Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v22950

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 143 lines

22959
 * David begins with a prayer for Solomon. (1) He passes into a
 prophecy of the glories of his reign, and of Christ's kingdom.
 (2-17) Praise to God. (18-20)

 #1 This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more
 fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son,
 and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in
 him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the
 Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying
 blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that
 God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their
 duty.

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 #2-17 This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages
 in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were
 righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his
 government; but, before the end of his reign, there were
 troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to
 last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even
 the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the
 Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made,
 which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of
 Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions
 cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ,
 written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to
 render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in
 love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love
 shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of
 the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will
 support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his
 Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut
 down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again.
 His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations.
 Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served
 with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must
 serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made
 through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father,
 should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are
 under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be
 feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to
 eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM
 blessed.

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 #18-20 We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done
 for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of
 this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the
 earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he
 has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like
 David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his
 righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of
 redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives,
 praying for the spread of his gospel.
22979
 * The psalmist's temptation. (1-14) How he gained a victory over
 it. (15-20) How he profited by it. (21-28)

 #1-14 The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity
 of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces
 of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he
 resolved to abide. It is the goodness of God. This is a truth
 which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify
 against Satan's temptations. The faith even of strong believers
 may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are storms that
 will try the firmest anchors. Foolish and wicked people have
 sometimes a great share of outward prosperity. They seem to have
 the least share of the troubles of this life; and they seem to
 have the greatest share of its comforts. They live without the
 fear of God, yet they prosper, and get on in the world. Wicked
 men often spend their lives without much sickness, and end them
 without great pain; while many godly persons scarcely know what
 health is, and die with great sufferings. Often the wicked are
 not frightened, either by the remembrance of their sins, or the
 prospect of their misery, but they die without terror. We cannot
 judge men's state beyond death, by what passes at their death.
 He looked abroad, and saw many of God's people greatly at a
 loss. Because the wicked are so very daring, therefore his
 people return hither; they know not what to say to it, and the
 rather, because they drink deep of the bitter cup of affliction.
 He spoke feelingly when he spoke of his own troubles; there is
 no disputing against sense, except by faith. From all this arose
 a strong temptation to cast off religion. But let us learn that
 the true course of sanctification consists in cleansing a man
 from all pollution both of soul and body. The heart is cleansed
 by the blood of Christ laid hold upon by faith; and by the begun
 works of the Lord's Spirit, manifested in the hearty resolution,
 purpose, and study of holiness, and a blameless course of life
 and actions, the hands are cleansed. It is not in vain to serve
 God and keep his ordinances.

22993
 #15-20 The psalmist having shown the progress of his temptation,
 shows how faith and grace prevailed. He kept up respect for
 God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking
 what he had thought amiss. It is a sign that we repent of the
 evil thoughts of the heart, if we suppress them. Nothing gives
 more offence to God's children, than to say it is vain to serve
 God; for there is nothing more contrary to their universal
 experience. He prayed to God to make this matter plain to him;
 and he understood the wretched end of wicked people; even in the
 height of their prosperity they were but ripening for ruin. The
 sanctuary must be the resort of a tempted soul. The righteous
 man's afflictions end in peace, therefore he is happy; the
 wicked man's enjoyments end in destruction, therefore he is
 miserable. The prosperity of the wicked is short and uncertain,
 slippery places. See what their prosperity is; it is but a vain
 show, it is only a corrupt imagination, not substance, but a
 mere shadow; it is as a dream, which may please us a little
 while we are slumbering, yet even then it disturbs our repose.

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 #21-28 God would not suffer his people to be tempted, if his
 grace were not sufficient, not only to save them from harm, but
 to make them gainers by it. This temptation, the working of envy
 and discontent, is very painful. In reflecting upon it, the
 psalmist owns it was his folly and ignorance thus to vex
 himself. If good men, at any time, through the surprise and
 strength of temptation, think, or speak, or act amiss, they will
 reflect upon it with sorrow and shame. We must ascribe our
 safety in temptation, and our victory, not to our own wisdom,
 but to the gracious presence of God with us, and Christ's
 intercession for us. All who commit themselves to God, shall be
 guided with the counsel both of his word and of his Spirit, the
 best counsellors here, and shall be received to his glory in
 another world; the believing hopes and prospects of which will
 reconcile us to all dark providences. And the psalmist was
 hereby quickened to cleave the closer to God. Heaven itself
 could not make us happy without the presence and love of our
 God. The world and all its glory vanishes. The body will fail by
 sickness, age, and death; when the flesh fails, the conduct,
 courage, and comfort fail. But Christ Jesus, our Lord, offers to
 be all in all to every poor sinner, who renounces all other
 portions and confidences. By sin we are all far from God. And a
 profession of Christ, if we go on in sin, will increase our
 condemnation. May we draw near, and keep near, to our God, by
 faith and prayer, and find it good to do so. Those that with an
 upright heart put their trust in God, shall never want matter
 for thanksgiving to him. Blessed Lord, who hast so graciously
 promised to become our portion in the next world, prevent us
 from choosing any other in this.