Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22700

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 10KB | 175 lines

22706
 #16-23 In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will
 save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too
 often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were
 against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than
 he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he
 that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There
 are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends,
 than in their gloomy hours they suppose. His enemies should be
 reckoned with, and brought down; they could not ease themselves
 of their fears, as David could, by faith in God. Mortal men,
 though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an
 eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of
 affliction, will certainly be brought down to the pit of
 destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially
 when attended with the temptations of Satan; there is also the
 burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under it is, to
 look to Christ, who bore it. Whatever it is that thou desirest
 God should give thee, leave it to him to give it in his own way
 and time. Care is a burden, it makes the heart stoop. We must
 commit our ways and works to the Lord; let him do as seemeth him
 good, and let us be satisfied. To cast our burden upon God, is
 to rest upon his providence and promise. And if we do so, he
 will carry us in the arms of his power, as a nurse carries a
 child; and will strengthen our spirits by his Spirit, so that
 they shall sustain the trial. He will never suffer the righteous
 to be moved; to be so shaken by any troubles, as to quit their
 duty to God, or their comfort in him. He will not suffer them to
 be utterly cast down. He, who bore the burden of our sorrows,
 desires us to leave to him to bear the burden of our cares,
 that, as he knows what is best for us, he may provide it
 accordingly. Why do not we trust Christ to govern the world
 which he redeemed?
22714
 * David seeks mercy from God, amidst the malice of his enemies.
 (1-7) He rests his faith on God's promises, and declares his
 obligation to praise him for mercies. (8-13)

 #1-7 Be merciful unto me, O God. This petition includes all the
 good for which we come to the throne of grace. If we obtain mercy
 there, we need no more to make us happy. It implies likewise our
 best plea, not our merit, but God's mercy, his free, rich mercy.
 We may flee to, and trust the mercy of God, when surrounded on
 all sides by difficulties and dangers. His enemies were too hard
 for him, if God did not help him. He resolves to make God's
 promises the matter of his praises, and so we have reason to
 make them. As we must not trust an arm of flesh when engaged for
 us, so we must not be afraid of an arm of flesh when stretched
 out against us. The sin of sinners will never be their security.
 Who knows the power of God's anger; how high it can reach, how
 forcibly it can strike?

22721
 #8-13 The heavy and continued trials through which many of the
 Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and
 patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to
 repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check
 ourselves. David comforts himself, in his distress and fear,
 that God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs. God has
 a bottle and a book for his people's tears, both the tears for
 their sins, and those for their afflictions. He observes them
 with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The
 Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do
 unto me; for man has no power but what is given him from above.
 Thy vows are upon me, O Lord; not as a burden, but as that by
 which I am known to be thy servant; as a bridle that restrains
 me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my
 duty. And vows of thankfulness properly accompany prayers for
 mercy. If God deliver us from sin, either from doing it, or by
 his pardoning mercy, he has delivered our souls from death,
 which is the wages of sin. Where the Lord has begun a good work
 he will carry it on and perfect it. David hopes that God would
 keep him even from the appearance of sin. We should aim in all
 our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and
 trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we
 may serve him without fear. If his grace has delivered our souls
 from the death of sin, he will bring us to heaven, to walk
 before him for ever in light.
22727
 * David begins with prayer and complaint. (1-6) He concludes
 with joy and praise. (7-11)

 #1-6 All David's dependence is upon God. The most eminent
 believers need often repeat the publican's prayer, "God be
 merciful to me a sinner." But if our souls trust in the Lord,
 this may assure us, in our utmost dangers, that our calamities
 will at length be overpast, and in the mean time, by faith and
 prayer, we must make him our refuge. Though God be most high,
 yet he condescends so low, as to take care that all things are
 made to work for good to his people. This is a good reason why
 we should pray earnestly. Look which way we will on this earth,
 refuge fails, no help appears; but we may look for it from
 heaven. If we have fled from the wrath to come, unto Jesus
 Christ, he that performed all things needful to purchase the
 salvation of his people, will do for us and in us all things
 needful for our enjoyment of it. It made David droop to think
 there should be those that bore him so much ill-will. But the
 mischief they designed against him, returned on themselves. And
 when David was in the greatest distress and disgrace, he did not
 pray, Lord, exalt me, but, Lord, exalt thine own name. Our best
 encouragement in prayer, is taken from the glory of God, and to
 that, more than to our own comfort, we should have regard in all
 our petitions for mercy.

22733
 #7-11 By lively faith, David's prayers and complaints are at
 once turned into praises. His heart is fixed; it is prepared for
 every event, being stayed upon God. If by the grace of God we
 are brought into this even, composed frame of mind, we have
 great reason to be thankful. Nothing is done to purpose, in
 religion, unless it is done with the heart. The heart must be
 fixed for the duty, put in frame for it; fixed in the duty by
 close attention. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than
 when praising God; dull and sleepy devotions will never be
 acceptable to God. Let us awake early in the morning, to begin
 the day with God; early in the beginning of a mercy. When God
 comes toward us with his favours, let us go forth to meet him
 with our praises. David desired to bring others to join in
 praising God; and in his psalms, he is still praising God among
 the people, singing to Him among the nations. Let us seek to
 have our hearts fixed to praise his boundless mercy and
 unfailing faithfulness; and to glorify him with body, soul, and
 spirit, which are his. Let us earnestly pray that the blessings
 of the gospel may be sent through every land.
22738
 * Wicked judges described and reproved. (1-5) A prayer that they
 may be disabled, and their ruin predicted. (6-11)

 #1-5 When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than
 any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess
 to be children of God, joining together against any of his
 people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we
 should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful
 over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen
 nature in others. The corruption of their nature was the root of
 bitterness. We may see in children the wickedness of the world
 beginning. They go astray from God and their duty as soon as
 possibly they can. And how soon will little children tell lies!
 It is our duty to take pains to teach them, and above all,
 earnestly to pray for converting grace to make our children new
 creatures. Though the poison be within, much of it may be kept
 from breaking forth to injure others. When the Saviour's words
 are duly regarded, the serpent becomes harmless. But those who
 refuse to hear heavenly wisdom, must perish miserably, for ever.

22743
 #6-11 David prayed that the enemies of God's church and people
 might be disabled to do further mischief. We may, in faith, pray
 against the designs of the enemies of the church. He foretells
 their ruin. And who knows the power of God's anger? The
 victories of the Just One, in his own person and that of his
 servants, over the enemies of man's salvation, produce a joy
 which springs not from revenge, but from a view of the Divine
 mercy, justice, and truth, shown in the redemption of the elect,
 the punishment of the ungodly, and the fulfilment of the
 promises. Whoever duly considers these things, will diligently
 seek the reward of righteousness, and adore the Providence which
 orders all thing aright in heaven and in earth.
22749
 * David prays for deliverance from his enemies. (1-7) He
 foresees their destruction. (8-17)

 #1-7 In these words we hear the voice of David when a prisoner
 in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by his
 merciless enemies; the voice of the church when under bondage in
 the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation,
 affliction, and persecution. And thus earnestly should we pray
 daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies,
 the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts.
 We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of
 the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those
 regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves
 believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is
 no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man.