Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22500

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 151 lines

22501
 * God's care for his people. (1-4) The treachery of David's
 enemies. (5-13)

 #1-4 The people of God are not free from poverty, sickness, or
 outward affliction, but the Lord will consider their case, and
 send due supplies. From his Lord's example the believer learns
 to consider his poor and afflicted brethren. This branch of
 godliness is usually recompensed with temporal blessings. But
 nothing is so distressing to the contrite believer, as a fear or
 sense of the Divine displeasure, or of sin in his heart. Sin is
 the sickness of the soul; pardoning mercy heals it, renewing
 grace heals it, and for this spiritual healing we should be more
 earnest than for bodily health.

22505
 #5-13 We complain, and justly, of the want of sincerity, and
 that there is scarcely any true friendship to be found among
 men; but the former days were no better. One particularly, in
 whom David had reposed great confidence, took part with his
 enemies. And let us not think it strange, if we receive evil
 from those we suppose to be friends. Have not we ourselves thus
 broken our words toward God? We eat of his bread daily, yet lift
 up the heel against him. But though we may not take pleasure in
 the fall of our enemies, we may take pleasure in the making vain
 their designs. When we can discern the Lord's favour in any
 mercy, personal or public, that doubles it. If the grace of God
 did not take constant care of us, we should not be upheld. But
 let us, while on earth, give heartfelt assent to those praises
 which the redeemed on earth and in heaven render to their God
 and Saviour.
22514
 * The conflict in the soul of a believer.

 #1-5 The psalmist looked to the Lord as his chief good, and set
 his heart upon him accordingly; casting anchor thus at first, he
 rides out the storm. A gracious soul can take little
 satisfaction in God's courts, if it do not meet with God himself
 there. Living souls never can take up their rest any where short
 of a living God. To appear before the Lord is the desire of the
 upright, as it is the dread of the hypocrite. Nothing is more
 grievous to a gracious soul, than what is intended to shake its
 confidence in the Lord. It was not the remembrance of the
 pleasures of his court that afflicted David; but the remembrance
 of the free access he formerly had to God's house, and his
 pleasure in attending there. Those that commune much with their
 own hearts, will often have to chide them. See the cure of
 sorrow. When the soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches
 hold on the power and promise of God, the head is kept above the
 billows. And what is our support under present woes but this,
 that we shall have comfort in Him. We have great cause to mourn
 for sin; but being cast down springs from unbelief and a
 rebellious will; we should therefore strive and pray against it.

22519
 #6-11 The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of
 our mercies. David saw troubles coming from God's wrath, and
 that discouraged him. But if one trouble follow hard after
 another, if all seem to combine for our ruin, let us remember
 they are all appointed and overruled by the Lord. David regards
 the Divine favour as the fountain of all the good he looked for.
 In the Saviour's name let us hope and pray. One word from him
 will calm every storm, and turn midnight darkness into the light
 of noon, the bitterest complaints into joyful praises. Our
 believing expectation of mercy must quicken our prayers for it.
 At length, is faith came off conqueror, by encouraging him to
 trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay himself upon his God.
 He adds, And my God; this thought enabled him to triumph over
 all his griefs and fears. Let us never think that the God of our
 life, and the Rock of our salvation, has forgotten us, if we
 have made his mercy, truth, and power, our refuge. Thus the
 psalmist strove against his despondency: at last his faith and
 hope obtained the victory. Let us learn to check all unbelieving
 doubts and fears. Apply the promise first to ourselves, and then
 plead it to God.
22525
 * David endeavours to still his spirit, with hope and confidence
 in God.

 - As to the quarrel God had with David for sin, he prays, Enter
 not into judgment with me, if Thou doest so I shall be
 condemned; but as to the quarrel his enemies had with him, he
 prays, Lord, judge me, and in thy providence appear on my
 behalf. If we cannot comfort ourselves in God, we may stay
 ourselves upon him, and may have spiritual supports, when we
 want spiritual delights. He never cast off any that trusted in
 him, whatever fears they may have had of their own state. We
 need desire no more to make us happy, than the good that flows
 from God's favour, and is included in his promise. Those whom
 God leads, he leads to his holy hill; those, therefore, who
 pretend to be led by the Spirit, and yet turn their backs upon
 ordinance, deceive themselves. We are still to pray for the
 Spirit of light and truth, who supplies the want of Christ's
 bodily presence, to guide us in the way to heaven. Whatever we
 rejoice or triumph in, the Lord must be the joy of it. David
 applies to God as his never-failing hope. Let us pray earnestly,
 that the Lord would send forth the truth of his word, and the
 light of his Spirit, to guide us into the way of holiness,
 peace, and salvation. The desire of the Christian, like that of
 the prophet in distress, is to be saved from sin as well as
 sorrow; to be taught in the way of righteousness by the light of
 heavenly wisdom, shining in Jesus Christ, and to be led by this
 light and truth to the New Jerusalem.
22530
 * A petition for succour and relief.

 #1-8 Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong
 supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present
 calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by
 their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace.
 The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords,
 that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought
 for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to
 the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not
 by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth
 conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for
 himself in the world, will support it by the same power and
 goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him
 that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of
 his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.

22538
 #9-16 The believer must have times of temptation, affliction,
 and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution.
 At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that he
 has cast them off, and that his name and truth will be
 dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their
 trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no
 power against them, but what is permitted from above.

22546
 #17-26 In afflictions, we must not seek relief by any sinful
 compliance; but should continually meditate on the truth,
 purity, and knowledge of our heart-searching God. Heart sins
 and secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for. He
 knows the secret of the heart, therefore judges of the words and
 actions. While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to
 God, we should not suffer them to drive us from our comfort in
 God. Let us take care that prosperity and ease do not render us
 careless and lukewarm. The church of God cannot be prevailed on
 by persecution to forget God; the believer's heart does not turn
 back from God. The Spirit of prophecy had reference to those who
 suffered unto death, for the testimony of Christ. Observe the
 pleas used, ver. #25,26|. Not their own merit and righteousness,
 but the poor sinner's pleas. None that belong to Christ shall be
 cast off, but every one of them shall be saved, and that for
 ever. The mercy of God, purchased, promised, and constantly
 flowing forth, and offered to believers, does away every doubt
 arising from our sins; while we pray in faith, Redeem us for thy
 mercies' sake.