Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 19
VERSE 18.19. 18 Bee fauourable vntounto Zyon for thy good pleaſure; Build vp the wals of Ieruſalem. 19 Then ſhalt thou accept the ſacrifice of righteouſneſſe, euen the burnt-offering and oblation, then ſhall they offer calues vponupon thine Altar.
The ſecōd part of the Pſalm, cō taining a prayer for the ChurchHITHERTO wee hauehave heard of the firſt part of this worthy Pſalme: wherein Dauid hath put vp ſundry Petitions and requeſts to God for the pardon of his ſinnes, and turning away of GODS fearefull iudgements.
Now in theſe two laſt verſes Dauid is mindefull of the Church and people of GOD; and becauſe he had by his ſinnes, not onelyonly indangered his owne ſoule, but alſo laid open the Church and people of God to great miſery, and done what lay in him to draw the curſe and iudgement of GOD vponupon them: therefore he doth humbly intreate the Lord to be mercifull to his Church, and not to plague and puniſh them, as he might hauehave done, for his ſinnes and diſobedience.
Theſe two verſes containe in them two eſpeciall points to bee conſidered of vsus.
Firſt, the requeſt which Dauid makes in the behalf of the Church and people of God. Ver. 18.
Secondly, the reaſon taken from the vow and proteſtation which Dauid and the people make vntounto GOD; namely, to offer vntounto GOD the ſacrifice of praiſe and thankeſgiuing.
In the prayer be two requeſts: firſt he prayes for fauour and mercy to be ſhewed vponupon the Church of GOD: ſecondly, that the Lord would repaire that breach which he had made by his ſinnes.
[Bee fauourable.]
THat is, doe well, bleſſe, preſerue, and ſhew mercy, To Zyon, Zyon ſignifies that beautifull Temple of Ieruſalem, but here it is taken for the Church and people of God; as if he ſhould ſay: O Lord, I do not onelyonly intreate thee that thou wouldſt hauehave mercy vponupon me, but I beſeech thee ſhew mercy to thy whole Church and people, be mercifull vntounto them, prouide wel for them, that thy word may be Preached, and thy name called vponupon, for I acknowledge ô Lord, that I hauehave done, as much as lay in my power to bring heauy iudgements vponupon thy Church and people, if my ſinnes be laid vponupon them, but Lord let not thy Church be puniſhed for my ſin, O bee fauourable to Syon.
Doct. 1 Prayer the chiefeſtrefuge in time of danger.Seeing Dauid in time of miſery, when the Church was in danger of Gods iudgements, betakes himſelfe to prayer, to intreate the Lord for grace and fauour, wee learne hence that this is our chiefeſt refuge and ſhelter in time of miſery and affliction, when the Church of GOD is in danger of any iudgement or calamity, euen to betake our ſelues to humble and earneſt prayer: Pray for the peace of Ieruſalem, they ſhall proſper that louelove thee: Pſal. 122.6. Pſa. 50.15. Pſal 107 Heſter 4.8. Eſay 64 2. Chron. 32.20.And of the Iſraelites it is reported, that they cryed fiue times vntounto the Lord in their diſtreſſe: ſo in Aegypt they cryed and groaned vntounto the Lord; ſo they faſted and prayed when Haman had got the Kings letter to put the Iewes to dead.
The like we may ſee in Nehemiah Neh. 1.3.4. when he heard that the people returned from captiuity were ſtill in miſery, Ieruſalem troden downe, hee ſate downe and wept, hee mourned, faſted and prayed before the GOD of heauen for the redreſſe of thoſe euils. This appeareth likewiſe, Pſalme one hundred thirty ſeuen, the firſt, ſecond and third verſes; where the Prophet layeth downe the miſerable eſtate of the Church vnderunder the Babylonians, and the affliction of Church conceiued vponupon that diſtreſſe: We ſate downe and wept when wee remembred Syon. If I forget thee (O Ieruſalem) let my right hand forget her cunning: yea, if I preferre not Ieruſalem before my chiefe ioy.
And in the firſt of Samuel, the fourth chapter, and the nineteenth verſe, it is noted to the euerlaſting praiſe of the wife of Phineas, that when the P…i…iſtims preuailed ouer the people of God, and one trouble came vponupon her on the necke of another; as the taki…g of the Arke, the fall of her Father, the death of her Huſband, the ouer-throw of the Hoaſt, &c. yet aboue all, the report of taking the Arke of the Lord, it was a wound vntounto her ſoule, haſtned her trauaile, and called her child Icabod, that is, no glory: or, the glory is departed from Iſrael, becauſe the Arke of God was taken.
Ʋſe. 1 Well, if the Lord ſhould afflict vsus, and ſhould threaten to deſtroy vsus, to remoue the Goſpell, to take away his zealous and faithfull Miniſters, to make the golden Belles of Aaron yeeld no ſound, what are we to doe? Namely, this muſt be our refuge, we muſt fly vntounto God by true and hearty prayer, bewaile our ſins, acknowledge them to God, ply the Lord with prayers and teares:Iam. 5.17. For the prayer of a righteous Man is of endleſſe force. Now if the prayer of one righteous man bee of that force and ſtrength, how much more are the prayers of hundreds or thouſands, that are gathered together in one: one cord may eaſily bee broken, but a three-fold cord cannot be broken: Elias is called the Chariot and Horſe-men of Iſrael, becauſe by faithfull prayers which hee made vntounto GOD, hee could doe more for the defence of GODS Church, then an Armie of Souldiers.
Vſe. 2 Seing the troubles of others muſt moue pitty in our ſelues, then woe to them that are ſecure, that laugh when the Church weepeth, that liue in brauery when the Church is in Sackcloth and Aſhes, that feaſt when the Church doth faſt. This was the practiſe of thoſe that liued in the time of Eſay. Eſay 22. verſ. 12.13.14. In that day did the Lord of Hoſts call vntounto weeping and mourning, to baldneſſe and grinding with Sackcloth: And behold ioy and gladneſſe, ſlaying Oxen, and killing Sheepe, eating fleſh, and drinking, for to morrow wee ſhall dye.
Hereunto accordeth that of the Prophet Amos, Amos 6. Woe to them that are at eaſe in Syon, &c. where we ſee hee pronounceth the wofull eſtate and condition of thoſe who liued without any regard of the Iudgements of GOD laid vponupon the Church: And ſurely the times wherin wee liue, doe call vponupon vsus to the practiſe of this Chriſtian duetie.
But much more are they condemned, that are ſo farre from pittying the Churches troubles, that (rather without all naturall affection, as if they were borne of Wolues, or nouriſhed of Tygers) ſeeke to cut the throate of the Church, adde to their afflictions, & make their burthen heauier, euen of them that are ready to fall. This doth the Prophet ſpeake of ſuch, Pſa. 69. verſ. 26. They perſecute him whom thou haſt ſmitten, and adde vntounto the ſorrow of them whom thou haſt wounded.
Doctr. 2 In that DAVID doth not pray for himſelfe alone,Prayer for the Church a Chriſtian duty. but is mindefull of the whole Church and people of GOD, and therefore prayes for them, that GOD would bleſſe them, and defend them: Hence wee learne that it is the duety of eueryevery Chriſtian Man and Woman, that be true members of the Church of GOD, not onelyonly to pray for themſelues, but alſo to pray inſtantly for the Church of God, that God would bee fauourable to his people, bleſſe his Church and Children, ſeeke the wel-fare of GODS Church.
This wee may ſee by the example of Abraham, Geneſ. 18. who prayed for the Sodomites that they might be ſpared. This we may ſee in Nehemiah, Nehem. 1.3.4. who mourned, faſted and prayed vntounto the God of Heauen, when hee ſaw that the Church was in miſery. And this affection was in Dauid, when hee ſaith, Pſalm. 137. We ſate downe and wept when wee remembred thee O Syon. And when the people deſired Samuel to pray for them, 1. Sam. 12.32. hee ſaid: God forbid that I ſhould ſinne againſt the Lord, and ceaſe praying for you. This Paul performed to the Romans Rom 1. verſ. 9.10. GOD is my witneſſe (whom I ſerue in my Spirit in the Goſpell of his Sonne) that without ceaſing I make mention of you always in my prayers.
So that we ſee here it hath been the practiſe of the Church and people of God, to pray for the Church of God, and that indeed for ſundry reaſons.
Firſt, it is Gods commandement that wee ſhould pray for the Church of God,Pſal. 12.22 6. pray for the peace of Ieruſalem, that is, for the good and flouriſhing eſtate of Gods Church and people.
Secondly, as it is Gods commandement, ſo it is for our owne good, becauſe we ſhall fare the better for the common good of Gods Church, they ſhall proſper that louelove thee.
Thirdly, we are or ſhould be members of the Church of God, whereof Chriſt is the onelyonly head. Now then, members of the ſame body ſhould procure the good one of another, and therefore if it goe ill with the Church of God, it cannot goe well with vsus.
How did Moſes plead with God ſundry times for his Church and people.Exod. 32. So Nehemy he faſted & prayed for the Church in miſery:Nehem. 1. and for the Citty of his Fathers, Ieruſalem.
And as it is the duty of all in generall to pray and procure the peace & proſperity of Gods Church, and people: ſo eſpecially ought Kings and Magiſtrates, who are the gouernors and leaders of Gods people, and his Lieutenants vponupon earth: Secondly Miniſters are bound by eſpeciall bond to pray for GODS Church.
Eſay 6.21.Verſe 6 For Syons ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Ieruſalems ſake I wil not reſt, vntill the righteousſneſſe thereof breake forth as the light, and the ſaluation thereof as a burning lampe. I hauehave ſet watchmen vponupon thy walles, O Ieruſalem, which all the day, and all the night continually ſhall not ceaſe: ye that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not ſilence.
Vſe. If this bee the duty of all men to labour to procure the wel-fare and happineſſe of Gods Church and people: then moſt wofull is the eſtate of all thoſe that hinder the true worſhip and ſeruice of God, when wicked men (like bloudy SAVL) ſhall breathe out threatnings and ſlaughter to the Church of God. Well,Acts 9.1. we ſhall reade in the Word of God, as alſo in the Acts and Monuments, wee ſhall euer finde the end of perſecutors to bee exceeding fearefull: ſome ſtricken downe with ſudden death, ſome dying deſperatly, and deſpairing of Gods mercy, ſome run madde, and the like fearefull ends, which might admoniſh all perſecuting Tyrants, and bloudy enemies of the Church to change their minds, and no more to perſecute the poore Church and children of God, leſt they be plagued in the like manner.
[Be fauourable.]
Doctr. 3 That is,Liberty of preaching one of Gods fauours. ſo bleſſe thy poore Church that in it thy ſeruants the Prophets may euer preach thy holy word, that thy worſhip and ſeruice may purely be performed, and thy name called vponupon; the number of the elect may be increaſed, and many ſoules ſaued. Hence we learne, that it is the great fauour and mercy of GOD to any Church or people, when the word and Goſpell of God is ſoundly and ſincerely preached, and the Sacraments duly adminiſtred; when the people may with liberty and comfort come together to ſanctifie Gods Sabaoth, to call vponupon the Lord in his Sanctuary, to worſhip the Lord in his Houſe.
And ſurely we ſee here what great cauſe we hauehave to bleſſe the name of GOD in this Land, how gratious the Lord hath beene vntounto vsus aboue all Nations that are round about vsus.
So on the contrary part it is a great and grieuous iudgement of God to want faithful Miniſters, and holy ſeruants of God, when God ſhall cauſe the golden Bels of Aaron to ceaſe, it is a token of Gods diſpleaſure with any people, town or kingdome, then the Lord frownes vponupon them, and is exceeding angry with them, & then wo to that nation, country or people when the Lord departs from them, when he ſhal take a way their watchmen, when he ſhall depriue them of their faithfull Miniſters, when hee ſhall take away his Word and Goſpell. The Lord threatens this as the greateſt of all iudgements:Amos 8.11. Reuel. 2. then comes in ſinne, ignorance, prophanetie, impiety, idolatry, ſuperſtition, and all manner of ſinne, till the Lord come with his iudgments to deſtroy them.
Ʋſe 1 Seeing it is ſo great a token of the Lords diſ-fauour, of his anger and diſpleaſure againſt any Church or Kingdome, oh then let vsus repent of our ſins, let vsus intreate the Lord not to bring this iudgement vponupon vsus, but rather to humble vsus by any other meanes, as it pleaſeth his Maieſty.
Ʋſe 2 This condemnes a plaine dotage, and fooliſh dreame of ignorant perſons: Oh (ſay ſome) it was neuer a good world ſince wee had ſo much preaching; but in time of Popery then all things were cheape: and ſo they gather by outward peace and tranquility, that GOD loued them, and liked of them. But wee ſee here, howſoeuer many poore ſoules may deceiue themſelues, it is a ſingular fauour of God to a people, when hee giues them his Goſpell to bee truely preached & taught vntounto them, when they may call vponupon him in publicke and priuate. This is a ſpeciall fauour of God; but where this is wanting, Where propheſying failes, Prou. 29.the people periſh. For where the word of God is not preached, and the people taught, there they are ignorant, blinde, and prophane, and all manner of ſinne abounds; and where ſinne abounds, there the curſe of God muſt needes hang ouer the heads of that people: for where the word is not preached, and the people taught, though they abound in all proſperity, yet it is not ſo great a fauour as they thinke it to be; Nay, it may be aiudgement vntounto them: for what are they the better to hauehave peace, and plenty, eaſe and, liberty, when as they want the fauour of God? For eueryevery bleſſing is not a benefite.
[According to thy good pleaſure.]
Theſe words containe the ground of his requeſt: namely, the endleſſe mercy and fauour of God in IESVS CHRIST, not any goodneſſ or worthineſſe of their owne, of Dauid, or the people; but hee builds his faith and petition of Gods meere and vndeſerued mercy in Chriſt.
Doctr. 4 Hence wee learne,Faith muſt not reſt vponupon others merits. that wee muſt build our faith, not vponupon any goodneſſe, deſert, or worthineſſe of our owne, but vponupon the alone mercy and good pleaſure of GOD, Dan. 9. He doth confeſſe it is true that they dare not appeare in their owne name or worthineſſe, but onelyonly in the mercy of God in Chriſt: To vsus belongs ſhame, Dan. 9.and confuſion of face; but Lord for thy tender mercies ſake heare vsus?
When as the Church of God was in great affliction, they acknowledge it the Lords mercy they were not conſumed for their ſins,Lam. 3.22 Becauſe his compaſſions faile not: So then let vsus know that we muſt by this ground of all our praiers, euen on Gods endleſſe mercy in Chriſt, not our owne worthineſſe.
Ʋſe 1 This condemnes all ſuch pride as the Papiſts are guilty of, when they doe leane ſo much vponupon their owne merits, worthineſſe and deſerts, and thinke God ſhould heare them, and helpe them for the ſame: yea, they make Saints and Angels Mediators, wheras we muſt only leane on Gods mercy in Chriſt for all good things
Vſe 2 Seeing Dauid doth build his faith and prayer on Gods mercy alone, without any reſpect of his worthineſſe, or goodneſſe of the people; we learne in all our prayers to relye wholly on Gods mercy, and not to thinke that wee are worthy to bee heard for our worthineſſe or deſerts: No, no, let vsus confeſſe, and ſay;Iob. 42.6. Not vntounto vsus Lord, not vntounto vsus, but vntounto thy name be the glory: for we are not worthy of the leaſt fauour.
[And build vp the walles of Ieruſalem.]
The ſecōd part of the verſe.This is the ſecond part of the verſe, wherein he intreats the Lord not to hinder the building of his Temple for his ſake; but rather euen to make vp that breach he had broken downe by his foule and bloudy ſinnes; as if he ſhould ſay: O Lord, I hauehave by my ſinnes, done what lyes in my power to hinder thy Church, and to plucke downe the wall of thy protection: yea, to lay them open to the ſword of the enemy, and to all thy iudgments, but I pray thee (Lord) that thou wouldeſt in mercy make vp that breach, Build vp the walles of Ieruſalem, the Citty wherein thy Temple is built, and thy name is called vponupon, the Seate of thy Worſhip and Seruice.
Doctr. 5 Doth Dauid confeſſe,Sinnes of the Magiſtrate prouoke Gods anger highly. that by his ſinnes of adultery and murder, hee had done what lay in his power, euen to pull downe the walles of GODS Church, and people, to lay them open to Gods iudgements, plagues, and puniſhments? then hence wee learne, that the ſinnes of the Prince and Magiſtrate, and chiefe Rulers, as Kings, Queenes, &c. they do caſt the whole people and Kingdome into great danger, and prouoke Gods anger againſt them, & open the floodgates of Gods vengeance; for their ſinnes be as their perſon be and a ſmall ſinne in a great Magiſtrate, in a Miniſter, in a King it is a great ſpot, and foule blemiſh. The Egyptians were all plagued by reaſon of Pharoahs ſinnes.Exod. 15. So we ſee that when Achan ſinned, though no great man yet it brought the curſe of God vponupon all the people. So in the daies of Saul, Achab, Ioram, and the like; when ſuch Kings liued in impiety, idolatry, and perſecuted GODS people, and Prophets, wee ſee in the word how God did plague both them and their people.
The reaſon why the ſinnes of the King doth in wrap the people in that iudgement of God, is this, becauſe looke how the King is, ſo, for the moſt part, are the people: if he be an Idolater, ſo are they; if he be a perſecutor, ſo are they; for looke how the King is affected, ſo bee moſt of his Subiects.
Vſe. Seeing this is ſo, that the ſin of the Prince and the chiefe Magiſtrates is ſo great a meanes to pull downe GODS iudgements vponupon the whole people, and wraps them vp in the like iudgment as we ſee in Dauid, who for his ſin of nūbring the people,2. Sam. 24. 70000 were ſlaine. Wee learne hence that it is a great mercy of God to hauehave ſuch a King as walkes with God, is carefull to honour God, and to liue in his feare; for then hee ſhall not onelyonly procure a bleſſing vponupon himſelfe, but on all his People and Subiects: and the contrary is a fearefull iudgement of GOD vponupon a land,Eſay 3.1.2.3. when hee giues them wicked Kings and Princes.
Doctr 6 We learne by the example of Dauid, Penitent will ſeeke to build vp that which before hee had pulled downe.that thoſe who hauehave by their ſins hindred the good eſtate of GODS Church, and people, whether Kings, Princes, Magiſtrates, or Miniſters, if they do truely repent, they will be as carefull to build vp the wals of Gods Church againe, to pray for it, to procure the good of it. Saul did perſecute the Church, he ſought the ruine of it, and to plucke it out the throate of poore Chriſtians, and to ſucke their bloud: but after he was wounded and humbled, he became a Preacher of the Word,Acts 9. 2. Cor. 33.14. and ſought to build as faſt as euer hee puld downe before.
Vſe. Well then, haſt thou heretofore hated Gods children, perſecuted them, reproched thē, ſought to hinder the good of Gods Church and people, and the Goſpell of Chriſt? if thou do euer repent thou muſt ſhew it in this, louing GODS children, furthering Gods truth, vpholding Chriſts kingdome, glorifying his Goſpell; elſe thou doſt neuer ſoundly repent. Haſt thou by euil example, by a ſinfull life, by negligence of holy duties, by lewd aduice and wicked counſell, drawne and allured others to ſinne, and to bring GODS iudgements vponupon them? if thou doſt ſoundly repent, then thou ſhalt bewaile this ſinne, and pray for them whom thou haſt thus wronged.
Doctr. 7 Againe, out of the whole verſe marke this leſſon and inſtruction:A man cannot pray till he repent. namely, that Dauid, who before durſt hardly approach vntounto God, and open his mouth in prayer for himſelfe; yet now vponupon his repentance and reconciliation with GOD, is bold to pray for others; yea to pray for the whole Church of God. Hence we learne, that as long as a poore ſinner liues in ſinne without pardon and true repentance, hee cannot pray for himſelfe; hee cannot and dares not open his mouth to God to pray for himſelfe, much leſſe for others: But when hee ſhall truly repent, turne to God, after hee is reconciled to GOD in CHRIST; then hee can come with much boldneſſe, vntounto God, and pray for himſelfe and others too:Luke 22. When thou art conuerted ſtrengthen thy brethren; ſhewing, that till he was conuerted hee could not helpe nor ſtrengthen his brethren.
Ʋſe. Seeing before men and women be conuerted, and do repent, and bee at peace with God, it is impoſſible they ſhould pray for others, or doe any good; This ſhould firſt admoniſh all Miniſters of the word of God to repent, and to be at peace with GOD; for otherwiſe it is impoſſible for them to pray for others, or to do any good thing to pleaſe GOD: And though they teach and Preach the Word, yet they ſinne in it, and pleaſe not God, and cannot performe one ſpeciall part of their office; namely, to pray for GODS people.