Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22900

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 120 lines

22906
 #13-21 Whatever deep waters of affliction or temptation we sink
 into, whatever floods of trouble or ungodly men seem ready to
 overwhelm us, let us persevere in prayer to our Lord to save us.
 The tokens of God's favour to us are enough to keep our spirits
 from sinking in the deepest outward troubles. If we think well
 of God, and continue to do so under the greatest hardships, we
 need not fear but he will do well for us. And if at any time we
 are called on to suffer reproach and shame, for Christ's sake,
 this may be our comfort, that he knows it. It bears hard on one
 that knows the worth of a good name, to be oppressed with a bad
 one; but when we consider what a favour it is to be accounted
 worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus, we shall see that
 there is no reason why it should be heart-breaking to us. The
 sufferings of Christ were here particularly foretold, which
 proves the Scripture to be the word of God; and how exactly
 these predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which proves
 him to be the true Messiah. The vinegar and the gall given to
 him, were a faint emblem of that bitter cup which he drank up,
 that we might drink the cup of salvation. We cannot expect too
 little from men, miserable comforters are they all; nor can we
 expect too much from the God of all comfort and consolation.

22915
 #22-29 These are prophecies of the destruction of Christ's
 persecutors. Verses #22,23|, are applied to the judgments of God
 upon the unbelieving Jews, in #Ro 11:9,10|. When the supports of
 life and delights of sense, through the corruption of our
 nature, are made the food and fuel of sin, then our table is a
 snare. Their sin was, that they would not see, but shut their
 eyes against the light, loving darkness rather; their punishment
 was, that they should not see, but should be given up to their
 own hearts' lusts which hardened them. Those who reject God's
 great salvation proffered to them, may justly fear that his
 indignation will be poured out upon them. If men will sin, the
 Lord will reckon for it. But those that have multiplied to sin,
 may yet find mercy, through the righteousness of the Mediator.
 God shuts not out any from that righteousness; the gospel
 excludes none who do not, by unbelief, shut themselves out. But
 those who are proud and self-willed, so that they will not come
 in to God's righteousness, shall have their doom accordingly;
 they themselves decide it. Let those not expect any benefit
 thereby, who are not glad to be beholden to it. It is better to
 be poor and sorrowful, with the blessing of the Lord, than rich
 and jovial, and under his curse. This may be applied to Christ.
 He was, when on earth, a man of sorrows that had not where to
 lay his head; but God exalted him. Let us call upon the Lord,
 and though poor and sorrowful, guilty and defiled, his salvation
 will set us up on high.

22923
 #30-36 The psalmist concludes the psalm with holy joy and
 praise, which he began with complaints of his grief. It is a
 great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises are more
 pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices. The
 humble shall look to him, and be glad; those that seek him
 through Christ shall live and be comforted. God will do great
 things for the gospel church, in which let all who wish well to
 it rejoice. A seed shall serve him on earth, and his servants
 shall inherit his heavenly kingdom. Those that love his name
 shall dwell before him for ever. He that spared not his own Son,
 but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
 freely give us all things? Arise, thou great Restorer of the
 ancient places to dwell in, and turn away ungodliness from thy
 people.
22930
 * The speedy destruction of the wicked, and the preservation of
 the godly.

 - This psalm is almost the same as the last five verses of #Ps
 40|. While here we behold Jesus Christ set forth in poverty and
 distress, we also see him denouncing just and fearful punishment
 on his Jewish, heathen, and antichristian enemies; and pleading
 for the joy and happiness of his friends, to his Father's
 honour. Let us apply these things to our own troubled
 circumstances, and in a believing manner bring them, and the
 sinful causes thereof, to our remembrance. Urgent trials should
 always awake fervent prayers.
22935
 * Prayers that God would deliver and save. (1-13) Believing
 praises. (14-24)

 #1-13 David prays that he might never be made ashamed of
 dependence upon God. With this petition every true believer may
 come boldly to the throne of grace. The gracious care of Divine
 providence in our birth and infancy, should engage us to early
 piety. He that was our Help from our birth, ought to be our Hope
 from our youth. Let none expect ease or comfort from the world.
 Those who love the Lord, often are hated and persecuted; men
 wondered at for their principles and conduct; but the Lord has
 been their strong refuge. The faithful servants of God may be
 assured that he will not cast them off in old age, nor forsake
 them when their strength fails.

22948
 #14-24 The psalmist declares that the righteousness of Christ,
 and the great salvation obtained thereby, shall be the chosen
 subject of his discourse. Not on a sabbath only, but on every
 day of the week, of the year, of his life. Not merely at stated
 returns of solemn devotion, but on every occasion, all the day
 long. Why will he always dwell on this? Because he knew not the
 numbers thereof. It is impossible to measure the value or the
 fulness of these blessings. The righteousness is unspeakable,
 the salvation everlasting. God will not cast off his grey-headed
 servants when no longer capable of labouring as they have done.
 The Lord often strengthens his people in their souls, when
 nature is sinking into decay. And it is a debt which the old
 disciples of Christ owe to succeeding generations, to leave
 behind them a solemn testimony to the advantage of religion, and
 the truth of God's promises; and especially to the everlasting
 righteousness of the Redeemer. Assured of deliverance and
 victory, let us spend our days, while waiting the approach of
 death, in praising the Holy One of Israel with all our powers.
 And while speaking of his righteousness, and singing his
 praises, we shall rise above fears and infirmities, and have
 earnests of the joys of heaven. The work of redemption ought,
 above all God's works, to be spoken of by us in our praises. The
 Lamb that was slain, and has redeemed us to God, is worthy of
 all blessing and praise.