Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/570

562 merciful to me, according to thy word. I desire thy mercy promised, and depend upon the promise for it." They that are governed by the precepts of the word, and are resolved to keep them, (v. 57.) may plead the promises of the word, and take the comfort of them.

59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

David had said he would keep God's word, (v. 57.) and it was well said; now here he tells us how and in what method he pursued that resolution.

1. He thought on his ways; he thought beforehand what he should do, pondering the path of his feet, (Prov. iv. 26.) that he might walk surely, and not at all adventures; he thought after what he had done, reflected upon his life past, and recollected the paths he had walked in, and the steps he had taken. The word signifies a fixed, abiding, thought. Some make it an allusion to those who work embroidery, who are very exact and careful to cover the least flaw; or, to those who cast up their accounts, who reckon with themselves, What do I owe? What am I worth? I thought not on my wealth, (as the covetous man, xlix. 11.) but on my ways; not what I have, but what I do: what we do will follow us into another world, when what we have must be left behind. Many are critical enough in their remarks upon other people's ways, who never think of their own; but let every man prove his own work.

2. He turned his feet to God's testimonies; he determined to make the word of God his rule, and to walk by that rule. He turned from the by-paths to which he had turned aside, and returned to God's testimonies: he turned not only his eye to them, but his feet; his affections to the love of God's word, and his conversation to the practice of it. The bent and inclinations of his soul were toward God's testimonies, and his conversation was governed by them. Penitent reflections must produce pious resolutions.

3. He did this immediately, and without demur; (v. 60.) I made haste, and delayed not. When we are under convictions of sin, we must strike while the iron is hot, and not think to defer the prosecution of them, as Felix did, to a more convenient season; when we are called to duty, we must lose no time, but set about it to-day, while it is called to-day.

Now, this account, which David here gives of himself, may refer to his constant practice every day; he reflected on his ways at night, directed his feet to God's testimonies in the morning, and what his hand found to do that was good, he did it without delay; or it may refer to his first acquaintance with God and religion, when he began to throw off the vanity of childhood and youth, and to remember his Creator; that blessed change was, by the grace of God, thus wrought. Note, (1.) Conversion begins in serious consideration, Ezek. xviii. 28. Luke xv. 17. (2.) Consideration must end in a sound conversion. To what purpose have we thought on our ways, if we do not turn our feet with all speed to God's testimonies?

61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Here is, 1. The malice of David's enemies against him; they were wicked men, who hated him for his godliness; there were bands or troops of them confederate against him; they did him all the mischief they could, they robbed him; having endeavoured to take away his good name, (v. 51.) they set upon his goods, and spoiled him of them, either by plunder in time of war, or by fines and confiscations under colour of law. Saul (it is likely) seized his effects; Absalom his palace; the Amalekites rifled Ziklag. Worldly wealth is what we may be robbed of. David, though a man of war, could not keep his own. Thieves break through and steal.

2. The testimony of David's conscience for him, that he had held fast his religion when he was stript of every thing else, as Job did, when the bands of the Chaldeans and Sabeans had robbed him; But I have not forgotten thy law. No care or grief should drive God's word out of our minds, or hinder our comfortable relish of it, and converse with it. Nor must we ever think the worse of the ways of God for any trouble we meet with in those ways, nor fear being losers by our religion at last, however we may be losers for it now.

62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

Though David is, in this psalm, much in prayer, yet he did not neglect the duty of thanksgiving; for those that pray much will have much to give thanks for.

See, 1. How much God's hand was eyed in his thanksgivings; he does not say, "I will give thanks, because of thy favours to me, which I have the comfort of," but, "Because of thy righteous judgments; all the disposals of thy providence in wisdom and equity, which thou hast the glory of." We must give thanks for the asserting of God's honour, and the accomplishing of his word in all he does in the government of the world.

2. How much David's heart was set upon his thanksgivings; he would rise at midnight, to give thanks to God. Great and good thoughts kept him awake, and refreshed him, instead of sleep; and so zealous was he for the honour of God, that, when others were in their beds, he was upon his knees at his devotions. He did not affect to be seen of men in it, but gave thanks in secret, where our heavenly Father sees. He had praised God in the courts of the Lord's house, and yet he will do it in his bed-chamber. Public worship will not excuse us from secret worship. When David found his heart affected with God's judgments, he immediately offered up those affections to God, in actual adorations, not deferring, lest they should cool. Yet observe his reverence; he did not lie still and give thanks, but rose out of his bed, perhaps, in the cold and in the dark, to do it the more solemnly. And see what a good husband he was of time; when he could not lie and sleep, he would rise and pray.

63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

David had often expressed the great love he had to God, here he expresses the great love he had to the people of God; and observe,

1. Why he loved them; not so much because they were his best friends, most firm to his interest, and most forward to serve him, but because they were such as feared God, and kept his precepts, and so did him honour, and helped him to support his kingdom among men. Our love to the saints is then sincere, when we love them for the sake of what we see of God in them, and the service they do to him.

2. How he showed his love to them; he was a companion of them. He had not only a spiritual communion with them in the same faith and hope, but he joined with them in holy ordinances in the courts of the Lord, where rich and poor, prince and peasant, meet together; he sympathized with them in their joys and sorrows, (Heb. x. 33.) he conversed familiarly with them, communicated his