A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part פ
PE.
In this section he professeth, his high estimation of, and affection to the Word of God, v. 129, 130, 131, and prayeth for the benefits which are offered, and may be had in it, in the rest of the section.
Vers. 129. Thy testimonies are wonderfull: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130. The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
He falleth here in a new admiration of the excellency of the Word of God, and in a vehement passion of love toward it. Whence learn, 1. As the Word of God in Scripture is wonderfull in it selfe, and wonderfull in the operations thereof so when it is best seen, it is most admired, and every new looking upon it, raiseth new admiration of it: Thy testimonies are wonderfull. 2. The more the Word is admired, the more is it loved and submitted unto, and more earnest desires are kindled to make use thereof in practice: Therefore doth my soul keep them. 3. The innermost cabinet of a mans soul, is the proper case wherein to keep the knowledge of faith, love, and purpose of obedience of Gods testimonies: My soul doth keep them. 4. Albeit the Word of God in Scripture be full of high mysteries, yet (which is indeed wonderfull) it may be read with profit by simple people, or any who desire knowledge; and it is so plaine to every one who will be Gods disciple, as it giveth light and direction presently to the reader, in the maine points of salvation, and commanded duties: The entrance of thy word giveth light. 5. An humble soul loving to be instructed, albeit weak in natural judgement, shall be made wise to salvation by it: It giveth understanding to the simple. 6. The more a man know the wonderfull excellency, use, and benefit of the Scripture, the more will he love it, and long to understand more of it, as here the Psalmists experience teacheth: I opened my mouth, I panted, for I longed for thy commandments. 7. Common and ordinary affection, or desire after the saving knowledge of the Scripture, is not sufficient, but affection earnestly bended, is necessary according as the excellency of the wisdome in it doth require: I opened my mouth, and panted. 8. The Word of God is no lesse necessary, and comfortable to a mans soul, then meat is to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, or coole aire to the weary: I opened my mouth and panted. 9. When a mans affection and love to Religion is kindled, he hath great need to study hard, to have sound knowledg and understanding of the Scripture, lest his zeal and affection miscarry: I longed for thy commandments.
Vers. 132. Look thou upon me, and be mercifull unto me: as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
Unto this profession of his estimation and affection unto the Scripture, he subjoyneth four petitions for the right use and benefit thereof. The first is the sense of that mercy which is promised and usually bestowed upon such as love the Lord. Whence learn, 1. The Lord bestoweth but short glimpse of his favour and reconciliation on his servants, that they may finde their need to have that sense often renewed unto them: Look thou upon me, and be mercifull unto me. 2. As it is a mark of Gods child to finde in himselfe love of Gods Name, so it is a mark put upon him, to be visited by God with glimpse of kindnesse, and mercy to him: Look upon me, and be mercifull unto me, as thou usest to do to them that love thy Name. 3. As it is good to mark Gods usual dealing with his own children, so it is good to study conformity with Gods children in our affection to God, that we may sinde conformity with them in consolation, for so doth the Psalmist here. 4. It is wisdome for us not to affect singularity of divine dispensations toward us, but to be content to be dealt with as others of Gods children before us have been dealt with: Be mercifull to me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
Vers. 133. Order my stepts in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
The second petition is for sanctification of his actions, and for mortification of sinne. Whence learn, 1. Albeit we have the Word of God for our perfect rule, yet we have need that God should fit us, and strengthen us to the obedience of it: Order my stepts in thy word. Albeit by nature we are ignorant and erroneous, uncertaine and unstable in the way of Gods obedience, yet in the sense of our sinne and weaknesse, we may pray to God with confidence to be heard; Direct, order, and establish my steps in thy word: for so much the Word in the Original doth import. 3. Albeit by nature we are slaves to sinne, and any sinne may bring us in subjection, yet when in the sense of our weaknesse, we have recourse to God to be helped, we may pray with hope to be heard: Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Ver. 134. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
The third petition is for delivery from the oppression of persecutors, that they be not able to drive us from the belief and obedience of Gods Word. Whence learn, 1. Beside the body of sinne and inward tentations, the godly have the persecution of the wicked without to drive them from Gods service, as this prayer doth import. 2. When the Lords servants in the sense of their weaknesse, do seek help against persecutors, he both can and will deliver them either by breaking the yoke of the oppressor, or by giving strength to them to bear out in holy obedience of Gods Word, under the burthen: Deliver me from the oppression of man. 3. The end of our seeking to be free from bodily bondage and trouble from men should be, that we may serve God the more chearfully: Deliver me, so will I keep thy statutes.
Ver. 135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
The fourth petition is for spiritual consolation, and increase of sanctification. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the sense of Gods favour to us may be withdrawn for a time, yet the right which we have to God reconciled to us in Christ, may bear us out in the hope of having it renewed unto us in his service: Make thy face to shine upon thy servant. 2. Because the Lord useth, with the light of consolation, to give also the light of direction in duties we should seek both, and wait for both from the Lord: Make thy face to shine, and teach me thy statutes. 3. As there are degrees of Gods manifesting of his favour, and degrees of profiting in the obedience of Gods Word: so should we seek the increase of both, and no measure received should hinder the seeking of a greater measure, as the often repeating of the same petitions in effect doth shew: Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
Ver. 136. Rivers of waters runne down mine eyes: because they keep not thy Law.
He addeth a reason to this last petition, because it grieved him much to see God dishonoured by them among whom he lived, and to see them, by not obeying Gods statutes, draw upon themselves Gods wrath. Whence learn, 1. He who is sorrowfull for dipleasure and dishonour done to God, may look to be comforted by God, as the connexion of this reason with the former petition doth teach. 2. True zeal is so farre from private revenge of personal injuries received by persecutors, as it can pitty their miserable case, and mourn for them: Rivers of waters runne down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law. 3. Godly affections are larger then bodily expressions can set forth and that which bodily expressions do set forth, signifieth a will to vent much more then the body could furnish. Rivers of waters runne down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law.