[2.] There is none of them, whatever their present condition be, but they may fall into the like depths with those of the psalmist. There is nothing absolutely in the covenant, nor in any promise, to
GM- AN EXPOSITION UPON PSAL!<T cxxx. [Ver.7,8,
secure them from it. And what befalleth any one behever may be- fall them all. If any one believer may fall totally away, all may do so, and not leave one in the world, and so an end be put to the kingdom of Christ; which is no small evidence that they cannot so fall. But they may fall into depths of sin. That some of them have done so Ave have testimonies and instances beyond exception. It is good, then, that all of them should be prepared for that duty which they may all stand in need of, and for a right discharge of it. Besides, the duty mentioned is not absolutely restrained to the condition before described, but it is proper and accommodate unto other seasons also. Therefore are all the Israel of God exhorted unto it.
(2.) The duty itself is, hojnng in Jehovah,, with such a hope or trust as hath an expectation of relief joined with it. And there are two things included in this duty : —
[1.] The renunciation of any hopes, in expectation of deliverance either from sin or trouble any other way: " Hope in Jehovah." This is frequently expressed where the performance of this duty is men- tioned. See Hos. xiv. 3; Jer. iii. 22, 23. And we have declared the nature of it in the exposition of the first and second verses.
[2.] Expectation from him ; and this also hath been insisted on, in the observations from the verses immediately j^receding; wherein also the whole nature of this duty was explained, and directions were given for the due performance of it.
2. The encouragement tendered unto this duty is the next thing in the words: " For with the Loed is plenteous redemption ;" wherein we may observe, —
(1.) What it is that he professeth as the great encouragement unto the duty mentioned ; and that is redemption, — the redemption that is with God : upon the matter, the same with the forgiveness before mentioned, mercy, pardon, benignity, bounty. He doth not bid them hope in the Lord because they were the seed of Abraham, the peculiar people of God, made partakers of privileges above all the people in the world ; much less because of their worthiness, or that good that was in themselves; but merely upon the account of mercy in God, of his grace, goodness, and bounty. The mercy of God, and the redemption that is with him, is the only groimd unto sinners for hope and confidence in him.
(2.) There are two great concernments of this grace, — the one ex- pressed, the other implied in tht.' words. The first is, that it is much, plenteous, abundant. Tiiat which principally discourageth distressed souls from a comfortable waiting on God is, theii' fears lest they should not obtain mercy from him, and that because their sins are so great and so many, or attended with such circumstances and aggra-
Ver. 7,8.] EXPOSITION OF VERSES r AND 8. 645
vations, as that it is impossible they should find acceptance with God. This ground of despondency and unbelief the psalmist obviates by representing the fulness, the plenty, the boundless plenty, of the mercy that is with God. It is such as will suit the condition of the greatest sinners in their greatest depths; the stores of its treasures are inexhaustible. And the force of the exhortation doth not lie so much in this, that there is redemption with God, as that this re- demption is plenteous or abundant. Secondly, Here is an intima- tion in the word itself of that relation which the goodness and gi-ace of God proposed hath to the blood of Christ, whence it is called " Redemption." This, as was showed in the opening of the words, hath respect unto a price, the price whereby we are bought; that is, the blood of Christ. This is that whereby way is made for the exercise of mercy towards sinners. Redemption, which properly denotes actual deliverance, is said to be with God, or in him, as the effect in the cause. The causes of it are, his own grace and the blood of Christ. There are these prepared for the redeeming of be- lievers from sin and trouble unto his own glory. And herein lieth the encouragement that the psalmist proposeth unto the perform- ance of the duty exhorted unto, — namely, to wait on God, — it is taken from God himself, as all encouragements unto sinners to draw nigh unto him and to wait for him must be. Nothing ])ut himself can give us confidence to go unto him; and it is suited unto the state and condition of the soul under consideration. Redemption and mercy are suited to give relief from sin and misery.
3. The last verse contains a ^yt'omise of the issue of the perfoim- ance of this duty: " He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." Two things are observable in the words: —
(1.) The certainty of the issue or event of the duty mentioned: frna^ Nini^ " And he shall," or "he will redeem;" he will assuredly do so. Now, although this in the psalmist is given out by revelation, and is a new promise of God, yet, as it relates to the condition of the soul here expressed, and the discovery made by faith of forgiveness and redemption with God, the certainty intended in this assertion is built upon the principles before laid down. Whence, therefore, doth it appear, whence may we infallibly conclude, that God will redeem his Israel from all their iniquities? I answer, —