Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22450

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 134 lines

22460
 #12-22 Wicked men hate goodness, even when they benefit by it.
 David, in the complaints he makes of his enemies, seems to refer
 to Christ. But our enemies do us real mischief only when they
 drive us from God and our duty. The true believer's trouble will
 be made useful; he will learn to wait for his God, and will not
 seek relief from the world or himself. The less we notice the
 unkindness and injuries that are done us, the more we consult
 the quiet of our own minds. David's troubles were the
 chastisement and the consequence of his transgressions, whilst
 Christ suffered for our sins and ours only. What right can a
 sinner have to yield to impatience or anger, when mercifully
 corrected for his sins? David was very sensible of the present
 workings of corruption in him. Good men, by setting their sorrow
 continually before them, have been ready to fall; but by setting
 God always before them, they have kept their standing. If we are
 truly penitent for sin, that will make us patient under
 affliction. Nothing goes nearer to the heart of a believer when
 in affliction, than to be under the apprehension of God's
 deserting him; nor does any thing come more feelingly from his
 heart than this prayer, "Be not far from me." The Lord will
 hasten to help those who trust in him as their salvation.
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 * David meditates on man's frailty. (1-6) He applies for pardon
 and deliverance. (7-13)

 #1-6 If an evil thought should arise in the mind, suppress it.
 Watchfulness in the habit, is the bridle upon the head;
 watchfulness in acts, is the hand upon the bridle. When not able
 to separate from wicked men, we should remember they will watch
 our words, and turn them, if they can, to our disadvantage.
 Sometimes it may be necessary to keep silence, even from good
 words; but in general we are wrong when backward to engage in
 edifying discourse. Impatience is a sin that has its cause
 within ourselves, and that is, musing; and its ill effects upon
 ourselves, and that is no less than burning. In our greatest
 health and prosperity, every man is altogether vanity, he cannot
 live long; he may die soon. This is an undoubted truth, but we
 are very unwilling to believe it. Therefore let us pray that God
 would enlighten our minds by his Holy Spirit, and fill our
 hearts with his grace, that we may be ready for death every day
 and hour.

22477
 #7-13 There is no solid satisfaction to be had in the creature;
 but it is to be found in the Lord, and in communion with him; to
 him we should be driven by our disappointments. If the world be
 nothing but vanity, may God deliver us from having or seeking
 our portion in it. When creature-confidences fail, it is our
 comfort that we have a God to go to, a God to trust in. We may
 see a good God doing all, and ordering all events concerning us;
 and a good man, for that reason, says nothing against it. He
 desires the pardoning of his sin, and the preventing of his
 shame. We must both watch and pray against sin. When under the
 correcting hand of the Lord, we must look to God himself for
 relief, not to any other. Our ways and our doings bring us into
 trouble, and we are beaten with a rod of our own making. What a
 poor thing is beauty! and what fools are those that are proud of
 it, when it will certainly, and may quickly, be consumed! The
 body of man is as a garment to the soul. In this garment sin has
 lodged a moth, which wears away, first the beauty, then the
 strength, and finally the substance of its parts. Whoever has
 watched the progress of a lingering distemper, or the work of
 time alone, in the human frame, will feel at once the force of
 this comparison, and that, surely every man is vanity.
 Afflictions are sent to stir up prayer. If they have that
 effect, we may hope that God will hear our prayer. The believer
 expects weariness and ill treatment on his way to heaven; but he
 shall not stay here long: walking with God by faith, he goes
 forward on his journey, not diverted from his course, nor cast
 down by the difficulties he meets. How blessed it is to sit
 loose from things here below, that while going home to our
 Father's house, we may use the world as not abusing it! May we
 always look for that city, whose Builder and Maker is God.
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 * Confidence for deliverance. (1-5) Christ's work of redemption.
 (6-10) Prayer for mercy and grace. (11-17)

 #1-5 Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible
 pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God.
 There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace
 enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him. The
 psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and
 praying. This is applicable to Christ. His agony, in the garden
 and on the cross, was a horrible pit and miry clay. But those
 that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain. Those that have
 been under religious melancholy, and by the grace of God have
 been relieved, may apply ver. #2| very feelingly to themselves;
 they are brought up out of a horrible pit. Christ is the Rock on
 which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given
 stedfast hope, he expects there should be a steady, regular walk
 and conduct. God filled the psalmist with joy, as well as peace
 in believing. Multitudes, by faith beholding the sufferings and
 glory of Christ, have learned to fear the justice and trust in
 the mercy of God through Him. Many are the benefits with which
 we are daily loaded, both by the providence and by the grace of
 God.

22489
 #6-10 The psalmist foretells that work of wonder, redemption by
 our Lord Jesus Christ. The Substance must come, which is Christ,
 who must bring that glory to God, and that grace to man, which
 it was impossible the sacrifices should ever do. Observe the
 setting apart of our Lord Jesus to the work and office of
 Mediator. In the volume, or roll, of the book it was written of
 him. In the close rolls of the Divine decrees and counsel, the
 covenant of redemption was recorded. Also, in all the volumes of
 the Old Testament something was written of him, #Joh 19:28|. Now
 the purchase of our salvation is made, the proclamation is sent
 forth, calling us to come and accept it. It was preached freely
 and openly. Whoever undertook to preach the gospel of Christ,
 would be under great temptation to conceal it; but Christ, and
 those he calls to that work, are carried on in it. May we
 believe his testimony, trust his promise, and submit to his
 authority.

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 #11-17 The best saints see themselves undone, unless continually
 preserved by the grace of God. But see the frightful view the
 psalmist had of sin. This made the discovery of a Redeemer so
 welcome. In all his reflections upon each step of his life, he
 discovered something amiss. The sight and sense of our sins in
 their own colours, must distract us, if we have not at the same
 time some sight of a Saviour. If Christ has triumphed over our
 spiritual enemies, then we, through him, shall be more than
 conquerors. This may encourage all that seek God and love his
 salvation, to rejoice in him, and to praise him. No griefs nor
 poverty can render those miserable who fear the Lord. Their God,
 and all that he has or does, is the ground of their joy. The
 prayer of faith can unlock his fulness, which is adapted to all
 their wants. The promises are sure, the moment of fulfilment
 hastens forward. He who once came in great humility, shall come
 again in glorious majesty.