Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 10
Lecture X. on Psalme LI. 1, 2. December XXVII. MDCXXV.
1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindnesse; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sinne.
THE last day we finished the Title of this Psalme, it followeth now that we proceed to the Psalme it selfe. Now the matter, and substance of the Psalme is a prayer of David. 1. For himselfe to the end of the 17. verse. 2. For the Church (the good estate whereof he had greatly hazarded and endangered by his sin) in the two last verses.
The prayer he makes for himselfe consisteth of two petitions: whereof the 1 concernes his justification consisting in the forgivenesse of his sinnes, and the imputation of Christs righteousnesse unto him; and the 2 his sanctification consisting in the mortifying of his corruption, and the renewing of his heart by the spirit of God; both which are amplified by certaine arguments, whereby he doth confirme his faith in both these petitions.
These two verses which containe the summe, and effect of his first petition have two principall things to be observed in them. 1. The ground of his faith, and hope, in this his request, what gave him hope to obtaine the pardon of his sin? Surely the knowledge he had of the mercy of God, he pleads nothing but mercy, Have mercy upon me O God. Why but what ground of hope could he have that ever God would have mercy, upon such a wretch as he was, that had sinned in so hainous, and odious a manner, and had hardned his heart so long in his sin? Surely none other but the knowledge he had of the Lords gracious disposition. 1. Of his loving kindnesse, wherby he was apt to shew mercy to his people, of his owne free grace without all respect to any desert that may be in them. 2. Of the tendernesse of his mercies, and those bowells of compassion that are in him whereby he is apt to be affected, and grieved with the misery of his people, and moved even thereby without any other respect to shew mercy to them. 3. Of the multitude, and infinitenesse of Gods mercies whereby he is apt to pardon the sinnes of his people, though they bee never so many though hee hath forgiven them never so oft already. The knowledge (I say) that David had of these three things in the Lords gracious disposition, gave him hope to find mercy with God, for the pardon of his sin, though it were so great, and hainous. Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies. The second thing to be observed in these two verses, is the vehement, and earnest manner of propounding, and expressing this his request to God, for the pardon of his sinnes, which appeareth. 1. In the aggravating of his sinnes. 1. He was guilty of offences of all sorts and kinds, transgressions, iniquities, and sinnes. 2. His sinnes were debts written, and recorded in Gods debt-booke, and such things as made him filthy, and loathsome in Gods eyes, and his owne; so as he was utterly undone, if God shewed not mercy on him. 2. By iterating his request so often, blot out, wash mee, cleanse mee. 3. By the extent, and measure of this mercy he craved; Wash mee throughly, or multiply thy washings, and rinsings, and scourings of me. As if he had said▪ I am so filthy that once washing, a little washing, will not serve to cleanse me.
Now the words being thus opened we have this first to observe in them;Nota. that David being now in extreame anguish of soule, his sinnes were ever before him, verse 3. sleeping, and waking, wheresoever he was, whatsoever he was doing, he could never looke of them: he had lost the joy of Gods salvation, verse 12. all comfort in assurance of Gods favour; he was so tormented inwardly as a man that hath all his bones broken, verse 8. yet doth not be dispaire nor seeke helpe any other way, but flyeth to God by prayer, and seeketh comfort that way, which teacheth us,
That Gods people when they are in any distresse, Doct. 9.must flie to God by prayer and seeke comfort that way. For so did David heere, and so have Gods people alwaies done in the like case. Thus did David at another time, Psal. 120.1. in my distresse I cryed unto the Lord. And Psal. 107 6. They cryed unto the Lord in their trouble.
Three cases there be wherein Gods people, have beene most distressed.
First, when some outward affliction hath beene upon them in extremity, or the seare of it, specially such as hath risen from the malice, and fury of their enemies; which is of all outward afflictions the most grievous, worse then famine, worse then pestilence, as you may see in Davids choice, 2. Sam. 24.13, 14.
Secondly, when they have beene troubled with some strong and violent tentation either unto blasphemy, or some other foule sin; this hath perplexed, and distressed them more then any outward affliction could doe. Even the motions to sin that have risen from their owne nature have done so, as we may see in the complaint of Paul, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Much more when God hath sent Satan to stand at their right hand as Psal. 109.6. that was a thorne in Pauls flesh, 2 Cor. 12.7. For he is an enemy to be feared much more then any mortall man; as we may see by that comparison Paul maketh, Ephes. 6.12. We wrestle not against flesh, and bloud, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darknesse of this world, &c.
Thirdly, when their consciences have been wounded with the sense of Gods anger and wrath. For that above all other things hath perplexed them most, and put them to greatest anguish, Pro. 18.14. The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can beare?
Now in all these cases Gods people have sought, and found comfort by flying to God, and seeking to him by prayer.
For the first we have the example of Iehoshaphat, and the people of Iudah, 2 Chron. 20.3. Iehoshaphat feared, and set himselfe to seeke the Lord, and cryes thus to God, verse 12. We have no might to stand against this great company that commeth against us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee. This course tooke David when he had many enemies in the Court of Saul, that by informing the King against him, did seeke his life, Psal. 109.4. For my love they are mine adversaries, but I give my selfe unto prayer. Thus Iob fought comfort, Iob. 16.20. My friends scorne me, but mine eye powreth out teares unto God. And so did Ann:, 1. Sam, 1.10. She was in bitternes of soule, and prayed unto the Lord▪ and wept sore.
For the second case of distresse, we have the example of Paul, who when the messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him. 2. Cor. 12.7. ran to God by prayer for helpe and comfort, as he saith ver. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And for the third case, we have Davids example here, and Psal. 18.5, 6. The sorrowes of hell compassed me about, the snares of death prevented me. In my distresse I called upon the Lord, and cryed unto my God. Yea, we have for this a greater example then David, even our blessed Saviours, who, when he was in farre greater anguish of soule, then ever all the men of the World were in, through the apprehension and sense of Gods curse, and fierce anger due to the sins of all the elect, he sought and found comfort this way, Heb. 5.7. He offered up prayers, and supplications with strong crying and teares, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that that he feared.
The grounds of this Doctrine, and the reasons why Gods people in all their distresses, have bin wont to flye to God by prayer, and to seek comfort this way, are principally foure.
Reason. 1First, They knew that in every distresse they were in, of what kind soever, God had a chiefe hand. It is so. 1. In all outward afflictions. Esa. 45.7. I forme the light, and create darknesse, I make peace, and create evill, I the Lord doe all these things. 2. In all Satans tentations, he could not disquiet us with any of them, if the Lord sent him not, and appointed him not to do it. Paul saith, the messenger of Sathan that buffetted him, was given unto him, 2. Cor. 12.7. 3. In the affliction and wound of conscience, it is God that makes that wound, as Iob speaketh, Iob 23.16. God maketh my heart soft, and the almighty troubleth me. And they that know this, must needs hold it the wisest course in all their distresses, to seek unto him for helpe and comfort. For who can take of his hand? Who can cure the wounds that he hath made? Who can yeeld us any help and comfort, while he remaines angry with us? Deut 32.39. I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heale, neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. Therefore all Gods people should resolve in their distresses, as Hosea 6.1. Come, let us returne unto the Lord (and flye to him) for he hath torne, and he will heale us, he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2.Secondly. They knew the Lord was able to yeeld them helpe and comfort, in all their distresses, seemed their case never so desperate, Psal. 68.20. He that is our God, is the God of our salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. For he is able (as the Apostle saith, Ephes. 3.20.) to doe exceeding abundantly, above all that we are able either to aske or thinke. This reason is given, why our Saviour when he was in his agony, and his soule was heavy unto death, did flye unto God, and cry so unto him Hebr. 5, 7. He knew he was able to deliver him from death.
Thirdly. They knew the Lord himselfe had prescribed this course unto them, if they would have comfort in any of their distresses,3. to flye to him by prayer. This is a helpe and remedy of Gods owne prescribing, Iames 5.13. If any man be afflicted (… what kind soever) let him pray. Luke 2….40. Pray that ye enter not unto tentation.
Fourthly and lastly,4. They knew that the Lord was ready to be found this way. He is ready to be found at all times by the prayers of his people, Psalme …47.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that all upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Matth. 7 8. Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. But he is never so ready to be found of them in prayer, as then, when they are in greatest distresse, Psal. 46.1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present helpe in trouble. yet he hath promised Psal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble (any trouble whatsoever) and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. And no marvell, for 1. the Lord beares to his people, the affection of a father. Psal. 103.13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that feare him. And what father is there that sheweth not most love to his child, and readinesse to helpe him when he is in greatest misery? 2. Gods people are then most humbled, and thinke most basely of themselves, and that is a great furtherance to the successe of their prayers, 1. P…t. 5.5. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble, 2. Chron. 7.14. If my people shall humble themselves and pray— then will I heare from heaven. 3. Then Gods people use to pray heartily, and fervently, 2. Sam. 22.7. In my distresse I called upon the Lord, and cryed unto my God, and he did heare my voice. So saith Anna of her prayer. 1 Sam. 1.15. I am a woman of a sorrowfull spirit, and have powred out my soule before the Lord. And this God greatly delighteth in. Iam. 5.16. The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And this readinesse they knew to be in the Lord, to heare their prayer at such a time specially hath beene the chiefe thing that hath encouraged them to seeke to him in their distresse, Psal. 65.2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. and 86.7. In the day of my trouble will I call upon thee, for thou wilt answere me.
This Doctrine concerneth every one of us,Vse. for there is not one of you that heare me this day, but you are in some distresse or other, or have beene, or at least may be. And it serveth. First, for reproofe, for the wickednesse and Atheisme of our hearts is in no nothing more discovered, then in this, that in our distresses we have no mind to seeke to God. Hos. 7.14. They have not cryed to me with their hearts, when they bowled upon their beds. Three sorts chiefly are to be reproved by this Doctrine.
First, such, as so long as they can thinke of any meanes to helpe themselves by in their distresse, they will never seeke to God. Like to the Prodigall, who while he had any meanes (though it were but by tending of swine, and feeding with them) he never thought of seeking to his father, Luk 15.16, 17 This was Asaes foule sin, 2. Chron. 16.12. When his disease was exceeding grievous, yet he sought not to the Lord, but to the Physicians. Whereas (alas) no sound comfort can be found in any meanes, till we have first sought to God, and appeased his anger▪ If God will not withdraw his anger (saith Iob. 9.13.) the proud helpers do stoupe under him. All meanes men seeke to, may say as that counterfeit Samuel (indeed the devill) whom the witch that Saul sought to for comfort in his distresse (as too many wretches do in these dayes) raised up, did say unto him, 1. Sam. 28.16. Wherefore dost thou aske of me (or seeke helpe of me) seeing the Lord is become thin… enemy?
Secondly, such as are most destitute of all meanes, to helpe themselves in their distresses, yet never seeke to God. Poverty, and want of all humane helpe sh…uld drive men to God, and cause them to seeke helpe, and comfort from him, and to give themselves much to prayer. Thus it wrought with David. Psal. 142.4, 5. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was none that would know me, refuge failed me, no man cared for my soule, I cryed unto thee, ó Lord, and said, thou art my refuge and my portion. So saith the Apostle 1. Tim. 5.5. Shee that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications, and prayers, night and day. But (alas) we find that no people under the heaven, pray lesse, seeke lesse to God, care lesse for God, then the poore and miserable people doe. Miserable indeed, in this respect, more then for any outward want that they doe endure. They cry out by reason of the arme of the mighty (saith Elihu, Iob 35.9.10) but none saith, where is God my maker that giveth songs in the night?
Thirdly, such, as when God hath begun to soften their hearts, and trouble their consciences for sin, as he did Davids at this time, do not as David doth here, seeke to God for helpe and comfort. But 1. either seeke to hide themselves, and flye from God by keeping themselves carefully from all such means as might touch upon that sore, as Adam did, Gen. 3.8. Or, 2. betake themselves to mirth, and all such meanes as may lull them asleepe, and cause them to forget their sins, and Gods anger, and make them senslesse of those inward gripings, and stings; as Saul did, and found ease by it for a short time. 1. Sam. …6.23. but (alas) his fitts and terrours returned, and became the more extreame, & violent afterwards, as you may see, 1. Sam. 18.10, 11. or else 3. fall into utter desparation of Gods mercy, as Iudas did, who when his conscience was deeply wounded with sense of sin, could go to the chiefe Priests, and Elders, and confesse his sin to them, but could not go to Christ himselfe to seeke mercy of him. Matth. 27.3.