A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 119 · Part ז
ZAIN.
Vers. 9. Remember the Word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
In this section, he prayeth for the performance of the promise, which he hath believed, and whereof he hath found the fruits already in a good measure. Whence learn, 1. The promises of the Gospel and grace of God, give liberty and confidence to the believer to draw neer to God, to seek the full performance thereof, as here, Remember the Word wherein thou hast caused me to hope. 2. The general offer of the Gospel, and the promises made to the believer, do make promises to be every believers propriety, no lesse then if his name were inserted in the promise, or written in the Bible: Remember the Word spoken unto thy servant, or promised to me. 3. God that maketh the offer of the Word, is he who also worketh faith in the believer, and moveth him to apply it and trust in it, the acknowledging whereof, as it is Gods glory, so is it the believers profit: Remember the Word upon which thou hast caused me to hope: for faith and hope is not of our selves, it is the gift of God.
Ver. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy Word hath quickened me.
51. The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy Law.
52. I remembred thy judgements of old, O LORD: and have comforted my selfe.
53. Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy Law.
54. Thy statutes have been my songs, in the house of my pilgrimage.
55. I have remembred thy Name, O LORD, in the night: and have kept thy Law.
56. This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
The fruits which he hath found already by his faith in the Word, are seven, all in order set down in the rest of the verses of this section. Whence learn, 1. Faith and hope in God do not exempt Gods children from troubles, but do comfort them in their trouble, so as all other consolations are naught in comparison; This is my consolation in my affliction. 2. When the believer is damped with trouble, and sometime as it were dead in regard of spiritual operations, motions and affections, faith draweth life againe out of the Word of promise; for thy Word hath quickened me: and this is the first fruit of faith in Gods Word. 3. Albeit impenitent, gracelesse men do mock grace, do mock faith and obedience in the godly; and (in Satans drift and theirs) to the intent they may make the godly forsake Gods law, yet faith in the Word is able to bear the believer up against derision, as experience sheweth: The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy Law: and this is the second felt fruit of his faith. 4. It is good to have a number of examples of Gods dealing with his servants, and with his adversaries, laid up in the storehouse of a sanctified memory, that thereby faith may be strengthened in the day of affliction: for so are we here taught, I remembred thy judgements of old, O Lord. 5. Faith doth draw comfort out of the execution of Gods Word of promise, and of threatening also, in former times; I remembred thy judgements of old, O Lord, and was comforted: and this is the thi…d felt fruit of his faith. 6. It is an evidence of sincerity in Gods service, to see wrath and judgement in the face of sinne, and to be diverted from sinning by the sight of Gods judgement threatened and executed upon the wicked: horrour hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law: and this is the fourth felt fruit of his faith. 7. As Gods children are in this world strangers and pilgrims in affection, and dealt with as strangers where they live, so also are they oft-times banished from their native Countrey: Thy statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage. 8. Wheresoever the believer is, and whatsoever be his outward condition, the Word of God received by faith, shall bear him company, and furnish him with matter of comfort and rejoycing: Thy statutes have been my song in the hou…e of my pilgrimage: and this is the fifth felt fruit of his faith. 9. The knowledge and deep impression of the Majesty of God, as he revealeth himselfe in his works, and Word, is a powerfull meanes to strengthen us in the obedience of faith; I have rem…mbred thy Name, O Lord, and have kept thy Law: and this is the sixth felt fruit of his faith. 10. Well spent time in secret when we are solitary, shall be rewarded openly by a good carriage in society and company: I remembred thy Name in the night, I have kept thy law. 11. It is no small benefit to see and observe what good we have had by our obedience to God, and how grace hath been rewarded by grace in our persons: This I had (to wit, all the former fruits,) because I kept thy precepts: and this is the seventh felt fruit of faith, that a man may enjoy the approbation and comfort of the fruits of faith. 12. Those are reckoned keepers of Gods precepts, not who have no sinne in them, but who study to be free of sinne, and to do Gods will: This I had, because I kept thy precepts. 13. It is wisdome to reckon what good we have by faith in God, and to endeavour to please him, rather then to reckon our temporary and light afflictions in our service, as here we are taught.