A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part ש
SHIN
Vers. 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.
In this section, he taketh comfort by six approved evidences of saving grace felt in himself, which he presenteth unto God to be sealed by him. The first evidence is his adherence to the obedience of faith, notwithstanding of his being persecuted by Princes. Whence learn, 1. It is a sore tentation when the godly are persecuted for righteousnesse by their Governours, by whom they should be encouraged and defended, and yet this exercise of the godly is no strange matter: Princes have persecuted me without a cause. 2. As it is an ease, and a piece of comfort to the godly, that they have not deserved persecution: so their innocency is an aggravation of the sin of the persecutor, as here; They have persecuted me without a cause. 3. There is no means to save us from sinning for fear of men, but the fear of the supreme power of the Almighty; But my heart standeth in awe of thy word, which is all one as to stand in awe of God. 4. To bear out persecution of Princes, out of respect to the obedience of Gods Word, and fear to offend God, is a mark of saving grace, as here it is brought forth.
Vers. 162. I rejoyce at thy Word: as one that findeth great spoile.
The seeond evidence of saving grace in him, is a greater joy felt in Gods Word, then in any thing in the world, yea, such a joy, as the greatest joy of worldly men, is but a shadowing similitude of it. Whence learn, 1. He that feareth to offend God more then he feareth to fall into any worldly inconvenience, may rejoyce in the obedience of faith more then in any worldly advantage, as the experience of the Psalmist doth teach, who saith; My heart stood in awe of thy Word, when Princes did persecute me, and subjoyneth, I rejoyce in thy Word, as one that findeth great spoile. 2. The joy of a believer, which he findeth in the obedience of faith, is so great, as the joy which a Victor in battel doth finde in the spoile of his defeated enemies, which is but a shadow of it, albeit the joy of delivery from death, the joy of victory, the joy of riches, honour and peace, and ease are joyned in the Victors breast altogether on a sudden: I rejoyced at thy Word, as one that findeth great spoile. 3. The juncture of fear to offend God, and joy in obedience of him, is a mark of a gracious spirit, as the Psalmists producing of it as a mark of grace in him maketh evident.
Vers. 163. I hate and abhor lyeing: but thy Law do I love.
The third evidence of saving grace in the Psalmist, is his joynt hating and abhorring of all sin, and loving of the obedience of Gods Word. Whence learn, 1. As the speaking of untruth, or concealing of truth which should be confessed, is a lying; so every controvening of professed obedience unto Gods Word, is a work of lying and self-deceiving, which a beleever should hate and eschew: I hate and abhor lying. 2. Slight hatred of a sinful course, is not sufficient to guard a man against it: for where the enmity is not great, the mans agreement with sin may soon be made, but such abhorring and deadly hatred of sin is required, as cannot admit reconciliation: I hate and abhor lying. 3. Ha…ing and abhorring of all sin arising from, and joyned with the love of Gods Word, is a solid mark of saving grace: for abhorring of some sin, and of all sin, for temporary reasons, may prove unsound; but this is sincerity, when a man can say, I hate and abhor lying, but thy Law do I love.
Ver. 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee: because of thy righteous judgements.
The fourth evidence of saving grace in the Psalmist, is the frequent admiration of the goodnesse of God to man, set forth in Gods Word, with hearty praising of God for it. Whence learn, 1. As the studying of the Word of God bringeth the believer to see his own blessednesse revealed in it: so it bringeth him also to admire and praise God for that and for all his righteousnesse declared in it: Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgements. 2. The more a man discover Gods glory in the Wo…d, and be taken with the love of God, and admiration of God for what he seeth, and doth make use of Gods Word unto Gods praise, the more clear evidence hath he of the work of saving grace in himself, as here the Psalmist maketh use of the mark; Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgements.
Vers. 165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
For confirmation of the former marks of saving grace, he commendeth the love of Gods Word, by two notable effects; One is, that it bringeth a glorious peace with it: Another is, that it maketh a man hold on the way of Gods obedience, whatsoever impediments or stumbling blocks shall be cast in his way. VVhence learn, 1. The receiving of the truth of God in love, giveth great peace, peace passing understanding: for the law of works doth shew a mans debt and danger, and the beleever subscribeth lovingly to the justice thereof: and the law of saving faith sheweth remission of sin, righteousnesse and eternal life through the Messiah Jesus Christ, and the beleever embraceth the offer heartily: and the law of new obedience directeth the justified man how to go on to the full possession of blessednesse, and the believer doth heartily take on this holy yoke upon him, and so he walketh as a man reconciled with God, and at peace with him: Great peace have they who love thy law. 2. Albeit there be many stumbling blocks and impediments to divert the beleeer, from the obedience of Gods Word, arising from the terrour and allurements of the world, from the troubles and exercises of the godly, from the scandals given by Professors, and such like, yet the love of Gods Word is able to carry a man strait on his way to heaven▪ without stumbling or turning aside to the one hand or the other: Great peace have they who love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.
Vers. …66. LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation: and done thy Commandments.
The fifth evidence of saving grace in the Psalmist is, the conscience of his sound faith and obedience. Whence learn, 1. Sound hope of salvation is joyned with the care of keeping the Commandments: for he who hath this hope purifieth himself, that he may be holy: Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy Commandments. 2. As none can have heart or hand to keep Gods commands, except he have hope to be helped out of every trouble wherinto he may fall, and to be fully saved at last: so he who hath the hope of salvation, hath great encouragement unto obedience, and where the conjunction of these two are found, the man hath evidence of saving grace, and boldness to go to God in this confidence, as the Psalmist doth; Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy Commandments.
Ver. 167. My soule hath kept thy Testimonies: and I love them exceedingly.
168. I have kept thy Precepts and thy Testimonies: for all my wayes are before thee.
The sixth evidence of saving grace is, the approved testimony of his conscience concerning the sincerity of his heart, and that after a new examination of the soundnesse of former marks, which here are looked upon over again, and presented to God with other three marks of sincerity, to wit, spiritualness in obedience, exceeding love to the VVord, and daily walking as in the sight of God. Whence learn, 1. After a believer hath found marks of saving grace in himself, it is wisdome for him to examine these marks over again, whether they be in him indeed and in truth or not: for if they be indeed in him, how weak soever they be, and albeit joyned with imperfections, if compared with the perfection of the moral law, yet will they beare weight in the balance of the Gospel, (where any measure of uprightnesse passeth for perfection,) as here the example of the Psalmist doth teach. 2. Where the soul, or the renewed part of the man is for the obedience of faith, there is a sincere keeping of the commands: My soule hath kept thy testimonies. 3. VVhere the love to Gods VVord, and the obedience thereof exceedeth the mans love to any thing which might divert him, there is a sincerity in keeping of the VVord; I love thy testimonies exceedingly. 4. As the looking alwayes unto Gods all-seeing eye, is a special meanes to make a man keep his commands: so the conscience of his endeavour so to do, testifieth sincerity; I have kept thy Precepts and thy Testimonies: for all my wayes are before thee.