THE sinner's hope. Ps. XXXV. 3. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
SUSPENSE is extremely painful to the human mind, and the more so in proportion to the danger to which we are exposed. David experienced this in a very high degree. In the psalm before us, he appears to have been greatly agitated with fear on account of the number and malignity of the enemies who sought his ruin, and were exulting in the ex- pectation of his speedy fall. Seeing no hope for himself in the efforts of his adherents, he betook himself to prayer, and with most earnest importunity implored that help from his Creator which the creature was unable to afford. And as it was with an armed host that he was beset, he addressed the Lord under the character of a mighty warrior, to stand forth in his defence : " Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Draw
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me : say unto my soul, I am thy salvation."
This last petition I propose to consider, I. As offered by him — ■
Nothing could exceed the bitterness of David's enemies^ —
[If we mark the diversified expressions in this psalm, we shall have some idea of the danger to which he was exposed. JSaul having determined if possible to destroy him, his subjects of every description leagued together to execute his will, " False witnesses rose up, and laid to David's charge things which he knew not ;" and, in confirmation of their accusations, declared that they were eye-witnesses of the acts imputed to him ". Among the number of these were many on whom he had con- ferred the greatest obligations '', and to whom he had given no just occasion of offence '^. " They devised deceitful matters against him '^ :" " they hid a net for him, and digged a pit for his soul^." To encourage one another in their odious work, " they winked with their eye*^;" and, when they thought they had pre- vailed against him, " they rejoiced in his adversity s;" and " mag- nified themselves against him''," and "said in their hearts, Ah ! so would we have it: we have swallowed him up'." The very abjects, encouraged by the example of their superiors, gathered themselves together against him, and tare him incessantly; whilst hypocritical mockers in their feasts, (pretending to more huma- nity,) yet " gnashed upon him with their teeth''." In a word, all classes of the community lay in wait for his soul', and, like lions prowling for their prev, sought to destroy and to devour him "'.]
Under these circumstances he cried to God for help — •
[The particular expression in our text is worthy of notice, especially as shewing what thoughts the Psalmist entertained of God. He believed that, God ivas able to deliver him, how powerful soever his enemies might be. He knew, that if God was for him, " no weapon that was formed against him could prosper." Nor did he doubt the goodness of God, as willing to hear and answer his petitions, and to afford him the protection which he so earnestly desired. But that which chiefly demands our attention is, his persuasion of the condescension of the Most High, in that he prayed, not merely for deliverance, but for
such
*ver. 11,21. ''ver. 12. * ver. 19. "^ ver, 20. " ver. 7- ^ver. 19. » ver. 15. "^ ver, 20. ' ver. 26.
" ver. 15, 16. ' ver. 4. "" ver. 17, 25.
355.] THE sinner's hope. 107
such an assurance of it to his soul, as should calm all the tumult of his mind, and fill him with perfect peace.
N^ow this was the sure way to succeed in prayer. Nothing so secures the interposition of God in our behalf, as the magni- fying of him in our hearts: "Them that honour him, he will honour." If we limit his mercies, he will limit his gifts. If we doubt his power or willingness to help, he will withhold such displays of his mercy as he would otherwise have vouchsafed ". On the other hand, if we be stedfast in believing expectations of his mercy, we shall have such discoveries of his glory as an un- believing heart has no conception of°. We should never forget, that there is nothing too great to ask of God. We never can *' open our mouth so wide, but he will fill it'':" nor can we ever be more enlarged in our petitions towards him, than he will be in his communications towards us''.]