Works, Part 4 · Biblical exegesis 1 · Portion 11
PORTION, 11. CAPH.
Verse, 81.
My soule sainteth for thy saluation: yet I wayte for thy Word.
IN this part he sheweth his miseries, that he was in, and his hope to be deliuered, which in the latter end he prayeth for. His soule fainteth: and this is amplified in the verses following. His affliction was great, and through the infirmitie of his flesh, he was grieued with it. The Philosopher thought that it was patience to contemne sorrow, & not to be moued with it: but the examples of Scripture shewe that the children of God doe seele their sorrowe; yet they are sustained by waiting for Gods mercies, whereby they are at the last deliuered. It is necessarie that wee should be touched with our troubles: First because, if1 we felt it not, wee should be proud as the manner of worldly men is. Secondly, we should2 not come to the feeling of our sinnes, for which afflictions are sent to vsus: Thirdly, wee3 should hauehave no tryall of our Faith: Fourthly, if we should not know that Gods children4 had feeling of them, then when wee feele them, we should bee brought to despaire. For then shall wee thinke, that wee are not in the number of Gods children, and therefore wee should leaue off striuing, and giuegive ouer our good cause, and so fall from God.
But when wee consider that as Elias, so all Gods children hauehave had infirmities, Iames, 5. and Paul, and Barnabas, Acts, 16. when wee shall see that they, which are set before vsus for examples, were brought to streightnes, and that they did not despise them, but by striuing ouercame them: then if we feele such weaknesse in ourselues, wee shall be encouraged to take the Crosse vponupon vsus, with hope that with them wee may ouercome. It is good to knowe these things before affliction; for the more we profite in this doctrine, the better wee shall beare our afflictions.
When this man was thus afflicted, hee waited on the word, because of his weaknes, and in patience did tarry the Lords leisure: neither doubting of his owne cause, nor yeelding to the euill causes of his enemies: this is patience, and this is the practise of Gods children, as Iob, 33. Then must wee looke for these afflictions, because of our sinnes, because of the greatnes of the wisdome of GOD, and his merciemercy, to deale thus with vsus, that he may heape vp blessings on vsus in this life, and euerlasting glorie in the life to come. If we cannot abide small afflictions, how should wee abide greater? Againe, some will abide small and short troubles, yet if they increase and continue, they will faile: which sheweth that men hauehave not Faith to glorifie God. For that Faith glorifieth God, which belieueth Gods worde to be true, and waiteth for the accomplishing of it. For because we liue by Faith, therefore wee hauehave neede of patience, Hebrewes, 10▪ for the Lorde will deliuer those that are such, Psalme, 147. Esay, 57. For hee will saue them, and come to dwell with them, because hee hath a pleasure in them.
Vers. 82.
Mine eyes faile for thy promise, saying, When wilt thou comfort mee?
THe next verse hath the same meaning, & the doubling of it, maketh it more weighty. He saith Word or promise, for saluation, to shew that the word bringeth, and confirmeth our saluation. When he saith that his eyes and bodie were troubled, he sheweth that the fainting of the soule, is the fainting of the body, to teach vsus in the diseases of the body, not only to looke to naturall causes & remedies, but to hauehave an eye to the soule, & remedy that; for a wounded spirit who can beare? The way to cure the body, is to cure the soule first, as Psal: 103. and healed, (Iob: 33.) God speaketh once or twice, &c: his flesh shalbe as, &c. Exāple Ezechias was sicke, but after his sins by prayer being forgiuen, then his disease was healed, Esay 28. and Chron. Benhadad was sicke of a … disease, yet for his sinnes it could not be helped▪ Iob was a very Lazar, for the triall of his faith, yet the way for him to recouer (saith Elihu) was thus to be humbled for sinne; and Elihu for this was not reproued, but the Lord confirmed his words from heauen. Then though Gods children be not chiefely punished for sinne, yet because they hauehave sinne in them, therefore they must take this way also. As we see Iob confessed his sinnes before he was restored. So Hebrew. 12. 3. You hauehave not fought to blood: meaning that though God might iustly punish, yet he will vse affliction for our triall, and withall will kill our corruption. Psalme 32. after he had called them blessed, whose sinnes, &c. he sheweth how he was brought to it, first, by setting downe the corruption of men, which God must cure with corrections; yea they were so sore on him, that his moysture was turned into drought: but when he confessed his sinne, then the Lord forgaue the punishment of his sinne. Must this man be taught by this meanes, and hauehave not we neede of it? In the booke of the Chronicles, Asa is reprooued because he sought to the Physitians, & not vntounto the Lord. His meaning is not that Asa sought not to God at all, but that he sought not chiefely, nor first to God: so that this is spoken by comparison, that he sought not to God so much as to the Physitions. Again, the purpose of Gods spirit is not to disallowe the vse of Physicke: for when Ezechias was absolued of his sinnes by Esaias, then did the Prophet commaund that figge leaues should be taken, and laid to it: and how can he then mislike that, which he there commaunded? This generall doctrine then may be gathered, that what disease or affliction soeuer commeth to a mans body, for what cause soeuer, yea though it be for the triall of faith; yet the way to come out of it, is to looke to our soules, and to clense them: for if they be once purified, then the body will be easily cured. For if God said, iudge your selues that yee may not be iudged; he will be likewise sure not to iudge vsus, if we will iudge our selues; but when we shall begin to iudge our selues, he will leaue off to correct vsus, Psalm. 89. and 1. Corinth. 11.
Vers. 83.
For I am like a bottell in the smoke: yet doe I not forget thy statutes.
VVE must remember the promises & the commandements in all our troubles, and they will sustaine vsus: for if any faile in trouble, it is because they trust not the promises, or keepe not the commandements. If we will be sure then that no affliction shall hurt vsus, but helpe vsus, and turne to our good, and to assure vsus of life euerlasting, and to be deliuered out of them in Gods good time; then let vsus looke to all the promises made to vsus in Christ, and build a good conscience vponupon Gods commaundements. But if we faile in these, then may we be sure that in trouble we shall faile, 2. Cor. 7.
And these two helpe one another: If thou wilt be sound in the faith, then labor to keep the commandements: and if thou wilt not be driuen from the obedience of the commandements, then confirme thy selfe in the promises of the forgiuenes of sinnes, of Gods prouidence, and of eternall life. For if thou canst beleeue these, then neither pleasure nor paine shall make thee forsake thy obedience: but these shall be so pleasant to thee, that thou shalt wholy labour to please God. These two reasons Paul vseth 1. Tim. 3. to moue men to obedience; First, the promises of the forgiuenes of sinnes: secondly, of euerlasting life, and to these adde Gods prouidence. And this is the cause of all sinne, because men beleeue not that the threatnings of God are true. For if they could be perswaded of that which is Psal. 89. He will visite their sinnes, &c. the children of God should not need to thinke of hell, and other tormēts belonging to the wicked in the life to come. Because that if they knew, that though they were deliuered from paines in the world to come, yet the Lord would punish their sinnes in this life, and would bring them to pouerty, to contempt, to be reproched,Note. to be slandered, &c. euen this would make them loth to offend. And surely the Lord will doe this: for if he be neither a wise nor louing earthly father, which will not correctSimilie. his sonnes when they doe euill, surely it must needes be that God must either be vnwise & not louing, or he must punish them his children that offend. For though he hath made a couenant with them, that hell shall not preuaile against them; yet hath he not made a couenant to free them in this life, because that he will driue them to the crosse of Christ, by laying crosses vponupon them.
Againe, if men could beleeue the promises of God made in Christ, for the forgiuenes of sinnes, for Gods fatherly prouidence, and for life euerlasting; then would they, hauing these promises, purge themselues from all filthines, and finish the course of their saluation1. Iohn 3. 1. in seare, 2. Cor. 7. vers. 1. And this beliefe in Gods promises is it, that maketh men leaue sin for conscience sake, & to yeeld obedience to Gods will; so that this beleefe bringeth forth pure obedience to Gods will. Againe, beleefe in Gods promises is strengthened by obedience: as Peter saith, Make your election and calling sure by good workes. For when the Lord shal see that we hauehave a care to do his will, then will he multiplie the graces of the spirit vponupon vsus, so that we shal be better cōsirmed in his promises. If we will not then be brought to doubt or despaire of Gods promises, when trouble and anguish shall come; then let vsus labour to build a good conscience vponupon the word and commandements. And if we will not be drawn away with worldly pleasures, then let vsus consider those promises which God hath made vntounto vsus. For when men begin to doubt of Gods promises, they begin also to doubt of the commaundements: and when men doubt of the commandements, they also doubt of the promises: and when men doubt of both, then is sinne a light matter vntounto them. For faith in Gods promises breedeth obedience, and obedience confirmeth saith in the promises: therefore we must labour for them both, and pray for both.
Vers. 84.
How many are the daies of thy seruant? when wilt thou execute iudgement on them that persecute me?
THis verse & the second verse, shew that it is lawfull for Gods children to make knowne their infirmities to him, so that they waite patiently for helpe from him. For this onelyonly displeaseth him, when we please our selues in moyling against them: otherwise when we come in reuerence, it pleaseth God that we should lay out our infirmities before him. Thus Abraham and Mary laying out their infirmities, with misliking of them, desired that they might know how the things should come to passe: but Sara and Zacharie did contrarie. This is a comfortable thing, that when we are in any trouble, we may lay our our temptations to him, so that it be with trust in the promises, and misliking of our infirmities, with a longing after Gods merciemercy, in a feare of his Maiestie, and a desire to be helped of our euill and corrupt infirmitie.
When. He had beene exercised a long time, and now he prayeth that he may be helped, least he through infirmitie put his hand to euill. Many will make their complaint, but it is too soone, euen before they hauehave been exercised. But we must be contented to be in long trouble, and we may yet looke for Gods helpe, acknowledging it to be his great goodnes, that he continued and held vsus out so long in trouble.
Wilt thou execute. This is an ordinarie prayer, not against any certaine persons, but rather generally against Gods enemies, and their euill causes. For the Lord executeth iudgement vponupon his children for their conuersion, as Paul, Act. 9 and vponupon the wicked for their confusion. He prayeth against them that belonged not to God, and yet not so much against their persons, as their euill causes, and no otherwise against their persons, than they …re ioyned with the causes. And thus may we doe, for the confusion of Gods enemies; otherwise we cannot.
Vers. 85.
The proude hauehave digged pits for me, which is not after thy law.
THis shewed first that he prayed against their euill cause: secondly, that he suffered vniustly: first, because he suffered for the truth: secōdly, because he behaued himself godly in his cause, not vsing vnlawful means. And we must look that we hauehave these things before we pray this prayer: first, that our cause be good: secondly, that it be rightly handled: therefore heretikes and wicked men cannot make this prayer. Dauid was long in this trouble, and yet he prouoked them not with euill words, but laboured to ouercome their euill with goodnes, as Psalm. 33. So when we doe them no euill, when we hauehave laboured to doe them good, and prayed, and fasted for them in patience and long suffering; then, i… it be against Gods enemies and their euill causes, we may pray this prayer.
Vers. 86.
All thy commandements are true: they persecute me fulf…ly; helpe me.
HE hath an assured perswasion of the truth of his cause, and of the euill vsing of his enemies; both which he knoweth by the truth of Gods word: this maketh him to stand out in his good cause, and to sticke to the truth of Gods word. This is a great thing: for the diuell will throw into mens minds; if this cause were good, it should not be persecuted: but thou art more precise than needeth, &c. to this end, that if he could once …ing them to doubt of their cause, they should leaue suffering: for if men bee once perswaded that their cause is eu…l, or if their cause be good, and yet if they know i… not, then can they not suffer for it. Therefore if wee will stand in trouble, let vsus now in peace be assured, and grounded in the knowledge of the truth, and build vp our selues now in faith and a good conscience. For if this be once said to vsus of the diuell, Thou hast heard much, and yet least not profited, leaue thy cause betime, or else thou wilt shame thy selfe, and thy cause to…; then it must be a great thing that will make vsus stand.
Hel…. Though he had been long in trouble, so that hee was readie to be destroyed, yet hee prayeth, contrarie to the reason of the flesh. This teached, that euen in the greatest trouble we may call vponupon God, and when all helpe see…eth to be past, then is the …me to be holpen, because the wickednes of the wicked is at the full, and our …iall is manifest. For the lot of the wicked shall not, &c. Vers. 87. wanteth.
Vers. 88
Quicken mee according to thy louing kindnes: so shall I keepe the testimonie of thy mouth.
HE sheweth that he was dead: and when he desireth to be quickned, by louing kindnes, he sheweth th…t without this there is no quickening, for there is no ….
I will keep. He that kept them before, yet in weakenes; and his affl…ction did somewhat hinder him, as Psal. 17. Deliuer me from the affliction, &c. therfore he … to keepe them better. For troble hindreth the course of obedience, and maketh vsus …get many things which wee hauehave learned: Then what a benefit hauehave wee which now are in quiet, and hauehave our libertie? Without louing kindnes there is no quickening. He playeth to be deliuered, that he may keepe Gods commandements: and this is the …ight end of this prayer, …ther to be deliuered out of the present euill, or to be preserued from it. We doe … pray to be preserued; wee pray for our Queene, &c. But i… it be not to this end, we … nothing from beasts. This was the end of Dauid in his prosperitie, Psalm. 23. and this was his ende why hee would bee deliuered from trouble, that hee might dwell in Gods house a long season: For it was his griefe that hee could not glorifie God. Hee desireth to bee quickened to keepe Gods commandements: then what are wee that are as dead men, when wee heare and pray?