Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/582

574 the end; for, (1.) Even the entrance of God's word gives light. If we begin at the beginning, and take it before us, we shall find, that the very first verses of the Bible give us surprising, and yet satisfying, discoveries of the origin of the universe, about which, without that, the world is utterly in the dark. As soon as the word of God enters into us, and has a place in us, it enlightens us; we find we begin to see, when we begin to study the word of God. The very first principles of the oracles of God, the plainest truths, the milk appointed for the babes, bring a great light into the soul, much more will the soul be illuminated by the sublime mysteries that are found there. The exposition or explication of thy word giveth light; then it is most profitable, when ministers do their part in giving the sense, Neh. iii. 8. Some understand it of the New Testament, which is the opening or unfolding of the Old, which would give light concerning life and immortality. (2.) It would give understanding even to the simple, to the weakest capacities; for it shows us a way to heaven, so plain, that the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

131. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

Here is, 1. The desire David had toward the word of God; I longed for thy commandments. When he was under a forced absence from God's ordinances, he longed to be restored to them again; when he enjoyed ordinances, he greedily sucked in the word of God, as new-born babes desire the milk. When Christ is formed in the soul, there are gracious longings, unaccountable to one that is a stranger to the work.

2. The degree of that desire, appearing in the expression of it; I opened my mouth, and panted; as one, overcome with heat, or almost stifled, pants for a mouthful of fresh air. Thus strong, thus earnest, should our desires be toward God, and the remembrance of his name, xlii. 1, 2. Luke xii. 50.

132. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Here is, 1. David's request for God's favour to himself; "Look graciously upon me; let me have thy smiles, and the light of thy countenance; take cognizance of me and my affairs, and be merciful to me; let me taste the sweetness of thy mercy, and receive the gifts of thy mercy." See how humble his petition is; he asks not for the operations of God's hand, only for the smiles of his face; a good look is enough; and for that he does not plead merit, but implores mercy.

2. His acknowledgment of his favour to all his people; As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Which speaks, either, (1.) A plea for mercy; "Lord, I am one of those that love thy name, love thee and thy word, and thou usest to be kind to those that do so; and wilt thou be worse to me than to others of thy people?" Or, (2.) A description of the favour and mercy he desired; that which thou usest to bestow on those that love thy name, which thou bearest to thy chosen, cvi. 4, 5. He desires no more, no better, than neighbour's fare, and he will take up with no less; common looks and common mercies will not serve, but such as are reserved for those that love him; which are such as eye has not seen, 1 Cor. ii. 9. Note, The dealings of God with them that love him, are such, that a man needs not desire to be any better dealt with, for he will make them truly and eternally happy. And as long as God deals with us no otherwise than as he uses to deal with those that love him, we have no reason to complain, 1 Cor. x. 13.

133. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Here David prays for two great spiritual blessings, and is, in this verse, as earnest for the good work of God in him, as, in the verse before, for the good-will of God toward him. He prays,

1. For direction in the paths of duty; "Order my steps in thy word; having led me into the right way, let every step I take in that way be under the conduct of thy grace." We ought to walk by rule; all the motions of the soul must not only be kept within the bounds prescribed by the word, so as not to transgress them, but carried out in the paths prescribed by the word, so as not to trifle in them. And therefore we must beg of God, that, by his good Spirit, he would order our steps accordingly.

2. For deliverance from the power of sin; "Let not iniquity have dominion over me, so as to gain my consent to it, and that I should be led captive by it." The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and deprecated by every one of us; and if in sincerity we pray against it, we may receive that promise as an answer to the prayer, (Rom. vi. 14.) Sin shall not have dominion over you.

134. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

Here, 1. David prays that he might live a quiet and peaceable life, and might not be harassed and discomposed by those that studied to be vexatious; "Deliver me from the oppression of man; man, whom God can control, and whose power is limited; let them know themselves to be but men, (ix. 20.) and let me be delivered out of the hands of unreasonable men.

2. He promises that then he would live in all godliness and honesty. Let me be delivered out of the hands of my enemies, that I may serve God without fear; so will I keep thy precepts." Not but that he would keep God's precepts, though he should be continued under oppression; but so shall I keep thy precepts more cheerfully, and with more enlargement of heart, my bonds being loosed." Then we may expect temporal blessings, when we desire them with this in our eye, that we may serve God the better.

135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

David here, as often elsewhere, writes himself God's servant, a title he gloried in, though he was a king: now here, as became a good servant,

1. He is very ambitious of his Master's favour, accounting that his happiness and chiefest good. He asks not for corn and wine, for silver and gold, but, "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; let me be accepted of thee, and let me know that I am so. Comfort me with the light of thy countenance in every cloudy and dark day; if the world frown upon me, yet do thou smile."

2. He is very solicitous about his master's work, accounting that his business and chief concern; this he would be instructed in, that he might do it, and do it well, so as to be accepted in the doing of it; Teach me thy statutes. Note, We must pray as earnestly for grace as for comfort. If God hides his face from us, it is because we have been careless in keeping his statutes; and therefore, that we may be qualified for the returns of his favour, we must pray for wisdom to do our duty.

136. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.