A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part ק
COPH.
Vers. 145. I cried with my whole heart: heare me, O LORD, I will keep thy statutes.
In this section he falleth on another maine petition unto God, for restoring unto him, and encreasing in him the vigour of spiritual life by his Word, v. 149. and to presse this petition he useth foure arguments, some going before, some following after it. The first argument hath foure branches; the first is, because he had prayed earnestly before for quickening of him, that so he might be enabled to serve God. Whence learn, 1. When the world is crying, Who will shew us any good thing? this man wishing for pleasure, and that man for riches, and he for honour, and he for preferment, the Lords children should be seeking grace to serve God, as the Psalmist did: I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord, and I will keep thy statutes. 2. When the conscience can bear witnesse of hearty seeking of grace to serve God, the Supplicant may confidently call for, and expect comfortable quickening of his spirit unto Gods service, as the comparison of this verse with the 149. verse doth shew. 3. Whatsoever spiritual grace we seek of God, we should seek it earnestly: for if we seek it, so as if we did not regard whether we obtained our request or not, such seeking should under-value the grace which we seek; I cried with my whole heart.
Vers. 146. I cried unto thee, save me: and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Another branch of the argument is, because he did not pray for delivery out of his trouble, for satisfaction of his natural desire, but that he might give further proof of his purpose to obey Gods Word. Whencee learn, The conscience of a sincere purpose to seek God, may encourage us to seek both consolation, and lively ability to serve him; I cried unto thee, save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Vers. 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
A third branch of the argument is, because out of hope to finde the fruit of Gods promises, he had been early about the duty of prayer. Whence learn, 1. Prayer should be earnestly followed and with no small diligence in using of the meanes, specially of prayer, so the Lords children come by their holy desires, as here we see; I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried. 2. Looking unto the Word doth furnish faith and hope, and faith and hope do furnish prayer, or else the Supplicant might soon faint: I cried, I hoped in thy Word.
Ver. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches: that I might meditate in thy word.
A fourth branch of the argument is, because when his nights rest was broken by troubles, he did meditate on Gods Word: when his persecutors were securely sleeping. Whence learn, 1. The difficultie wherein the Lords children are cast many times, doth bereave them of their nights rest: Mine eyes prevent the night-watches. 2. The time which solicitude doth take from our sleep, is to be spent upon prayer and meditation of Gods Word, and not upon perplexing thoughts: Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate in thy VVord.
Vers. 149. Heare my voice according unto thy loving kindnesse: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgement.
This is the main petition in this section, put up for renewing and encreasing in him the vigour of spiritual life by faith in the Word, wherein he giveth a second reason of this his prayer, taken from Gods kindnesse expressed in his promises. Whence learne, 1. Albeit a man had no special promise of help in a particular exercise of trouble, yet the consideration of Gods mercy and loving kindnesse, manifested in general in his Word, is a sufficient ground to strengthen his hope to be helped: Hear my voice, according to thy loving kindnesse; O quicken me according to thy judgements. 2. As the feeling of spiritual deadnesse doth argue life and sense in Gods children, so doth it fit a man for renewed influence, and sense of spiritual life: O Lord, qu…cken me according to thy testimonies.
Vers. 150. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
151. Thou art near, and all thy Commandments are truth.
The third reason of his petition is, because his enemies were ready to do him a mischief, and were far from regarding Gods law, but he believed God was the more n…ar to deliver him, and that his Word was true, and therefore he desireth renewed vigour of spiritual life. Whence learn, 1. The more near that danger is, the more ground of confidence have Gods children in their danger, to call and hope for the influence of his Spirit: They draw near that follow after mischief. 2. The further the enemies of the godly are from Gods law, and the nearer they are to do a mischief, the nearer are Gods children to finde the communion of the life of God; They draw near that follow after mischief, they are far from thy law. 3. For the consolation of a sufferer for righteousnesse, it is necessary to believe Gods readiness to deliver him, and to believe the truth of Gods Word, whereby his cause is justified; for the following of Gods command▪ is a pledge of Gods assisting of him, and delivery also, no lesse then a promise: Thou art near, and all thy Commandments are
Vers. 12. Concerning thy Testimonies, I have known of old, that thou hast founded them for ever.
A fourth reason of the petition is because he had long since experience of the everlasting stability of Gods testimonies, and therfore craveth to be quickned according to them. Whence learn, 1. The faith of the stability & unchangablenes of Gods Word in general, is a good meanes of applying and making use of the passages thereof in particular; Concerning thy testimonies, I know that thou hast founded them for ever. 2. By-past experience of the truth of Gods VVord, is an encouragement to hope for help in like trials afterward; Concerning thy testimonies, I know of old, that thou hast founded them for ever.