Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/spurgeon/ps6.1

Text File | 1993-03-17 | 8KB | 154 lines

        TITLE.--This Psalm is commonly known as the first of _THE
PENITENTIAL PSALMS_, [the other six are, #Ps 32; 38; 41; 102;
130; 143|.] and certainly its language well becomes the lip of a
penitent, for it expresses at once the sorrow (verses #3,6,7|),
the humiliation (verses #2,4|), and the hatred of sin (verse
#8|), which are the unfailing marks of the contrite spirit when
if turns to God. O Holy Spirit, beget in us the true repentance
which needeth not to be repented of. The title of this Psalm is,
"_To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith_, [see #1Ch
15:21|] A Psalm of David_," that is, to the chief musician with
stringed instruments, upon the eight, probably the octave. Some
think it refers to the bass or tenor key, which would certainly
be well adapted to this mournful ode. But we are not able to
understand these old musical terms, and even the term "_Selah_,"
still remains untranslated. This, however, should be no
difficulty in our way. We probably lose but very little by our
ignorance, and it may serve to confirm our faith. It is a proof
of the high antiquity of these Psalms that they contain words,
the meaning of which is lost even to the best scholars of the
Hebrew language. Surely these are but incidental (accidental I
might almost say, if I did not believe them to be designed by
God), proofs of their being, what they profess to be, the ancient
writings of King David of olden times.

        DIVISION.--You will observe that the Psalm is readily
divided into two parts. First, there is the Psalmist's plea in
his great distress, reaching from #1-7|. Then you have, from
#8-10|, quite a different theme. The Psalmist has change and his
note. He leaves the minor key, and betakes himself to sublime
strains. He tunes his note to the high key of confidence, and
declares that God hath heard his prayer, and hath delivered him
out of all his troubles.

                           EXPOSITION.

        Having read through the first division, in order to see
it as a whole, we will now look at it verse by verse. "_O Lord,
rebuke me not in thine anger_." The Psalmist is very conscious
that he deserves to be rebuked, and he feels, moreover, that the
rebuke in some form or other must come upon him, if not for
condemnation, yet for conviction and sanctification. "Corn is
cleaned with wind, and the soul with chastenings." It were folly
to pray against the golden hand which enriches us by its blows.
He does not ask that the rebuke may be totally withheld, for he
might thus lose a blessing in disguise; but, "Lord, rebuke me not
in _thine anger_." If thou remindest me of my sin, it is good;
but, oh, remind me not of it as one incensed against me, lest thy
servant's heart should sink in despair. Thus saith Jeremiah, "O
Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest
thou bring me to nothing." I know that I must be chastened, and
though I shrink from the rod yet do I feel that it will be for my
benefit; but, oh, my God, "_chasten me not in thy hot
displeasure_," lest the rod become a sword, and lest in smiting,
thou shouldest also kill. So may we pray that the chastisements
of our gracious God, if they may not be entirely removed, may at
least be sweetened by the consciousness that they are "not in
anger, but in his dear covenant love."

              EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

        Whole Psalm.--David was a man that was often exercised
with sickness and troubles from enemies, and in all the instances
almost that we meet with in the Psalms of these his afflictions,
we may observe the outward occasions of trouble brought him under
the suspicion of God's wrath and his own iniquity; so that he was
seldom sick, or persecuted, but this called on the disquiet of
conscience, and brought his sin to remembrance; as in this Psalm,
which was made on the occasion of his sickness, as appears from
verse #8|, wherein he expresseth the vexation of his soul under
the apprehension of God's anger; all his other griefs running
into this channel, as little brooks, losing themselves in a great
river, change their name and nature. He that was at first only
concerned for his sickness, is now wholly concerned with sorrow
and smart under the fear and hazard of his soul's condition; the
like we may see in #Ps 38|. and many places more.--^Richard
Gilpin, 1677.

        Verse 1.--"_Rebuke me not_." God hath two means by which
he reduceth his children to obedience; his word, by which he
rebukes them; and his rod, by which he chastiseth them. The word
precedes, admonishing them by his servants whom he hath sent in
all ages to call sinners to repentance: of the which David
himself saith, "Let the righteous rebuke me;" and as a father
doth first rebuke his disordered child, so doth the Lord speak to
them. But when men neglect the warnings of his word, then God as
a good father, takes up the rod and beats them. Our Saviour
wakened the three disciples in the garden three times, but seeing
that served not, he told them that Judas and his band were coming
to awaken them whom his own voice could not waken.--^A. Symson,
1638.

        Verse 1.--"_Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger_," etc.
He does not altogether refuse punishment, for that would be
unreasonable; and to be without it, he judged would be more
hurtful than beneficial to him; but what he is afraid of is the
wrath of God, which threatens sinners with ruin and perdition. To
anger and indignation David tacitly opposes fatherly and gentle
chastisement, and this last he was willing to bear.--^John
Calvin, 1509--1564.

        Verse 1.--"_O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger_."

        The anger of the Lord? Oh, dreadful thought!
        How can a creature frail as man endure
        The tempest of his wrath? Ah, whither flee
        To 'scape the punishment he well deserves?
        Flee to the cross! the great atonement there
        Will shield the sinner, if he supplicate
        For pardon with repentance true and deep,
        And faith that questions not. Then will the frow
        Of anger pass off the face of God,
        Like a black tempest cloud that hides the sun.
^Anon.

        Verse 1.--"_Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger_," etc.;
that is, do not lay upon me that thou hast threatened in thy law;
where anger is not put for the decree, nor the execution, but for
the denouncing. So (#Mt 3:11; Hos 11:9|), "I will not execute the
fierceness of mine anger," that is, I will not execute my wrath
as I have declared it. Again, it is said, he executes punishment
on the wicked; he declares it not only, but executeth it, so
anger is put for the execution of anger.--^Richard Stock, 1641.

        Verse 1.--"_Neither chasten me in thine hot
displeasure_."

        O keep up life and peace within,
        If I must feel thy chastening rod!
        Yet kill not me, but kill my sin,
        And let me know thou art my God.
        O give my soul some sweet foretaste
        Of that which I shall shortly see!
        Let faith and love cry to the last,
        "Come, Lord, I trust myself with thee!"

^Richard Baxter, 1615-1691.

                       HINTS TO PREACHERS.

        Verse 1.--_A Sermon for afflicted souls_. I. God's
twofold dealings. (1) _Rebuke_ by a telling sermon, a judgment on
another, a slight trial in our own person, or a solemn monition
in our conscience by the Spirit. (2) _Chastening_. This follows
the other when the first is disregarded. Pain, losses,
bereavements, melancholy, and other trials. II. The evils in them
to be most dreaded, anger and hot displeasure. III. The means to
avert these ills. Humiliation, confession, amendment, faith in
the Lord, etc.

        Verse 1.--The believer's greatest dread, the anger of
God. What this fact reveals in the heart? Why it is so? What
removes the fear?