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v23500
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1994-03-02
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23502
#23-28 Bodily distempers soon weaken our strength, then what can
we expect but that our months should be cut off in the midst;
and what should we do but provide accordingly? We must own God's
hand in it; and must reconcile this to his love, for often those
that have used their strength well, have it weakened; and those
who, as we think, can very ill be spared, have their days
shortened. It is very comfortable, in reference to all the
changes and dangers of the church, to remember that Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And in reference to
the death of our bodies, and the removal of friends, to remember
that God is an everlasting God. Do not let us overlook the
assurance this psalm contains of a happy end to all the
believer's trials. Though all things are changing, dying,
perishing, like a vesture folding up and hastening to decay, yet
Jesus lives, and thus all is secure, for he hath said, Because I
live ye shall live also.
23508
* An exhortation to bless God for his mercy. (1-5) And to the
church and to all men. (6-14) For the constancy of his mercy.
(15-18) For the government of the world. (19-22)
#1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good
things from us, and we are restored to the favour of God, who
bestows good things on us. Think of the provocation; it was sin,
and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned!
God is still forgiving, as we are still sinning and repenting.
The body finds the melancholy consequences of Adam's offence, it
is subject to many infirmities, and the soul also. Christ alone
forgives all our sins; it is he alone who heals all our
infirmities. And the person who finds his sin cured, has a
well-grounded assurance that it is forgiven. When God, by the
graces and comforts of his Spirit, recovers his people from
their decays, and fills them with new life and joy, which is to
them an earnest of eternal life and joy, they may then be said
to return to the days of their youth, #Job 33:25|.
23513
#6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good
to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his
ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to
walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full
of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every
occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would
become of us, if God should deal so with us? The Scripture says
a great deal of the mercy of God, and we all have experienced
it. The father pities his children that are weak in knowledge,
and teaches them; pities them when they are froward, and bears
with them; pities them when they are sick, and comforts them;
pities them when they are fallen, and helps them to rise; pities
them when they have offended, and, upon their submission,
forgives them; pities them when wronged, and rights them: thus
the Lord pities those that fear him. See why he pities. He
considers the frailty of our bodies, and the folly of our souls,
how little we can do, how little we can bear; in all which his
compassion appears.
23522
#15-18 How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the
garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for
being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but
the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not
only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and
liable to be cropped and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such
is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it
himself. God's mercy is better than life, for it will outlive
it. His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto
children's children, who tread in the footsteps of their
forefathers' piety. Then shall mercy be preserved to them.
23526
#19-22 He who made all, rules all, and both by a word of power.
He disposes all persons and things to his own glory. There is a
world of holy angels who are ever praising him. Let all his
works praise him. Such would have been our constant delight, if
we had not been fallen creatures. Such it will in a measure
become, if we are born of God. Such it will be for ever in
heaven; nor can we be perfectly happy till we can take unwearied
pleasure in perfect obedience to the will of our God. And let
the feeling of each redeemed heart be, Bless the Lord, O my
soul.
23530
* God's majesty in the heavens, The creation of the sea, and the
dry land. (1-9) His provision for all creatures. (10-18) The
regular course of day and night, and God's sovereign power over
all the creatures. (19-30) A resolution to continue praising
God. (31-35)
#1-9 Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the
Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly
shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him
is no darkness at all. The Lord Jesus, the Son of his love, is
the Light of the world.
23539
#10-18 When we reflect upon the provision made for all
creatures, we should also notice the natural worship they render
to God. Yet man, forgetful ungrateful man, enjoys the largest
measure of his Creator's kindness. the earth, varying in
different lands. Nor let us forget spiritual blessings; the
fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of
everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness.
Does God provide for the inferior creatures, and will he not be
a refuge to his people?
23548
#19-30 We are to praise and magnify God for the constant
succession of day and night. And see how those are like to the
wild beasts, who wait for the twilight, and have fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness. Does God listen to the
language of mere nature, even in ravenous creatures, and shall
he not much more interpret favourably the language of grace in
his own people, though weak and broken groanings which cannot be
uttered? There is the work of every day, which is to be done in
its day, which man must apply to every morning, and which he
must continue in till evening; it will be time enough to rest
when the night comes, in which no man can work. The psalmist
wonders at the works of God. The works of art, the more closely
they are looked upon, the more rough they appear; the works of
nature appear more fine and exact. They are all made in wisdom,
for they all answer the end they were designed to serve. Every
spring is an emblem of the resurrection, when a new world rises,
as it were, out of the ruins of the old one. But man alone lives
beyond death. When the Lord takes away his breath, his soul
enters on another state, and his body will be raised, either to
glory or to misery. May the Lord send forth his Spirit, and
new-create our souls to holiness.