Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/579

Rh (2.) He enjoyed a present satisfaction in them; They are the rejoicing of my heart, because they will be my heritage for ever. It requires the heart of a good man to see his portion in the promise of God, and not in the possession of this world.

2. He resolves to govern himself by it, and thence to take his measures; I have inclined my heart to do thy statutes. They that would have the blessings of God's testimonies, must come under the bonds of his statutes. We must look for comfort only in the way of duty, and that duty must be done, (1.) With full consent and complacency; "I have, by the grace of God, inclined my heart to it, and conquered the aversion I had to it." A good man brings his heart to his work, and then it is done well. A gracious disposition to do the will of God is the acceptable principle of all obedience. (2.) With constancy and perseverance. He would perform God's statutes always, in all instances, in the duty of every day, in a constant course of holy walking, and this to the end, without weariness. This is following the Lord fully.

15. SAMECH. 113. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Here is, 1. David's dread of the risings of sin, and the first beginnings of it; I hate vain thoughts. He does not mean that he hated them in others, for there he could not discern them, but he hated them in his own heart. Every good man makes conscience of his thoughts, for they are words to God: vain thoughts, how light soever most make of them, are sinful and hurtful, and therefore we should account them hateful and dreadful, for they not only divert the mind from that which is good, but open the door to all evil, Jer. iv. 14. Though David could not say that he was free from vain thoughts, yet he could say that he hated them; he did not countenance them, or give them any entertainment, but did what he could to keep them out, at least to keep them under. The evil I do, I allow not.

2. David's delight in the rule of duty; but thy law do I love, which forbids those vain thoughts, and threatens them. The more we love the law of God, the more we shall get the mastery of our vain thoughts, the more hateful they will be to us, as being contrary to the whole law, and the more watchful we shall be against them, lest they draw us from that we love.

114. Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Here is, 1. God's care of David to protect and defend him, which he comforts himself with, when his enemies were very malicious against him; Thou art my Hiding-place, and my Shield. David, when Saul pursued him, often betook himself to close places for shelter. In war, he guarded himself with his shield, now God was both these to him; a Hiding-place to preserve him from danger, and a Shield to preserve him in danger, his life from death, and his soul from sin. Good people are safe under God's protection. He is their Strength and their Shield, their Help and their Shield; their Sun and their Shield; their Shield and their great Reward; and here, their Hiding-place and their Shield. They may by faith retire to him, and repose in him as their Hiding-place, where they are kept in secret. They may by faith oppose his power to all the might and malice of their enemies, as their shield to quench every fiery dart.

2. David's confidence in God; he is safe, and therefore he is easy, under the divine protection. "I hope in thy word, which has acquainted me with thee, and assured me of thy kindness to me." They who depend on God's promise shall have the benefit of his power, and be taken under his special protection.

115. Depart from me, ye evil-doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Here is, 1. David's firm and fixed resolution to live a holy life; I will keep the commandments of my God. Bravely resolved! like a saint, like a soldier; for true courage consists in a steady resolution against all sin, and for all duty. Those that would keep God's commandments, must be often renewing their resolutions to do so; "I will keep them: whatever others do, this I will do; though I be singular, though all about me be evil-doers, and desert me; whatever I have done hitherto, I will for the future walk closely with God. They are the commandments of God, of my God, and therefore I will keep them. He is God, and may command me; my God, and will command me nothing but what is for my good."

2. His farewell to bad company, pursuant to this resolution; Depart from me, ye evil-doers. Though David, as a good magistrate, was a terror to evil-doers, yet there were many such, even about court, intruding near his person; these he here abdicates, and resolves to have no conversation with them. Note, They that resolve to keep the commandments of God, must have no society with evil doers; for bad company is a great hindrance to a holy life. We must not choose wicked people for our companions, nor be intimate with them; we must not do as they do, nor do as they would have us do, Ps. i. 1. Eph. v. 11.

116. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Here, 1. David prays for sustaining grace; for this grace sufficient he besought the Lord twice; Uphold me, and again, Hold thou me up. He sees himself, not only unable to go on in his duty by any strength of his own, but in danger of falling into sin, unless he was prevented by divine grace; and therefore he is thus earnest for that grace to uphold him in his integrity, (xli. 12.) to keep him from falling, and to keep him from tiring, that he might neither turn aside to evil-doing, nor be weary of well-doing. We stand no longer than God holds us, and go no further than he carries us.

2. He pleads earnestly for this grace.

(1.) He pleads the promise of God, his dependence upon the promise, and his expectation from it; "Uphold me, according to thy word, which word I hope in; and if it be not performed, I shall be made ashamed of my hope, and be called a fool for my credulity." But they that hope in God's word may be sure that the word will not fail them, and therefore their hope will not make them ashamed.

(2.) He pleads the great need he had of God's grace, and the great advantage it would be of to him; Uphold me, that I may live; intimating, that he could not live without the grace of God; he should fall into sin, into death, into hell, if God did not hold him up; but, supported by his hand, he shall live; his spiritual life shall be maintained, and be an earnest of eternal life. Hold me up, and I shall be safe; out of danger, and out of the fear of danger. Our holy security is grounded on divine supports.

(3.) He pleads his resolution, in the strength of this grace, to proceed in his duty; "Hold me up, and then I will have respect unto thy statutes continually, and never turn my eyes or feet aside from them." I will employ myself, so some; I will