A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 31
PSAL. XXXI. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Another exercise of David, wherein he being in great danger to be taken by his enemies, prayeth for delivery, ver. 1, 2, 3 4, 5▪ 6. Secondly, he strengtheneth his faith by his by-gone experience. ver. 7, 8. Thirdly, in Prayer he layeth out his lamentable condition before God, ver. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Fourthly, he wrastleth on in Prayer for comfort and safety to himself, and confusion to his enemies, ver 14 15 16 17 18. Fifthly, being delivered and comforted by a new experience of Gods merciful preservation of him, he maketh good use of it, by praising God for it, and exhorteth the godly to love God and relie on him, ver. 19 20 21 22 23 24.
Ver. 1. IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy right…ousnesse.
2. Bow down thine ear to me, deliver me speedily: be thou my stong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3. For thou art my rock, and my fortresse: therefore for thy Names sake lead me and guide me.
FRom his interest in God by Covenant, he strengthens himself in Prayer for delivery. Whence learn, 1. Faith avowed and maintained, furnisheth prayer, and giveth hope to be heard; for David having first said, In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; he subjoyneth, Let me never be ashamed: For this much may a believer expect, that albeit he be put to hang down the head for a little, yet he shall not at last be ashamed. 2. As the Lord sendeth in his wisdom, trouble after trouble, upon a believer, so he sendeth in his justice and faithfulnesse, promised delivery after delivery from oppressors, Deliver me in thy righteousnesse. 3. Where the danger is pressing, and the affection is ardent, the Petition may be repeated without babling, and speedy help my be craved without limitation of God; and hearkening to a poor supplicant, as it were, with a bowed down eare, may be prayed for without abasing of Gods Majesty, as here, Bow down thine eare to me, deliver me speedily. 4. Were there but a moment betwixt us and perishing, and our enemies stronger then we, were ready to lay hands on us; faith seeth that God can interpose himself speedily, and lift us up above our enemies reach: Be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me. 5. What the Lord is engaged to be unto us by Covenant, we may pray and expect to finde him in effect; Be thou my strong Rock, saith he, for thou art my Rock. 6. When trouble and uncouth passages discover our ignorance, our blindnesse and weaknesse unto us, we have God engaged for his glories cause, to take care of us, and to bring us through; for the Prayer of the beleever is, For thy name sake lead me and guide me.
Ver. 4. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, for thou art my strength.
5. Into thine hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.
He cometh more particularly to his danger, and prayeth for delivery, and strengthening his faith by sundry reasons. Whence learn, 1. As the children of this world are more wise in their generation, then the children of the light: so do they hunt and overtake the godly, by their crafty devices against him, They laid their nets privily against David, and ensnared him. 2. Though the godly be both weak and simple-witted, yet they have a wise and strong God to call upon, who is able to break the snare, and set his own free, whose help David imploreth here, Pull me out of the net, for thou art my strength. 3. The way to quiet our mindes, in the hazard of our mortal life, (which is soon and easily taken away, and we cannot our selves preserve,) is to put our soul over on Gods care and custody, Into his hands committing our spirits. 4. The Word of God, giving assurance to the believer of his Redemption, is a ground sufficient, to make him confidently commit his soul to Gods keeping; for he may say with warrant, Thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth. 5. Worldly men that believe not in God, have some other thing wherein they trust beside, as riches, friendship, their own wit, &c. which carnal confidences are but lying vanities, whereof the true believer must be aware, and hate the way of such as follow them; for David hated them that regarded lying vanities, because he trusted in God.
Ver. 7. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble: thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8. And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy, thou hast set my feet in a large room.
In the next place he strengtheneth his faith by his former experience, and promiseth himself after this present sorrow, joy and gladnesse, whereof he hath some present sense, stirred up by calling to memory his experience. Whence learn, 1. In the midst of trouble faith will furnish matter of joy, and promise to it self gladnesse, especially from the memory of by-past experiences of Gods mercy; as here, I will rejoyce and be glad in thy mercy. 2. When a believer is in adversity, the Lord will not misken him, he will make him know, that even then he hath an eye upon him, and friendly affections to him: Thou hast known my soul in adversity. 3. Adversary power shall not get their will of a fixed believer, but he shall have delivery from them, and victory over them, either temporally or spiritually, or both ways; for here is the experience of it, Thou hast not shut me up in the hand of the enemy, thou hast set my feet in a large room. 4. The ground of our gladnesse, when we have found a proof of Gods kindnesse to us, should not be in the benefit so much, as in the fountain of the benefit; for this giveth us hope to drink again of the like experience, from the fountain which did send forth that benefit. Therefore David sayes, I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for ever.
Ver. 9. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth, because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintanc: they that did see me without, fled from me.
12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde: I am like a broken vessel.
13. For I have heard the slander of many, fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
In the third place he layeth out his lamentable condition, in regard of perplexity of minde, and decay of natural strength, by grief and sorrow of heart, and in regard of the contempt of his adversaries, and neglect of his friends, and hazard of his life joyned with the sense of Gods displeasure for his sinnes, wherein he is a type of Christ suffering for our sinnes imputed to him, and an example of the hard exercise of the Saints▪ Whence learn, 1. Great and of long continuance may the troubles of the godly be, great may their grief and heavinesse of heart be, before they get comfort, as the example of this meek man, so holy in his way, so subdued in his affections, doth shew by sundry expressions. 2. Albeit the Lord needs no words to informe him of our condition, or to move his affection to his children in trouble, yet he hath appointed us for evidencing our faith in him, and dependance upon him for relief, to come and tell him what aileth us; and indeed it is an ease to the godly heart, to have the Lord to speak unto, and lay out their case before him, as here we see. 3. The conscience of sinne joyned with trouble, is a load above a burden, and able to break a mans strength more then any trouble; for here he saith, my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 4. When the godly have many and powerfull enemies, then their acquaintance and neighbours, and the multitude of the people will readily believe that all misreports of them are true, and this maketh the grief of the godly the greater; as here, I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but specially among my neighbours. 5. When the godly fall under persecution and trouble, their worldly friends for fear of danger, or burden by them, will turn their back on them, and forget acquaintance, yea and natural bands with them also; and then must the godly lean to God, and expect comfort from him. This is holden forth in this type of Christ, and example of believers under tryall; I am a fear to my acquaintance, &c. 6. Long lying in trouble will make a man to be forgotten of his friends, as if he were dead, and make him to lose all estimation at their hands, as if there were no worth in him at all. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind, I am like a broken vessel. 7. It is Satans policy to draw great men and Councellors of State in tops with the godly, because commonly what great men esteem of the godly, that passeth for currant; and it is Satans policy first to laden the godly with slanders, and then to persecute them to death, I heard the slanders of many, they took counsell together to take away my life. 8. In a sharp triall a soul may be assulted with terrible tentations on all hands, and feel terror and fighting within and without, fear, saith he, was on every side.
Ver. 14. But I trusted in thee, O Lord, I said, Thou art my God.
15. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies sake.
17. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18. Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
In the fourth place he wrestles by faith for delivery, and comfort in the mean time till delivery come to himself, and disappointment to his enemies. Whence learn, 1. It is the nature of faith, and it is the believers duty, to oppose help from God, unto all tentations, were they never so many; as here David did. But I trusted in thee, O Lord. 2. Except we hold fast the grip of our Covenant with God, and avow it before him, trust will faile, and tentations readily prevail: much use made David of the Covenant in his strait, I said, Thou art my God. 3. Faith can make good chear of the general grounds of Gods providence, by making application thereof to its present use. The dispensations of al mens comforts and troubles, life and death, are in Gods hand, and not in mens power: my times are in thy hand, saith David. 4. Because all power is in Gods hand, prayer to him will prevail more for delivery from enemies, then any means besides; Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and them that persecute me. 5. When the cloud of trouble hideth the Lords favour, faith knoweth it may shine again, and therefore prayeth through the cloud for dissolving of it; make thy face to shine upon me. 6. As we must study to approve our selves to be the Lords servants, by studying obedience to him; So must we make grace and nothing else save grace, the ground of our hope to be helped, comforted, or saved. Shine upon thy servant, saith he, save me for thy mercies sake. 7. As the humble prayer of the persecuted godly, shall be granted and have effect; So the proud brags, coloured calumnies, and threatnings of slanderous and cruel adversaries, shall be shamefully refuted and disappointed; and if the enemies shall not timously cease to persecute, they shall be made to cease in their graves, Let me not be ashamed, for I have called on thee, let the wicked be ashamed, and made silent in their graves; let lying lips be put to silence, which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Ver. 19. O how great is thy goodnesse, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men!
20. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence, from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues.
21. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindnesse in a strong City.
Comfort and deliverance being the answer of his prayer, he praiseth God, and stirreth up the godly to set their hearts on God, and trust in him at all times. Whence learn, 1. The bounty of the Lord to his own people seen in the World, observed in the Lords ordinary dispensation towards them, and felt in a mans own experience, is able to ravish the heart with admiration of the blessednesse of Gods people, as here, O! how great is thy goodnesse! 2. Beside what consolation of spirit the Lord giveth to his own, the Lord sometimes will manifest so much respect in his providence to his servants, that not only the godly, but also they who are but children of men, will be forced to acknowledge the Lords singular respect to them; and beside what the Lord bestoweth either inwardly or outwardly upon his own in this life, there is yet more laid up for afterwards, for compleating of the blessednesse in the life to come: How great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 3. How great peace of conscience before God, and comfort in the holy Ghost, the Lord can give a believer when he hath to do with proud open persecuters, and privily whispering slanderers; It is a secret and hid mystery to the worldly man: this David describeth in a similitude taken from wa…fare, Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man, thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 4. As every believer having gotten any experience of Gods goodnesse, should read it as a particular proof of some generall promise made to the godly; so should he subscribe the truth of that promise, in favour of all beleevers, and blesse God for his own particular experience of it; for so doth the Prophet here, saying, He hath shewed his kindnesse to me, that is, how kinde a God he is to his own, is in a strong City; that is, preserved me in the wildernesse, as if I had been in the best fenced City in the world, furnished with men, victual and amunition in abundance.
Ver. 22. For I said in mine haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee.
He confesseth the great distress he was in, and how weak his faith was under the tentation; this he doth to his own shame acknowledge also, that he may give the greater glory to God. Whence learn, 1. The faith of the godly may be shaken, and the strongest faith may sometimes shew its infirmity. I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes. 2. Though faith be shaken, yet it is fixed in the root, as a tree beaten by the winde, keeping strong gripes of good ground; Though faith seem to yield, yet it faileth not, and even when it is at the weakest, it is uttering it self in some act, as a wrestler; for here the expression of Davids infirmity in faith is directed to God, and his earnest prayer joyned with it, I am cut off from before thine eyes, yet thou heardest the voice of my supplications. 3. Praying faith, how weak soever, shall not be misregarded of God; for neverthelesse saith he, thou heardest the voice of my supplication. 4. There may be in a soul at one time both grief oppressing, and hope upholding: both darknesse of trouble, and the light of faith; both desperately doubting, and strong griping of Gods truth and goodnesse; both a fainting and a fighting; a seeming yeelding in the fight, and yet a striving of faith against all opposition; both a foolish haste, and a settled stayedness of faith; as here, I said in my haste, &c.
Ver. 23. O love the Lord, all ye his Saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: all ye that hope in the Lord.
Now he maketh farther use of his experience, in exhorting all the godly to follow his example, encouraging them yet with hope of like success. Whence learn, 1. The gracious dealing of God with believers, should glew their own hearts, and all other Saints hearts that hear of it, unto God in faith and love. O love the Lord all ye his Saints. He putteth love for faith, because it is inseparable from faith, and faith worketh by love, and love proveth the sincerity of faith. 2. The faithful man shall not want an upholder, albeit he had no friends: for the Lord preserveth the faithful. 3. The proud man shall not want a pursuer, and one to be avenged on him for his pride and oppression, though all the world should let him alone, for the Lord doth plentifully reward the proud doer. 4. Albeit opposition be made unto a believer, yet must he resist every thing which might put him back from trusting in God; for it becometh a believer to be stout; Be of good courage. 5. Who so aimeth at courage in the Lord, shall be furnished with strength to double out his undertaking of faith: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart. 6. Hope grounded on the promise, must be fixed, that our courage may be founded not on our selves, but on the word of God: Be of good courage all ye that hope in the Lord.