Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc21/v23850

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 141 lines

23857
 * The general scope and design of this psalm is to magnify the
 Divine law, and make it honourable. There are ten words by which
 Divine revelation is called in this psalm, and each expresses
 what God expects from us, and what we may expect from him.
  1. God's law; this is enacted by him as our Sovereign.
  2. His way; this is the rule of his providence.
  3. His testimonies; they are solemnly declared to the world.
  4. His commandments; given with authority.
  5. His precepts; not left as indifferent matters to us.
  6. His word, or saying; it is the declaration of his mind.
  7. His judgments; framed in infinite wisdom.
  8. His righteousness; it is the rule and standard of what is
     right.
  9. His statutes; they are always binding.
  10. His truth or faithfulness; it is eternal truth, it shall
      endure for ever.

 #1-8 This psalm may be considered as the statement of a
 believer's experience. As far as our views, desires, and
 affections agree with what is here expressed, they come from the
 influences of the Holy Spirit, and no further. The pardoning
 mercy of God in Christ, is the only source of a sinner's
 happiness. And those are most happy, who are preserved most free
 from the defilement of sin, who simply believe God's
 testimonies, and depend on his promises. If the heart be divided
 between him and the world, it is evil. But the saints carefully
 avoid all sin; they are conscious of much evil that clogs them
 in the ways of God, but not of that wickedness which draws them
 out of those ways. The tempter would make men think they
 are at liberty to follow the word of God or not, as they please.
 But the desire and prayer of a good man agree with the will and
 command of God. If a man expects by obedience in one thing to
 purchase indulgence for disobedience in others, his hypocrisy
 will be detected; if he is not ashamed in this world,
 everlasting shame will be his portion. The psalmist coveted to
 learn the laws of God, to give God the glory. And believers see
 that if God forsakes them, the temper will be too hard for them.
23865
 #9-16 To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin
 of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing
 false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our
 own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the
 purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth
 laying up, and there is no laying it up safe but in our hearts,
 that we may oppose God's precepts to the dominion of sin, his
 promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its
 violence. Let this be our plea with Him to teach us his
 statutes, that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also
 partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with
 the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way
 of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of
 Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good
 purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works. I will not
 only think of thy statutes, but do them with delight. And it
 will be well to try the sincerity of our obedience by tracing
 the spring of it; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in
 appointed duties.

23873
 #17-24 If God deals in strict justice with us, we all perish. We
 ought to spend our lives in his service; we shall find true life
 in keeping his word. Those that would see the wondrous things of
 God's law and gospel, must beg him to give them understanding,
 by the light of his Spirit. Believers feel themselves strangers
 on earth; they fear missing their way, and losing comfort by
 erring from God's commandments. Every sanctified soul hungers
 after the word of God, as food which there is no living without.
 There is something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin.
 God can silence lying lips; reproach and contempt may humble and
 do us good, and then they shall be removed. Do we find the
 weight of the cross is above that we are able to bear? He that
 bore it for us will enable us to bear it; upheld by him we
 cannot sink. It is sad when those who should protect the
 innocent, are their betrayers. The psalmist went on in duty, and
 he found comfort in the word of God. The comforts of the word of
 God are most pleasant to a gracious soul, when other comforts
 are made bitter; and those that would have God's testimonies to
 be their delight, must be advised by them. May the Lord direct
 us in exercising repentance of sin, and faith in Christ.

23881
 #25-32 While the souls of the children of this world cleave to
 the earth as their portion, the children of light are greatly
 burdened, because of the remains of carnal affections in their
 hearts. It is unspeakable comfort to a gracious soul, to think
 with what tenderness all its complaints are received by a
 gracious God. We can talk of the wonders of redeeming love, when
 we understand the way of God's precepts, and walk in that way.
 The penitent melts in sorrow for sin: even the patient spirit
 may melt in the sense of affliction, it is then its interest to
 pour out its soul before God. The way of lying means all false
 ways by which men deceive themselves and others, or are deceived
 by Satan and his instruments. Those who know and love the law of
 the Lord, desire to know it more, and love it better. The way of
 serious godliness is the way of truth; the only true way to
 happiness: we must always have actual regard to it. Those who
 stick to the word of God, may in faith expect and pray for
 acceptance with God. Lord, never leave me to do that by which I
 shall shame myself, and do not thou reject my services. Those
 that are going to heaven, should still press forward. God, by
 his Spirit, enlarges the hearts of his people when he gives them
 wisdom. The believer prays to be set free from sin.

23889
 #33-40 Teach me thy statutes, not the mere words, but the way of
 applying them to myself. God, by his Spirit, gives a right
 understanding. But the Spirit of revelation in the word will not
 suffice, unless we have the Spirit of wisdom in the heart. God
 puts his Spirit within us, causing us to walk in his statutes.
 The sin here prayed against is covetousness. Those that would
 have the love of God rooted in them, must get the love of the
 world rooted out; for the friendship of the world is enmity with
 God. Quicken me in thy way; to redeem time, and to do every duty
 with liveliness of spirit. Beholding vanity deadens us, and
 slackens our pace; a traveller must not stand gazing upon every
 object that presents itself to his view. The promises of God's
 word greatly relate to the preservation of the true believer.
 When Satan has drawn a child of God into worldly compliances, he
 will reproach him with the falls into which he led him. Victory
 must come from the cross of Christ. When we enjoy the sweetness
 of God's precepts, it will make us long for more acquaintance
 with them. And where God has wrought to will, he will work to
 do.

23897
 #41-48 Lord, I have by faith thy mercies in view; let me by
 prayer prevail to obtain them. And when the salvation of the
 saints is completed, it will plainly appear that it was not in
 vain to trust in God's word. We need to pray that we may never
 be afraid or ashamed to own God's truths and ways before men.
 And the psalmist resolves to keep God's law, in a constant
 course of obedience, without backsliding. The service of sin is
 slavery; the service of God is liberty. There is no full
 happiness, or perfect liberty, but in keeping God's law. We must
 never be ashamed or afraid to own our religion. The more delight
 we take in the service of God, the nearer we come to perfection.
 Not only consent to his law as good, but take pleasure in it as
 good for us. Let me put forth all the strength I have, to do it.
 Something of this mind of Christ is in every true disciple.