I come now to the second clause, his longing desire after it, saying, When loilt thou comfort rne f that is, David was ever and anon re- peating and saying, 'Lord, when?' The Hebrews express their wishes by way of question : Oh, that thou wouldest comfort me !
Docf. 3. When our hope and help is delayed, we may complain to God for want of comfort.
1. What is the comfort which David intendeth ? In the general, consolation is opposed to grief and mourning. Sin hath woven calamities into our lives, and filled us Vv'ith griefs, troubles, and sorrows, so that we need comfort. Comfort is either eternal, spiritual, or temporal.
[1.] Eternal: 2 Thes. ii. 16, 'Everlasting consolation and good hope through grace ; ' Luke xvi. 25, ' Kemember that thou in thy life- time receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus evil things ; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.'
[2.] Spiritual, which is of two sorts : —
(1.) Comfort against the trouble of sin ; in which respect the Holy Ghost is called the Comforter. In this respect the Holy Ghost biddetli them comfort the penitent incestuous person, 2 Cor. ii. 7.
(2.) Against affliction : so God is said to ' comfort those that are cast down/ 2 Cor. vii. 6 ; and Ps. xciv. 19, 'In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul ; ' 2 Cor. i. 3, 4, ' Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.'
[3.] Temporal ; so God is said to comfort those whom he freeth from afflictions : Ps. Ixxi. 21, after deep and sore troubles, ' Thou shalt in- crease my greatness, and comfort me on every side.' So the Lord comforteth his i^eople, not by word only, but also by deed ; not only by speaking comfort to them, but also by relieving them, and refresh- ing them, and freeing them from their troubles. So Isa. lii. 9, ' Sing, ye waste ])laces, for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.' Though God's people lay low for a time, yet his blessing can exalt them beyond all expectation, and bring about such happiness as may make them forget their sorrows and miseries. This is intended here : Lord, when wilt thou give that deliverance which I pray for, and wait for at thy hands? Let it not seem strange that temporal deliverance should be owned as a comfort to God's people. Partly because they are acts of God's providence and dis- pensations of his grace, sought not i in a way of faith and prayer : Zech. i. 17, ' The Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem,' Partly because by these he seemeth to own them, and
^ Qu. ' out ' ? or ' for ' J— Ed.
VeR. 82.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 371
confirm them in the privilege of his peculiar care, and that they have an interest in his favour ; which by sad afilictions seemed to be an- nulled and made void. But hereby God givetli proof of his favour to them : Ps. Ixxxvi. 17, ' Show me a token for good, that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed ; because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me ; ' that in their affliction godliness may not sufi'er, nor wicked men be hardened in their insolency. Partly as hereby promises are made good, and so faith confirmed: Isa. Ivii. 18, ' I will heal him, and restore comforts to him, and to his mourners.' Partly as they are helps and encouragements to love and praise God, and to live in a thankful course of holiness, when not stopped or diverted by fear of enemies : Isa. xii. 1, ' In that day thou shalt say, 0 Lord, I will praise thee ; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.' We may serve God more cheerfully then. Partly because as they have seen his wisdom and justice in their troubles, so now his power and grace and truth in their deliver- ance. They are more comfortable, because there is much of God discovered in them, Ps. cxv. 1. Lastly, because they are comfortable to the natural life. They are not so divested of all human respects. Yet therein the saints moderate themselves ; they do not count these things their highest consolation. So it is said of the wicked, Luke vi. 24, ' Woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation; ' and Luke xvi. 25, ' Thou receivedst thy good things.' Yet a sense they have, otherwise how can we be humbled under crosses, or give thanks for blessings ?
2. We may complain of the delay of comfort. God's children have done so : Ps. vi. 3, ' But thou, 0 Lord, how long? ' Ps. xiii. 1, ' How long wilt thou forget me, Lord ? for ever ? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?' so ver. 2, ' How long shall mine enemies triumph over me ? ' Ps. xciv. 3, 4, ' Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph ? How long shall they utter, and speak hard things ? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves ? ' Reasons : —