Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 4 [i.e. 5] · Psalm 119 · Stanza 3
3. GIMEL.
IN this Octonary, The Contents. The impediments of obedience.David reckoneth up the impediments that he might meet with, in the keeping of Gods Law. 2. And prayes to God to remove them.
1. Ver. 1 The firſt impediment was, a dead ſoul, and a dull heart, and therefore he prayes for reſtitution of grace, 1A dead heartof which he had loſt the ſenſe by his ſin: Ver. 2 Deal bounntifully with thy ſervant, that I may live again the life of grace, and keep thy Word.
2. 2Blindneſs of underſtanding.The ſecond impediment was, the blindneſs of his underſtanding, and the vail upon his heart, the perturbations and paſſions of his ſoul, love, fear, deſire, anger, with which being diſquieted, he could not judge aright, and therefore he prayes, Open my eyes, that I may ſee the wonders, the wonderful equity, wiſdom, and profit of thy Law.
3. The third impediment was, his preſent condition; he was but yet Ʋiator, Ver. 3 a Traveller in his way to Heaven, and knew not well the way, he might miſtake it, 3Our imperfect ſtate.and therefore he prayes; I am a ſtranger upon earth, I am regenerate but in part, and know the way but in part, therefore hide not thou t…y Commandments from me. It muſt be conceived, that David was not ſuch a ſtranger in Iſrael, that he knew not the two Tables; that then he craves, is, That God by the power of his Spirit would teach him the uſe, the neceſſity, the profit, the obedience of theſe Commandments. Ver. 4
4. The fourth impediment was, his infirmity and imperfections. 4And will or affections.He found his deſires to be too often cool'd; he would, and he would not; he deſired, and he did not deſire; not ſo heartily as he ſhould, which made his obedience imperfect, and the effect not to follow, and therefore he manifeſts here a ſtronger deſire againſt that imperfection: My ſoul breaks, for the longing it hath to thy judgments at all times. As if he had ſaid, help me, that I may perfectly and ardently deſire, and that my deſire may be brought to act; for my ſoul breaks, is contrite, and vexed that it is not ſo.
5. A fifth impediment, is pride of heart, Ver. 5 that ſuffers not men to ſubmit their necks to the yoke of Gods Law; 5Pride of heart.which impediment David doth not acknowledge in himſelf, but yet uſeth it for an Argument that he be obedient, becauſe God hates, and curſeth them, who out of pride and contempt violate his Law. Thou haſt rebuked the proud that are curſed, which do erre from thy Commandments: None with a high hand breaks them, that eſcapes unpuniſhed; not Lucifer, nor Adam.
6. A ſixth impediment was, 6Scoffs and ſcorns from the profanethe mocks and ſcorns that were put upon him by Saul, and his Courtiers, which he expreſſeth in the ſeventh verſe, which, becauſe they might be a great diſheartning to him, Ver. 6 therefore he firſt prayes.Againſt all theſe he prayes
1. Remove from me reproach and contempt; which is a grievous temptation to a generous ſpirit, and therefore he deſires of God to clear his innocency, adding this Reaſon; For I have kept thy Teſtimonies: I cannot be then that ſeditious, rebellious perſon, that troubler of Iſrael I am preſented to be.
2. And yet Princes did ſit and speak againſt me; Saul, Abner, Ver. 7 Achitophel, Doeg, ſate in their Councels, at their Feaſts, and laid to my charge things that I knew not. It is a hard tentation, when the godly are troubled by any wicked man; but much harder, when troubled by men in honour and authority: But yet David ſo aſſaulted by their tongues, And ſhews his conſtancy in his obedience, and delight in Gods Word.keeps ſtill cloſe with God: But thy ſervant did meditate in thy statutes. He renders not reproach for reproach, nor contempt for contempt; this impediment hinder'd him not to obey God.
3. About which he explains himſelf farther, Ver. 8 ſhewing the fruit he reaps by it.
1. Thy Teſtimonies alſo are my delight: In Adverſity a Conſolation.
2. And my Counſellors: In my doubts very faithful friends. Saul hath his Councel, and I have mine; he his Nobles, but I no other of my Councel, but the Commandments of God; from which I receive pleaſure to refreſh me, and Councel to govern me, and all my Affairs and Buſineſs.
The Prayer.
O Lord, many are the impediments that are caſt in our way, Ver. 1 that hinder us from doing our duty to thée; our ſouls are dull and heavy, O quicken them; our underſtandings are dark and blind, O enlighten them; we are ſtrangers on earth, and know not the way to Heaven, O direct us, and hide not thy Commandments from us. Deſires we have to do thy Will, but they are cold and imperfect; this we lament, and grieve for, it breaks our heart, that they are not more fervent, fix and heighten theſe, that we may have a longing deſire to thy judgments at all times.
Theſe diſcouragements we find within, but we are not without hindrances from without; accurſed proud men, that do erre from thy Commandments, are become our enemies, and Princes alſo did ſit and ſpeak againſt us, becauſe we have kept thy teſtimonies. O remove from us that ſhame and contempt they go about to caſt upon us for thy ſake: However we will reſolve to be thy ſervants, we will keep thy teſtimonies, and meditate in thy ſtatutes. Thy Teſtimonies ſhall be our delight and refreſhment in all our adverſities, and thy ſtatutes our Counſellors in all our doubts. To thée alone we will repair for comfort and counſel in all our perplexities, and ask it in the Name of Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.