mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 13.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xiv" n="xiv" next="Ps.xv" prev="Ps.xiii" progress="25.77%" title="Chapter XIII">
<h2 id="Ps.xiv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xiv-p0.2">PSALM XIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xiv-p1">This psalm is the deserted soul's case and cure.
Whether it was penned upon any particular occasion does not appear,
but in general, I. David sadly complains that God had long
withdrawn from him and delayed to relieve him, <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.1-Ps.13.2" parsed="|Ps|13|1|13|2" passage="Ps 13:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. He earnestly prays to God to
consider his case and comfort him, <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.3-Ps.13.4" parsed="|Ps|13|3|13|4" passage="Ps 13:3,4">ver. 3, 4</scripRef>. III. He assures himself of an
answer of peace, and therefore concludes the psalm with joy and
triumph, because he concludes his deliverance to be as good as
wrought, <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.5-Ps.13.6" parsed="|Ps|13|5|13|6" passage="Ps 13:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13" parsed="|Ps|13|0|0|0" passage="Ps 13" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.1-Ps.13.6" parsed="|Ps|13|1|13|6" passage="Ps 13:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.13.1-Ps.13.6">
<h4 id="Ps.xiv-p1.6">David's Complaints and Prayers Turned into
Praises.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xiv-p1.7">
<p id="Ps.xiv-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xiv-p3">1 How long wilt thou forget me, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xiv-p3.1">O Lord</span>? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy
face from me?   2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
<i>having</i> sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy
be exalted over me?   3 Consider <i>and</i> hear me, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xiv-p3.2">O Lord</span> my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I
sleep the <i>sleep of</i> death;   4 Lest mine enemy say, I
have prevailed against him; <i>and</i> those that trouble me
rejoice when I am moved.   5 But I have trusted in thy mercy;
my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.   6 I will sing unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xiv-p3.3">Lord</span>, because he hath dealt
bountifully with me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p4">David, in affliction, is here pouring out
his soul before God; his address is short, but the method is very
observable, and of use for direction and encouragement.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p5">I. His troubles extort complaints
(<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.1-Ps.13.2" parsed="|Ps|13|1|13|2" passage="Ps 13:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>); and the
afflicted have liberty to <i>pour out their complaint before the
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.1" parsed="|Ps|102|1|0|0" passage="Ps 102:1">Ps. cii.</scripRef>
<i>title.</i> It is some ease to a troubled spirit to give vent to
its griefs, especially to give vent to them at the throne of grace,
where we are sure to find one who is afflicted in the afflictions
of his people and is troubled with the feeling of their
infirmities; thither we have boldness of access by faith, and there
we have <b><i>parresia</i></b>—<i>freedom of speech.</i> Observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p6">1. What David complains of. (1.) God's
unkindness; so he construed it, and it was his infirmity. He
thought God had forgotten him, had forgotten his promises to him,
his covenant with him, his former lovingkindness which he had shown
him and which he took to be an earnest of further mercy, had
forgotten that there was such a man in the world, who needed and
expected relief and succour from him. Thus Zion said, <i>My God has
forgotten me</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.49.14" parsed="|Isa|49|14|0|0" passage="Isa 49:14">Isa. xlix.
14</scripRef>), Israel said, <i>My way is hidden from the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.27" parsed="|Isa|40|27|0|0" passage="Isa 40:27">Isa. xl. 27</scripRef>. Not that any
good man can doubt the omniscience, goodness, and faithfulness of
God; but it is a peevish expression of prevailing fear, which yet,
when it arises from a high esteem and earnest desire of God's
favour, though it be indecent and culpable, shall be passed by and
pardoned, for the second thought will retract it and repent of it.
God hid his face from him, so that he wanted that inward comfort in
God which he used to have, and herein was a type of Christ upon the
cross, crying out, <i>My God, why hast thou forsaken me?</i> God
sometimes hides his face from his own children, and leaves them in
the dark concerning their interest in him; and this they lay to
heart more than any outward trouble whatsoever. (2.) His own
uneasiness. [1.] He was racked with care, which filled his head:
<i>I take counsel in my soul;</i> "I am at a loss, and am <i>inops
consilii—without a friend to advise with</i> that I can put any
confidence in, and therefore am myself continually projecting what
to do to help myself; but none of my projects are likely to take
effect, so that I am at my wits' end, and in a continual
agitation." Anxious cares are heavy burdens with which good people
often load themselves more than they need. [2.] He was overwhelmed
with sorrow, which filled his heart: <i>I have sorrow in my heart
daily.</i> He had a constant disposition to sorrow and it preyed
upon his spirits, not only in the night, when he was silent and
solitary, but by day too, when lighter griefs are diverted and
dissipated by conversation and business; nay, every day brought
with it fresh occasions of grief; <i>the clouds returned after the
rain.</i> The bread of sorrow is sometimes the saint's daily bread.
Our Master himself was a man of sorrows. (3.) His enemies'
insolence, which added to his grief. Saul his great enemy, and
others under him, were exalted over him, triumphed in his distress,
pleased themselves with his grief, and promised themselves a
complete victory over him. This he complained of as reflecting
dishonour upon God, and his power and promise.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p7">2. How he expostulates with God hereupon:
"<i>How long</i> shall it be thus?" And, "Shall it be thus <i>for
ever?</i>" Long afflictions try our patience and often tire it. It
is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think it will
last always; despondency then turns into despair, and those that
have long been without joy begin, at last, to be without hope.
"Lord, tell me how long thou wilt hide thy face, and assure me that
it shall not be for ever, but that thou wilt return at length in
mercy to me, and then I shall the more easily bear my present
troubles."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p8">II. His complaints stir up his prayers,
<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.3-Ps.13.4" parsed="|Ps|13|3|13|4" passage="Ps 13:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. We should
never allow ourselves to make any complaints but what are fit to be
offered up to God and what drive us to our knees. Observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p9">1. What his petitions are: <i>Consider</i>
my case, <i>hear</i> my complaints, and <i>enlighten my eyes,</i>
that is, (1.) "Strengthen my faith;" for faith is the eye of the
soul, with which it sees above, and sees through, the things of
sense. "Lord, enable me to look beyond my present troubles and to
foresee a happy issue of them." (2.) "Guide my way; enable me to
look about me, that I may avoid the snares which are laid for me."
(3.) "Refresh my soul with the joy of thy salvation." That which
revives the drooping spirits is said to <i>enlighten the eyes,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.27 Bible:Ezra.9.8" parsed="|1Sam|14|27|0|0;|Ezra|9|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:27,Ezr 9:8">1 Sam. xiv. 27; Ezra ix.
8</scripRef>. "Lord, scatter the cloud of melancholy which darkens
my eyes, and let my countenance be made pleasant."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p10">2. What his pleas are. He mentions his
relation to God and interest in him (<i>O Lord my God!</i>) and
insists upon the greatness of the peril, which called for speedy
relief and succour. If his eyes were not enlightened quickly, (1.)
He concludes that he must perish: "I shall <i>sleep the sleep of
death;</i> I cannot live under the weight of all this care and
grief." Nothing is more killing to a soul then the want of God's
favour, nothing more reviving than the return of it. (2.) That then
his enemies would triumph: "<i>Lest my enemy say,</i> So would I
have it; lest Saul, lest Satan, be gratified in my fall." It would
gratify the pride of his enemy: He will say, "<i>I have
prevailed,</i> I have gotten the day, and been too hard for him and
his God." It would gratify the malice of his enemies: They will
<i>rejoice when I am moved.</i> And will it be for God's honour to
suffer them thus to trample upon all that is sacred both in heaven
and earth?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p11">III. His prayers are soon turned into
praises (<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.5-Ps.13.6" parsed="|Ps|13|5|13|6" passage="Ps 13:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>):
But <i>my heart shall rejoice and I will sing to the Lord.</i> What
a surprising change is here in a few lines! In the beginning of the
psalm we have him drooping, trembling, and ready to sink into
melancholy and despair; but, in the close of it, rejoicing in God,
and elevated and enlarged in his praises. See the power of faith,
the power of prayer, and how good it is to draw near to God. If we
bring our cares and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them
there, we may go away like Hannah, and our <i>countenance will be
no more sad,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.1.18" parsed="|1Sam|1|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 1:18">1 Sam. i.
18</scripRef>. And here observe the method of his comfort. 1. God's
mercy is the support of his faith. "My case is bad enough, and I am
ready to think it deplorable, till I consider the infinite goodness
of God; but, finding I have that to trust to, I am comforted,
though I have no merit of my own. In former distresses <i>I have
trusted in the mercy of God,</i> and I never found that it failed
me; his mercy has in due time relieved me and my confidence in it
has in the mean time supported me. Even in the depth of this
distress, when God hid his face from me, when without were
fightings and within were fears, yet <i>I trusted in the mercy of
God</i> and that was as an anchor in a storm, by the help of which,
though I was tossed, I was not overset." And still <i>I do trust in
thy mercy;</i> so some read it. "I refer myself to that, with an
assurance that it will do well for me at last." This he pleads with
God, knowing what pleasure he takes <i>in those that hope in his
mercy,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.11" parsed="|Ps|147|11|0|0" passage="Ps 147:11">Ps. cxlvii. 11</scripRef>.
2. His faith in God's mercy filled his heart with <i>joy in his
salvation;</i> for joy and peace come <i>by believing,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.13" parsed="|Rom|15|13|0|0" passage="Ro 15:13">Rom. xv. 13</scripRef>. <i>Believing,
you rejoice,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.8" parsed="|1Pet|1|8|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:8">1 Pet. i.
8</scripRef>. Having put his trust in the mercy of God, he is fully
assured of salvation, and that his heart, which was now daily
grieving, should <i>rejoice in that salvation.</i> Though weeping
endure long, joy will return. 3. His joy in God's salvation would
fill his mouth with songs of praise (<scripRef id="Ps.xiv-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.6" parsed="|Ps|13|6|0|0" passage="Ps 13:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): "<i>I will sing unto the
Lord,</i> sing in remembrance of what he has done formerly; though
I should never recover the peace I have had, I will die blessing
God that ever I had it. He has dealt bountifully with me formerly,
and he shall have the glory of that, however he is pleased to deal
with me now. I will sing in hope of what he will do for me at last,
being confident that all will end well, will end everlastingly
well." But he speaks of it as a thing past <i>(He has dealt
bountifully with me</i>), because by faith he had received the
earnest of the salvation and he was as confident of it as if it had
been done already.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xiv-p12">In singing this psalm and praying it over,
if we have not the same complaints to make that David had, we must
thank God that we have not, dread and deprecate his withdrawings,
sympathize with those that are troubled in mind, and encourage
ourselves in our most holy faith and joy.</p>
</div></div2>