Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/spurgeon/ps13.5

Text File | 1993-03-23 | 12KB | 217 lines

                           EXPOSITION.

        What a change is here! Lo, the rain is over and gone, and
the time of the singing of birds is come. The mercy-seat has so
refreshed the poor weeper, that he clears his throat for a song.
If we have mourned with him, let us now dance with him. David's
heart was more often out of tune than his harp. He begins many of
his Psalms sighing, and ends them singing; and others he begins
in joy and ends in sorrow; "so that one would think," says Peter
Moulin, "that those Psalms had been composed by two men of a
contrary humour." It is worthy to be observed that the joy is all
the greater because of the previous sorrow, as calm is all the
more delightful in recollection of the preceding tempest.

        "Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy."

        Here is his avowal of his confidence: "_But I have
trusted in thy mercy_." For many a year it had been his wont to
make the Lord his castle and tower of defence, and he smiles from
behind the same bulwark still. He is sure of his faith, and his
faith makes him sure; had he doubted the reality of his trust in
God, he would have blocked up one of the windows through which
the sun of heaven delights to shine. Faith is now in exercise,
and consequently is readily discovered; there is never a doubt in
our heart about the existence of faith while it is in action;
when the hare or partridge is quiet we see it not, but let the
same be in motion and we soon perceive it. All the powers of his
enemies had not driven the Psalmist from his stronghold. As the
shipwrecked mariner clings to the mast, so did David cling to his
faith; he neither could nor would give up his confidence in the
Lord his God. O that we may profit by his example, and hold by
our faith as by our very life!

        Now hearken to the music which faith makes in the soul.
The bells of the mind are all ringing, "_My heart shall rejoice
in thy salvation_." There is joy and feasting within doors, for a
glorious guest has come, and the fatted calf is killed. Sweet is
the music which sounds from the strings of the heart. But this is
not all; _the voice_ joins itself in the blessed work, and the
tongue keeps tune with the soul, while the writer declares, "_I
will sing unto the Lord_."

        "I will praise thee every day.
        Now thine anger's turned away;
        Comfortable thoughts arise
        From the bleeding sacrifice.'

        The Psalm closes with a sentence which is a refutation of
the charge of forgetfulness which David had uttered in the first
verse, "_He hath dealt bountifully with me_." So shall it be with
us if we wait awhile. The complaint which in our haste we utter
shall be joyfully retracted, and we shall witness that the Lord
hath dealt bountifully with us.

              EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

        Verse 5.--"_I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall
rejoice in thy salvation_." Faith rejoiceth in tribulations, and
triumpheth before the victory. The patient is glad when he feels
his physic to work, though it make him sick for the time, because
he hopes it will procure health. We rejoice in afflictions, not
that they are joyous for the present, but because they shall work
for our good. As faith rejoiceth, so it triumpheth in assurance
of good success; for it seeth not according to outward
appearance, but when all means fail, it keepeth God in sight, and
beholdeth him present for our succour.--^John Ball.

        Verse 5.--"_I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall
rejoice in thy salvation_." Though passion possess our bodies,
let "patience possess our souls." The law of our profession binds
us to a warfare; _patiendo vincimus_, our troubles shall end, our
victory is eternal. Here David's triumph (#Ps 18:38-40|), "I have
wounded them, that they were not able to rise; they are fallen
under my feet. Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up
against me. Thou hast also given me the neck of mine enemies,"
etc. They have wounds for their wounds; and the treaders down of
the poor are trodden down by the poor. The Lord will subdue those
to us that would have subdued us to themselves; and though for a
short time they rode over our heads, yet now at last we shall
everlastingly tread upon their necks. Lo, then, the reward of
humble patience and confident hope. _Speramus et superamus_. #De
32:31|. "Our God is not as their God, even our enemies being
judges." #Ps 20:7|. "Some put their trust in chariots, and some
in horses." But no chariot hath strength to oppose, nor horse
swiftness to escape, when God pursues. Verse #8|. "They are
brought down and fallen; we are risen and stand upright." Their
trust hath deceived them; down they fall, and never to rise. Our
God hath helped us; we are risen, not for a breathing space, but
to stand upright for ever.--^Thomas Adams.

        Verse 5.--None live so easily, so pleasantly, as those
that live by faith.--^Matthew Henry.

        Verse 5.--Wherefore I say again, "Live by faith; " again
I say, always live by it, rejoice through faith in the Lord. I
dare boldly say it is thy fault and neglect of its exercise if
thou suffer either thy own melancholy humour or Satan to
interrupt thy mirth and spiritual alacrity, and to detain thee in
dumps and pensiveness at any time. What if thou beest of a sad
constitution? of a dark completion? Is not faith able to rectify
nature? Is it not stronger than any hellebore? Doth not an
experienced divine and physician worthily prefer one dram of it
before all the drugs in the apothecary's shop for this effect?
Hath it not sovereign virtue in it, to excerebrate all cares,
expectorate all fears and griefs, evacuate the mind of all ill
thoughts and passions, to exhilarate the whole man? But what good
doth it to any to have a cordial by him if he use it not? To wear
a sword, soldier-like, by his side, and not to draw it forth in
an assault? When a dump overtakes thee, if thou wouldst say to
thy soul in a word or two, "Soul, why art thou disquieted? know
and consider in whom thou believest," would it not presently
return to its rest again? Would not the Master rebuke the winds
and storms, and calm thy troubled mind presently? Hath not every
man something or other he useth to put away dumps, to drive away
the evil spirit, as David with his harp? Some with merry company,
some with a cup of sack, most with a pipe of tobacco, without
which they cannot ride or go. If they miss it a day together they
are troubled with rheums, dulness of spirits. They that live in
fens and ill airs dare not stir out without a morning draught of
some strong liquor. Poor, silly, smoky helps, in comparison with
the least taste (but for dishonouring faith I would say whiff) or
draught of faith.--^Samuel Ward, 1577-1653.

        Verse 6.--"_I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath
dealt bountifully with me_." Faith keeps the soul from sinking
under heavy trials, by bringing in former experiences of the
power, mercy, and faithfulness of God to the afflicted souls.
Hereby was the Psalmist supported in distress. Oh, saith faith,
remember what God hath done both for thy outward and inward man:
he hath not only delivered thy body when in trouble, but he hath
done great things for thy soul; he hath brought thee out of a
state of black nature, entered into a covenant relation with
thee, made his goodness pass before thee; he hath helped thee to
pray, and many times hath heard thy prayers and thy tears. Hath
he not formerly brought thee out of the horrible pit, and out of
the miry clay, and put a new song in thy mouth, and made thee to
resolve never to give way to such unbelieving thoughts and fears
again? and how unbecoming is it for thee now to sink in
trouble?--^John Willison, 1680-1750.

        Verse 6.--"_I will sing unto the Lord_." Mr. John Philpot
having lain for some time in the bishop of London's coal-house,
the bishop sent for him, and amongst other questions, asked him
why they were so merry in prison? singing (as the prophet speaks)
_Exultantes in rebus pessimis_, rejoicing in your naughtiness,
whereas you should rather lament and be sorry. Mr. Philpot
answered, "My Lord, the mirth which we make is but in singing
certain Psalms, as we are commanded by Paul to rejoice in the
Lord, singing together hymns and Psalms, for we are in a dark,
comfortless place, and therefore, we thus solace ourselves. I
trust, therefore, your lordship will not be angry, seeing the
apostle saith, 'if any be of an upright heart, let him sing
Psalms;' and we, to declare that we are of an upright mind to
God, though we are in misery, yet refresh ourselves with such
singing." After some other discourse, saith he, "I was carried
back to my lord's coal-house, where I, with my six fellow
prisoners, do rouze together in the straw, as cheerfully (I thank
God) as others do in their beds of down." And in a letter to a
friend, he thus writes: "Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his wife,
and thank them for providing me some ease in my prison; and tell
them that though my lord's coal-house be very black, yet it is
more to be desired of the faithful than the Queen's palace. The
world wonders how we can be so merry under such extreme miseries;
but our God is omnipotent, who turns misery into felicity.
Believe me, there is no such joy in the world, as the people of
God have under the cross of Christ: I speak by experience, and
therefore believe me, and fear nothing that the world can do unto
you, for when they imprison our bodies, they set our souls at
liberty to converse with God; when they cast us down, they lift
us up; when they kill us, then do they send us to everlasting
life. What greater glory can there be than to be made conformable
to our Head, Christ? And this is done by affliction. O good God,
what am I, upon whom thou shouldst bestow so great a mercy? This
is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad
in it. This is the way, though it be narrow, which is full of the
peace of God, and leadeth to eternal bliss. Oh, how my heart
leapeth for joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof! God
forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great glory.
I have so much joy, that though I be in a place of darkness and
mourning, yet I cannot lament; but both night and day am so full
of joy, as I never was so merry before; the Lord's name be
praised for ever. Our enemies do fret, fume, and gnash their
teeth at it. O pray instantly that this joy may never be taken
from us; for it passeth all the delights in this world. This is
the peace of God that passeth all understanding. This peace, the
more his chosen be afflicted, the more they feel it, and
therefore cannot faint neither for fire nor water."--^Samuel
Clarke's "Mirrour," 1671.

        Verse 6.--"_I will sing unto the Lord_." How far
different is the end of this Psalm from the beginning!--^John
Trapp.

        Verse 6.--"_I will sing unto the Lord_," etc. I never
knew what it was for God to stand by me at all turns, and at
every offer of Satan to afflict me, etc., as I have found him
since I came in hither; for look how fears have presented
themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yet, when I have
started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God,
as being very tender of me, hath not suffered me to be molested,
but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against
all; insomuch that I have often said, _Were it lawful, I could
pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake_. #Ec
7:14; 2Co 1:5|.--^John Bunyan, 1628-1688.

                       HINTS TO PREACHERS.

        Verse 5.--Experience and perseverance. "I have," "my
heart shall."

        Verse 6.--The bountiful giver and the hearty singer.

        _The whole Psalm_ would make a good subject, showing the
stages from mourning to rejoicing, dwelling especially upon the
turning point, prayer. There are two verses for each, mourning,
praying, rejoicing.--^A. G. Brown.