Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 15
VERSE. 14. 14 Deliuer me from bloud ô God, the God of my ſaluation, and my tongue ſhall ſing ioyfully of thy righteouſneſſe.
Dauid cannot ſatisfie himſelfe in ſeeking mercy for his ſinnes.IN this verſe, yet once againe, Dauid returnes to intreate for mercy and fauour at the hands of God, that hee would pardon his great and grieuous ſins, yea his bloudy ſinne: and that God would in mercy deliuer him from that puniſhment which was due vntounto him for the ſame, for hee intreats the Lord to deliuer him from bloud, that is, his heynous and capitall ſinne of murder, and ſhedding that innocent bloud of Ʋrias his faithfull ſeruant,2. Sam. 11. and many others with him, ſo alſo the puniſhment due vntounto it.
Parts of the verſe.This verſe containes two parts, firſt, a requeſt with great earneſtneſſe to God for deliuerance from his grieuous ſinne, Deliuer mee from bloud: ſecondly, a reaſon to moue the Lord thereunto; namely, taken from the glory of GOD, which hee will ſhew forth: And my tongue ſhall ſing ioyfully of thy righteneſſe.
In the petition, firſt marke what is the requeſt; namely, that GOD would deliuer him from bloud: that is, a moſt cruell and bloudy ſinne of ſhedding the inocent bloud of many of his Subiects: Secondly, the manner of his requeſt. O God thou that art the God of my ſaluation, That hee praies to God now with faith, aſſuting himſelfe, that vponupon his repentance God was now reconciled vntounto him: and though he had ſinned grieuouſly yet not cleane fallen from grace: but ſo, as ſtill hee could call GOD, his GOD, and the GOD of his ſaluation.
[Deliuer mee from bloud.]
THat is, from the puniſhment which is due vntounto me, for ſhedding the innocent bloud of Vrias and the reſt, which were ſlaine with him.
Doctr. 1 We muſt obſerue that which hath beene taught before; namely, that Dauid prayed often and earneſtly vntounto God for the pardon of his ſins,The heynouſneſſe of the ſin of murder. he could not at one or two petitions obtaine it, but is faine to pray againe, & againe for pardon: Hence we learne that murder and ſhedding of innocent bloud is a moſt horrible ſinne; and he that is guilty of bloud it will wound his conſcience, it will make him to quake and tremble at GODS vengeance, which purſues him vnleſſe hee repent, as in Cain, Gen. 4.after hee had ſlaine his brother, and the Lord had brought him to a ſight of his cruell murder, he cries out, that his ſinne is greater then could be forgiuen, and that eueryevery one that meetes him would kill …im, ſuch is the conſcience guilty of murder, it can finde no reſt, no eaſe, in company, or alone, in any thing, but torment of conſcience till GOD giuegive grace to repent.
Neither may wee thinke that this guilt and terrour of conſcience commeth through the guiltineſſe of the Law, ſhame of the world, or feare of puniſhment; for let a ſinner hauehave ſecurity giuen him from all Law, and freedome from all puniſhment, yet a Murderer ſhould neuer be quiet, his conſcience would euer trouble and torment him, yea and follow him vp and downe in all places and open his owne mouth to bewray himſelfe: Thus is GODS iudgement vponupon them that ſhould feare all things, who will not feare him that made all things: If a man had all the pleaſures that heart could deſire, yet can they giuegive no true comfort and contentment when the conſcience is guilty of horrible ſinnes: And albeit for a time the conſcience of carnall men that neuer truly repented of their ſinnes, ſeemeth to be at reſt, yet it is as a wilde and ſauage beaſt, which lying a ſleep ſeemeth tame and gentle, but being rayſed and rouſed vp flyeth in a mans face. Gen. 42.21.
Vſe 1 Seeing murder and ſhedding of innocent bloud is ſo horrible a ſinne, ſo odious and execrable, ſo fearefull and damnable, how ſhould it make all men ſhun it, and bee affraid of it, neuer to embrue their hands in the bloud of any man, for bloud will hauehave bloud;Gen. 9.6. Who ſo ſheddeth mans bloud, by man his bloud ſhall bee ſhed for in the Image of God may hee him: And this was one ſpeciall thing which moued Dauid to intreate the Lord, not onelyonly to pardon his bloudy ſinne of killing Ʋrias, but alſo that hee would not puniſh him, and bring his vengeance vponupon him and his children after him, for ſhedding of his bloud. Well then abhorre this fearefull ſinne of murther, for bloud will hauehave bloud, and will cry for vengeance to heauen: And heere wee are to bewaile our ſinnefull times, that ſhedding of bloud is not puniſhed more ſeuerely; wilfull murther is winked at, and made but a money matter; Yea (ſaith the Lord) becauſe of oaths the land ſhall Mourne; Ier. 23.10. Hoſ. 4.ſo for murder it ſhal mourne: well, let vsus beware of this foule ſinne of murder, and ſhunne all occaſions that tend to it, as hatred, deſire of reuenge, quarrelling, fighting, &c.
Vſe. 2 If it bee ſo heynous and horible a ſinne to ſhed the bloud of the body, and to kill the body; if murdering of the body bee ſo heynous, what ſhall become of ſoule-murderers, that ſhed the bloud of poore ſoules? it is ten thouſand times more grieuous, as the ſoule is far more worth then the body; and if he ſhall periſh, and is worthy to die that murders the body, how much more is he worthy to die,Ezech. 3. that ſheddes the bloud not of one, but of many a poore ſoule? And ſuch be all thoſe, which either teach not the word of GOD at all, or teach it negligently, they be ſoule-murderers, and ſhall giuegive a feareful account for it one day.
Vſe. 3 Wee ſee that no man though neuer ſo great, can go free from Gods iudgment for murder; Dauid was a great King, a man that was aboue all mens lawes, yet the conſcience of his ſin accuſed him, and hee could hauehave no reſt till he had got the pardon of it: ſo as we ſee the great force of mans conſcience,Eſay 6.6.24. Mark. 9.44 Pſal. 29.3.4.5.7. though he could eſcape all the iudgements of men, yet conſcience wil accuſe till God do cleare him, and this wee may ſee in many men, who being guilty of this ſinne, though they hauehave by money or friends got pardon and freedome by the law of man, yet if God touch them for it, they can neuer hauehave peace, till they hauehave bewailed this ſinne, and got the pardon from God: but ſome of them euen pine and languiſh away, and neuer looke vp all their daies, ſuch is the conſcience of murder and ſhedding innocent bloud, that hee may flye a thouſand miles, he may be a great man, a king, that no man dare call him to accompt, yet he carries that in his boſome which will dog him, and purſue him, neither ſhall hee finde reſt, till hee hauehave repented, and bee reconciled to GOD by the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus.
Doctr. 2 Heere is matter of comfort for ſuch as hauehave bene great and grieuous ſinners,God hath mercy for ſuch as ſeeke mercy. notorious wicked liuers, that if they can repent, be humbled, bewaile their ſinnes, beg pardon, the Lord will ſhew them mercy: Dauid heere found fauour for the pardon of his bloudy ſinnes, Adultery and Murder, vponupon his true repentance: So Peter for his grieuous and heynous ſinne,Luk. 8.2. and Mary Magdalene, out of whom went ſeuen deuils, was ſaued: Lot though he committed inceſt with his owne daughters yet ſound fauour at Gods hands, ſo as wee ſee great ſinners, if they can repent, ſhall finde great mercy.
This is warranted from the Lords owne mouth, Eſay 1.18. Though your ſinnes were as crimſon they ſhall bee made as white as ſnow, though they were red like ſcarlet they ſhall bee as wooll: And againe, Eſay the forty foure chapter, and two and twentyeth verſe, I hauehave put away thy tranſgreſſions like a cloud, and thy ſinnes as a miſt, Eſay 33.24. and Eſay 43.25. Ier. 31.31.
Ʋſe 1 Let eueryevery one of vsus liſten to this doctrine; haſt thou beene a notorious wicked liuer, a miſerable ſinner, a common drunkard, a filthy liuer, a moſt notorious blaſphemer, a theefe, or robber? Haſt thou hated and perſecuted GODS Miniſters, and his deere children, and contemned the bleſſed Goſpell of IESVS CHRIST? Well, loe if thou canſt truely repent, confeſſe thy grieuous ſinne, bewaile it,Eſay 1.16.18. cry to God for mercy and pardon of it, the Lord will ſhew thee mercy, ſo as no ſinne though neuer ſo great can ſeuer thee and cut thee off from mercy, if thou haſt grace to repent, and begge the pardon of it: And therefore though thy ſins hauehave bene many and great, adultery, murder, &c. take heed thou diſpaireſt not with Caine to ſay, my ſin is greater then can bee forgiuen: but repent with Dauid, and GOD will pardon it.
Vſe 2 Let no man preſume heereupon to ſinne, becauſe God will pardon great ſinnes, for as it is true that God will pardon great ſinnes when men repent truely of them, ſo without repentance, there is no pardon of the leaſt ſinne, and if thou ſhalt wittingly and willingly ruſh into great ſinnes, it is a great doubt that thou ſhalt neuer or hardly get out of them; hee that ſinnes becauſe GOD is mercifull, doth abuſe his mercy, and then his mercy ſhall bee turned into iudgement: Gods mercy ſhould lead vsus to repentance, and not make vsus bold to ſinne.Rom. 2.4.
Doctr. 3 Seeing Dauid praies and intreates the Lord not onelyonly to deliuer him from ſinne;The puniſhment of ſinne ſhould terrifie vsus from ſinning. but alſo from the puniſhment due to his ſinne, that curſe of God which was due to his grieuous ſinnes of adultery and murther, as the Prophet told him, becauſe hee had done this euill, The ſword ſhould neuer depart from his houſe, 2. Sam. 12.and his owne ſonnes ſhould defile his wiues. Wee learne in regard of GODS fearefull iudgements, plagues, and puniſhments that attend and waite vponupon ſinne, to bee affraid to commit ſinne againſt GOD, for ſure it is, that the curſe followes ſinne, and as ſinne growes, ſo growes the curſe, for the Lord is a iuſt GOD, and muſt needes puniſh the tranſgreſſours of his Law: And although he take not his louing kindneſſe from them, neither ſuffer his truth to faile, yet hee will viſite their trangreſſions with the rod, and their ſinnes with ſcourges, as wee may ſee heere by the example of Dauid, of the people of Iſraell, Iudges the fourth chapter, the firſt and ſecond verſes: of Miriam, Numb. 12. of Salomon, Aſa, Iehoſaphat, Ioſiah, Hezekiah, &c. If then wee breake his Statutes and keepe not his Commandements, when hee ſearcheth with lights and findeth out our ſinnes, we muſt with Achan giuegive the glory to God and make confeſſion vntounto him; we muſt pronounce righteouſneſſe to belong vntounto him, and vntounto our ſelues open ſhame and confuſion of face for euer.
Ʋſe. 1 Well then, let vsus remember this, if wee ſinne, certainely the Lord will plague vsus, and puniſh vsus, either in our body or ſoule, goods, or good name, wife or children, the Lord will finde vsus out, wee cannot eſcape his iudgement, wee cannot hide our ſinne from him; if men could bee perſwaded of this, oh! they would bee affraid to lie in ſinne, if they thought God were a iuſt God to puniſh them and plague them for their ſinnes: how dareſt thou ſinne if thou couldeſt bee perſwaded of this, that GOD will certainely plague theee? Indeed the mercy of God ſhould make vsus loath to ſinne, but if that will not, yet let his iuſtice terrifie and fright al ſecure and careleſſe ſinners.
Vſe 2 Let no man ſooth himſelfe to thinke hee ſhall eſcape.Deut. 14. If any man heare the curſes of Gods law againſt ſinne, and ſhall bleſſe himſelfe in his heart, ſaying, I ſhall hauehave peace although I walke after the ſtubborneneſſe of my heart, then the Lord will not be mercifull to that man, but the wrath of the Lord, and his iealouſie ſhall ſmoake againſt him, and hee ſhall bring vponupon him euerie curſe written in this law to root him cleane out;Note. I will viſite thoſe that bee frozen in their degrees, and ſay in their harts, God will neither do good nor euill; and if neither the mercy of God will moue vsus, nor his iudgements make vsus afraid to commit ſinne, our caſe is fearefull and damnable.
Vſe 3 Laſtly, ſeeing God chaſtneth his owne children, when they offend: Then it muſt needes follow, that the wicked which are none of his ſhall not eſcape his reuenging hand: If the Lord be ſo ſeuere againſt ſin and ſinners, that hee will not ſpare, no not the ſinnes and falles of his owne deare children, beeing of his owne houſhold, and Citizens of his owne kingdome, and the members of his owne body; if the Lord do deale ſo ſharpely with theſe, Oh how heauy will he lay his iudgements vponupon the wicked? 1. Pet 4.17, 18. The time is come, that Iudgement muſt beginne at the houſe of God: If it first beginne with vsus, what ſhall be the end of them, which obey not the Gospel of God? And if the Righteous ſcarcely be ſaued, where ſhall the wicked and ſinner appeare? But God correcteth the godly in merciemercy, the wicked in wrath, The one as a louing father, the other as a iuſt Iudge. O that all wicked and vngodly men would lay this to heart, and know that aſſured iudgement is reſerued for them at the great day of the Lords generall Aſſiſes, when they ſhall, will they, nill they, pleade guiltie at GODS barre, where the Regiſter Booke of all their actions, ſhall be brought forth, and they ſhall receiue according to their workes.
Doctr. 4 In that Dauid ſpeakes in the plurall number Deliuer mee from bloud: True note of a penitent to aggrauate his ſinne.that my moſt hainous, horrible and cruell ſinne: hee doth not mince it or leſſen it, but ſets it out in his colours, a bloudy ſin, a monſtrous ſin, therefore in true repentance and confeſſion of our ſinnes wee muſt labour to aggrauate them to the full, to ſet them out, to make them appeare as vile and filthy as we can: for thereby we ſhew our griefe and hatred for them.
Vſe. This condemneth moſt men, who when they are tolde of their ſinnes, doe ſeeke to leſſen and excuſe them, to make them little ſinnes, or no ſins if they could well; it is a ſigne of a naughtie heart as we ſee in Saul, 1. Sam. 15.who would not confeſſe his ſinne, but excuſed it, it ſhewes men are not humbled nor grieued, hauehave no hatred of it: but if we do truely ſee the loathſomneſſe of ſinne; Oh wee would aggrauate it, yea ſpeake as badde as we can of it, and not excuſe it in any caſe: the ſecond thing in the petition is the manner of it, namely, that hee doth pray in faith and affiance of Gods mercy, for he praies vntounto God and deſcribes him to be the God of his ſaluation, becauſe hee put all his affiance in Gods mercy for ſaluation, and acknowledgeth it to be the gift of God.
Doctr. 5 In that Dauid thus prayeth for the pardon of his ſinnes,Faith required in prayer. with faith and affiance. We learne, that if we deſire to obtaine our requeſts, wee muſt pray to God with faith and affiance in Gods mercy, for at the ſame time, that God toucheth a poore ſinner to mourne for his ſins, and to repent, he giues him faith to pray to God, with affiance for pardon and ſaluation: So then wee ſee whatſoeuer we aske at Gods hands we muſt aske in faith; If any lacke wiſedome, let him aske in faith and wauer not, Iam. 1.5, 6 Hebr. 11.6for hee that wauers, can hauehave no hope to obtaine at Gods hand.
Whoſoeuer doubteth whether God will grant his requeſts, or not, can neuer pray for any thing earneſtly and effectually. This our Sauior teacheth, Mar. 11.24. Whatſoeuer yee deſire when ye pray, Beleeue that ye ſhall hauehave it, and it ſhall bee done vntounto you. And none can hauehave this aſſurance, that GOD is ready to heare them and to grant their requeſts, but onelyonly the faithfull, who hauehave firſt this aſſurance, that their ſinnes are pradoned, and that they are reconciled vntounto God in Chriſt Ieſus.
Ʋſe 1 How ſhould this mooue vsus all to labour to get ſauing faith, that ſo we might pray in faith, and obtaine our requeſts, pardon of ſins, wiſedome, the gifts of Gods ſpirit, &c. for hee that comes in vnbeliefe, can looke for no mercy at Gods hands: and therefore the prayer of many vnbeleeuers, ignorant ſoules (alas) they be but babblings, and can doe no good: O then let vsus labour to bee able to ſay, my God, giuegive mee this or that.
Ʋſe 2 This muſt teach vsus to moderate our deſires and take heede we aske not any thing that is not warranted by the word, for vnles it be warranted by the word wee cannot hauehave anie aſſurance hee will heare vsus: for there is no faith without the word, and therefore when wee ſhall aske things at our luſt and pleaſure, it is iuſt with Almightie GOD not to heare vsus.
Doctr. 6 When Dauid calles the Lord,Praiſe of our ſaluation properly belongs to God. Ro. 6. vlt. My God, and, the God of my ſaluation. He acknowledgeth that ſaluation, pardon of his ſinnes, life, and all good things come from God, and are his gracious gifts in Chriſt.
It is hee who at the firſt gaue vsus life, when wee were ſtarke dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes. It is he againe that keepes our ſoules in life. If we fall, hee rayſeth vsus vp; when wee wander, he recalleth vsus from iudgements paſt, preſent, and to come, hee hath, doth, and will deliuer vsus; ſo that hee may well be called, The God of our Saluation.
Vſe 1 Let vsus then acknowledge this, that al the good things we inioy, the fauour of God, pardon of our ſinnes, iuſtification, ſanctification, redemption, &c. all theſe are the free merciemercy and gifts of GOD in CHRIST, and then wee ſhall learne to depend on GOD for the comfort of this life: for if we know God hath giuen vsus Chriſt, and deliuered vsus from ſinne, death, and hell: how then can hee deny vsus the leſſer things for this life?Rom. 8.32
Ʋſe. 2 Seeing ſaluation is the gift of God, we ſee that the Doctrine of the Papiſts is erronious, who teach men, that they may merite ſaluation and mercy at Gods hand, pardon of ſin, ſaluation and life eternall: Dauid acknowledgeth it to be the free gift of God:Rom. 6. Dan. 9. Iob 42.6. Epheſ. 2. and therefore let vsus abhorre their doctrine, and our goodneſſe, or worthineſſe, and acknowledge that all wee may enjoy for ſaluation it is the free and vnderſerued fauour of God in Chriſt Ieſus.
Dauid hee felt now the heauie weight of Gods anger which preſſed him downe exceedingly, and brake his heart: yet withall, hee felt the merciemercy of God, which made him bolde to goe to God for pardon, ſo that hee could call him, my GOD. Wherein we may note the difference of Gods children from infidells that hauehave no faith; the child of God, although he be touched at the quicke, with the feeling of Gods diſpleaſure, yet he can by faith goe to his father, and make his moane vntounto him: But a wicked man that hath no faith in Chriſt,Note. hee conceiueth nothing but GODS anger and iudgement, and therefore flies from him, and cannot giuegive one rap at Gods merciemercy ſeate, cannot for his life cry, My God, and my Father: but is faine to run from GOD, and ſo in time to diſpaire as Caine and Iudas.
[And my tongue ſhall ſing of thy righteouſneſſe.]
THeſe wordes containe in them the reaſon of his requeſt, as if he ſhould ſay: If thou ſhalt, O Lord, pardon my ſinne, and in merciemercy deliuer me from the curſe and puniſhment due to me for them, my tongue ſhall be a Preacher and publiſher of thy merciemercy vntounto others; And my tongue ſhall ſing of thy righteouſneſſe. By righteouſneſſe is not meant here, the iuſtice of God, whereby he takes vengeance for ſinne: but by righteouſneſſe is meant the mercifull dealing of God in keeping promiſe with all repentant ſinners, in pardoning and remitting their ſinnes and receiuing them to mercy.
Doctr. 7 It is impoſſible for any man or woman,Gods mercies muſt vntie our tongues to praiſe him. Luke 22. 1. Chro. 19 Acts 11.18 1. The 2.19 who hauehave truly taſted of Gods mercy in CHRIST for life and ſaluation, to keepe it in as it ſhall not breake foorth and appeare: but he that hath his hart affected with Gods merciemercy in CHRIST, it will vntie his tongue to ſpeake of it, and to praiſe God for it. As it is not poſſible to keepe fire ſo cloſe, but it will ſmoke and flame in time: ſo the feeling of Gods louelove can not but break out and appeare to the good of others.
Wel, by the rule of this doctrine, wee may ſee that very few hauehave their hearts affected with the merciemercy of God in Chriſt,Luke 17. becauſe they ſeldome or neuer take occaſion to ſpeak of it, and to prayſe God for it. The poore Leaper finding himſelfe to be cleanſed, came to praiſe God for it, and Naaman would giuegive Eliſha a reward; but our hearts hauehave no comfort in it, therefore we open not our hearts to praiſe God.
[And my tongue]
MArke how Dauid ſpeakes, that as in heart he will bleſſe God, ſo in words hee will praiſe him.
Doctr. 2 Of all the partes of mans bodie, the tongue ſerueth to honour GOD, and to praiſe him: that ſerueth to vnfolde the truth of God, to bleſſe him, to praiſe him, and to inſtruct others.Iames 3.
Vſe 1 Well, ſeeing that God hath of all members of the bodie ordayned the tongue to be that member whereby we ſhall honour and praiſe him; let vsus gouerne our tongue ſo, as it may ſerue to open his will, to praiſe and bleſſe him, to ſpeake of his wonderous woorkes; let vsus vſe it well in prayer, in ſpeaking of Gods merciemercy and iudgement, to inſtruct others: and in any caſe let vsus ſet a watch before our mouthes, that we ſinne not in ſpeeches;Iames 3. If any man ſinne not in his tongue, he is a perfect man.
[Of thy righteouſneſſe.]
Doctr. 8 HE calles Gods faithfulnes and truth in keeping promiſe to repentant ſinners; His righteouſneſſe: Gods rightteouſnes what.wherein note a wonderfull comfort to all repentant ſinners, that GOD auoucheth he ſhould be vniuſt,Note. and vnrighteous, if hee ſhould not giuegive them merciemercy and pardon when they repent: ſeeing hee hath tied himſelfe by hi… promiſe: ſo as if he ſhould not ſhew them mercy, he ſhould be vniuſt, and deny himſelfe, and be no God.
Vſe. Well then, let this prouoke euerie man to repent, and turne to God: for if thou doeſt bewaile thy ſinnes, and begge pardon, thou maieſt chalenge it at Gods hands, vrge him with his promiſe, and hee can no more denie thee mercy, then hee can deny himſelfe: for he ſhould not be iuſt in his promiſe, if he ſhould not pardon repentant ſinners. And this me thinks ſhould be a wonderfull inducement to moue all ſinners to repent, ſeeing the Lord is true of his word, and can nor deny thee merciemercy, vnleſſe hee ſhould deny himſelfe, and ſo be vniuſt, which is impoſſible: for hee is true of his word.