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v23050
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1994-03-02
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23052
* The psalmist's troubles and temptation. (1-10) He encourages
himself by the remembrance of God's help of his people. (11-20)
#1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to
have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him. In
the day of his trouble the psalmist did not seek for the
diversion of business or amusement, but he sought God, and his
favour and grace. Those that are under trouble of mind, must pray
it away. He pored upon the trouble; the methods that should have
relieved him did but increase his grief. When he remembered God,
it was only the Divine justice and wrath. His spirit was
overwhelmed, and sank under the load. But let not the
remembrance of the comforts we have lost, make us unthankful for
those that are left. Particularly he called to remembrance the
comforts with which he supported himself in former sorrows. Here
is the language of a sorrowful, deserted soul, walking in
darkness; a common case even among those that fear the Lord,
#Isa 50:10|. Nothing wounds and pierces like the thought of
God's being angry. God's own people, in a cloudy and dark day,
may be tempted to make wrong conclusions about their spiritual
state, and that of God's kingdom in the world. But we must not
give way to such fears. Let faith answer them from the
Scripture. The troubled fountain will work itself clear again;
and the recollection of former times of joyful experience often
raises a hope, tending to relief. Doubts and fears proceed from
the want and weakness of faith. Despondency and distrust under
affliction, are too often the infirmities of believers, and, as
such, are to be thought upon by us with sorrow and shame. When,
unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings.
23062
#11-20 The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful
remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is
God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. We are sure
that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep
waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which
cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was
typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness
of time, both by price and power. If we have harboured doubtful
thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate
on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up
for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.
23072
* Attention called for. (1-8) The history of Israel. (9-39)
Their settlement in Canaan. (40-55) The mercies of God to Israel
contrasted with their ingratitude. (56-72)
#1-8 These are called dark and deep sayings, because they are
carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a
particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that
the church may abide for ever. Also, that the providences of
God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to
conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our
resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road
to apostasy; those that do not set their hearts right, will not
be stedfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and
wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young
persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful,
must not obey sinful orders, or copy sinful examples.
23080
#9-39. Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart.
Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his
laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness
and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and
distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe
the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his
indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as
their happiness at last, who can not trust his providence in the
way to it. To all that by faith and prayer, ask, seek, and
knock, these doors of heaven shall at any time be opened; and
our distrust of God is a great aggravation of our sins. He
expressed his resentment of their provocation; not in denying
what they sinfully lusted after, but in granting it to them.
Lust is contented with nothing. Those that indulge their lust,
will never be estranged from it. Those hearts are hard indeed,
that will neither be melted by the mercies of the Lord, nor
broken by his judgments. Those that sin still, must expect to be
in trouble still. And the reason why we live with so little
comfort, and to so little purpose, is, because we do not live by
faith. Under these rebukes they professed repentance, but they
were not sincere, for they were not constant. In Israel's
history we have a picture of our own hearts and lives. God's
patience, and warnings, and mercies, embolden them to harden
their hearts against his word. And the history of kingdoms is
much the same. Judgments and mercies have been little attended
to, until the measure of their sins has been full. And higher
advantages have not kept churches from declining from the
commandments of God. Even true believers recollect, that for
many a year they abused the kindness of Providence. When they
come to heaven, how will they admire the Lord's patience and
mercy in bringing them to his kingdom!