A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part ס
SAMECH.
Vers. 113. I hate vaine thoughts: but thy Law do I love.
114. Thou art my hiding place, and my shield: I hope in thy Word.
As he gave before evidences of his affection to the Scripture, and of his purpose to obey it in his practice: so in this section he giveth six evidences of his hatred of the evil, which is contrary to the good, which is promised and commanded in the Scripture. The first evidence is his hatred of the most secret and meanest degrees of actual breaches of the Lords law: and for this protestation he giveth three reasons. Whence learn, 1. With earnest love to good, hatred of evil necessarily must be joyned, as the connexion of these duties in several sections doth teach. 2. Every dislike of evil is not sufficient, but perfect hatred is required of us against all sorts and degrees of sin: I hate vain thoughts. 3. All sinful courses in Religion or conversation, (such as are all those that are not warrantable by Gods Word,) are unprofitable, and shall disappoint all those who do follow them; I hate vaine thoughts. 4. Hatred of sin is then acceptable to God, when it floweth from the love of Gods Word set down in Scripture: But thy law do I love. And this is the first reason of his protestation. 5. The protection and defence which is to be found in God against the evil of trouble, should strengthen the believer in the hatred of the evil of sin, as here it doth: Thou art my hiding place and my shield: and this is the second reason of his protestation. 6. Faith in Gods Word is the fountain of the hating of sin, and confiding in God; I hope in thy Word: and this is the third reason of his protestation.
Ver. 115. Depart from me ye evil doers: for I will keep the Commandments of my God.
A second evidence of his hatred of sin, is his renouncing all fellowship in sinning with whatsoever person or persons; let them seek Associates where they list, he would have no fellowship with them in the unfruitful works of darknesse. Whence learn, 1. He that would eschew sin, must beware to comply with wicked men in their wicked courses, and in this respect must separate from them, not altogether from conversing with them, for then a man must go out of the world, but from fellowship with them in evil doing: for in this respect is it that he saith, Depart from me ye evil doers. 2. Nothing can save a man from complying with sinners, but sincere resolution to keep Covenant and Communion with God, and not to displease him; For I will keepe the Commandments of my God.
Vers. 116. Vphold me according unto thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
The third evidence of his hatred of sin, is partly his estimation of it as a shameful thing, and partly his prayer to be preserved from the shame which sin doth draw after it. Whence learn, 1. The believer doth not lean to his own strength, or holy purpose, but is sensible that he shall easily fall into sin, except God preserve spiritual life in him: and therefore he prayeth: Uphold me that I may live 2. Albeit a beleever be not able in himself to persevere, yet because of Gods promise to hold up the weak who lean unto him, he may be confident to stand, Uphold me, according to thy VVord, that I may live. 3. Sin should therefore be hateful, because it bringeth shame to the sinner of it self, and shameful disappointment of his hoped for felicity; Uphold me, and let me not be disappointed of my hopes.
Ver. 117. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
The fourth evidence of his hatred of sin, is his fear of mischief and perishing, which he cannot eschew, except by Gods preserving of him in the course of his obedience. VVhence learn; 1. The strongest believer is most sensible of his own weaknesse, and most afraid to sin, and most apprehensive of the evil of sinning, and of the good of persevering in the obedience of God: therefore again he prayeeh, Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. 2. Gods preserving a man from sinful courses, giveth great encouragement to him to persevere sincerely in the obedience of all Gods commands: Hold thou me up, and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. 3. The believer may undertake any duty, provided he take God for the surety of his performance, who if he be sought unto by prayer, and relied upon in the use of the meanes, will not refuse to inable us to performe whatsoever duty we shall undertake; Hold thou me up, and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Vers. 118. Thou hast troden down all them that erre from thy statutes: for thy deceit is falshood.
119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like drosse: therefore I love thy testimonies.
The fifth evidence of his hatred of sin, is his observation of the mischief decreed and begun to be executed against evil doers. Whence learn, 1. It is a special meanes to preserve us from sinful courses, to observe the mischief which followeth thereupon: Thou hast troden down them that erre from thy statutes. 2. Only they who fear to sin, do see the evil of other folks sinning, and only they can make good use of Gods judgement on others, who are sensible of the merit of sin, if they should fal into it themselves: for this is the observation of a believer. 3. Albeit the wicked hold their head high, and lift up themselves in their sinful courses against God, yet he hath already trod down many such persons, and hath decreed to tread down all of that sort: Thou hast troden down all them, &c. 4. Not only such as openly and grossely are wicked and prophane, but also all they who please themselves in the by-pathes of their own wandering, and do not care for pleasing of God, shall perish: Thou hast troden down all them that erre from thy statutes. 5. Whatsoever be the baits of pleasure, profit and preferment which draw men from the obedience of God, and whatsoever be the excuses, pretences and confidences which do secure the impenitent sinners consciences, all will be found to be selfe-deceit, lies and vanity: For their deceit is falsehood. 6. The godly and wicked live together in the visible Church, as drosse and good mettal, but God who is the purger of his Church, will not fail by diversity of trials, and judgements to put difference between them, and at last will make a perfect separation of them, and cast away the wicked as refuse: Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth as drosse. 7. The destruction of evill doers, as it should make us hate sinne, so should it move us to love the course of holinesse: Thou puttest the wicked away, therefore I love thy testimonies.
Vers. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee: and I am afraid of thy judgements.
The sixth evidence of his hatred of sinne, is the fear he had of Gods threatening, and wrath, and judgements. Whence learn, 1. A render heart is easily affected, as with Gods mercies, so also with Gods judgements: My flesh trembleth. 2. The godly because of the remainder of sinne in them, and their natural frailty, are not exempted from the sense of the terror of God, yea, it is needfull they be now and then exercised therewith, that so they may be kept in awe, and their joy may be tempered with fear and trembling, and their prayer may be sharpened, and they may be kept watchfull, and so their obedience may be furthered: My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.