A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 71
PSAL. LXXI.
THis Psalm is a Prayer of David in his old age, requesting for delivery from the conspiracy of Absalom, wherin he wrestleth with the Lord by servent supplication … in seven petitions, all tending to this purpose, that he may delivered, to ver. 14. and from ver. 14. to the end, we have his confidence to be delivered, set forth in foure evidences thereof. Absalom here is not named, nor is the particular case set down, otherwise then in general expressions, that so it may serve the better for the larger use of the Church of God, and of the particular members thereof, in their afflictions.
Ver. 1. IN thee, O LORD, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion.
The first petition is general, wherein he professeth his confidence in God, and prayeth that he be not put to confusion. Whence learn, 1. As long as a childe of God doth live in the world, he must look for new afflictions, as here the experience of the Psalmist, tossed in his old age, doth warne us. 2. Look how many new troubles do befall Gods servants, so many new messengers are sent of God to call them to him; so many new errands are furnished unto them; so many new petitions are put in their mouth; and so many pressing necessities are sent to make them earnest in their supplication, and frugal in making use of their interest in God by faith, as here and elsewhere doth appear. 3. He that cometh to God must beleeve in him, and fasten his faith on God, and avow it, how weak soever he finde it to be; In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. 4. Albeit such as beleeve in God, may have many tentations to mistrust God, and great feares that they shall be disappointed of their hopes, and for a time may seem to be disappointed and put to confusion, yet it shall not be for ever; if they do not take shame unto them by distrust, they shall never have cause to be ashamed; Let me never be put to confusion.
Ver. 2. Deliver me in thy righteousnesse, and cause me to escape: incline thine eare unto me and save me.
The second petition is more special, for safety and delivery from his enemies. Whence learn, 1. The righteousnesse of God is a pawne unto the godly, that their lawful petitions shall be granted, and specially when they seek delivery from their ungodly adversaries; Deliver me in thy righteousnesse, and cause me to escape. 2. When the Lord giveth a heart to a beleever to pray, he will also grant him audience, and a good answer; Incline thine eare unto me and save me.
Ver. 3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock, and my fortresse.
The third petition is, that the Lord would shew himself to him in effect, what he hath engaged himself to be unto beleevers according to the Covenant. Whence learn, 1 What the Lord is to his people by Covenant, he will be to them the same effectually and in deed, as their need shall require; and as they shall imploy him; Be thou my strong habitation. 2. The goodnesse of God covenanted to his people, is not for one good turn, but for every good which they need; not for one day, but for daily use making, and constant enjoying of it; Be thou my strong habitation, where …to continually I may resort. 3. As the Lord hath all means, all second causes, all creatures at his command, being Lord of hostes, to execute whatever he doth give order for to be done; so hath he really set his active providence on work, to accomplish what he hath covenanted to every believer; Thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and fortresse: he giveth his believing in God, who is his rock, as a reason of his saying, that God was about to save him.
Ver. 4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
6. By thee have I been holden up from the wombe: thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels, my praise shall be continually of thee.
The fourth petition for delivery is strengthened by reason, taken from the wickednesse of the enemy, ver. 4. from his own confidence in God, ver. 5: and from his long experience o… Gods kindnesse unto him in time past, ver. 6. Whence learn, 1. It is a great advantage to be a Confederate with God, when we have to deal with his enemies and ours in any debate; Deliver me, O my God, (saith he) out of the hand of the wicked. 2. The integrity of the beleever in a good cause, and the iniquity of their adversaries in their ill cause, are good tokens of the beleevers victory over them; Deliver me out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 3. Confidence in God, avowed against all tentations in Gods presence, and specially when it is of long standing, is so strong an argument of being heard in a lawful petition, that it may perswade the beleever he shall speed; Deliver me, for thou art my hope, O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth. 4. True thankfulnesse will not passe by common benefits, and true faith will reade special love in common and ordinary favours, and make use thereof amon… other experiences for strengthening of faith; By thee have I been holden up from the wombe, thou art he that took me out of my mothers bowels. 5. The forming of us in the belly, and the common benefit of birth and bringing forth quick into the world, is a smothered wonder, and so glorious a work of God, that he deserveth perpetual praise from us for that one work; Thou art he that cook me out of my mothers belly.
Ver. 7. I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge.
8. Let my mouth he filled with thy praise, and with thy honour all the day.
The fifth petition is strengthened with reasons taken from his hard condition, and from the opportunity of Gods having glory by his delivery out of it. Whence learn, 1. The exercise of the Lords children is sometimes so strange to the beholder, as the world doth wonder at them; I am as a wonder unto many. 2. Knowledge of Gods Word and wayes, and faith in his Name maketh a believer not think strange, whatsoever fiery trial come upon him, but to rest on Gods will whatsoever befall him; I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge: For faith doth not judge of it self, as the world judgeth, but as God hath judged and spoken of it in his Word. 3. The more strange the exercise of the godly be, the more glorious is the Lords upholding of them in it, and delivering of them out of i…, and for the hope of the glory which shall redound to God by such exercises, the hardship should be the more patiently born, and the delivery sought and expected more confidently, that it shall come when it may be most for Gods praise; I am a wonder unto many, let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy honour all the day.
Ver. 9. Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth:
10. For mine enemies speak against me, and they that lay wait for my soule, take counsel together:
11. Saying, God hath forsaken him, persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him.
The sixth petition is strengthened with reasons taken from his own old age and weaknesse, and from his enemies malice. Whence learn, 1. Such as have been the Lords servants in their youth, may be sure to find God a good and kind Master to them in their old age; Cast me not off in the time of old age. 2. Infirmities in Gods children shall not move loathing and casting off, but pitying and cherishing of them, that they may be supported in their weaknesse; Forsake me not when my strength faileth. 3. The world conceiveth that God doth cast off his children, when he doth bring them under any sad calamity, and by this means do think that they have not to do with Gods children, when they persecute his dearest servants; yea, and they encourage themselves to persecute them the more that God doth afflict them; Mine enemies speak against me, and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together: saying, God hath forsaken him, persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him. 4. The misconstructions of the world, their plots and conspiracies against the godly, their evil speeches of them, their resolved cruelty to undo them, are so many arguments of good hope that God shall deliver them; Forsake me not, for mine enemies speak against me, &c.
Ver. 12. O God, be not farre from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13. Let them be confounded and consumed, that are adversaries to my soule: let them be covered with reproach and dishonour, that seek my hurt.
The seventh Petition for delivery and disappointing of his enemies, is strengthened with reasons taken from the Covenant between God and him, and from the glory which God shall have by shaming his enemies. Whence learn, 1. When tentations are most, dangers are greatest, and the assault is strongest, then doth the believer draw nearest unto God, and hold him most closely; O God, be not farre from me, &c. 2. Relying upon, and avowing of the Covenant between God and the soul of a Believer, is able to bear the greatest stresse, whereunto tentations and troubles can drive him; O my God, make haste for my help. 3. God for the glory of his justice against the wicked, and the glory of his grace to his own, shall pour confusion, consumption, reproach, and dishonour upon persecutors of righteousnesse, and adversaries of his suffering servants; Let them be confounded and consumed, that are adversaries to my soul: let them be covered with reproach and dishonour, that seek my hurt.
Ver. 14. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse, and thy salvation all the day: for I know not the numbers thereof.
16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousnesse, even of thine onelyonly.
In the latter part of the Psalm, is the Psalmists confidence to be delivered, set forth in four evidences thereof. The first is his resolution to persevere in hope to be helped, and in praising of God, and relying only on the Lords power and righteousnesse, and not on his own strength. Whence learn, 1. He that is resolved to persevere in hope, may be sure of a gracious event out of his trouble: But I will hope continually. 2. Resolute hope comforteth, enlargeth, and stirreth up the heart unto more and more praising and thanksgiving; I will hope continually, and I will yet praise thee more and more. 3. The matter of the continual praise of God, is partly his righteousnesse, whereby he keepeth his promise, not only according, but also above condition, and giveth also remission of sins, which did deserve wrath, and partly his deliverances, which he giveth to his children, out of danger of body and soul; My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousnesse, and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. 5. Because in troubles a mans own strength will fail him, and fail him also in commanded duties, therefore the believer must renounce confidence in his own ability in both cases, and lean to the furniture of God; I will go in the strength of the Lord God. 6. Because the conscience of sins and sinfulness still doth stare the Believer in the face, and all to discourage him; the Believer must renounce all confidence in his own holinesse, and relie upon the imputed righteousnesse of Christ onelyonly, which is called the righteousnesse of God by saith, being witnessed unto both by the Law and Prophets, Rom. 3. 21. I will make mention of thy righteousnesse, even of thine onelyonly; for in the point of justification, and absolving of us from sin, this righteousesse of God only hath place.
Ve…. 17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wonderou… works.
18. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not: untill I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
The second evidence of the Prophets confidence to be delivered, is the experience of Gods kindnesse for time past, making him with comfortable assurance of being heard to pray for the continuance of that same kindnesse for time to come. Whence learn, 1. We are all of us ignorant of God and his wayes, till he teach us by his Word, and by his Spirit, and by his giving to us experimental knowledge thereof; O God, thou hast taught me from my youth. 2. The conscience of sincere endeavour to make use of Gods gifts to us for the glory of God, and edification of others, according to our place; is very sweet and comfortable in the day of trouble, and giveth much encouragement in approaching to God; Hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 3. He that hath had long experience of Gods mercy to himselfe, and thankfully doth acknowledge the same; may assure himselfe that the course of Gods kindnesse to him shall not be broken off: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, now also when I am ol… and gray-headed, forsake me not, O Lord. 4. It is a noble designe for a man who hath received gifts, whereby he may glorify God and edify his people, to destinate all the dayes he hath to live, to serve his own generation, and the posterity, in the communicating to them what he knoweth of the Lords allsufficiency, and not to love to live in this world, except for this end; Forsake me not untill I have shewed thy strength to this generation, and thy pow…r to every one that is to come.
Ver. 19. Thy righteousnesse also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee?
20. Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21. Thou shalt increase my greatnesse, and comfort me on every side.
The third evidence of his confidence to be delivered, is his looking to the unsearchable fountain of Gods wisdom, faithfulnesse, and omnipotency, and his expecting from this well-spring, that as large consolation shall come forth to him, as he hath had a large measure of troubles. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the effects of Gods wisdome, faithfulnesse, and omnipotency, be neer unto us, and do fall under our sense in his daily operations, yet the fountain thereof, which is Gods own perfect on, is unsearchable, incomprehensible, and incomparably great; Thy righteousnesse, O God, is very high, who hast done great th…ngs: O God, who is like unto thee? 2. That which we see of the Lords works, may lead us up to know what is not seen in relation to difficulties, and power of men, and to see what he is able to do; and when we see the invisible God, we cannot choose but admire his Majesty, and exalt him as Sovereign over all, and then, and not till then that we give him the honour of omnipotency and faithfulnesse, can the heart rest and be quiet: Thy righteousnesse, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: who is like to thee? 3. He tha acknowledgeth Gods justice and wisdome in his troubles, may look to see Gods power and grace no lesse evident in his delivery and consolation: and he who in trouble hath seen his own infirmity, emptinesse, and death, may look to see Gods power and life in raising of him out of the grave of his trouble; Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 4 As trouble humbleth and abaseth a man before the world: so the Lords delivering of him, and shewing his respect to him, honoureth the man again, and exalteth him before men; Thou shalt increase my greatnesse. 5. As no trouble doth come alone, but multitudes of troubles joyned together, when the Lord will humble and try a man; so no comfort cometh single or alone, when the Lord will change the mans exercise, but a multitude of comforts joyned together; Thou wilt comfort me on every side. 6. Losses are made lighter, and comforts weightier, when God is seen and acknowledged in them: Thou which hast shewed me sore troubles, (it is but a view of trouble what we have felt when troubles are seen to come from Gods hand,) thou shalt increase my greatnesse, and comfort me on every side.
Ver. 22. I will also praise thee with the Psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the Harp, O thou holy One of Israel.
23. My lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee: and my soule, which thou hast redeemed.
24. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousnesse all the day long: for they are confounded; for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt.
The fourth and last evidence of his confidence, is his promise of joyful thanksgiving, by way of a begun song, and that for the foresight of his own delivery, and of his enemies overthrow. Whence learn, 1. Faith is so satisfied with Gods promise, that it can praise heartily for what is promised, before it finde performance: I will praise thee with the Psaltery, even thy truth. 2. It is our interest in the Covenant, which makes us to have interest in particular promises; I will praise thy truth, O my God. 3. A soul sensible of Gods kindnesse, and sure by faith of the performance of his faithful promises, cannot satisfy it selfe in praising of God, it hath so high estimation of his fidelity, power, and love: Therefore after he hath said, I will praise thee, he addeth, unto thee will I sing with the Harp. 4. How hardly soever a soul hath been exercised with troubles for a while, so soon as it seeth by faith the Lords prepared event; It will justify all the passages of Gods providence, as just, and wise, and good, and in a word, as holy in all respects. To thee will I sing, O holy One of Israel. 5. Singing with our voice unto the Lord, is a part of moral worship, as well as prayer with the voice, when his honour, and our upstirring, and others edifying calleth for it; My lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee. 6. As the work of praising God requireth sincerity, earnestnesse, and cheerfulnesse; so the work thus done, becometh not onelyonly honourable to God, but also refreshful to the worshipper; My lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee, 7. Dangers and distresses, how grievous soever they be for the time, yet do they furnish matter of praise to God, and joy to the party troubled afterward when the delivery cometh: My lips shall rejoyce, and my so…'e which thou hast redeemed. 8. Beside, singing of Psalmes unto God, speaking of his praise in all companies, and upon all occasions, is a part of our bounden duty of thankfulnesse, for making his word good to us in the overthrow of our enemies, and delivering of us: My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousnesse all the day long. 9. The overthrow of the enemies of the godly is as certain to come, as if we saw it with our eyes already come to passe. The same Word of God, the same light and perswasion of spirit, manifesteth the delivery of the godly, and the destruction of their enemies: For they are confounded, for they are brought to shame, that seek my hurt.