Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/586

578 155. Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Here is, 1. The description of wicked men; they do not only not do God's statutes, but they do not so much as seek them; they do not acquaint themselves with them, nor so much as desire to know their duty, or in the least endeavour to do it. Those are wicked indeed, who do not think the law of God worth inquiring after, but are altogether regardless of it, being resolved to live at large, and to walk in the way of their heart.

2. Their doom; Salvation is far from them. They cannot upon any good grounds promise themselves temporal deliverance. Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. How can they expect to seek God's favour with success, when they are in adversity, who never sought his statutes, when they were in prosperity? But eternal salvation is certainly far from them. They flatter themselves with a conceit that it is near, and that they are going to heaven; but they are mistaken, it is far from them, they thrust it from them, by thrusting the Saviour from them; it is so far from them, that they cannot reach it, and the longer they persist in sin, the further it is; nay, while salvation is far from them, damnation is near; it slumbers not; Behold, the Judge stands before the door.

156. Great are thy tender mercies, ; quicken me according to thy judgments.

Here, 1. David admires God's grace; Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord. The goodness of God's nature, as it is his glory, so it is the joy of all the saints; his mercies are tender, for he is full of compassion; they are many, they are great, a fountain that can never be exhausted; he is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. He had spoken of the misery of the wicked, (v. 155.) but God is good notwithstanding; there were tender mercies sufficient in God to have saved them, if they had not despised the riches of those mercies. They that are delivered from the sinner's doom, are bound for ever to own the greatness of God's mercies which delivered them.

2. He begs for God's grace, reviving, quickening, grace, according to his judgments, according to the tenor of the new covenant, that established rule by which he goes in dispensing that grace. Or, according to his manner, his custom or usage with those that love his name, v. 132.

157. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

Here is, 1. David surrounded with difficulties and dangers; Many are my persecutors and mine enemies. When Saul, the king, was his persecutor and enemy, no marvel that many more were so; multitudes will follow the pernicious ways of abused authority. David, being a public person, had many enemies, but withal he had many friends, who loved him and wished him well, let him set the one over against the other. In this, David was a type both of Christ and his church. The enemies, the persecutors of both, are many, very many.

2. David established in the way of his duty, notwithstanding; "Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies, as knowing that, while I adhere to them, God is for me; and then no matter who is against me." A man who is steady in the way of his duty, though he may have many enemies, needs fear none.

158. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Here is, 1. David's sorrow for the wickedness of the wicked. Though he conversed much at home, yet sometimes he looked abroad, and could not but see the wicked walking on every side. He beheld the transgressors, those whose sins were open before all men, and it grieved him to see them dishonour God, serve Satan, debauch the world, and ruin their own souls; to see the transgressors so numerous, so daring, so very impudent, and so industrious to draw unstable souls into their snares. All this cannot but be a grief to those who have any regard to the glory of God, and the welfare of mankind.

2. The reason of that sorrow. He was grieved, not because they were vexatious to him, but be cause they were provoking to God; They kept not thy word. They that hate sin truly, hate it as sin, as a transgression of the law of God, and a violation of his word.

159. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me,, according to thy loving-kindness.

Here is, 1. David's appeal to God concerning his love to his precepts; "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love them; consider it then, and deal with me as thou usest to deal with those that love thy word, which thou hast magnified above all thy name." He does not say, "Consider how I fulfil thy precepts;" he was conscious to himself, that in many things he came short; but, "Consider how I love them." Our obedience is then only pleasing to God, and pleasant to ourselves, when it comes from a principle of love.

2. His petition thereupon; "Quicken me, to do my duty with vigour; revive me, keep me alive; not according to any merit of mine, though I love thy word, but according to thy loving-kindness;" to that we owe our lives, nay, that is better than life itself. We need not desire to be quickened any further than God's loving-kindness will quicken us.

160. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

David here comforts himself with the faithfulness of God's word, for the encouragement of himself and others to rely upon it.

1. It has always been found faithful hitherto, and never failed any that ventured upon it. It is true from the beginning. Ever since God began to reveal himself to the children of men, all he said was true, and to be trusted. The church, from its beginning, was built upon this rock. It has not gained its validity by track of time, as many governments, whose best plea is prescription and long usage. Quod initio non valet, tractu temporis convalescit—That which, at first, wanted validity, in the progress of time, acquired it. But the beginning of God's word was true, so some read it; his government was laid on a sure foundation. And all, in every age, that have received God's word in faith and love, have found every saying in it faithful and well worthy of all acceptation.

2. It will be found faithful to the end, because righteous. Every one of the judgments endures for ever unalterable, and of perpetual obligation; adjusting men's everlasting doom.

21. SCHIN. 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

David here lets us know,

1. How he was discouraged in his duty by the