Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22750

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 10KB | 172 lines

22756
 #8-17 It is our wisdom and duty, in times of danger and
 difficulty, to wait upon God; for he is our defence, in whom we
 shall be safe. It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to look
 to God as the God of our mercy, the Author of all good in us,
 and the Giver of all good to us. The wicked can never be
 satisfied, which is the greatest misery in a poor condition. A
 contented man, if he has not what he would have, yet he does not
 quarrel with Providence, nor fret within himself. It is not
 poverty, but discontent that makes a man unhappy. David would
 praise God because he had many times, and all along, found Him
 his refuge in the day of trouble. He that is all this to us, is
 certainly worthy of our best affections, praises, and services.
 The trials of his people will end in joy and praise. When the
 night of affliction is over, they will sing of the Lord's power
 and mercy in the morning. Let believers now, in assured faith
 and hope, praise Him for those mercies, for which they will
 rejoice and praise him for ever.
22766
 * David prays for the deliverance of Israel from their enemies.
 (1-5) He entreats God to carry on and complete their victories.
 (6-12)

 #1-5 David owns God's displeasure to be the cause of all the
 hardships he had undergone. And when God is turning his hand in
 our favour, it is good to remember our former troubles. In God's
 displeasure their troubles began, therefore in his favour their
 prosperity must begin. Those breaches and divisions which the
 folly and corruption of man make, nothing but the wisdom and
 grace of God can repair, by pouring out a spirit of love and
 peace, by which only a kingdom is saved from ruin. The anger of
 God against sin, is the only cause of all misery, private or
 public, that has been, is, or shall be. In all these cases there
 is no remedy, but by returning to the Lord with repentance,
 faith, and prayer; beseeching him to return to us. Christ, the
 Son of David, is given for a banner to those that fear God; in
 him they are gathered together in one, and take courage. In his
 name and strength they wage war with the powers of darkness.

22771
 #6-12 If Christ be ours, all things, one way or another, shall
 be for our eternal good. The man who is a new creature in
 Christ, may rejoice in all the precious promises God has spoken
 in his holiness. His present privileges, and the sanctifying
 influences of the Spirit, are sure earnests of heavenly glory.
 David rejoices in conquering the neighbouring nations, which had
 been enemies to Israel. The Israel of God are through Christ
 more than conquerors. Though sometimes they think that the Lord
 has cast them off, yet he will bring them into the strong city
 at last. Faith in the promise will assure us that it is our
 Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom: But we are not
 yet made complete conquerors, and no true believer will abuse
 these truths to indulge sloth, or vain confidence. Hope in God
 is the best principle of true courage, for what need those fear
 who have God on their side? All our victories are from him, and
 while those who willingly submit to our anointed King shall
 share his glories, all his foes shall be put under his feet.
22778
 * David seeks God upon former experience. (1-4) He vows to serve
 God. (5-8)

 #1-4 David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise.
 Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment
 of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God,
 and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which
 separates us from other comforts, should drive us nearer to God,
 the fountain of all comfort. Though the heart is overwhelmed,
 yet it may be lifted up to God in prayer. Nay, I will cry unto
 thee, for by that means it will be supported and relieved.
 Weeping must quicken praying, and not deaden it. God's power and
 promise are a rock that is higher than we are. This rock is
 Christ. On the Divine mercy, as on a rock, David desired to rest
 his soul; but he was like a ship-wrecked sailor, exposed to the
 billows at the bottom of a rock too high for him to climb
 without help. David found that he could not be fixed on the Rock
 of salvation, unless the Lord placed him upon it. As there is
 safety in Him, and none in ourselves, let us pray to be led to
 and fixed upon Christ our Rock. The service of God shall be his
 constant work and business: all must make it so who expect to
 find God their shelter and strong tower. The grace of God shall
 be his constant comfort.

22782
 #5-8 There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There
 is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the
 soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough
 in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage
 than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in
 this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his
 fear; those who do so, shall abide before him for ever. And
 these words are to be applied to Him of whom the angel said, the
 Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and of
 his kingdom there shall be no end, #Lu 1:32|. God's promises,
 and our faith in them, are not to do away, but to encourage
 prayer. We need not desire to be better secured than under the
 protection of God's mercy and truth. And if we partake of that
 grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, we may praise him,
 whatever be our outward circumstances. But renewed experience of
 God's mercy and truth towards his people in Christ, is the main
 matter of our joy in him, and our praise unto him.
22786
 * David's confidence in God. (1-7) No trust to be put in worldly
 things. (8-12)

 #1-7 We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls
 wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our
 affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all
 the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with
 full satisfaction in his goodness. See the ground and reason of
 this dependence. By his grace he has supported me, and by his
 providence delivered me. He only can be my Rock and my
 salvation; creatures are nothing without him, therefore I will
 look above them to him. Trusting in God, the heart is fixed. If
 God be for us, we need not fear what man can do against us.
 David having put his confidence in God, foresees the overthrow
 of his enemies. We have found it good to wait upon the Lord, and
 should charge our souls to have such constant dependence upon
 him, as may make us always easy. If God will save my soul, I may
 well leave every thing else to his disposal, knowing all shall
 turn to my salvation. And as David's faith in God advances to an
 unshaken stedfastness, so his joy in God improves into a holy
 triumph. Meditation and prayer are blessed means of
 strengthening faith and hope.

22793
 #8-12 Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God
 themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never
 have the less for others sharing with us. The good counsel given
 is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all
 times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in
 any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to
 guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply
 us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work.
 We must lay out wants and our wishes before him, and then
 patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our
 hearts. God is a refuge for all, even for as many as will take
 shelter in him. The psalmist warns against trusting in men. The
 multitude, those of low degree, are changeable as the wind. The
 rich and noble seem to have much in their power, and lavish
 promises; but those that depend on them, are disappointed.
 Weighed in the balance of Scripture, all that man can do to make
 us happy is lighter than vanity itself. It is hard to have
 riches, and not to trust in them if they increase, though by
 lawful and honest means; but we must take heed, lest we set our
 affections unduly upon them. A smiling world is the most likely
 to draw the heart from God, on whom alone it should be set. The
 consistent believer receives all from God as a trust; and he
 seeks to use it to his glory, as a steward who must render an
 account. God hath spoken as it were once for all, that power
 belongs to him alone. He can punish and destroy. Mercy also
 belongs to him; and his recompensing the imperfect services of
 those that believe in him, blotting out their transgressions for
 the Redeemer's sake, is a proof of abundant mercy, and
 encourages us to trust in him. Let us trust in his mercy and
 grace, and abound in his work, expecting mercies from him alone.
22798
 * David's desire toward God. (1,2) His satisfaction in God.
 (3-6) His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. (7-11)

 #1,2 Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God
 the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with
 those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He
 arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot
 give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of
 the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing
 in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his
 immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his
 portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world
 appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of
 heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God
 upon earth.