mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 31.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxxii" n="xxxii" next="Ps.xxxiii" prev="Ps.xxxi" progress="31.30%" title="Chapter XXXI">
<h2 id="Ps.xxxii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxxii-p0.2">PSALM XXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxxii-p1">It is probable that David penned this psalm when
he was persecuted by Saul; some passages in it agree particularly
to the narrow escapes he had, at Keilah (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.13" parsed="|1Sam|23|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:13">1 Sam. xxiii. 13</scripRef>), then in the wilderness of
Maon, when Saul marched on one side of the hill and he on the
other, and, soon after, in the cave in the wilderness of En-gedi;
but that it was penned upon any of those occasions we are not told.
It is a mixture of prayers, and praises, and professions of
confidence in God, all which do well together and are helpful to
one another. I. David professes his cheerful confidence in God,
and, in that confidence, prays for deliverance out of his present
troubles, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1-Ps.31.8" parsed="|Ps|31|1|31|8" passage="Ps 31:1-8">ver. 1-8</scripRef>. II. He
complains of the very deplorable condition he was in, and, in the
sense of his calamities, still prays that God would graciously
appear for him against his persecutors, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.9-Ps.31.18" parsed="|Ps|31|9|31|18" passage="Ps 31:9-18">ver. 9-18</scripRef>. III. He concludes the psalm with
praise and triumph, giving glory to God, and encouraging himself
and others to trust in him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.19-Ps.31.24" parsed="|Ps|31|19|31|24" passage="Ps 31:19-24">ver.
19-24</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31" parsed="|Ps|31|0|0|0" passage="Ps 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxxii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1-Ps.31.8" parsed="|Ps|31|1|31|8" passage="Ps 31:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.31.1-Ps.31.8">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxii-p1.7">Prayer for Deliverance; Profession of
Confidence in God.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xxxii-p1.8">
<p id="Ps.xxxii-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxii-p3">1 In thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p3.1">O
Lord</span>, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me
in thy righteousness.   2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me
speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save
me.   3 For thou <i>art</i> my rock and my fortress; therefore
for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.   4 Pull me out of
the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou <i>art</i> my
strength.   5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast
redeemed me, O <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p3.2">Lord</span> God of truth.
  6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust
in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p3.3">Lord</span>.   7 I will be glad
and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou
hast known my soul in adversities;   8 And hast not shut me up
into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large
room.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p4">Faith and prayer must go together. He that
believes, let him pray—<i>I believe, therefore I have spoken:</i>
and he that prays, let him believe, for the prayer of faith is the
prevailing prayer. We have both here.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p5">I. David, in distress, is very earnest with
God in prayer for succour and relief. This eases a burdened spirit,
fetches in promised mercies, and wonderfully supports and comforts
the soul in the expectation of them. He prays, 1. That God would
deliver him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1" parsed="|Ps|31|1|0|0" passage="Ps 31:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
that his life might be preserved from the malice of his enemies,
and that an end might be put to their persecutions of him, that
God, not only in his mercy, but in righteousness, would deliver
him, as a righteous Judge betwixt him and his unrighteous
persecutors, that he would bow down his ear to his petitions, to
his appeals, and deliver him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.2" parsed="|Ps|31|2|0|0" passage="Ps 31:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. It is condescension in God to take cognizance of the
case of the greatest and best of men; he humbles himself to do it.
The psalmist prays also that he would deliver him speedily, lest,
if the deliverance were long deferred, his faith should fail. 2.
That if he did not immediately deliver him out of his troubles, yet
he would protect and shelter him in his troubles; "<i>Be thou my
strong rock,</i> immovable, impregnable, as a fastness framed by
nature, and my <i>house of defence,</i> a fortress framed by art,
and all <i>to save me.</i>" Thus we may pray that God's providence
would secure to us our lives and comforts, and that by his grace we
may be enabled to think ourselves safe in him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.18.10" parsed="|Prov|18|10|0|0" passage="Pr 18:10">Prov. xviii. 10</scripRef>. 3. That his case having much
in it of difficulty, both in respect of duty and in respect of
prudence, he might be under the divine guidance: "<i>Lord, lead me
and guide me</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.3" parsed="|Ps|31|3|0|0" passage="Ps 31:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), so order my steps, so order my spirit, that I may
never do any thing unlawful and unjustifiable—against my
conscience, nor unwise and indiscreet—against my interest." Those
that resolve to follow God's direction may in faith pray for it. 4.
That his enemies being very crafty, as well as very spiteful, God
would frustrate and baffle their designs against him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.4" parsed="|Ps|31|4|0|0" passage="Ps 31:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): "<i>Pull me out of the
net that they have laid privily for me,</i> and keep me from the
sin, the trouble, the death, they aim to entrap me in."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p6">II. In this prayer he gives glory to God by
a repeated profession of his confidence in him and dependence on
him. This encouraged his prayers and qualified him for the mercies
he prayed for (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1" parsed="|Ps|31|1|0|0" passage="Ps 31:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>):
"<i>In thee, O Lord! do I put my trust,</i> and not in myself, or
any sufficiency of my own, or in any creature; <i>let me never be
ashamed,</i> let me not be disappointed of any of that good which
thou hast promised me and which therefore I have promised myself in
thee." 1. He had chosen God for his protector, and God had, by his
promise, undertaken to be so (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.3" parsed="|Ps|31|3|0|0" passage="Ps 31:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): "<i>Thou art my rock and my fortress,</i> by thy
covenant with me and my believing consent to that covenant;
therefore <i>be my strong rock,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.2" parsed="|Ps|31|2|0|0" passage="Ps 31:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Those that have in sincerity
avouched the Lord for theirs may expect the benefit of his being
so; for God's relations to us carry with them both name and thing.
<i>Thou art my strength,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.4" parsed="|Ps|31|4|0|0" passage="Ps 31:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. If God be our strength, we may hope that he will both
put his strength in us and put forth his strength for us. 2. He
gave up his soul in a special manner to him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.5" parsed="|Ps|31|5|0|0" passage="Ps 31:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>Into thy hands I commit my
spirit.</i> (1.) If David here looks upon himself as a dying man,
by these words he resigns his departing soul to God who gave it,
and to whom, at death, the spirit returns. "Men can but kill the
body, but I trust in God to <i>redeem my soul from the power of the
grave,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.49.15" parsed="|Ps|49|15|0|0" passage="Ps 49:15">Ps. xlix. 15</scripRef>.
He is willing to die if God will have it so; but let my soul
<i>fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great.</i>
With these words our Lord Jesus yielded up the ghost upon the
cross, and made his soul an offering, a free-will offering for sin,
voluntarily laying down his life a ransom. By Stephen's example we
are taught in, our dying moment, to eye Christ at God's right hand,
and to commit our spirits to him: <i>Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.</i> But, 2. David is here to be looked upon as a man in
distress and trouble. And, [1.] His great care is about his soul,
his spirit, his better part. Note, Our outward afflictions should
increase our concern for our souls. Many think that while they are
perplexed about their worldly affairs, and Providence multiplies
their cares about them, they may be excused if they neglect their
souls; whereas the greater hazard our lives and secular interests
lie at the more we are concerned to look to our souls, that, though
the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no damage
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.4.16" parsed="|2Cor|4|16|0|0" passage="2Co 4:16">2 Cor. iv. 16</scripRef>), and that
we may keep possession of our souls when we can keep possession of
nothing else, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.19" parsed="|Luke|21|19|0|0" passage="Lu 21:19">Luke xxi. 19</scripRef>.
[2.] He thinks the best he can do for the soul is to commit it into
the hand of God, and lodge that great trust with him. He had prayed
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.4" parsed="|Ps|31|4|0|0" passage="Ps 31:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>) to be plucked
out of the net of outward trouble, but, as not insisting upon that
(God's will be done), he immediately lets fall that petition, and
commits the spirit, the inward man, into God's hand. "Lord, however
it goes with me, as to my body, let it go well with my soul." Note,
It is the wisdom and duty of every one of us solemnly to commit our
spirits into the hands of God, to be sanctified by his grace,
devoted to his honour, employed in his service, and fitted for his
kingdom. That which encourages us to commit our spirits into the
hand of God is that he has not only created, but redeemed, them;
the particular redemptions of the Old-Testament church and the
Old-Testament saints were typical of our redemption by Jesus
Christ, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.10" osisRef="Bible:Gen.48.16" parsed="|Gen|48|16|0|0" passage="Ge 48:16">Gen. xlviii. 16</scripRef>.
The redemption of the soul is so precious that it must have ceased
for ever if Christ had not undertaken it; but, by redeeming our
souls, he has not only acquired an additional right and title to
them, which obliges us to commit them to him as his own, but has
shown the extraordinary kindness and concern he has for them, which
encourages us to commit them to him, to be preserved to his
heavenly kingdom (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p6.11" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.1.12" parsed="|2Tim|1|12|0|0" passage="2Ti 1:12">2 Tim. i.
12</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth!</i>
redeem me according to a promise which thou wilt be true to."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p7">III. He disclaimed all confederacy with
those that made an arm of flesh their confidence (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.6" parsed="|Ps|31|6|0|0" passage="Ps 31:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>I have hated those
that regard lying vanities</i>—idolaters (to some), who expect aid
from false gods, which are vanity and a lie—astrologers, and those
that give heed to them, so others. David abhorred the use of
enchantments and divinations; he consulted not, nor even took
notice of, the flight of birds or entrails of beasts, good omens or
bad omens; they are lying vanities, and he not only did not regard
them himself, but hated the wickedness of those that did. He
trusted in God only, and not in any creature. His interest in the
court or country, his retreats or strongholds, even Goliath's sword
itself—these were lying vanities, which he could not depend upon,
but trusted in the Lord only. See <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.4 Bible:Jer.17.5" parsed="|Ps|40|4|0|0;|Jer|17|5|0|0" passage="Ps 40:4,Jer 17:5">Ps. xl. 4; Jer. xvii. 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p8">IV. He comforted himself with his hope in
God, and made himself, not only easy, but cheerful, with it,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.7" parsed="|Ps|31|7|0|0" passage="Ps 31:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Having relied
on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it; and those know
not how to value their hope in God who cannot find joy enough in
that hope to counterbalance their grievances and silence their
griefs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p9">V. He encouraged himself in this hope with
the experiences he had had of late, and formerly, of God's goodness
to him, which he mentions to the glory of God; he that has
delivered doth and will. 1. God had taken notice of his afflictions
and all the circumstances of them: "<i>Thou hast considered my
trouble,</i> with wisdom to suit relief to it, with condescension
and compassion regarding the low estate of they servant." 2. He had
observed the temper of his spirit and the workings of his heart
under his afflictions: "<i>Thou hast known my soul in
adversities,</i> with a tender concern and care for it." God's eye
is upon our souls when we are in trouble, to see whether they be
humbled for sin, submissive to the will of God, and bettered by the
affliction. If the soul, when cast down under affliction, has been
lifted up to him in true devotion, he knows it. 3. He had rescued
him out of the hands of Saul when he had him safe enough in Keilah
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.7" parsed="|1Sam|23|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:7">1 Sam. xxiii. 7</scripRef>): "<i>Thou
hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy,</i> but set me at
liberty, in a <i>large room,</i> where I may shift for my own
safety," <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.8" parsed="|Ps|31|8|0|0" passage="Ps 31:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
Christ's using those words (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.5" parsed="|Ps|31|5|0|0" passage="Ps 31:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>) upon the cross may warrant us to apply all this to
Christ, who trusted in his Father and was supported and delivered
by him, and (because he humbled himself) highly exalted, which it
is proper to think of when we sing <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1-Ps.31.8" parsed="|Ps|31|1|31|8" passage="Ps 31:1-8">these verses</scripRef>, as also therein to acknowledge
the experience we have had of God's gracious presence with us in
our troubles and to encourage ourselves to trust in him for the
future.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.9-Ps.31.18" parsed="|Ps|31|9|31|18" passage="Ps 31:9-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.31.9-Ps.31.18">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxii-p9.6">Sorrowful Complaints; Humble and Believing
Prayer.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxii-p10">9 Have mercy upon me, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p10.1">O
Lord</span>, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief,
<i>yea,</i> my soul and my belly.   10 For my life is spent
with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because
of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.   11 I was a
reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my
neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me
without fled from me.   12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of
mind: I am like a broken vessel.   13 For I have heard the
slander of many: fear <i>was</i> on every side: while they took
counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
  14 But I trusted in thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p10.2">O
Lord</span>: I said, Thou <i>art</i> my God.   15 My times
<i>are</i> in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,
and from them that persecute me.   16 Make thy face to shine
upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.   17 Let me
not be ashamed, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p10.3">O Lord</span>; for I have
called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, <i>and</i> let them be
silent in the grave.   18 Let the lying lips be put to
silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously
against the righteous.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p11">In the <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.1-Ps.31.8" parsed="|Ps|31|1|31|8" passage="Ps 31:1-8">foregoing verses</scripRef> David had appealed to God's
righteousness, and pleaded his relation to him and dependence on
him; here he appeals to his mercy, and pleads the greatness of his
own misery, which made his case the proper object of that mercy.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p12">I. The complaint he makes of his trouble
and distress (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.9" parsed="|Ps|31|9|0|0" passage="Ps 31:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>):
"<i>Have mercy upon me, O Lord! for I am in trouble,</i> and need
thy mercy." The remembrance he makes of his condition is not much
unlike some even of Job's complaints. 1. His troubles had fixed a
very deep impression upon his mind and made him a man of sorrows.
So great was his grief that his very soul was consumed with it, and
his life spent with it, and he was continually sighing, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.9-Ps.31.10" parsed="|Ps|31|9|31|10" passage="Ps 31:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. Herein he was a
type of Christ,—who was intimately acquainted with grief and often
in tears. We may guess by David's complexion, which was ruddy and
sanguine, by his genius for music, and by his daring enterprises in
his early days, that his natural disposition was both cheerful and
firm, that he was apt to be cheerful, and not to lay trouble to his
heart; yet here we see what he is brought to: he has almost wept
out his eyes, and sighed away his breath. Let those that are airy
and gay take heed of running into extremes, and never set sorrow at
defiance; God can find out ways to make them melancholy if they
will not otherwise learn to be serious. 2. His body was afflicted
with the sorrows of his mind (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.10" parsed="|Ps|31|10|0|0" passage="Ps 31:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>My strength fails, my bones
are consumed,</i> and all <i>because of my iniquity.</i> As to
Saul, and the quarrel he had with him, he could confidently insist
upon his righteousness; but, as it was an affliction God laid upon
him, he owns he had deserved it, and freely confesses his iniquity
to have been the procuring cause of all his trouble; and the sense
of sin touched him to the quick and wasted him more than all his
calamities. 3. His friends were unkind and became shy of him. He
was <i>a fear to his acquaintance,</i> when they saw him they
<i>fled from him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.11" parsed="|Ps|31|11|0|0" passage="Ps 31:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. They durst not harbour him nor give him any
assistance, durst not show him any countenance, nor so much as be
seen in his company, for fear of being brought into trouble by it,
now that Saul had proclaimed him a traitor and outlawed him. They
saw how dearly Ahimelech the priest had paid for aiding and
abetting him, though ignorantly; and therefore, though they could
not but own he had a great deal of wrong done him, yet they had not
the courage to appear for him. He was forgotten by them, <i>as a
dead man out of mind</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.12" parsed="|Ps|31|12|0|0" passage="Ps 31:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), and looked upon with contempt <i>as a broken
vessel.</i> Those that showed him all possible respect when he was
in honour at court, now that he had fallen into disgrace, though
unjustly, were strange to him. Such swallow-friends the world is
full of, that are gone in winter. Let those that fall on the losing
side not think it strange if they be thus deserted, but make sure a
friend in heaven, that will not fail them, and make use of him. 4.
His enemies were unjust in their censures of him. They would not
have persecuted him as they did if they had not first represented
him as a bad man; he was a <i>reproach among all his enemies, but
especially among his neighbours,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.11" parsed="|Ps|31|11|0|0" passage="Ps 31:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Those that had been the
witnesses of his integrity, and could not but be convinced in their
consciences that he was an honest man, were the most forward to
represent him quite otherwise, that they might curry favour with
Saul. Thus he <i>heard the slander of many;</i> every one had a
stone to throw at him, because <i>fear was in every side;</i> that
is, they durst not do otherwise, for he that would not join with
his neighbours to accuse David was looked upon as disaffected to
Saul. Thus the best of men have been represented under the worst
characters by those that resolved to give them the worst treatment.
5. His life was aimed at and he went in continual peril of it. Fear
was on every side, and he knew that, whatever counsel his enemies
took against him, the design was not to take away his liberty, but
to take away his life (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.13" parsed="|Ps|31|13|0|0" passage="Ps 31:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), a life so valuable, so useful, to the good services
of which all Israel owed so much, and which was never forfeited.
Thus, in all the plots of the Pharisees and Herodians against
Christ, still the design was to take away his life, such are the
enmity and cruelty of the serpent's seed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p13">II. His confidence in God in the midst of
these troubles. Every thing looked black and dismal round about
him, and threatened to drive him to despair: "<i>But I trusted in
thee, O Lord!</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.14" parsed="|Ps|31|14|0|0" passage="Ps 31:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>) and was thereby kept from sinking." His enemies
robbed him of his reputation among men, but they could not rob him
of his comfort in God, because they could not drive him from his
confidence in God. Two things he comforted himself with in his
straits, and he went to God and pleaded them with him:—1.
"<i>Thou art my God;</i> I have chosen thee for mine, and thou hast
promised to be mine;" and, if he be ours and we can by faith call
him so, it is enough, when we can call nothing else ours. "Thou art
my God; and therefore to whom shall I go for relief but to thee?"
Those need not be straitened in their prayers who can plead this;
for, if God undertake to be our God, he will do that for us which
will answer the compass and vast extent of the engagement. 2. <i>My
times are in thy hand.</i> Join this with the former and it makes
the comfort complete. If God have our times in his hand, he can
help us; and, if he be our God, he will help us; and then what can
discourage us? It is a great support to those who have God for
their God that their times are in his hand and he will be sure to
order and dispose of them for the best, to all those who commit
their spirits also into his hand, to suit them to their times, as
David here, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.5" parsed="|Ps|31|5|0|0" passage="Ps 31:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. The
time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, embitter or
sweeten, as he pleases, according to the counsel of his will. Our
times (all events that concern us, and the timing of them) are at
God's disposal; they are not in our own hands, for the way of man
is not in himself, not in our friends' hands, nor in our enemies'
hands, but in God's; <i>every man's judgment proceedeth from
him.</i> David does not, in his prayers, prescribe to God, but
subscribe to him. "Lord, my times are in thy hand, and I am well
pleased that they are so; they could not be in a better hand. Thy
will be done."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p14">III. His petitions to God, in this faith
and confidence, 1. He prays that God would deliver him out of the
hand of his enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.15" parsed="|Ps|31|15|0|0" passage="Ps 31:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>), and save him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.16" parsed="|Ps|31|16|0|0" passage="Ps 31:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), and this for his mercies'
sake, and not for any merit of his own. Our opportunities are in
God's hand (so some read it), and therefore he knows how to choose
the best and fittest time for our deliverance, and we must be
willing to wait that time. When David had Saul at his mercy in the
cave those about him said, "<i>This is the time</i> in which God
will deliver thee," <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.4" parsed="|1Sam|24|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:4">1 Sam. xxiv.
4</scripRef>. "No," says David, "the time has not come for my
deliverance till it can be wrought without sin; and I will wait for
that time; for it is God's time, and that is the best time." 2.
That God would give him the comfort of his favour in the mean time
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.16" parsed="|Ps|31|16|0|0" passage="Ps 31:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): "<i>Make
thy face to shine upon thy servant;</i> let me have the
comfortable tokens and evidences of thy favour to me, and that
shall put gladness in my heart in the midst of all my griefs." 3.
That his prayers to God might be answered and his hopes in God
accomplished (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.17" parsed="|Ps|31|17|0|0" passage="Ps 31:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>): "<i>Let me not be ashamed</i> of my hopes and
prayers, <i>for I have called upon thee,</i> who never saidst to
thy people, Seek in vain, and hope in vain." 4. That shame and
silence might be the portion of wicked people, and particularly of
his enemies. They were confident of their success against David,
and that they should run him down and ruin him. "Lord," says he,
"let them be made ashamed of that confidence by the disappointment
of their expectations," as those that opposed the building of the
wall about Jerusalem, when it was finished, were <i>much cast down
in their own eye,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Neh.6.16" parsed="|Neh|6|16|0|0" passage="Ne 6:16">Neh. vi.
16</scripRef>. <i>Let them be silent in the grave.</i> Note, Death
will silence the rage and clamour of cruel persecutors, whom reason
would not silence. In the grave the wicked cease from troubling.
Particularly, he prays for (that is, he prophesies) the silencing
of those that reproach and calumniate the people of God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.18" parsed="|Ps|31|18|0|0" passage="Ps 31:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>Let lying lips be
put to silence, that speak grievous things proudly and
contemptuously against the righteous.</i> This is a very good
prayer which, (1.) We have often occasion to put up to God; for
those that set their mouth against the heavens commonly revile the
heirs of heaven. Religion, in the strict and serious professors of
it, are every where spoken against, [1.] With a great deal of
malice: They speak <i>grievous things,</i> on purpose to vex them,
and hoping, with what they say, to do them a real mischief. They
speak <i>hard things</i> (so the word is), which bear hard upon
them, and by which they hope to fasten indelible characters of
infamy upon them. [2.] With a great deal of falsehood: They are
<i>lying lips,</i> taught by the father of lies and serving his
interest. [3.] With a great deal of scorn and disdain: They speak
<i>proudly and contemptuously,</i> as if the righteous, whom God
has honoured, were the most despicable people in the world, and not
worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock. One would think they
thought it no sin to tell a deliberate lie if it might but serve to
expose a good man either to hatred or contempt. <i>Hear, O our God!
for we are despised.</i> (2.) We may pray in faith; for these lying
lips shall be put to silence. God has many ways of doing it.
Sometimes he convinces the consciences of those that reproach his
people, and turns their hearts. Sometimes by his providence he
visibly confutes their calumnies, and brings forth the
righteousness of his people as the light. However, there is a day
coming when God will convince ungodly sinners of the falsehood of
all the hard speeches that have spoken against his people and will
execute judgment upon them, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.14-Jude.1.15" parsed="|Jude|1|14|1|15" passage="Jude 1:14,15">Jude
14, 15</scripRef>. Then shall this prayer be fully answered, and to
that day we should have an eye in the singing of it, engaging
ourselves likewise by well-doing, if possible, to <i>silence the
ignorance of foolish men,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.15" parsed="|1Pet|2|15|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:15">1 Pet.
ii. 15</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xxxii-p14.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.19-Ps.31.24" parsed="|Ps|31|19|31|24" passage="Ps 31:19-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.31.19-Ps.31.24">
<h4 id="Ps.xxxii-p14.11">Triumphant Praise.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxxii-p15">19 <i>Oh</i> how great <i>is</i> thy goodness,
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; <i>which</i> thou
hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
  20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from
the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from
the strife of tongues.   21 Blessed <i>be</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p15.1">Lord</span>: for he hath showed me his marvellous
kindness in a strong city.   22 For I said in my haste, I am
cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the
voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.   23 O love
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p15.2">Lord</span>, all ye his saints:
<i>for</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p15.3">Lord</span> preserveth the
faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.   24 Be of
good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope
in the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxxii-p15.4">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p16">We have three things in these verses:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p17">I. The believing acknowledgment which David
makes of God's goodness to his people in general, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.19-Ps.31.20" parsed="|Ps|31|19|31|20" passage="Ps 31:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p18">1. God is good to all, but he is, in a
special manner, good to Israel. His goodness to them is wonderful,
and will be, to eternity, matter of admiration: <i>O how great is
thy goodness!</i> How profound are the counsels of it! how rich are
the treasures of it! how free and extensive are the communications
of it! Those very persons whom men load with slanders God loads
with benefits and honours. Those who are interested in this
goodness are described to be such as fear God and trust in him, as
stand in awe of his greatness and rely on his grace. This goodness
is said to be <i>laid up for them</i> and <i>wrought for them.</i>
(1.) There is a goodness laid up for them in the other world, an
inheritance <i>reserved in heaven</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.4" parsed="|1Pet|1|4|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:4">1 Pet. i. 4</scripRef>), and there is a goodness wrought
for them in this world, goodness wrought in them. There is enough
in God's goodness both for the portion and inheritance of all his
children when they come to their full age, and for their
maintenance and education during their minority. There is enough in
bank and enough in hand. (2.) This goodness is laid up in his
promise for all that fear God, to whom assurance is given that they
shall want no good thing. But it is wrought, in the actual
performance of the promise, for those that trust in him—that by
faith take hold of the promise, put it in suit, and draw out to
themselves the benefit and comfort of it. If what is laid up for us
in the treasures of the everlasting covenant be not wrought for us,
it is our own fault, because we do not believe. But those that
trust in God, as they have the comfort of his goodness in their own
bosoms, so they have the credit of it (and the credit of an estate
goes far with some); it is wrought for them <i>before the sons of
men.</i> God's goodness to them puts an honour upon them and rolls
away their reproach; <i>for all that see them shall acknowledge
them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.9" parsed="|Isa|61|9|0|0" passage="Isa 61:9">Isa. lxi. 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p19">2. God preserves man and beast; but he is,
in a special manner, the protector of his own people (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.20" parsed="|Ps|31|20|0|0" passage="Ps 31:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>Thou shalt hide
them.</i> As his goodness is hid and reserved for them, so they are
hid and preserved for it. The saints are God's hidden ones. See
here, (1.) The danger they are in, which arises from the pride of
man and from the strife of tongues; proud men insult over them and
would trample on them and tread them down; contentious men pick
quarrels with them; and, when tongues are at strife, good people
often go by the worst. The pride of men endangers their liberty;
the strife of tongues in perverse disputings endangers truth. But,
(2.) See the defence they are under: <i>Thou shalt hide them in the
secret of thy presence, in a pavilion.</i> God's providence shall
keep them safe form the malice of their enemies. He has many ways
of sheltering them. When Baruch and Jeremiah were sought for <i>the
Lord hid them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.36.36" parsed="|Jer|36|36|0|0" passage="Jer 36:36">Jer. xxxvi.
26</scripRef>. God's grace shall keep them safe from the evil of
the judgments that are abroad; to them they have no sting; and they
shall be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger, for there is no anger
at them. His comforts shall keep them easy and cheerful; his
sanctuary, where they have communion with him, shelters them from
the fiery darts of terror and temptation; and the mansions in his
house above shall be shortly, shall be eternally, their
hiding-place from all danger and fear.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p20">II. The thankful returns which David makes
for God's goodness to him in particular, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.21-Ps.31.22" parsed="|Ps|31|21|31|22" passage="Ps 31:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>. Having admired God's
goodness to all the saints, he here owns how good he had found him.
1. Without were fightings; but God had wonderfully preserved his
life: "<i>He has shown me his marvellous loving-kindness,</i> he
has given me an instance of his care for me and favour to me,
beyond what I could have expected." God's loving-kindness to his
people, all things considered, is wonderful; but some instances of
it, even in this world, are in a special manner marvelous in their
eyes; as this here, when God preserved David from the sword of
Saul, in caves and woods, as safe as if he had been in a strong
city. In Keilah, that strong city, God showed him great mercy, both
in making him an instrument to rescue the inhabitants out of the
hands of the Philistines and then in rescuing him from the same men
who would have ungratefully delivered him up into the hand of Saul,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.5 Bible:1Sam.23.12" parsed="|1Sam|23|5|0|0;|1Sam|23|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:5,12">1 Sam. xxiii. 5, 12</scripRef>.
This was marvellous loving-kindness indeed, upon which he writes,
with wonder and thankfulness, <i>Blessed be the Lord.</i> Special
preservations call for particular thanksgivings. 2. Within were
fears; but God was better to him than his fears, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.22" parsed="|Ps|31|22|0|0" passage="Ps 31:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. He here keeps an account, (1.)
Of his own folly, in distrusting God, which he acknowledges, to his
shame. Though he had express promises to build upon, and great
experience of God's care concerning him in many straits, yet he had
entertained this hard and jealous thought of God, and could not
forbear telling it him to his face. "<i>I am cut off before thy
eyes;</i> thou hast quite forsaken me, and I must not expect to be
looked upon or regarded by thee any more. <i>I shall one day perish
by the hand of Saul,</i> and so be cut off before thy eyes, be
ruined while thou lookest on," <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.27.1" parsed="|1Sam|27|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 27:1">1 Sam.
xxvii. 1</scripRef>. This he said in his <i>flight</i> (so some
read it), which denotes the distress of his affairs. Saul was just
at his back, and ready to seize him, which made the temptation
strong. <i>In my haste</i> (so we read it), which denotes the
disturbance and discomposure of his mind, which made the temptation
surprising, so that it found him off his guard. Note, It is a
common thing to speak amiss when we speak in haste and without
consideration; but what we speak amiss in haste we must repent of
at leisure, particularly that which we have spoken distrustfully of
God. (2.) Of God's wonderful goodness to him notwithstanding.
Though his faith failed, God's promise did not: <i>Thou hearest the
voice of my supplication,</i> for all this. He mentions his own
unbelief as a foil to God's fidelity, serving to make his
loving-kindness the more marvellous, the more illustrious. When we
have thus distrusted God he might justly take us at our word, and
bring our fears upon us, as he did on Israel, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.14.28 Bible:Isa.66.4" parsed="|Num|14|28|0|0;|Isa|66|4|0|0" passage="Nu 14:28,Isa 66:4">Num. xiv. 28; Isa. lxvi. 4</scripRef>. But he
has pitied and pardoned us, and our unbelief has not made his
promise and grace of no effect; for he knows our frame.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p21">III. The exhortation and encouragement
which he hereupon gives to all the saints, <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.23-Ps.31.24" parsed="|Ps|31|23|31|24" passage="Ps 31:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23, 24</scripRef>. 1. He would have them
set their love on God (<scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.23" parsed="|Ps|31|23|0|0" passage="Ps 31:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>): <i>O love the Lord! all you his saints.</i> Those
that have their own hearts full of love to God cannot but desire
that others also may be in love with him; for in his favour there
is no need to fear a rival. It is the character of the saints that
they do love God; and yet they must still be called upon to love
him, to love him more and love him better, and give proofs of their
love. We must love him, not only for his goodness, because <i>he
preserves the faithful,</i> but for his justice, because he
<i>plentifully rewards the proud doer</i> (who would ruin those
whom he preserves), according to their pride. Some take it in a
good sense; he plentifully rewards the magnificent (or excellent)
doer, that is daringly good, whose heart, like Jehoshaphat's, is
lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He rewards him that does well,
but plentifully rewards him that does excellently well. 2. He would
have them set their hope in God ( <scripRef id="Ps.xxxii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.31.24" parsed="|Ps|31|24|0|0" passage="Ps 31:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): "<i>Be of good courage;</i>
have a good heart on it; whatever difficulties or dangers you may
meet with, the God you trust in shall by that trust strengthen your
heart." Those that hope in God have reason to be of good courage,
and let their hearts be strong, for, as nothing truly evil can
befal them, so nothing truly good for them shall be wanting to
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxxii-p22">In singing this we should animate ourselves
and one another to proceed and persevere in our Christian course,
whatever threatens us, and whoever frowns upon us.</p>
</div></div2>