mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 71.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxxii" n="lxxii" next="Ps.lxxiii" prev="Ps.lxxi" progress="45.84%" title="Chapter LXXI">
<h2 id="Ps.lxxii-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxxii-p0.2">PSALM LXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxxii-p1">David penned this psalm in his old age, as appears
by several passages in it, which makes many think that it was
penned at the time of Absalom's rebellion; for that was the great
trouble of his later days. It might be occasioned by Sheba's
insurrection, or some trouble that happened to him in that part of
his life of which it was foretold that the sword should not depart
from his house. But he is not over-particular in representing his
case, because he intended it for the general use of God's people in
their afflictions, especially those they meet with in their
declining years; for this psalm, above any other, is fitted for the
use of the old disciples of Jesus Christ. I. He begins the psalm
with believing prayers, with prayers that God would deliver him and
save him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.2 Bible:Ps.71.4" parsed="|Ps|71|2|0|0;|Ps|71|4|0|0" passage="Ps 71:2,4">ver. 2, 4</scripRef>), and
not cast him off (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.9" parsed="|Ps|71|9|0|0" passage="Ps 71:9">ver. 9</scripRef>) or
be far from him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.12" parsed="|Ps|71|12|0|0" passage="Ps 71:12">ver. 12</scripRef>),
and that his enemies might be put to shame, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.13" parsed="|Ps|71|13|0|0" passage="Ps 71:13">ver. 13</scripRef>. He pleads his confidence in God
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.1 Bible:Ps.71.3 Bible:Ps.71.5 Bible:Ps.71.7" parsed="|Ps|71|1|0|0;|Ps|71|3|0|0;|Ps|71|5|0|0;|Ps|71|7|0|0" passage="Ps 71:1,3,5,7">ver. 1, 3, 5, 7</scripRef>), the
experience he had had of help from God (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.6" parsed="|Ps|71|6|0|0" passage="Ps 71:6">ver. 6</scripRef>), and the malice of his enemies against
him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.10-Ps.71.11" parsed="|Ps|71|10|71|11" passage="Ps 71:10,11">ver. 10, 11</scripRef>. II. He
concludes the psalm with believing praises (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.14" parsed="|Ps|71|14|0|0" passage="Ps 71:14">ver. 14</scripRef>, &amp;c.). Never was his hope more
established, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.16 Bible:Ps.71.18 Bible:Ps.71.20 Bible:Ps.71.21" parsed="|Ps|71|16|0|0;|Ps|71|18|0|0;|Ps|71|20|0|0;|Ps|71|21|0|0" passage="Ps 71:16,18,20,21">ver. 16, 18, 20,
21</scripRef>. Never were his joys and thanksgivings more enlarged,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.15 Bible:Ps.71.19 Bible:Ps.71.22-Ps.71.24" parsed="|Ps|71|15|0|0;|Ps|71|19|0|0;|Ps|71|22|71|24" passage="Ps 71:15,19,22-24">ver. 15, 19,
22-24</scripRef>. He is in an ecstasy of joyful praise; and, in the
singing of it, we too should have our faith in God encouraged and
our hearts raised in blessing his holy name.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71" parsed="|Ps|71|0|0|0" passage="Ps 71" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.1-Ps.71.13" parsed="|Ps|71|1|71|13" passage="Ps 71:1-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.71.1-Ps.71.13">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxii-p1.13">David Professes His Confidence in God;
Believing Prayers.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxii-p2">1 In thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxii-p2.1">O
Lord</span>, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
  2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape:
incline thine ear unto me, and save me.   3 Be thou my strong
habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given
commandment to save me; for thou <i>art</i> my rock and my
fortress.   4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the
wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.   5
For thou <i>art</i> my hope, O Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxii-p2.2">God</span>: <i>thou art</i> my trust from my youth.
  6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he
that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise <i>shall be</i>
continually of thee.   7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou
<i>art</i> my strong refuge.   8 Let my mouth be filled
<i>with</i> thy praise <i>and with</i> thy honour all the day.
  9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not
when my strength faileth.   10 For mine enemies speak against
me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
  11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him;
for <i>there is</i> none to deliver <i>him.</i>   12 O God, be
not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.   13 Let
them be confounded <i>and</i> consumed that are adversaries to my
soul; let them be covered <i>with</i> reproach and dishonour that
seek my hurt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p3">Two things in general David here prays
for—that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and
persecutors might be confounded.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p4">I. He prays that he might never be made
ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his
believing expectations from him. With this petition every true
believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never
disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p5">1. How David professes his confidence in
God, and with what pleasure and grateful variety of expression he
repeats his profession of that confidence, still presenting the
profession of it to God and pleading it with him. We praise God,
and so please him, by telling him (if it be indeed true) what an
entire confidence we have in him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.1" parsed="|Ps|71|1|0|0" passage="Ps 71:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): "<i>In thee, O Lord!</i> and in
thee only, <i>do I put my trust.</i> Whatever others do, I choose
the God of Jacob for my help." Those that are entirely satisfied
with God's all-sufficiency and the truth of his promise, and in
dependence upon that, as sufficient to make them amends, are freely
willing to do and suffer, to lose and venture, for him, may truly
say, <i>In thee, O Lord! do I put my trust.</i> Those that will
deal with God must deal upon trust; if we are shy of dealing with
him, it is a sign we do not trust him. <i>Thou art my rock and my
fortress</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.3" parsed="|Ps|71|3|0|0" passage="Ps 71:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>);
and again, "<i>Thou art my refuge, my strong refuge</i>" (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.7" parsed="|Ps|71|7|0|0" passage="Ps 71:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); that is, "I fly to thee,
and am sure to be safe in thee, and under thy protection. If thou
secure me, none can hurt me. <i>Thou art my hope and my trust</i>"
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.5" parsed="|Ps|71|5|0|0" passage="Ps 71:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); that is,
"thou hast proposed thyself to me in thy word as the proper object
of my hope and trust; I have hoped in thee, and never found it in
vain to do so."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p6">2. How his confidence in God is supported
and encouraged by his experiences (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.5-Ps.71.6" parsed="|Ps|71|5|71|6" passage="Ps 71:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast been my trust
from my youth;</i> ever since I was capable of discerning between
my right hand and my left, I stayed myself upon thee, and saw a
great deal of reason to do so; for <i>by thee have I been holden up
from the womb.</i>" Ever since he had the use of his reason he had
been a dependent upon God's goodness, because ever since he had had
a being he had been a monument of it. Note, The consideration of
the gracious care which the divine Providence took of us in our
birth and infancy should engage us to an early piety and constant
devotedness to his honour. He that was our help from our birth
ought to be our hope from our youth. If we received so much mercy
from God before we were capable of doing him any service, we should
lose no time when we are capable. This comes in here as a support
to the psalmist in his present distress; not only that God had
given him his life and being, bringing him out of his mother's
bowels into the world, and providing that he should not die from
the womb, nor give up the ghost when he came out of the belly, but
that he had betimes made him one of his family: "Thou art he that
took me out of my mother's bowels into the arms of thy grace, under
the shadow of thy wings, into the bond of thy covenant; thou
tookest me into thy church, as a son of thy handmaid, and born in
thy house, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.116.16" parsed="|Ps|116|16|0|0" passage="Ps 116:16">Ps. cxvi. 16</scripRef>.
And therefore," (1.) "I have reason to hope that thou wilt protect
me; thou that hast held me up hitherto wilt not let me fall now;
thou that madest me wilt not forsake the work of thy own hands;
thou that helpedst me when I could not help myself wilt not abandon
me now that I am as helpless as I was then." (2.) "Therefore I have
reason to resolve that I will devote myself unto thee: <i>My praise
shall therefore be continually of thee;</i>" that is, "I will make
it my business every day to praise thee and will take all occasions
to do it."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p7">3. What his requests to God are, in this
confidence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p8">(1.) That he might <i>never be put to
confusion</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.1" parsed="|Ps|71|1|0|0" passage="Ps 71:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
that he might not be disappointed of the mercy he expected and so
made ashamed of his expectation. Thus we may all pray in faith that
our confidence in God may not be our confusion. Hope of the glory
of God is hope that makes not ashamed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p9">(2.) That he might be delivered out of the
hand of his enemies (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.2" parsed="|Ps|71|2|0|0" passage="Ps 71:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>): "<i>Deliver me in thy righteousness.</i> As thou art
the righteous Judge of the world, pleading the cause of the injured
and punishing the injurious, cause me in some way or other to
escape" (God will, with the temptation, make a way to escape,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.13" parsed="|1Cor|10|13|0|0" passage="1Co 10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</scripRef>): "<i>Incline
thy ear unto my prayers,</i> and, in answer to them, save me out of
my troubles, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.4" parsed="|Ps|71|4|0|0" passage="Ps 71:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>.
Deliver me, O my God! out of the hands of those that are ready to
pull me in pieces." Three things he pleads for deliverance:—[1.]
The encouragement God had given him to expect it: <i>Thou hast
given commandment to save me</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.3" parsed="|Ps|71|3|0|0" passage="Ps 71:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>); that is, thou hast promised to
do it, and such efficacy is there in God's promises that they are
often spoken of as commands, like that, <i>Let there be light, and
there was light.</i> He speaks, and it is done. [2.] The character
of his enemies; they are <i>wicked, unrighteous, cruel men,</i> and
it will be for the honour of God to appear against them (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.4" parsed="|Ps|71|4|0|0" passage="Ps 71:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), for he is a holy, just,
and good God. [3.] The many eyes that were upon him (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.7" parsed="|Ps|71|7|0|0" passage="Ps 71:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): "<i>I am as a wonder
unto many;</i> every one waits to see what will be the issue of
such extraordinary troubles as I have fallen into and such
extraordinary confidence as I profess to have in God." Or, "I am
looked upon as a monster, am one whom every body shuns, and
therefore am undone if the Lord be not my refuge. Men abandon me,
but God will not."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p10">(3.) That he might always find rest and
safety in God (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.3" parsed="|Ps|71|3|0|0" passage="Ps 71:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>):
<i>Be thou my strong habitation;</i> be thou to me <i>a rock of
repose, whereto I may continually resort.</i> Those that are at
home in God, that live a life of communion with him and confidence
in him, that continually resort unto him by faith and prayer,
having their eyes ever towards him, may promise themselves a strong
habitation in him, such as will never fall of itself nor can ever
be broken through by any invading power; and they shall be welcome
to resort to him continually upon all occasions, and not be
upbraided as coming too often.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p11">(4.) That he might have continual matter
for thanksgiving to God, and might be continually employed in that
pleasant work (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.8" parsed="|Ps|71|8|0|0" passage="Ps 71:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>):
"<i>Let my mouth be filled with thy praise,</i> as now it is with
my complaints, and then I shall not be ashamed of my hope, but my
enemies will be ashamed of their insolence." Those that love God
love to be praising him, and desire to be doing it all the day, not
only in their morning and evening devotions, not only <i>seven
times a day</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.164" parsed="|Ps|119|164|0|0" passage="Ps 119:164">Ps. cxix.
164</scripRef>), but <i>all the day,</i> to intermix with all they
say something or other that may redound to the honour and praise of
God. They resolve to do it while they live; they hope to be doing
it eternally in a better world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p12">(5.) That he might not be neglected now in
his declining years (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.9" parsed="|Ps|71|9|0|0" passage="Ps 71:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>): <i>Cast me not off</i> now <i>in the time of</i> my
<i>old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.</i> Observe
here, [1.] The natural sense he had of the infirmities of age:
<i>My strength fails.</i> Where there was strength of body and
vigour of mind, strong sight, a strong voice, strong limbs, alas!
in old age they fail; the life is continued, but the strength is
gone, or that which is his <i>labour and sorrow,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.90.10" parsed="|Ps|90|10|0|0" passage="Ps 90:10">Ps. xc. 10</scripRef>. [2.] The gracious desire
he had of the continuance of God's presence with him under these
infirmities: <i>Lord, cast me not off;</i> do <i>not then forsake
me.</i> This intimates that he should look upon himself as undone
if God should abandon him. To be cast off and forsaken of God is a
thing to be dreaded at any time, especially in the time of old age
and when our strength fails us; for it is God that is the strength
of our heart. But it intimates that he had reason to hope God would
not desert him; the faithful servants of God may be comfortably
assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake them
when their strength fails them. He is a Master that is not wont to
cast off old servants. In this confidence David here prays again
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.12" parsed="|Ps|71|12|0|0" passage="Ps 71:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): "<i>O God!
be not far from me;</i> let me not be under the apprehension of thy
withdrawings, for then I am miserable. <i>O my God!</i> a God in
covenant with me, <i>make haste for my help,</i> lest I perish
before help come."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p13">II. He prays that his enemies might be made
ashamed of their designs against him. Observe, 1. What it was which
they unjustly said against him, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.10-Ps.71.11" parsed="|Ps|71|10|71|11" passage="Ps 71:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. Their plot was deep and
desperate; it was against his life: <i>They lay wait for my
soul</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.10" parsed="|Ps|71|10|0|0" passage="Ps 71:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>),
and are adversaries to that, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.13" parsed="|Ps|71|13|0|0" passage="Ps 71:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Their powers and policies were combined: <i>They
take counsel together.</i> And very insolent they were in their
deportment: They say, <i>God has forsaken him; persecute and take
him.</i> Here their premises are utterly false, that because a good
man was in great trouble and had continued long in it, and was not
so soon delivered as perhaps he expected, therefore God had
forsaken him and would have no more to do with him. All are not
forsaken of God who think themselves so or whom others think to be
so. And, as their premises were false, so their inference was
barbarous. If God has forsaken him, then persecute and take him,
and doubt not but to make a prey of him. This is <i>talking to the
grief of one whom God has smitten,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.26" parsed="|Ps|69|26|0|0" passage="Ps 69:26">Ps. lxix. 26</scripRef>. But thus they endeavour to
discourage David, as Sennacherib endeavoured to intimidate Hezekiah
by suggesting that God was his enemy and fought against him.
<i>Have I now come up without the Lord against this city, to
destroy it?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.36.10" parsed="|Isa|36|10|0|0" passage="Isa 36:10">Isa. xxxvi.
10</scripRef>. It is true, if God has forsaken a man, there is none
to deliver him; but <i>therefore</i> to insult over him ill becomes
those who are conscious to themselves that they deserve to be for
ever forsaken of God. But <i>rejoice not against me, O my enemy!
though I fall, I shall rise.</i> He that seems to forsake for a
small moment will gather with everlasting kindness. 2. What it was
which he justly prayed for, from a spirit of prophecy, not a spirit
of passion (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.13" parsed="|Ps|71|13|0|0" passage="Ps 71:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>):
"<i>Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my
soul.</i> If they will not be confounded by repentance, and so
saved, let them be confounded with everlasting dishonour, and so
ruined." God will turn into shame the glory of those who turn into
shame the glory of God and his people.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxii-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.14-Ps.71.24" parsed="|Ps|71|14|71|24" passage="Ps 71:14-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.71.14-Ps.71.24">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxii-p13.8">Joyful Praises; Rejoicing in
Hope.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxii-p14">14 But I will hope continually, and will yet
praise thee more and more.   15 My mouth shall show forth thy
righteousness <i>and</i> thy salvation all the day; for I know not
the numbers <i>thereof.</i>   16 I will go in the strength of
the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxii-p14.1">God</span>: I will make mention of
thy righteousness, <i>even</i> of thine only.   17 O God, thou
hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy
wondrous works.   18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O
God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto
<i>this</i> generation, <i>and</i> thy power to every one
<i>that</i> is to come.   19 Thy righteousness also, O God,
<i>is</i> very high, who hast done great things: O God, who
<i>is</i> like unto thee!   20 <i>Thou,</i> which hast showed
me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring
me up again from the depths of the earth.   21 Thou shalt
increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.   22 I
will also praise thee with the psaltery, <i>even</i> thy truth, O
my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of
Israel.   23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto
thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.   24 My tongue
also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are
confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p15">David is here in a holy transport of joy
and praise, arising from his faith and hope in God; we have both
together <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.14" parsed="|Ps|71|14|0|0" passage="Ps 71:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>,
where there is a sudden and remarkable change of his voice; his
fears are all silenced, his hopes raised, and his prayers turned
into thanksgivings. "Let my enemies say what they will, to drive me
to despair, <i>I will hope continually,</i> hope in all conditions,
in the most cloudy and dark day; I will live upon hope and will
hope to the end." Since we hope in one that will never fail us, let
not our hope in him fail us, and then we shall praise him yet more
and more. "The more they reproach me the more closely will I cleave
to thee; I <i>will praise thee more</i> and better than ever I have
done yet." The longer we live the more expert we should grow in
praising God and the more we should abound in it. <i>I will add
over and above all thy praise,</i> all the praise I have hitherto
offered, for it is all too little. When we have said all we can, to
the glory of God's grace, there is still more to be said; it is a
subject that can never be exhausted, and therefore we should never
grow weary of it. Now observe, in these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p16">I. How his heart is established in faith
and hope; and it is a good thing that the heart be so established.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p17">1. What he hopes in, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.16" parsed="|Ps|71|16|0|0" passage="Ps 71:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. (1.) In the power of God: "<i>I
will go in the strength of the Lord God,</i> not sit down in
despair, but stir up myself to and exert myself in my work and
warfare, will go forth and go on, not in any strength of my own,
but in God's strength—disclaiming my own sufficiency and depending
on him only as all-sufficient—in the strength of his providence
and in the strength of his grace." We must always go about God's
work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him to work in us
both to will and to do. (2.) In the promise of God: "<i>I will make
mention of thy righteousness,</i> that is, thy faithfulness to
every word which thou hast spoken, the equity of thy disposals, and
thy kindness to thy people that trust in thee. This I will make
mention of as my plea in prayer for thy mercy." We may very fitly
apply it to the righteousness of Christ, which is called the
<i>righteousness of God by faith,</i> and which is <i>witnessed by
the law and the prophets;</i> we must depend upon God's strength
for assistance and upon Christ's righteousness for acceptance.
<i>In the Lord have I righteousness and strength,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.24" parsed="|Isa|45|24|0|0" passage="Isa 45:24">Isa. xlv. 24</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p18">2. What he hopes for.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p19">(1.) He hopes that God will not leave him
in his old age, but will be the same to him to the end that he had
been all along, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.17-Ps.71.18" parsed="|Ps|71|17|71|18" passage="Ps 71:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17,
18</scripRef>. Observe here, [1.] What God had done for him when he
was young: <i>Thou hast taught me from my youth.</i> The good
education and good instructions which his parents gave him when he
was young he owns himself obliged to give God thanks for as a great
favour. It is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our youth,
from our childhood to know the holy scriptures, and it is what we
have reason to bless God for. [2.] What he had done for God when he
was middle-aged: He had <i>declared all God's wondrous works.</i>
Those that have not good when they are young must be doing good
when they are grown up, and must continue to communicate what they
have received. We must own that all the works of God's goodness to
us are wondrous works, admiring he should do so much for us who are
so undeserving, and we must make it our business to declare them,
to the glory of God and the good of others. [3.] What he desired of
God now that he was old: <i>Now that I am old and gray-headed,</i>
dying to this world and hastening to another, <i>O God! forsake me
not.</i> This is what he earnestly desires and confidently hopes
for. Those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have
made it the business of their lives to honour him, may be sure that
he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed, will not
leave them helpless and comfortless, but will make the evil days of
old age their best days, and such as they shall have occasion to
say they have pleasure in. [4.] What he designed to do for God in
his old age: "I will not only <i>show thy strength,</i> by my own
experience of it, <i>to this generation,</i> but I will leave my
observations upon record for the benefit of posterity, and so who
it <i>to every one that is to come.</i>" As long as we live we
should be endeavouring to glorify God and edify one another; and
those that have had the largest and longest experience of the
goodness of God to them should improve their experiences for the
good of their friends. It is a debt which the old disciples of
Christ owe to the succeeding generations to leave behind them a
solemn testimony to the power, pleasure, and advantage of religion,
and the truth of God's promises.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p20">(2.) He hopes that God would revive him and
raise him up out of his present low and disconsolate condition
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.20" parsed="|Ps|71|20|0|0" passage="Ps 71:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>Thou who
hast made me to see and feel great and sore troubles,</i> above
most men, <i>shalt quicken me again.</i> Note, [1.] The best of
God's saints and servants are sometimes exercised with great and
sore troubles in this world. [2.] God's hand is to be eyed in all
the troubles of the saints, and that will help to extenuate them
and make them seem light. He does not say, "Thou hast burdened me
with those troubles," but "shown them to me," as the tender father
shows the child the rod to keep him in awe. [3.] Though God's
people be brought ever so low he can revive them and raise them up.
Are they dead? he can quicken them again. See <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.1.9" parsed="|2Cor|1|9|0|0" passage="2Co 1:9">2 Cor. i. 9</scripRef>. Are they buried, as dead men out
of mind? he can bring <i>them up again from the depths of the
earth,</i> can cheer the most drooping spirit and raise the most
sinking interest. [4.] If we have a due regard to the hand of God
in our troubles, we may promise ourselves, in due time, a
deliverance out of them. Our present troubles, though great and
sore, shall be no hindrance to our joyful resurrection from the
depths of the earth, witness our great Master, to whom this may
have some reference; his Father showed him great and sore troubles,
but quickened him and brought him up from the grave.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p21">(3.) He hopes that God would not only
deliver him out of his troubles, but would advance his honour and
joy more than ever (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.21" parsed="|Ps|71|21|0|0" passage="Ps 71:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>): "Thou shalt not only restore me to <i>my
greatness</i> again, but shalt <i>increase</i> it, and give me a
better interest, after this shock, than before; thou shalt not only
comfort me, but <i>comfort me on every side,</i> so that I shall
see nothing black or threatening on any side." Note, Sometimes God
makes his people's troubles contribute to the increase of their
greatness, and their sun shines the brighter for having been under
a cloud. If he make them contribute to the increase of their
goodness, that will prove in the end the increase of their
greatness, their glory; and if he comfort them on every side,
according to the time and degree wherein he has afflicted them on
every side, they will have no reason to complain. When our Lord
Jesus was quickened again, and brought back from the depths of the
earth, his greatness was increased, and he entered on the joy set
before him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p22">(4.) He hopes that all his enemies would be
put to confusion, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.24" parsed="|Ps|71|24|0|0" passage="Ps 71:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. He speaks of it with the greatest assurance as a
thing done, and triumphs in it accordingly: <i>They are confounded,
they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt.</i> His honour would
be their disgrace and his comfort their vexation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p23">II. Let us now see how his heart is
enlarged in joy and praises, how he rejoices in hope, and sings in
hope for we are saved by hope.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p24">1. He will speak of God's righteousness and
his salvation, as great things, things which he was well acquainted
with, and much affected with, which he desired God might have the
glory of and others might have the comfortable knowledge of
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.15" parsed="|Ps|71|15|0|0" passage="Ps 71:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>My mouth
shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation;</i> and again
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.24" parsed="|Ps|71|24|0|0" passage="Ps 71:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), <i>My
tongue shall talk of thy righteousness,</i> and this <i>all the
day.</i> God's righteousness, which David seems here to be in a
particular manner affected with, includes a great deal: the
rectitude of his nature, the equity of his providential disposals,
the righteous laws he has given us to be ruled by, the righteous
promises he has given us to depend upon, and the everlasting
righteousness which his Son has brought in for our justification.
God's righteousness and his salvation are here joined together; let
no man think to put them asunder, nor expect salvation without
righteousness, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.23" parsed="|Ps|50|23|0|0" passage="Ps 50:23">Ps. l. 23</scripRef>.
If these two are made the objects of our desire, let them be made
the subjects of our discourse all the day, for they are subjects
that can never be exhausted.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p25">2. He will speak of them with wonder and
admiration, as one astonished at the dimensions of divine love and
grace, the height and depth, the length and breadth, of it: "<i>I
know not the numbers thereof,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.15" parsed="|Ps|71|15|0|0" passage="Ps 71:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Though I cannot give a
particular account of thy favours to me, they are so many, so great
(if <i>I would count them, they are more in number than the
sand,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.5" parsed="|Ps|40|5|0|0" passage="Ps 40:5">Ps. xl. 5</scripRef>), yet,
knowing them to be numberless, I will be still speaking of them,
for in them I shall find new matter," <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.19" parsed="|Ps|71|19|0|0" passage="Ps 71:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. The righteousness that is in
God is very high; that which is done by him for his people is very
great: put both together, and we shall say, <i>O God! who is like
unto thee?</i> This is praising God, acknowledging his perfections
and performances to be, (1.) Above our conception; they are very
high and great, so high that we cannot apprehend them, so great
that we cannot comprehend them. (2.) Without any parallel; no being
like him, no works like his: <i>O God! who is like unto thee?</i>
None in heaven, none on earth, no angel, no king. God is a
non-such; we do not rightly praise him if we do not own him to be
so.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p26">3. He will speak of them with all the
expressions of joy and exultation, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.71.22-Ps.71.23" parsed="|Ps|71|22|71|23" passage="Ps 71:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p27">(1.) How he would eye God in praising him.
[1.] As a faithful God: <i>I will praise thee, even thy truth.</i>
God is made known by his word; if we praise that, and the truth of
that, we praise him. By faith we set to our seal that God is true;
and so we praise his truth. [2.] As a God in covenant with him:
"<i>O my God!</i> whom I have consented to and avouched for mine."
As in our prayers, so in our praises, we must look up to God as our
God, and give him the glory of our interest in him and relation to
him. [3.] As the <i>Holy One of Israel,</i> Israel's God in a
peculiar manner, glorious in his holiness among that people and
faithful to his covenant with them. It is God's honour that he is a
Holy One; it is his people's honour that he is the Holy One of
Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxii-p28">(2.) How he will express his joy and
exultation. [1.] With his hand, in sacred music—<i>with the
psaltery, with the harp;</i> at these David excelled, and the best
of his skill shall be employed in setting forth God's praises to
such advantage as might affect others. [2.] With his lips, in
sacred songs: "<i>Unto thee will I sing,</i> to thy honour, and
with a desire to be accepted of thee. <i>My lips shall greatly
rejoice when I sing unto thee,</i> knowing they cannot be better
employed." [3.] In both with his heart: "<i>My soul</i> shall
rejoice <i>which thou hast redeemed.</i>" Note, <i>First,</i> Holy
joy is the very heart and life of thankful praise. <i>Secondly,</i>
We do not make melody to the Lord, in singing his praises, if we do
not do it with our hearts. My lips shall rejoice, but that is
nothing; lip-labour, though ever so well laboured, if that be all,
is but lost labour in serving God; the soul must be at work, and
with all that is within us we must bless his holy name, else all
about us is worth little. <i>Thirdly,</i> Redeemed souls ought to
be joyful thankful souls. The work of redemption ought, above all
God's works, to be celebrated by us in our praises. The Lamb that
was slain, and has redeemed us to God, must therefore be counted
worthy of all blessing and praise.</p>
</div></div2>