Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 4 [i.e. 5] · Psalm 119 · Stanza 17
17. PE.
IN this Octonary David praiſeth Gods Word. 2. Shews his affection to it. The Contents.3. And prayes for Grace to keep it.
1. The Elogy he gives Gods Word in this verſe, Ver. 1 is from a new quality not mentioned before.Davids Elogie of Gods word: that it is wonderfull.
1. Thy Testimonies are wonderful. For though the literal ſenſe of them be eaſie and plain, yet wonderful are the Myſteries contain'd in the two Teſtaments. Great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs. The whole Ceremonial Law is wonderful, becauſe under thoſe Ceremonies were obſcurely ſhadowed out to us, the Myſtery of our Redemption by the Blood of Chriſt. The Decalogue is wonderful, written in ſo few words, in which yet are hid all the principles of Juſtice and Charity, to which may and muſt be reduced all the juſt Laws that have been, or ſhall be made. All theſe are but Concluſions and Determinations of the Laws of the Decalogue. And muſt receive their trial by it. As for the Myſteries of the New Teſtament, no man can ſay, but they are wonderful.
2. Therefore doth my ſoul keep them. Learn them, love them, 2That it illuminates.practiſe them.
2. The next Elogy he gives Gods Law, is, that it is the Word of Illumination. Yea, the very
1. Entrance into it ſuch, the very firſt declaration of it, Ver. 2 whether it be done by God by infuſion of divine light, or by ſome skilful Doctor or Teacher. And if the firſt opening, as it were, of the door gives light, what will the progreſs and continuance do?
2. The entrance of thy Word gives light. It is a light ſhining in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1.19. without it then men walk in darkneſs.
3. It gives underſtanding unto the ſimple. The Simple.Not to ſuch as are high-minded, and double in heart, that are ſo wiſe in their own eyes, that they will examine the Myſteries of Godlineſs by the ſtrength of their own reaſon: but to ſuch as deny themſelves, and captivate their reaſon, and ſubmit it to the Word of God, and labour more to believe, than to reaſon. Theſe are the ſimple, to whom the Word of God gives underſtanding, of whom our Saviour ſpeaks, Mat. 11.25. And St. Paul, 1 Cor. 1.25, 26, &c.
4. And now, ſaith David, I being one of theſe ſimple ones, Ver. 3 Opened my mouth, and panted.For which David pants, and longs.
1. I opened my mouth, by prayer, as deſirous of this good Spirit of light and piety.
2. I panted after it, as men do that want breath, and defire freſh aire.
3. For I longed for thy Commandments; had a vehement intention to underſtand, to fulfil them.
3. From the praiſes of the Law, David turns himſelf to prayer. He ſaid but now, I opened my mouth, and here he acquaints us what he ſaid after his mouth was open. I ſaid,
1. Ver. 4 Look thou upon me, either as unjuſtly oppreſſed, or under ſpiritual deſertion.
2. 2 He prayes for Mercy, to pardon ſin.And be merciful unto me: This is well ſubjoyned, for God looks upon ſome in diſpleaſure. Shew me mercy, who labour under the burden of thy precepts, that by my own ſtrength I cannot fulfil.
3. As thou uſeſt to do unto thoſe that love thy Name, ſhew me at leaſt ſo much mercy as thou affordeſt to others, let not thy cuſtom be broken in me, but do by me, as thou uſeſt to do by thy friends, which love thee in ſincerity and truth.
2. And Grace to be kept from ſin.This was his firſt Petition for Mercy, and to it he ſubjoins a ſecond for Grace. Many ſeek for Mercy to forgive ſin, that ſeek not for Grace to deliver them from the power of ſin; Ver. 5 which is to abuſe Gods Mercy to wantonneſs. And therefore David prayes,
1. Order my steps in thy Word, that is, my whole converſation inwardly and outwardly let me be ordered by thee, for as our director, ſuch will be our actions.
2. And let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Let me be no ſlave to ſin and Satan, in captivity to them, ſo that they domineer over me.
3. And deliverance from Calumnies.And yet he makes a third Petition. Gods children have not only to wreſtle againſt the ſin that dwells in them, but with enemies from without; Oppreſſors, Ver. 6 Calumniators there be, that by falſe reports and preſſures retard good men in their way, therefore David prayes,
1. Deliver me from the oppreſſions of men, that being nor diſturb'd by their oppreſſions, nor yet diſhearthed by their calumnies, I decline from the right way.
2. So will I keep thy precepts. This favour obtained, ſhould not diſoblige David, but bind him the more So will I keep. 'Tis but an ill uſe of a benefit obtained by prayer, when we abuſe it to Licentiouſneſs. How inexcuſable are we?
4. And that he might have a ſenſe of Gods favour.A fourth Petition again he preſents, that he might have a ſence and feeling of Gods favour.
1. Make thy face to ſhine upon thy Servant. For as the Sun by the intetpoſition of a cloud is obſcured, Ver. 7 and by it we are deprived of light and heat: So when God doth not help us by his Grace, he ſeems to hide his face, upon which there follows a coldneſs and darkneſs upon the ſoul, of which David having experience, prayes, Make thy face to ſhine, for then the contrary effects would follow, light and comfort of ſoul.
2. And teach me thy statutes. Illuminate me.
4. Ver. 8 Theſe Prayers of David teſtifie how he loved the Law, and now he witneſſeth the ſame by his grief, He grieves for the wickedneſs of others.his grief for the ſins of others, to that uſe he put his tears. Rivers of water run down from my eyes, becauſe they keep not thy Law. The ſins of other men may become ours, if we mourn not for them, 1 Cor. 5.2. Ezek. 9.8.
The Prayer.
O Lord, Ver. 1 I never can be ſatisfied in the contemplation of thy Law in which I find ſo great depths, Myſteries and wonders, in few words, I find moſt perfect wiſdom and equity contain'd, all vertues commanded, all vices prohibited, all men of all ages and all conditions, taught their duties. The very entrance into them gives light, Ver. 2 and diſpels the darkneſs of error and ignorance, the continuance in them gives underſtanding to the ſimple, who are of an humble ſpirit, and ſubmit and captivate their reaſon to thy wiſdom. The proud and malicious thou doſt reject, and to them the Lamp of thy Law gives no more light, than a Candle hid under a Buſhel.
O make me then of an humble ſpirit, teach me to ſubmit my natural and corrupted reaſon to thy divine revelations, never let me think my ſelf ſo wiſe in my own eyes, that I néed not the teaching of thy Spirit, ſo ſhall I hope to underſtand the wonderful things of thy Law, Ver. 1 ſo ſhall my ſoul kéep them. That I may obtain ſo great a favour, Ver. 3 I have opened my mouth in prayer, never did any man that is anhelous and almoſt ſtified, more labour for breath, than I have panted for this grace, for I have excéedingly longed and deſired to come to a right underſtanding of thy Commandments.
Behold I turn my prayer unto thée, be thou converted and look upon me, Ver. 4 look upon me with the eye of that mercy, as thou uſeſt to do upon thoſe that love thy Name, and thy Honour; deal by me, as thou art wont to deal with thy friends and dutiful ſervants, for I deſire to be in that number, though, O Lord, I muſt néeds confeſs my ſelf to be an unprofitable ſervant. That I may be better hereafter, order my ſteps, Ver. 5 diſpoſe and direct all my affections and actions according to the eract rule of thy Word, and never permit any iniquity to have the dominion over me. Though to my grief it will dwell, yet never let it reign in my mortal body, or ſo far dominéer, that I obey it in the luſts thereof. Ver. 7 I am ſenſible what a darkneſs comes over my ſoul upon thy diſpleaſure, and the withdrawing of thy countenance, make then thy face to ſhine upon thy ſervant, that all miſts and darkneſs being diſpelled, I may be again refreſhed and comforted by the bright beams of thy favour; and withal, teach me thy moſt juſt Statutes, without the knowledge of which I can expect neither protection from thée, nor felicity.
To with-hold and deter me from my duty to thée, I find too many impediments, tentations I have from men, who ſcoff and mock at me, becauſe I keep thy Law, that calumniate and detract from my good name, becauſe I adhere to thy Truth, that oppreſs and undo me, becauſe I am conſtant in my obedience to thée, O deliver me from the ſcorns and oppreſſion of man, and ſo being ſet at liberty, I ſhall more readily and chéerfully keep thy precepts. Theſe are bitter enemies to thy truth, and ſons of Belial, they have broke the yoke, and caſt oft thy bonds, and yet for them my ſoul ſhall mourn in ſecret, Rivers of water ſhall run down my eyes, becauſe they keep not thy Law. Turn, Lord, even to theſe, if it be thy good pleaſure, and turn them to thée, for they are thy creatures, and bear thy Image; true it is, that they have defaced it by rebellion, but thou canſt reſtore it by thy Spirit, which if they ſhall go on to ver and grieve, to rebell and provoke while he is at his work, then number them to the ſword, and bow them down to the ſlaughter, becauſe when thou calledſt, they would not anſwer, when thou ſpakeſt, they would not hear, but continued to do evil before thy eyes, and did chooſe that, wherein thou didſt not delight. Make them know that there is a God in Iſrael, that will avenge his own cauſe, and protect his people, and get himſelf glory upon his enemies. But let thy ſervants ſing for joy of heart, and rejoice in thy ſalvation for ever and ever.