A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part י
IOD.
Ver. 73. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments.
74. They that feare thee will be glad when they see me: because I have hoped in thy word.
In this section is set down the example of the right carriage of a believer, brought out of one calamity, and cast into another: his good behaviour consisteth in these six duties. The first is, to guard well against sin, by seeking wisdome from God to bear well the tentation of new trouble. Whence learn, 2. Albeit nothing can satisfie misbelief, yet true faith will make use of the most common benefit of Creation to strengthen it self; Thine hands have made me and fashioned me. 2. It is a good way of reasoning with God, to ask another gift, because we have received one: and because he hath given common benefits, to ask that he would give us also saving graces: Thy hands have made me and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments. 3. Seeing God is our Creator, and the end of our Creation is to serve God, we may confidently aske whatsoever grace may enable us to serve him, as the Psalmists example doth teach us. 4. As the afflicted Petitioner for grace to obey Gods Commandments, is strengthened in his faith, by the hope of the glory which may come unto God by his holy behaviour, so also is he strengthened in his prayer, by the hope of the edification, which others the Lords children may have by beholding his carriage; They that feare thee, will be glad when they see me. 5. It should be the joy of all believers, to see one of their number sustained, and borne out in their sufferings; for in the proof and example of one sufferer, a pawne is given to all the rest, that God will help them in the like case: They that feare thee will be glad when they see me. 6. The Lord shall so work for the man that hopes in his Word, that both he and others shall have cause to be glad, for the grace of faith and hope bestowed on him: They shall be glad when they see me, because I hoped in thy word.
Ver. 75. I know, O LORD, that thy judgements are right: and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
The second duty of the suffering beleever, is to …ustifie God in afflicting of him. Whence learn, 1. Albeit we see not the particular reasons of Gods dispensation, yet the belief of the Lords righteousnesse and wisdome should quiet our mindes from all murmuring and disputation, and suspicion about the Lords doing, as here is done; I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right. 2. It is not sufficient that we justifie God, and forbear to murmure against Gods afflicting of us, but we must believe that God out of love doth afflict us, by way of performing of his Covenant unto us; I know that thou in thy faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Ver. 76. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy Word unto thy servant.
77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
The third duty of the afflicted servant of God, is to seek comfort from God, according to his promise. Whence learn, 1. Albeit we know that our sins have drawn on our affliction, yet that must not hinder us to seek comfort from God in that affliction… and nothing can comfort the afflicted, except the sense of Gods kindnesse and mercy to him: Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindnesse be for my comfort. 2. Albeit full remedy be promised in the Word, and albeit salve for every sore be treasured up there, yet the sweet effect of these promises we cannot have, without dealing with God by prayer, to apply in particular, what faith in the Word beleeveth in general: Let thy merciful kindnesse be for my comfort according to thy Word. 3. To the end we may have the benefit of the promise, it is wisdome to thrust in our selves among those to whom the promise is made, under one title or other as we can and to put our name in Gods Writ: Let comfort come into me, according to thy Word to thy servant: that is, the Word of Promise which is made to servants, and so to me, and so let it come to me. 4. The sense of Gods tender mercy to the beleever, is the very life of the beleever, it is death to him to want it: Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live. 5. As we love the sense of Gods mercy, so must we love Gods Word, and studie the obedience of faith, and he who hath the one, may pray and hope for the other; Let thy tender mercies come unto me, for thy law is my delight.
Ver. 78. Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversly with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy Precepts.
The fourth duty of the afflicted servant of God, especially by persecution, is to pray against his enemies, and then to go on in his way of serving God. VVhence learn, 1. Proud, gracelesse, impenitent men, will not prove friends to the godly, but unreasonable persecutors of them, as they finde occasion: The proud have dealt perversly with me without a cause. 2. When the proud and wicked in the world are our party, God will be a friend to us who do seek for relief from him, and will disappoint them of their plots against us: Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversly with me without a cause. 3. Persecution by the wicked maketh and should make the godly studie to understand the Word of God more clearly and fully then before: Let the proud be ashamed, but I will meditate in thy Precepts. 4. The best defence against persecution, is to stand fast in a good cause, and studie obedience to Gods Word; for by this meanes the afflicted do remain Gods servants, and the Lord is engaged to do for them as his servants; for this is the course the Psalmist taketh.
Ver. 79. Let those that feare thee turne unto me: and those that have known thy testimonies.
The fifth duty of the afflicted and persecuted is, to labour to know friendship and fellowship with others who are godly, which may both strengthen themselves and others. VVhence learn, 1. As it should not seem strange unto us if the godly forsake our fellowship when we are persecuted, seeing God doth suffer this for the humbling, and trying, and turning us to believe in God alone: so it is our duty to recover them who have deserted us, and to draw them in unto us again, and to pray to God to further us: Let those that feare thee turne unto me, doth teach all this. 2. As God when he pleaseth, diverts the comfort of the fellowship of godly friends, so he can bring them back again to us, as the prayer doth import. 3. Only they▪ who with feare to offend God, have the sound knowledge of Gods Word, are fit comforters and strengtheners of the godly under persecution; Let those that feare thee, turne unto me, and those that keep thy testimonies.
Ver. 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.
The sixth duty of the afflicted, is to studie above all things, to be sincere in his carriage, and in his defence of a good cause; uprightly aiming to do what is right rightly, and for the right ends. Whence learn, 1. Minde and heart in the best men, are so perverted by natural corruption, (which is not fully abolished in any) that not mans free will, but Gods free grace must help this evil: for this prayer, Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, doth import so much. 2. Sound knowledge of the statutes, and sound affection toward the statutes, and a sound purpose in the following of the statutes, must be joyned together in the Lords Martyrs; Let my heart be sound in thy statutes. 3. As the unsound heart will not bear out the good cause, nor keep up with the godly in their good way, but will fall off to his own shame: so the upright man fleeing unto God in the fear of his owne weaknesse, and suspicion of the deceit of his own heart, shall be preserved from shame, as this prayer importeth: Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.