(3.) That the deliverance of his people may be more glorious : partly because there is more of his power and care discovered when our straits are great : 'Israel may now say, We had been swallowed up quick,' Ps. cxxiv. Rescues in extremity of dangers are more glorious :
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Ps. cxviii. 13, ' Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me/ So Ps. xxvii. 2, ' When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.' In great dangers to be overtaken by his enemies. God doth some way suffer his people to be brought near destruction, but he doth always prove their friend and helper. David's strength and courage was seen in that he plucked a lamb out of the lion's mouth, 1 Sam. xvii. 34, 35. And partly because these great straits and troubles are a means to open our eyes, and waken our stupid senses. Deliverance is all one to God, whether from great exigencies or in ordi- nary cases, but is more endeared by extremity of danger. It is as easy to save a hundred or a thousand, but it inaketh a fuller sound : we are more sensible of our weakness to help ourselves, to be sure, without his assistance.
Use 1. Be not offended if God cast you into great dangers ; it is no argument of God's hatred to destroy you, but of his love to try you, and to prepare you for the greater comfort, that we may have a more glorious sight of his salvation. Many, after confidence expressed, have been put to great trials. The three children were delivered, but put into the fire first, and the furnace made seven times hotter. Paul's company suffered shipwreck before the promise of their safety could be fulfilled. Moses and the Israelites were delivered, yet pursued and shut up, the Egyptians behind, and the seas before, and steep moun- tains on each side : Ps. cxviii. 18, ' The Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over to death.' Things at the worst begin to change ; though it come to such a desperate pass as it must be speedy help or speedy ruin, such exigencies do mightily conduce to the glory of God, and the bettering of his people. Whatever weakeneth our confidence, the greatness of danger should not, for in such cases God is there.
Use 2. Let us use the more prayer ; it is a time to put promises in suit : 2 Chron. xx. 12, ' 0 our God, wilt thou not judge them ? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do ; but our eyes are unto thee.' The fittest season to treat with God about help ; for when the creatures are at a loss, that is the time for God to help. When danger is near, call upon God for help, acquaint him with it, it is time for him to be near also. Ver. 151 of this psalm, ' Thou art near, 0 Lord.' The less help of man's mercy, the more hope of God's help.
Use 3. The greater the danger, the more thankfully should we acknowledge the deliverance. The woman of Sarepta, when her son was restored to life, 1 Kings from the 17th verse to the end, said, ' By this I know thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.' So ' Israel may now say, If the Lord had not been on our side, men had swallowed us quick.'
Secondly, A description of those from whom this danger was feared, ' They are far from thy law ;' that is, they do not regard it. This clause may be added —
1. To amplify or aggravate the danger. As if he had said, Lord, having oppressed them, they contemn thy law, and all restraints of conscience and duty. The farther the enemies of the godly are from
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God's law, the nearer to do mischief. So Ps. liv. 3, ' Oppressors seek after my soul ; they have not set God before them.' So Ps. lxxxvi. 1, ' Violent men have sought after my soul, they have not set thee before them.' They are likely to be cruel, because profane. When the fear of God is laid aside, and all respect to his word, there is nothing to be expected but the worst of evils. They mind not thy law, therefore care not what mischief they do me.
2. To increase his confidence of help ; for God will not favour a corrupt party : Ps. cxxxix. 19, ' Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God ;' Ps. xciv. 10, ' The throne of wickedness hath no fellowship with thee.'
Doct. The iniquity of persecutors is some matter of confidence to the oppressed ; as David, from those that drew near to mischief him, conceiveth some encouragement because they were far from God's law. There are several considerations : —
1. Usually the servants of God have been most hated and troubled by the worst of men ; so it usually falls out that the worst and most virulent enemies of religion are those that are infamous for other crimes. They have the greatest pique against them because they cannot endure the righteousness of God's image on them : Ps. xxxviii. 20. ' They are my adversaries, because I follow the thing that good is.' So John vii. 7, ' The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil.'