"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach
|
|
me thy statutes.
|
|
125 I <I>am</I> thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know
|
|
thy testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's petition for divine instruction: "<I>Teach me thy
|
|
statutes;</I> give me to know all my duty; when I am in doubt, and know
|
|
not for certain what is my duty, direct me, and make it plain to me;
|
|
now that I am afflicted, oppressed, and <I>my eyes</I> are ready to
|
|
<I>fail for thy salvation,</I> let me know what my duty is in this
|
|
condition." In difficult times we should desire more to be told what we
|
|
must do than what we may expect, and should pray more to be led into
|
|
the knowledge of scripture-precepts than of scripture-prophecies. If
|
|
God, who gave us his statutes, do not teach us, we shall never learn
|
|
them. How God teaches is implied in the next petition: <I>Give me
|
|
understanding</I> (a renewed understanding, apt to receive divine
|
|
light), <I>that I may know thy testimonies.</I> It is God's prerogative
|
|
to give an understanding, that understanding without which we cannot
|
|
know God's testimonies. Those who know most of God's testimonies desire
|
|
to know more, and are still earnest with God to teach them, never
|
|
thinking they know enough.
|
|
|
|
2. His pleas to enforce this petition.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He pleads God's goodness to him: <I>Deal with me according to thy
|
|
mercy.</I> The best saints count this their best plea for any blessing,
|
|
"Let me have it according to thy mercy;" for we deserve no favour from
|
|
God, nor can we claim any as a debt, but we are most likely to be easy
|
|
when we cast ourselves upon God's mercy and refer ourselves to it.
|
|
Particularly, when we come to him for instruction, we must beg it as a
|
|
mercy, and reckon that in being taught we are well dealt with.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He pleads his relation to God: "<I>I am thy servant,</I> and have
|
|
work to do for thee; therefore <I>teach me</I> to do it and to do it
|
|
well." The servant has reason to expect that, if he be at a loss about
|
|
his work, his master should teach him, and, if it were in his power,
|
|
give him an understanding. "Lord," says David, "I desire to serve thee;
|
|
show me how." If any man resolve to do God's will as his servant, he
|
|
shall be made to know his testimonies,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:17,Ps+25:14">John vii. 17; Ps. xxv. 14</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_126"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>126 <I>It is</I> time for <I>thee,</I> L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to work: <I>for</I> they have
|
|
made void thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. A complaint of the daring impiety of the wicked. David, having in
|
|
himself a holy indignation at it, humbly represents it to God: "Lord,
|
|
there are those that <I>have made void thy law,</I> have set thee and
|
|
thy government at defiance, and have done what in them lay to cancel
|
|
and vacate the obligation of thy commands." Those that sin through
|
|
infirmity transgress the law, but presumptuous sinners do in effect
|
|
make void the law, saying, <I>Who is the Lord? What is the Almighty,
|
|
that we should fear him?</I> It is possible a godly man may sin against
|
|
the commandment, but a wicked man would sin away the commandment, would
|
|
repeal God's laws and enact his own lusts. This is the sinfulness of
|
|
sin and the malignity of the carnal mind.
|
|
|
|
2. A desire that God would appear, for the vindication of his own
|
|
honour: "<I>It is time for thee, Lord, to work,</I> to do something for
|
|
the effectual confutation of atheists and infidels, and the silencing
|
|
of those that set their mouth against the heavens." God's time to work
|
|
is when vice has become most daring and the measure of iniquity is
|
|
full. <I>Now will I arise, saith the Lord.</I> Some read it, and the
|
|
original will bear it, <I>It is time to work for thee, O Lord!</I> it
|
|
is time for every one in his place to appear on the Lord's
|
|
side--against the threatening growth of profaneness and immorality. We
|
|
must do what we can for the support of the sinking interests of
|
|
religion, and, after all, we must beg of God to take the work into his
|
|
own hands.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_127"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_128"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above
|
|
fine gold.
|
|
128 Therefore I esteem all <I>thy</I> precepts <I>concerning</I> all
|
|
<I>things to be</I> right; <I>and</I> I hate every false way.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here, as often in this psalm, professes the great love he had to
|
|
the word and law of God; and, to evidence the sincerity of it, observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The degree of his love. He loved his Bible better than he loved his
|
|
money--<I>above gold, yea, above fine gold.</I> Gold, fine gold, is what
|
|
most men set their hearts upon; nothing charms them and dazzles their
|
|
eyes so much as gold does. It is fine gold, a fine thing in their eyes;
|
|
they will venture their souls, their God, their all, to get and keep
|
|
it. But David saw that the word of God answers all purposes better than
|
|
money does, for it enriches the soul towards God; and therefore he
|
|
loved it better than gold, for it had done that for him which gold
|
|
could not do, and would stand him in stead when the wealth of the world
|
|
would fail him.
|
|
|
|
2. The ground of his love. He loved all God's commandments because he
|
|
esteemed them to be right, all reasonable and just, and suited to the
|
|
end for which they were made. They are all as they should be, and no
|
|
fault can be found with them; and we must love them because they bear
|
|
God's image and are the revelations of his will. If we thus <I>consent
|
|
to the law that it is good,</I> we shall delight in it after the inner
|
|
man.
|
|
|
|
3. The fruit and evidence of this love: He <I>hated every false
|
|
way.</I> The way of sin being directly contrary to God's precepts,
|
|
which are right, is a false way, and therefore those that have a love
|
|
and esteem for God's law hate it and will not be reconciled to it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_129"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec17"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>17. PE.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>129 Thy testimonies <I>are</I> wonderful: therefore doth my soul
|
|
keep them.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
See here how David was affected towards the word of God.
|
|
|
|
1. He admired it, as most excellent in itself: <I>Thy testimonies are
|
|
wonderful.</I> The word of God gives us admirable discoveries of God,
|
|
and Christ, and another world; admirable proofs of divine love and
|
|
grace. The majesty of the style, the purity of the matter, the harmony
|
|
of the parts, are all wonderful. Its effects upon the consciences of
|
|
men, both for conviction and comfort, are wonderful; and it is a sign
|
|
that we are not acquainted with God's testimonies, or do not understand
|
|
them, if we do not admire them.
|
|
|
|
2. He adhered to it as of constant use to him: "<I>Therefore doth my
|
|
soul keep them,</I> as a treasure of inestimable value, which I cannot
|
|
be without." We do not keep them to any purpose unless our souls keep
|
|
them. There they must be deposited, as the tables of testimony in the
|
|
ark, there they must have the innermost and uppermost place. Those that
|
|
see God's word to be admirable will prize it highly and preserve it
|
|
carefully, as that which they promise themselves great things from.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_130"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
|
|
understanding unto the simple.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The great use for which the word of God was intended, to give light,
|
|
that is, to give understanding, to give us to understand that which
|
|
will be of use to us in our travels through this world; and it is the
|
|
outward and ordinary means by which the Spirit of God enlightens the
|
|
understanding of all that are sanctified. God's testimonies are not
|
|
only wonderful for the greatness of them, but useful, as a light in a
|
|
dark place.
|
|
|
|
2. Its efficacy for this purpose. It admirably answers the end; for,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Even <I>the entrance of God's word gives light.</I> If we begin at
|
|
the beginning, and take it before us, we shall find that the very first
|
|
verses of the Bible give us surprising and yet satisfying discoveries
|
|
of the origin of the universe, about which, without that, the world is
|
|
utterly in the dark. As soon as the word of God enters into us, and
|
|
has a place in us, it enlightens us; we find we begin to see when we
|
|
begin to study the word of God. The very first principles of the
|
|
oracles of God, the plainest truths, the milk appointed for the babes,
|
|
bring a great light into the soul, much more will the soul be
|
|
illuminated by the sublime mysteries that are found there. "The
|
|
exposition or explication of thy word gives light;" then it is most
|
|
profitable when ministers do their part <I>in giving the sense,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+8:8">Neh. viii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some understand it of the New Testament, which is the opening or
|
|
unfolding of the Old, which would give light concerning life and
|
|
immortality.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It would <I>give understanding</I> even <I>to the simple,</I> to
|
|
the weakest capacities; for it shows us a way to heaven so plain that
|
|
the <I>wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_131"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy
|
|
commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The desire David had towards the word of God: <I>I longed for thy
|
|
commandments.</I> When he was under a forced absence from God's
|
|
ordinances he longed to be restored to them again; when he enjoyed
|
|
ordinances he greedily sucked in the word of God, <I>as new-born babes
|
|
desire the milk.</I> When Christ is formed in the soul there are
|
|
gracious longings, unaccountable to one that is a stranger to the work.
|
|
|
|
2. The degree of that desire appearing in the expressions of it: <I>I
|
|
opened my mouth and panted,</I> as one overcome with hear, or almost
|
|
stifled, pants for a mouthful of fresh air. Thus strong, thus earnest,
|
|
should our desires be towards God and the remembrance of his name,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+42:1,2+Lu+12:50">Ps. xlii. 1, 2. Luke xii. 50</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_132"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest
|
|
to do unto those that love thy name.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's request for God's favour to himself: "<I>Look</I> graciously
|
|
<I>upon me;</I> let me have thy smiles, and the light of thy
|
|
countenance. Take cognizance of me and my affairs, <I>and be merciful
|
|
to me;</I> let me taste the sweetness of thy mercy and receive the
|
|
gifts of thy mercy." See how humble his petition is. He asks not for
|
|
the operations of God's hand, only for the smiles of his face; a good
|
|
look is enough; and for that he does not plead merit, but implores
|
|
mercy.
|
|
|
|
2. His acknowledgment of his favour to all his people: <I>As thou usest
|
|
to do unto those that love thy name.</I> This is either,
|
|
|
|
(1.) A plea for mercy: "Lord, I am one of <I>those that love thy
|
|
name,</I> love thee and thy word, and thou usest to be kind to those
|
|
that do so; and wilt thou be worse to me than to others of thy people?"
|
|
Or,
|
|
|
|
(2.) A description of the favour and mercy he desired--"that which thou
|
|
usest to bestow on those that love thy name, which <I>thou bearest to
|
|
thy chosen,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:4,5">Ps. cvi. 4, 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
He desires no more, no better, than neighbour's fare, and he will take
|
|
up with no less; common looks and common mercies will not serve, but
|
|
such as are reserved for those that love him, which are such as <I>eye
|
|
has not seen,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:9">1 Cor. ii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The dealings of God with those that love him are such that a man
|
|
needs not desire to be any better dealt with, for he will make them
|
|
truly and eternally happy. And as long as God deals with us no
|
|
otherwise than as he uses to deal with those that love him we have no
|
|
reason to complain,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_133"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have
|
|
dominion over me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here David prays for two great spiritual blessings, and is, in this
|
|
verse, as earnest for the good work of God in him as, in the verse
|
|
before, for the good-will of God towards him. He prays,
|
|
|
|
1. For direction in the paths of duty: "<I>Order my steps in thy
|
|
word;</I> having led me into the right way, let every step I take in
|
|
that way be under the guidance of thy grace." We ought to walk by rule;
|
|
all the motions of the soul must not only be kept within the bounds
|
|
prescribed by the word, so as not to transgress them, but carried out
|
|
in the paths prescribed by the word, so as not to trifle in them. And
|
|
therefore we must beg of God that by his good Spirit he would order our
|
|
steps accordingly.
|
|
|
|
2. For deliverance from the power of sin: "<I>Let no iniquity have
|
|
dominion over me,</I> so as to gain my consent to it, and that I should
|
|
be led captive by it." The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and
|
|
deprecated by every one of us; and, if in sincerity we pray against it,
|
|
we may receive that promise as an answer to the prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:14">Rom. vi. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Sin shall not have dominion over you.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_134"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy
|
|
precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays that he might live a quiet and peaceable life, and might
|
|
not be harassed and discomposed by those that studied to be vexatious:
|
|
"<I>Deliver me from the oppression of man</I>--man, whom God can
|
|
control, and whose power is limited. Let them know themselves to be
|
|
<I>but men</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+9:20">Ps. ix. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
and let me be delivered out of the hands of my enemies, that I may
|
|
serve God without fear; <I>so will I keep thy precepts.</I>" Not but
|
|
that he would keep God's precepts, though he should be continued under
|
|
oppression; "but so shall I keep thy precepts more cheerfully and with
|
|
more enlargement of heart, my bonds being loosed." <I>Then</I> we may
|
|
expect temporal blessings when we desire them with this in our eye,
|
|
that we may serve God the better.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_135"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy
|
|
statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here, as often as elsewhere, writes himself God's servant, a
|
|
title he gloried in, though he was a king; now here, as became a good
|
|
servant,
|
|
|
|
1. He is very ambitious of his Master's favour, accounting that his
|
|
happiness and chief good. He asks not for corn and wine, for silver and
|
|
gold, but, "<I>Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;</I> let me be
|
|
accepted of thee, and let me know that I am so. Comfort me with the
|
|
light of thy countenance in every cloudy and dark day. If the world
|
|
frown upon me, yet do thou smile."
|
|
|
|
2. He is very solicitous about his Master's work, accounting that his
|
|
business and chief concern. This he would be instructed in, that he
|
|
might do it, and do it well, so as to be accepted in the doing of it:
|
|
<I>Teach me thy statutes.</I> Note, We must pray as earnestly for grace
|
|
as for comfort. If God hides his face from us, it is because we have
|
|
been careless in keeping his statutes; and therefore, that we may be
|
|
qualified for the returns of his favour, we must pray for wisdom to do
|
|
our duty.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_136"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not
|
|
thy law.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have David in sorrow.
|
|
|
|
1. It is a great sorrow, to such a degree that he weeps <I>rivers of
|
|
tears.</I> Commonly, where there is a gracious heart, there is a
|
|
weeping eye, in conformity to Christ, who was a man of sorrows and
|
|
acquainted with grief. David had prayed for comfort in God's favour
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:135"><I>v.</I> 135</A>),
|
|
|
|
now he pleads that he was qualified for that comfort, and had need of
|
|
it, for he was one of those that mourned in Zion, and those that do so
|
|
shall be comforted,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:3">Isa. lxi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. It is godly sorrow. He wept not for his troubles, though they were
|
|
many, but for the dishonour done to God: <I>Because they keep not thy
|
|
law,</I> either <I>because my eyes keep not thy law,</I> so some (the
|
|
eye is the inlet and outlet of a great deal of sin, and therefore it
|
|
ought to be a weeping eye), or, rather, <I>they,</I> that is, those
|
|
about me,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:139"><I>v.</I> 139</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The sins of sinners are the sorrows of saints. We must mourn for
|
|
that which we cannot mend.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_137"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_138"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec18"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>18. TZADDI.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>137 Righteous <I>art</I> thou, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and upright <I>are</I> thy
|
|
judgments.
|
|
138 Thy testimonies <I>that</I> thou hast commanded <I>are</I> righteous
|
|
and very faithful.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and perfection of
|
|
his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should be, and in
|
|
every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting, nothing
|
|
amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he is
|
|
righteous, for he does all according to it.
|
|
|
|
2. The righteousness of his government. He rules the world by his
|
|
providence, according to the principles of justice, and never did, nor
|
|
ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures: <I>Upright are thy
|
|
judgments,</I> the promises and threatenings and the executions of
|
|
both. Every word of God is pure, and he will be true to it; he
|
|
perfectly knows the merits of every cause and will judge accordingly.
|
|
|
|
3. The righteousness of his commands, which he has given to be the rule
|
|
of our obedience: "<I>Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded,</I>
|
|
which are backed with thy sovereign authority, and to which thou dost
|
|
require our obedience, <I>are</I> exceedingly <I>righteous and
|
|
faithful,</I> righteousness and faithfulness itself." As he acts like
|
|
himself, so his law requires that we act like ourselves and like him,
|
|
that we be just to ourselves and to all we deal with, true to all the
|
|
engagements we lay ourselves under both to God and man. That which we
|
|
are commanded to practise is righteous; that which we are commanded to
|
|
believe is faithful. It is necessary to our faith and obedience that we
|
|
be convinced of this.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_139"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have
|
|
forgotten thy words.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The great contempt which wicked men put upon religion: <I>My enemies
|
|
have forgotten thy words.</I> They have often heard them, but so little
|
|
did they heed them that they soon forgot them, they willingly forgot
|
|
them, not only through carelessness let them slip out of their minds,
|
|
but contrived how to cast them behind their backs. This is at the
|
|
bottom of all the wickedness of the wicked, and particularly of their
|
|
malignity and enmity to the people of God; they have forgotten the
|
|
words of God, else those would give check to their sinful courses.
|
|
|
|
2. The great concern which godly men show for religion. David reckoned
|
|
those his enemies who forgot the words of God because they were enemies
|
|
to religion, which he had entered into a league with, offensive and
|
|
defensive. And therefore his <I>zeal</I> even <I>consumed him,</I> when
|
|
he observed their impieties. He conceived such an indignation at their
|
|
wickedness as preyed upon his spirits, even <I>ate them up</I> (as
|
|
Christ's zeal,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:17">John ii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
swallowed up all inferior considerations, and made him forget himself.
|
|
<I>My zeal has pressed or constrained me</I> (so Dr. Hammond reads it),
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+18:5">Acts xviii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Zeal against sin should constrain us to do what we can against it in
|
|
our places, at least to do so much the more in religion ourselves. The
|
|
worse others are the better we should be.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_140"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>140 Thy word <I>is</I> very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's great affection for the word of God: <I>Thy servant loves
|
|
it.</I> Every good man, being a servant of God, loves the word of God,
|
|
because it lets him know his Master's will and directs him in his
|
|
Master's work. Wherever there is grace there is a warm attachment to
|
|
the word of God.
|
|
|
|
2. The ground and reason of that affection; he saw it to be <I>very
|
|
pure,</I> and therefore he loved it. Our love to the word of God is
|
|
<I>then</I> an evidence of our love to God when we love it for the sake
|
|
of its purity, because it bears the image of God's holiness and is
|
|
designed to make us partakers of his holiness. It commands purity, and,
|
|
as it is itself refined from all corrupt mixture, so if we receive it
|
|
in the light and love of it it will refine us from the dross of
|
|
worldliness and fleshly-mindedness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_141"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>141 I <I>am</I> small and despised: <I>yet</I> do not I forget thy
|
|
precepts.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David pious and yet poor. He was a man after God's own heart, one
|
|
whom the King of kings did delight to honour, and yet <I>small and
|
|
despised</I> in his own account and in the account of many others.
|
|
Men's excellency cannot always secure them from contempt; nay, it often
|
|
exposes them to the scorn of others and always makes them low in their
|
|
own eyes. <I>God has chosen the foolish things of the world,</I> and it
|
|
has been the common lot of his people to be a despised people.
|
|
|
|
2. David poor and yet pious, <I>small and despised</I> for his strict
|
|
and serious godliness, yet his conscience can witness for him that he
|
|
did <I>not forget God's precepts.</I> He would not throw off his
|
|
religion, though it exposed him to contempt, for he knew that was
|
|
designed to try his constancy. When we are small and despised we have
|
|
the more need to remember God's precepts, that we may have them to
|
|
support us under the pressures of a low condition.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_142"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>142 Thy righteousness <I>is</I> an everlasting righteousness, and
|
|
thy law <I>is</I> the truth.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. That God's word <I>is righteousness,</I> and it <I>is an everlasting
|
|
righteousness.</I> It is the rule of God's judgment, and it is
|
|
consonant to his counsels from eternity and will direct his sentence
|
|
for eternity. The word of God will judge us, it will judge us in
|
|
righteousness, and by it our everlasting state will be determined. This
|
|
should possess us with a very great reverence for the word of God that
|
|
it is righteousness itself, the standard of righteousness, and it is
|
|
everlasting in its rewards and punishments.
|
|
|
|
2. That God's word is a law, and that law is truth. See the double
|
|
obligation we are under to be governed by the word of God. We are
|
|
reasonable creatures, and as such we must be ruled by truth,
|
|
acknowledging the force and power of it. If the principles be true, the
|
|
practices must be agreeable to them, else we do not act rationally. We
|
|
are creatures, and therefore subjects, and must be ruled by our
|
|
Creator; and whatever he commands we are bound to obey as a law. See
|
|
how these obligations are here twisted, these cords of a man. Here is
|
|
truth brought to the understanding, there to sit chief, and direct the
|
|
motions of the whole man; but, lest the authority of that should become
|
|
weak through the flesh, here is a law to bind the will and bring that
|
|
into subjection. God's truth is a law
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:37">John xviii. 37</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>and</I> God's <I>law is the truth;</I> surely we cannot break such
|
|
words as these asunder.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_143"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_144"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: <I>yet</I> thy
|
|
commandments <I>are</I> my delights.
|
|
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies <I>is</I> everlasting: give
|
|
me understanding, and I shall live.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
These two verses are almost a repetition of the two foregoing verses,
|
|
but with improvement.
|
|
|
|
1. David again professes his constant adherence to God and his duty,
|
|
notwithstanding the many difficulties and discouragements he met with.
|
|
He had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:141"><I>v.</I> 141</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I am small and despised,</I> and yet adhere to my duty. Here he
|
|
finds himself not only mean, but miserable, as far as this world could
|
|
make him so: <I>Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me</I>--trouble
|
|
without, anguish within; they surprised him, they seized him, they held
|
|
him. Sorrows are often the lot of saints in this vale of tears; they
|
|
are <I>in heaviness through manifold temptations.</I> There he had
|
|
said, <I>Yet do I not forget thy precepts;</I> here he carries his
|
|
constancy much higher: <I>Yet thy commandments are my delights.</I> All
|
|
this trouble and anguish did not put his mouth out of taste for the
|
|
comforts of the word of God, but he could still relish them and find
|
|
that peace and pleasure in them which all the calamities of this
|
|
present time could not deprive him of. There are delights, variety of
|
|
delights, in the word of God, which the saints have often the sweetest
|
|
enjoyment of when they are in trouble and anguish,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:5">2 Cor. i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. He again acknowledges the everlasting righteousness of God's word as
|
|
before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:142"><I>v.</I> 142</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting</I> and cannot
|
|
be altered; and, when it is admitted in its power into a soul, it is
|
|
there an abiding principle, <I>a well of living water,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:14">John iv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
We ought to meditate much and often upon the equity and the eternity of
|
|
the word of God. Here he adds, by way of inference,
|
|
|
|
(1.) His prayer for grace: <I>Give me understanding.</I> Those that
|
|
know much of the word of God should still covet to know more; for there
|
|
is more to be known. He does not say, "Give me a further revelation,"
|
|
but, <I>Give me a further understanding;</I> what is revealed we should
|
|
desire to understand, and what we know to know better; and we must go
|
|
to God for a heart to know.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His hope of glory: "Give me this renewed understanding, and then
|
|
<I>I shall live,</I> shall live for ever, shall be eternally happy, and
|
|
shall be comforted, for the present, in the prospect of it." <I>This is
|
|
life eternal, to know God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:3">John xvii. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_145"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_146"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec19"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>19. KOPH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>145 I cried with <I>my</I> whole heart; hear me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: I
|
|
will keep thy statutes.
|
|
146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy
|
|
testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
I. David's good prayers, by which he sought to God for mercy; these he
|
|
mentions here, not as boasting of them, or trusting to any merit in
|
|
them, but reflecting upon them with comfort, that he had taken the
|
|
appointed way to comfort. Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. That he was inward with God in prayer; he prayed <I>with his
|
|
heart,</I> and prayer is acceptable no further than the heart goes
|
|
along with it. Lip-labour, if that be all, is lost labour.
|
|
|
|
2. He was importunate with God in prayer; he <I>cried,</I> as one in
|
|
earnest, with fervour of affection and a holy vehemence and vigour of
|
|
desire. <I>He cried with his whole heart;</I> all the powers of his
|
|
soul were not only engaged and employed, but exerted to the utmost, in
|
|
his prayers. <I>Then</I> we are likely to speed when we thus strive and
|
|
wrestle in prayer.
|
|
|
|
3. That he directed his prayer to God: <I>I cried unto thee.</I>
|
|
Whither should the child go but to his father when any thing ails him?
|
|
|
|
4. That the great thing he prayed for was salvation: <I>Save me.</I> A
|
|
short prayer (for we mistake if we think we shall be heard for our much
|
|
speaking), but a comprehensive prayer: "Not only rescue me from ruin,
|
|
but make me happy." We need desire no more than God's salvation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:23">Ps. l. 23</A>)
|
|
|
|
and the <I>things that accompany</I> it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:9">Heb. vi. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. That he was earnest for an answer; and not only looked up in his
|
|
prayers, but looked up after them, to see what became of them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+5:3">Ps. v. 3</A>):
|
|
|
|
"Lord, <I>hear me,</I> and let me know that thou hearest me."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. David's good purposes, by which he bound himself to duty when he
|
|
was in the pursuit of mercy. "<I>I will keep thy statutes;</I> I am
|
|
resolved that by thy grace I will;" for, <I>if we turn away our ear
|
|
from hearing the law,</I> we cannot expect an answer of peace to our
|
|
prayers,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:9">Prov. xxviii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
This purpose is used as a humble plea
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:146"><I>v.</I> 146</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Save me</I> from my sins, my corruptions, my temptations, all the
|
|
hindrances that lie in my way, that I may <I>keep thy testimonies.</I>"
|
|
We must cry for salvation, not that we may have the ease and comfort of
|
|
it, but that we may have an opportunity of serving God the more
|
|
cheerfully.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_147"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_148"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped
|
|
in thy word.
|
|
148 Mine eyes prevent the <I>night</I> watches, that I might
|
|
meditate in thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David goes on here to relate how he had abounded in the duty of prayer,
|
|
much to his comfort and advantage: he cried unto God, that is, offered
|
|
up to him his pious and devout affections with all seriousness.
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The handmaids of his devotion. The two great exercises that attended
|
|
his prayers, and were helpful to them, were,
|
|
|
|
1. Hope in God's word, which encouraged him to continue instant in
|
|
prayer, though the answer did not come immediately: "I cried, and hoped
|
|
that at last I should speed, because <I>the vision is for an appointed
|
|
time, and at the end it will speak and not lie. I hoped in thy
|
|
word,</I> which I knew would not fail me."
|
|
|
|
2. Meditation in God's word. The more intimately we converse with the
|
|
word of God, and the more we dwell upon it in our thoughts, the better
|
|
able we shall be to speak to God in his own language and the better we
|
|
shall know what to pray for as we ought. Reading the word will not
|
|
serve, but we must meditate in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The hours of his devotion. <I>He anticipated the dawning of the
|
|
morning,</I> nay, and <I>the night-watches.</I> See here,
|
|
|
|
1. That David was an early riser, which perhaps contributed to his
|
|
eminency. He was none of those that say, <I>Yet a little sleep.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. That he began the day with God. The first thing he did in the
|
|
morning, before he admitted any business, was to pray, when his mind
|
|
was most fresh and in the best frame. If our first thoughts in the
|
|
morning be of God they will help to keep us in his fear all the day
|
|
long.
|
|
|
|
3. That his mind was so full of God, and the cares and delights of his
|
|
religion, that a little sleep served his turn. Even in <I>the
|
|
night-watches,</I> when he awaked from his first sleep, he would rather
|
|
meditate and pray than turn himself and go to sleep again. He
|
|
<I>esteemed the words of God's mouth more than his necessary</I>
|
|
repose, which we can as ill spare as our <I>food,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+23:12">Job xxiii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. That he would redeem time for religious exercises. He was full of
|
|
business all day, but that will excuse no man from secret devotion; it
|
|
is better to take time from sleep, as David did, than not to find time
|
|
for prayer. And this is our comfort, when we pray in the night, that we
|
|
can never come unseasonably to the throne of grace; for we may have
|
|
access to it at all hours. Baal may be asleep, but Israel's God never
|
|
slumbers, nor are there any hours in which he may not be spoken
|
|
with.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_149"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
|
|
quicken me according to thy judgment.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David applies to God for grace and comfort with much solemnity. He
|
|
begs of God to hear his voice: "Lord, I have something to say to thee;
|
|
shall I obtain a gracious audience?" Well, what has he to say? What is
|
|
his petition and what is his request? It is not long, but it has much
|
|
in a little: "<I>Lord, quicken me;</I> stir me up to that which is
|
|
good, and make me vigorous, and lively, and cheerful in it. Let habits
|
|
of grace be drawn out into act."
|
|
|
|
2. He encourages himself to hope that he shall obtain his request; for
|
|
he depends,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Upon God's lovingkindness: "He is good, therefore he will be good
|
|
to me, who hope in his mercy. His lovingkindness manifested to me will
|
|
help to quicken me, and put life into me."
|
|
|
|
(2.) Upon God's <I>judgment,</I> that is, his wisdom ("He knows what I
|
|
need, and what is good for me, and therefore will quicken me"), or his
|
|
promise, the word which he has spoken, mercy secured by the new
|
|
covenant: <I>Quicken me according to</I> the tenour of that
|
|
covenant.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_150"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_151"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far
|
|
from thy law.
|
|
151 Thou <I>art</I> near, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and all thy commandments <I>are</I>
|
|
truth.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The apprehension David was in of danger from his enemies.
|
|
|
|
1. They were very malicious, and industrious in prosecuting their
|
|
malicious designs: They <I>follow after mischief,</I> any mischief they
|
|
could do to David or his friends; they would let slip no opportunity
|
|
nor let fall any pursuit that might be to his hurt.
|
|
|
|
2. They were very impious, and had no fear of God before their eyes:
|
|
<I>They are far from thy law,</I> setting themselves as far as they can
|
|
out of the reach of its convictions and commands. The persecutors of
|
|
God's people are such as make light of God himself; we may therefore be
|
|
sure that God will take his people's part against them.
|
|
|
|
3. They followed him closely and he was just ready to fall into their
|
|
hands: <I>They draw nigh,</I> nigher than they were; so that they got
|
|
ground of him. They were at his heels, just upon his back. God
|
|
sometimes suffers persecutors to prevail very far against his people,
|
|
so that, as David said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:3">1 Sam. xx. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>There is but a step between them and death.</I> Perhaps this comes
|
|
in here as a reason why David was so earnest in prayer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:149"><I>v.</I> 149</A>.
|
|
|
|
God brings us into imminent perils, as he did Jacob, that, like him, we
|
|
may wrestle for a blessing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The assurance David had of protection with God: "<I>They draw
|
|
nigh</I> to destroy me, but <I>thou art near, O Lord!</I> to save me,
|
|
not only mightier than they and therefore able to help me against them,
|
|
but nearer than they and therefore ready to help." It is the happiness
|
|
of the saints that, when trouble is near, God is near, and no trouble
|
|
can separate between them and him. He is never far to seek, but he is
|
|
within our call, and means are within his call,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:7">Deut. iv. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>All thy commandments are truth.</I> The enemies thought to defeat
|
|
the promises God had made to David, but he was sure it was out of their
|
|
power; they were inviolably true, and would be infallibly
|
|
performed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_152"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou
|
|
hast founded them for ever.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This confirms what he had said in the close of the foregoing verses,
|
|
<I>All thy commandments are truth;</I> he means the covenant, the word
|
|
which God has commanded to a thousand generations. This is firm, as
|
|
true as truth itself. For,
|
|
|
|
1. God has founded it so; he has framed it for a perpetuity. Such is
|
|
the constitution of it, and so well ordered is it in all things, that
|
|
it cannot but be sure. The promises are <I>founded for ever,</I> so
|
|
that when heaven and earth shall have passed away every iota and tittle
|
|
of the promise shall stand firm,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:20">2 Cor. i. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. David had found it so, both by a work of God's grace upon his heart
|
|
(begetting in him a full persuasion of the truth of God's word and
|
|
enabling him to rely upon it with a full satisfaction) and by the works
|
|
of his providence on his behalf, fulfilling the promise beyond what he
|
|
expected. Thus he <I>knew of old,</I> from the days of his youth, ever
|
|
since he began to look towards God, that the word of God is what one
|
|
may venture one's all upon. This assurance was confirmed by the
|
|
observations and experiences of his own life all along, and of others
|
|
that had gone before him in the ways of God. All that ever dealt with
|
|
God, and trusted in him will own that they have found him faithful.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_153"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_154"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec20"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>20. RESH.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do
|
|
not forget thy law.
|
|
154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy
|
|
word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. David prays for succour in distress. <I>Is any afflicted? let him
|
|
pray;</I> let him pray as David does here.
|
|
|
|
1. He has an eye to God's pity, and prays, "<I>Consider my
|
|
affliction;</I> take it into thy thoughts, and all the circumstances of
|
|
it, and sit not by as one unconcerned." God is never unmindful of his
|
|
people's afflictions, but he will have us to <I>put him in
|
|
remembrance</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:26">Isa. xliii. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
to spread our case before him, and then leave it to his compassionate
|
|
consideration to do in it as in his wisdom he shall think fit, in his
|
|
own time and way.
|
|
|
|
2. He has an eye to God's power and prays, <I>Deliver me;</I> and
|
|
again, "<I>Deliver me;</I> consider my troubles and bring me out of
|
|
them." God has promised deliverance
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:15">Ps. l. 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
and we may pray for it, with submission to his will and with regard to
|
|
his glory, that we may serve him the better.
|
|
|
|
3. He has an eye to God's righteousness, and prays, "<I>Plead my
|
|
cause;</I> be thou my patron and advocate, and take me for thy client."
|
|
David had a just cause, but his adversaries were many and mighty, and
|
|
he was in danger of being run down by them; he therefore begs of God to
|
|
clear his integrity and silence their false accusations. If God do not
|
|
plead his people's cause, who will? He is righteous, and they commit
|
|
themselves to him, and therefore he will do it, and do it effectually,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:22,Jer+50:34">Isa. li. 22; Jer. l. 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He has an eye to God's grace, and prays, "<I>Quicken me.</I> Lord,
|
|
I am weak, and unable to bear my troubles; my spirit is apt to droop
|
|
and sink. O that thou wouldst revive and comfort me, till the
|
|
deliverance is wrought!"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He pleads his dependence upon the word oaf God and his obedient
|
|
regard to its directions: <I>Quicken</I> and <I>deliver me according to
|
|
thy word</I> of promise, <I>for I do not forget thy precepts.</I> The
|
|
more closely we cleave to the word of God, both as our rule and as our
|
|
stay, the more assurance we may have of deliverance in due time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_155"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>155 Salvation <I>is</I> far from the wicked: for they seek not thy
|
|
statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The description of wicked men. They do not only do God's statutes,
|
|
but they do not so much as seek them; they do not acquaint themselves
|
|
with them, nor so much as desire to know their duty, nor in the least
|
|
endeavour to do it. Those are wicked indeed who do not think the law of
|
|
God worth enquiring after, but are altogether regardless of it, being
|
|
resolved to live at large and to walk in the way of their heart.
|
|
|
|
2. Their doom: <I>Salvation is far from</I> them. They cannot upon any
|
|
good grounds promise themselves temporal deliverance. <I>Let not that
|
|
man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.</I> How can
|
|
those expect to seek God's favour with success, when they are in
|
|
adversity, who never sought his statutes when they were in prosperity?
|
|
But eternal salvation is certainly far from them. They flatter
|
|
themselves with a conceit that it is near, and that they are going to
|
|
heaven; but they are mistaken: it is far from them. They thrust it from
|
|
them by thrusting the Saviour from them; it is so far from them that
|
|
they cannot reach it, and the longer they persist in sin the further it
|
|
is; nay, while salvation is far from them, damnation is near; it
|
|
slumbers not. <I>Behold, the Judge stands before the door.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_156"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>156 Great <I>are</I> thy tender mercies, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: quicken me
|
|
according to thy judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David admires God's grace: <I>Great are thy tender mercies, O
|
|
Lord!</I> The goodness of God's nature, as it is his glory, so it is
|
|
the joy of all the saints. His mercies are tender, for he is full of
|
|
compassion; they are many, they are great, a fountain that can never be
|
|
exhausted. He is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. David had
|
|
spoken of the misery of the wicked
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:155"><I>v.</I> 155</A>);
|
|
|
|
but God is good notwithstanding; there were tender mercies sufficient
|
|
in God to have saved them, if they had not "<I>despised the riches of
|
|
those mercies.</I>" Those that are delivered from the sinner's doom are
|
|
bound for ever to own the greatness of God's mercies which delivered
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
2. He begs for God's grace, reviving quickening grace, <I>according to
|
|
his judgments,</I> that is, according to the tenour of the new covenant
|
|
(that established rule by which he goes in dispensing that grace) or
|
|
according to his manner, his custom or usage, with those that love his
|
|
name,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:132"><I>v.</I> 132</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_157"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>157 Many <I>are</I> my persecutors and mine enemies; <I>yet</I> do I not
|
|
decline from thy testimonies.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David surrounded with difficulties and dangers: <I>Many are my
|
|
persecutors and my enemies.</I> When Saul the king was his persecutor
|
|
and enemy no marvel that many more were so: multitudes will follow the
|
|
pernicious ways of abused authority. David, being a public person, had
|
|
many enemies, but withal he had many friends, who loved him and wished
|
|
him well; let him set the one over-against the other. In this David was
|
|
a type both of Christ and his church. The enemies, the persecutors, of
|
|
both, are many, very many.
|
|
|
|
2. David established in the way of his duty, notwithstanding: "<I>Yet
|
|
do I not decline from thy testimonies,</I> as knowing that while I
|
|
adhere to them God is for me; and then no matter who is against me." A
|
|
man who is steady in the way of his duty, though he may have many
|
|
enemies, needs fear none.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_158"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they
|
|
kept not thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's sorrow for the wickedness of the wicked. Though he conversed
|
|
much at home, yet sometimes he looked abroad, and could not but see the
|
|
wicked walking on every side. He <I>beheld the transgressors,</I> those
|
|
whose sins were open before all men, and it <I>grieved</I> him to see
|
|
them dishonour God, serve Satan, debauch the world, and ruin their own
|
|
souls, to see the transgressors so numerous, so daring, so very
|
|
impudent, and so industrious to draw unstable souls into their snares.
|
|
All this cannot but be a grief to those who have any regard to the
|
|
glory of God and the welfare of mankind.
|
|
|
|
2. The reason of that sorrow. He was grieved, not because they were
|
|
vexatious to him, but because they were provoking to God: <I>They kept
|
|
not thy word.</I> Those that hate sin truly hate it as sin, as a
|
|
transgression of the law of God and a violation of his word.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_159"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
|
|
according to thy lovingkindness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. David's appeal to God concerning his love to his precepts: "Lord,
|
|
thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love them; consider it
|
|
then, and deal with me as thou usest to deal with those that love thy
|
|
word, which thou hast magnified above all thy name." He does not say,
|
|
"Consider how I fulfil thy precepts;" he was conscious to himself that
|
|
in many things he came short; but, "Consider how I love them." Our
|
|
obedience is pleasing to God, and pleasant to ourselves, only when it
|
|
comes from a principle of love.
|
|
|
|
2. His petition thereupon: "<I>Quicken me,</I> to do my duty with
|
|
vigour; revive me, keep me alive, not according to any merit of mine,
|
|
though I love thy word, <I>but according to thy lovingkindness;</I>" to
|
|
that we owe our lives, nay, that is better than live itself. We need
|
|
not desire to be quickened any further than God's lovingkindness will
|
|
quicken us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_160"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>160 Thy word <I>is</I> true <I>from</I> the beginning: and every one of
|
|
thy righteous judgments <I>endureth</I> for ever.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here comforts himself with the faithfulness of God's word, for
|
|
the encouragement of himself and others to rely upon it.
|
|
|
|
1. It has always been found faithful hitherto, and never failed any
|
|
that ventured upon it; <I>It is true from the beginning.</I> Ever since
|
|
God began to reveal himself to the children of men all he said was true
|
|
and to be trusted. The church, from its beginning, was built upon this
|
|
rock. It has not gained its validity by lapse of time, as many
|
|
governments, whose best plea is prescription and long usage, <I>Quod
|
|
initio non valet, tractu temporis convalescit--That which, at first,
|
|
wanted validity, in the progress of time acquired it.</I> But the
|
|
<I>beginning of God's word was true</I> (so some read it); his
|
|
government was laid on a sure foundation. And all, in every age, that
|
|
have received God's word in faith and love, have found every saying in
|
|
it <I>faithful and well worthy of all acceptation.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. It will be found faithful to the end, because righteous: "<I>Every
|
|
one of thy judgments remains for ever</I> unalterable and of perpetual
|
|
obligation, adjusting men's everlasting doom."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_161"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec21"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>21. SCHIN.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my
|
|
heart standeth in awe of thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David here lets us know,
|
|
|
|
1. How he was discouraged in his duty by the fear of man: <I>Princes
|
|
persecuted him.</I> They looked upon him as a traitor and an enemy to
|
|
the government, and under that notion sought his life, and bade him
|
|
<I>go serve other gods,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:19">1 Sam. xxvi. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
It has been the common lot of the best men to be persecuted; and the
|
|
case is the worse if princes be the persecutors, for they have not only
|
|
the sword in their hand, and therefore can do the more hurt, but they
|
|
have the law on their side, and can do it with reputation and a colour
|
|
of justice. It is sad that the power which magistrates have from God,
|
|
and should use for him, should ever be employed against him. But
|
|
<I>marvel not at the matter,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:8">Eccl. v. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was a comfort to David that when princes persecuted him he could
|
|
truly say it was without cause, he never gave them any provocation.
|
|
|
|
2. How he was kept to his duty, notwithstanding, by the fear of God:
|
|
"They would make me stand in awe of them and their word, and do as they
|
|
bid me; but <I>my heart stands in awe of thy word,</I> and I am
|
|
resolved to please God, and keep in with him, whoever is displeased and
|
|
falls out with me." Every gracious soul stands in awe of the word of
|
|
God, of the authority of its precepts and the terror of its
|
|
threatenings; and to those that do so nothing appears, in the power and
|
|
wrath of man, at all formidable. We ought to obey God rather than men,
|
|
and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the
|
|
frowns of all the world,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:4,5">Luke xii. 4, 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the
|
|
temptations that arise from persecution.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_162"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The pleasure David took in the word of God. He rejoiced at it,
|
|
rejoiced that God had made such a discovery of his mind, that Israel
|
|
was blessed with that light when other nations sat in darkness, that he
|
|
was himself let into the understanding of it and had had experience of
|
|
the power of it. He took a pleasure in reading it, hearing it, and
|
|
meditating on it, and every thing he met with in it was agreeable to
|
|
him. He had just now said that his heart stood in awe of his word, and
|
|
yet here he declares that he rejoiced in it. The more reverence we have
|
|
for the word of God the more joy we shall find in it.
|
|
|
|
2. The degree of that pleasure--<I>as one that finds great spoil.</I>
|
|
This supposes a victory over the enemy. It is through much opposition
|
|
that a soul comes to this, to <I>rejoice in God's word.</I> But,
|
|
besides the pleasure and honour of a conquest, there is great advantage
|
|
gained by the plunder of the field, which adds much to the joy. By the
|
|
word of God we become more than conquerors, that is, unspeakable
|
|
gainers.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_163"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>163 I hate and abhor lying: <I>but</I> thy law do I love.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Love and hatred are the leading affections of the soul; if those be
|
|
fixed aright, the rest move accordingly. Here we have them fixed aright
|
|
in David.
|
|
|
|
1. He had a rooted antipathy to sin; he could not endure to think of
|
|
it: <I>I hate and abhor lying,</I> which may be taken for all sin,
|
|
inasmuch as by it we deal treacherously and perfidiously with God and
|
|
put a cheat upon ourselves. Hypocrisy is lying; false doctrine is
|
|
lying; breach of faith is lying. Lying, in commerce or conversation, is
|
|
a sin which every good man hates and abhors, hates and doubly hates,
|
|
because of the seven things which the Lord hates <I>one</I> is a
|
|
<I>lying tongue</I> and <I>another</I> is a <I>false witness that
|
|
speaks lies,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:16">Prov. vi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Every man hates to have a lie told him; but we should more hate telling
|
|
a lie because by the former we only receive an affront from men, by the
|
|
latter we give an affront to God.
|
|
|
|
2. He had a rooted affection to the word of God: <I>Thy law do I
|
|
love.</I> And therefore he abhorred lying, for lying is contrary to the
|
|
whole law of God; and the reason why he loved the law of God was
|
|
because of the truth of it. The more we see of the amiable beauty of
|
|
truth the more we shall see of the detestable deformity of a lie.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_164"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous
|
|
judgments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David, in this psalm, is full of complaints, yet those did neither
|
|
jostle out his praises nor put him out of tune for them; whatever
|
|
condition a child of God is in he does not want matter for praise and
|
|
therefore should not want a heart. See here,
|
|
|
|
1. How often David praised God--<I>Seven times a day,</I> that is,
|
|
very frequently, not only every day, but often every day. Many think
|
|
that once a week will serve, or once or twice a day, but David would
|
|
praise God seven times a day at least. Praising God is a duty which we
|
|
should very much abound in. We must praise God at every meal, praise
|
|
him upon all occasions, in every thing give thanks. We should praise
|
|
God seven times a day, for the subject can never be exhausted and our
|
|
affections should never be tired. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:62"><I>v.</I> 62</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. What he praised God for--<I>because of thy righteous judgments.</I>
|
|
We must praise God for his precepts, which are all just and good, for
|
|
his promises and threatenings and the performance of both in his
|
|
providence. We are to praise God even for our afflictions, if through
|
|
grace we get good by them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_165"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall
|
|
offend them.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is an account of the happiness of good men, who are governed by a
|
|
principle of love to the word of God, who make it their rule and are
|
|
ruled by it.
|
|
|
|
2. They are easy, and have a holy serenity; none enjoy themselves more
|
|
than they do: <I>Great peace have those that love thy law,</I> abundant
|
|
satisfaction in doing their duty and pleasure in reflecting upon it.
|
|
<I>The work of righteousness is peace</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:17">Isa. xxxii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
such peace as the world can neither give nor take away. They may be in
|
|
great troubles without and yet enjoy great peace within, <I>sat lucis
|
|
intus--abundance of internal light.</I> Those that love the world have
|
|
great vexation, for it does not answer their expectation; those that
|
|
love God's word have great peace, for it outdoes their expectation, and
|
|
in it they have sure footing.
|
|
|
|
2. They are safe, and have a holy security: <I>Nothing shall offend
|
|
them;</I> nothing shall be a scandal, snare, or stumbling-block, to
|
|
them, to entangle them either in guilt or grief. No event of providence
|
|
shall be either an invincible temptation or an intolerable affliction
|
|
to them, but their love to the word of God shall enable them both to
|
|
hold fast their integrity and to preserve their tranquility. They will
|
|
make the best of that which is, and not quarrel with any thing that God
|
|
does. Nothing shall offend or hurt them, for every thing shall work for
|
|
good to them, and therefore shall please them, and they shall reconcile
|
|
themselves to it. Those in whom this holy love reigns will not be apt
|
|
to perplex themselves with needless scruples, nor to take offence at
|
|
their brethren,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+13:6,7">1 Cor. xiii. 6, 7</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_166"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>166 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy
|
|
commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is the whole duty of man; for we are taught,
|
|
|
|
1. To keep our eye upon God's favour as our end: "<I>Lord, I have hoped
|
|
for thy salvation,</I> not only temporal but eternal salvation. I have
|
|
hoped for that as my happiness and laid up my treasure in it; I have
|
|
hoped for it as thine, as a happiness of thy preparing, thy promising,
|
|
and which consists in being with thee. Hope of this has raised me above
|
|
the world, and borne me up under all my burdens in it."
|
|
|
|
2. To keep our eye upon God's word as our rule: <I>I have done thy
|
|
commandments,</I> that is, I have made conscience of conforming myself
|
|
to thy will in every thing. Observe here how God has joined these two
|
|
together, and let no man put them asunder. We cannot, upon good
|
|
grounds, hope for God's salvation, unless we set ourselves to do his
|
|
commandments,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:14">Rev. xxii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
But those that sincerely endeavour to do his commandments ought to keep
|
|
up a good hope of the salvation; and that hope will both engage and
|
|
enlarge the heart in doing the commandments. The more lively the hope
|
|
is the more lively the obedience will be.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_167"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_168"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them
|
|
exceedingly.
|
|
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my
|
|
ways <I>are</I> before thee.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David's conscience here witnesses for him,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That his practices were good.
|
|
|
|
1. He loved God's testimonies, he loved them exceedingly. Our love to
|
|
the word of God must be a superlative love (we must love it better than
|
|
the wealth and pleasure of this world), and it must be a victorious
|
|
love, such as will subdue and mortify our lusts and extirpate carnal
|
|
affections.
|
|
|
|
2. He kept them, his soul kept them. Bodily exercise profits little in
|
|
religion; we must make heart-work of it or we make nothing of it. The
|
|
soul must be sanctified and renewed, and delivered into the mould of
|
|
the word; the soul must be employed in glorifying God, for he will be
|
|
worshipped in the spirit. We must keep both the precepts and the
|
|
testimonies, the commands of God by our obedience to them and his
|
|
promises by our reliance on them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That he was governed herein by a good principle: "<I>Therefore</I>
|
|
I have kept thy precepts, because by faith I have seen thy eye always
|
|
upon me; <I>all my ways are before thee;</I> thou knowest every step I
|
|
take and strictly observest all I say and do. Thou dost see and accept
|
|
all that I say and do well; thou dost see and art displeased with all I
|
|
say and do amiss." Note, The consideration of this, that God's eye is
|
|
upon us at all times, should make us very careful in every thing to
|
|
keep his commandments,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+17:1">Gen. xvii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_169"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_170"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec22"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=+1>22. TAU.</FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>169 Let my cry come near before thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: give me
|
|
understanding according to thy word.
|
|
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according
|
|
to thy word.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
I. A general petition for audience repeated: <I>Let my cry come near
|
|
before thee;</I> and again, <I>Let my supplication come before
|
|
thee.</I> He calls his prayer his <I>cry,</I> which denotes the
|
|
fervency and vehemence of it, and his <I>supplication,</I> which
|
|
denotes the humility of it. We must come to God as beggars come to our
|
|
doors for an alms. He is concerned that his prayer might come before
|
|
God, might come near before him, that is, that he might have grace and
|
|
strength by faith and fervency to lift up his prayers, that no guilt
|
|
might interpose to shut out his prayers and to separate between him and
|
|
God, and that God would graciously receive his prayers and take notice
|
|
of them. His prayer that his supplication might come before God implied
|
|
a deep sense of his unworthiness, and a holy fear that his prayer
|
|
should come short or miscarry, as not fit to come before God; nor would
|
|
any of out prayers have had access to God if Jesus Christ had not
|
|
approached to him as an advocate for us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Two particular requests, which he is thus earnest to present:--
|
|
|
|
1. That God, by his grace, would give him wisdom to conduct himself
|
|
well under his troubles: <I>Give me understanding;</I> he means that
|
|
wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way; "Give me to know
|
|
thee and myself, and my duty to thee."
|
|
|
|
2. That God, by his providence, would rescue him out of his troubles:
|
|
<I>Deliver me,</I> that is, with the temptation make a way to escape,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The same general plea to enforce these requests--<I>according to
|
|
thy word.</I> This directs and limits his desires: "Lord, give me such
|
|
an understanding as thou hast promised and such a deliverance as thou
|
|
hast promised; I ask for no other." It also encourages his faith and
|
|
expectation: "Lord, that which I pray for is what thou hast promised,
|
|
and wilt not thou be as good as thy word?"</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_171"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy
|
|
statutes.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. A great favour which David expects from God, that he will teach him
|
|
his <I>statutes.</I> This he had often prayed for in this psalm, and
|
|
urged his petition for it with various arguments; and now that he is
|
|
drawing towards the close of the psalm he speaks of it as taken for
|
|
granted. Those that are humbly earnest with God for his grace, and
|
|
resolve with Jacob that they will not let him go unless he bless them
|
|
with spiritual blessings, may be humbly confident that they shall at
|
|
length obtain what they are so importunate for. The God of Israel will
|
|
grant them those things which they request of him.
|
|
|
|
2. The grateful sense he promises to have of that favour: <I>My lips
|
|
shall utter praise when thou hast taught me.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Then he shall have cause to praise God. Those that are taught of
|
|
God have a great deal of reason to be thankful, for this is the
|
|
foundation of all these spiritual blessings, which are the best
|
|
blessings, and the earnest of eternal blessings.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Then he shall know how to praise God, and have a heart to do it.
|
|
All that are taught of God are taught this lesson; when God opens the
|
|
understanding, opens the heart, and so opens the lips, it is that the
|
|
mouth may show forth his praise. We have learned nothing to purpose if
|
|
we have not learned to praise God.
|
|
|
|
(3.) <I>Therefore</I> he is thus importunate for divine instructions,
|
|
that he might praise God. Those that pray for God's grace must aim at
|
|
God's glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:12">Eph. i. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_172"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments
|
|
<I>are</I> righteousness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. The good knowledge David had of the word of God; he knew it so well
|
|
that he was ready to own, with the utmost satisfaction, that all God's
|
|
commandments are not only righteous, but righteousness itself, the rule
|
|
and standard of righteousness.
|
|
|
|
2. The good use he resolved to make of that knowledge: <I>My tongue
|
|
shall speak of thy word,</I> not only utter praise for it to the glory
|
|
of God, but discourse of it for the instruction and edification of
|
|
others, as that which he himself was full of (for out of the abundance
|
|
of the heart the mouth will speak) and as that which he desired others
|
|
also might be filled with. The more we see of the righteousness of
|
|
God's commandments the more industrious we should be to bring others
|
|
acquainted with them, that they may be ruled by them. We should always
|
|
make the word of God the governor of our discourse, so as never to
|
|
transgress it by sinful speaking or sinful silence; and we should often
|
|
make it the subject-matter of our discourse, that it may feed many and
|
|
<I>minister grace to the hearers.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_173"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_174"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
|
|
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and thy law <I>is</I>
|
|
my delight.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. David prays that divine grace would work for him: <I>Let thy hand
|
|
help me.</I> He finds his own hands are not sufficient for him, nor can
|
|
any creature lend him a helping hand to any purpose; therefore he looks
|
|
up to God in hopes that the hand that had made him would help him; for,
|
|
if the Lord do not help us, whence can any creature help us? All our
|
|
help must be expected from God's hand, from his power and his bounty.
|
|
|
|
2. He pleads what divine grace had already wrought in him as a pledge
|
|
of further mercy, being a qualification for it. Three things he
|
|
pleads:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he had made religion his serious and deliberate choice: "<I>I
|
|
have chosen thy precepts.</I> I took them for my rule, not because I
|
|
knew no other, but because, upon trial, I knew no better." Those are
|
|
good, and do good indeed, who are good and do good, not by chance, but
|
|
from choice; and those who have thus chosen God's precepts may depend
|
|
upon God's helping hand in all their services and under all their
|
|
sufferings.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That his heart was upon heaven: <I>I have longed for thy
|
|
salvation.</I> David, when he had got to the throne, met with enough in
|
|
the world to court his stay, and to make him say, "It is good to be
|
|
here;" but still he was looking further, and longing for something
|
|
better in another world. There is an eternal salvation which all the
|
|
saints are longing for, and therefore pray that God's hand would help
|
|
them forward in their way to it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That he took pleasure in doing his duty: "<I>Thy law is my
|
|
delight.</I> Not only I delight in it, but it is my delight, the
|
|
greatest delight I have in this world." Those that are cheerful in
|
|
their obedience may in faith beg help of God to carry them on in their
|
|
obedience; and those that expect God's salvation must take delight in
|
|
his law and their hopes must increase their delight.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_175"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy
|
|
judgments help me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David's heart is still upon praising God; and therefore,
|
|
|
|
1. He prays that God would give him time to praise him: "<I>Let my soul
|
|
live, and it shall praise thee,</I> that is, let my life be prolonged,
|
|
that I may live to thy glory." The reason why a good man desires to
|
|
live is that he may praise God in the land of the living, and do
|
|
something to his honour. Not, "Let me live and serve my country, live
|
|
and provide for my family;" but, "Let me live that, in doing this, I
|
|
may praise God here in this world of conflict and opposition." When we
|
|
die we hope to go to a better world to praise him, and that is more
|
|
agreeable for us, though here there is more need of us. And therefore
|
|
one would not desire to live any longer than we may do God some service
|
|
here. <I>Let my soul live,</I> that is, let me be sanctified and
|
|
comforted, for sanctification and comfort are the life of the soul,
|
|
<I>and</I> then <I>it shall praise thee.</I> Our souls must be employed
|
|
in praising God, and we must pray for grace and peace that we may be
|
|
fitted to praise God.
|
|
|
|
2. He prays that God would give him strength to praise him: "<I>Let thy
|
|
judgments help me;</I> let all ordinances and all providences" (both
|
|
are God's judgments) "further me in glorifying God; let them be the
|
|
matter of my praise and let them help to fit me for that work."</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps119_176"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for
|
|
I do not forget thy commandments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. A penitent confession: <I>I have gone astray,</I> or wander up and
|
|
down, <I>like a lost sheep.</I> As unconverted sinners are like lost
|
|
sheep
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:4">Luke xv. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
so weak unsteady saints are like lost sheep,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:12,13">Matt. xviii. 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
We are apt to wander like sheep, and very unapt, when we have gone
|
|
astray, to find the way again. By going astray we lose the comfort of
|
|
the green pastures and expose ourselves to a thousand mischiefs.
|
|
|
|
2. A believing petition: <I>Seek thy servant,</I> as the good shepherd
|
|
seeks a wandering sheep to bring it back again,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+34:12">Ezek. xxxiv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Lord, seek me, as I used to seek my sheep when they went astray;" for
|
|
David had been himself a tender shepherd. "Lord, own me for one of
|
|
thine; for, though I am a stray sheep, I have thy mark; concern thyself
|
|
for me, send after me by the word, and conscience, and providences;
|
|
bring me back by thy grace." <I>Seek me,</I> that is, <I>find me;</I>
|
|
for God never seeks in vain. <I>Turn me, and I shall be turned.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. An obedient plea: "Though I have gone astray, yet I have not
|
|
wickedly departed, <I>I do not forget thy commandments.</I>" Thus he
|
|
concludes the psalm with a penitent sense of his own sin and believing
|
|
dependence on God's grace. With these a devout Christian will conclude
|
|
his duties, will conclude his life; he will live and die repenting and
|
|
praying. Observe here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is the character of good people that they do not <I>forget
|
|
God's commandments,</I> being well pleased with their convictions and
|
|
well settled in their resolutions.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Even those who, through grace, are mindful of their duty, cannot
|
|
but own that they have in many instances wandered from it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those that have wandered from their duty, if they continue mindful
|
|
of it, may with a humble confidence commit themselves to the care of
|
|
God's grace.</P>
|
|
|
|
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