The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 124

IV. CoNFF.SSEB BIB NEED OF MEBOY. (Ver. 124.) Before men he could hold up his head, and declare that he was guilty of no wrong, as in ver. 121; but before God it is mercy that he implores, for he, as all who know themselves, knew full well his need thereof. V. Fon THE THIRD TIME AVOWS THAT HE IS Goo's" SERVANT." (Vers. 122, 124, 125.) Why this repeated avowal? Surely it is: 1. A confession of God's absolute right to deal with him as he pleases. He is the absolute property of God by creation, redemption, preservation, and personal choice. But: 2. .A profession ef confident trnst that the Lord will be mindful of his own, will not give him over unto the will of his enemies. 3. It is a renewal of his self-devotion. He does not want to renounce bis service, to take anything back, but rather, under the oppression of his enemies, he would all the more consecrate himself to God. Where God gives a spirit like this, it is the sure harbinger and herald of the speedy coming of the needed help. It lays holu upon God. VI. CALLS ATTENTION TO THE PREVAILING CORRUPTION. (Ver. 126.) How often God's servants have said, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work" I and when they have been made deep}y sensible of the sins and sorrows of men, so that their hearts grieve over them (see ver. 136), then it is a token that the time for the Lorrl's interposition is at hand. "Where the carcase is, there will the vultures be gathered together." VII. PROTESTS THAT, HOWEVER IT BE WITH MEN GENERALLY, HE LOVES AND ESTEEMS THE LORD'S COllllllANDMENTS AS ALTOGETHER RIGHT AND Pl\ECIOUS. (Of. John xxi. 15- 17.) Such are the appeals and the appellants that have favour with God and prevail- righteous, lowly, earnest, devoted, grieved at sin, true, believing.-8. C. Verll". 129-136.-" Thy testimonies are wonderful." 'fhe tone and spirit of this section are much brighter than those of the foregoing one. Something had bappeaed. The plaintive and heart-broken appeal of those verses is followed by the joyous con- fession with which these, in this section, begin. Believing that there is a real connec- tion in these sections, and that tbey are not so many disjointed and disconnected sayings, we infer that help had come to the psalmist-had come through God's Word, and had come in wonderful way and power. I. THESE WORDS DECLARE A FACT. 1. In the psalmist's own expe1-ience. He bad found God's testimonies wonderfol. They had lifted him up from the depths of sorrow to blessed calm, confidence, and delight in God. Not that his outward circumstances appear to have been much changed, but the mood of his mind about them, and the thoughts of his heart, had greatly changed. 2. And this was because of the light-giving power of God:s Word. (Ver. 130.) Light reveals what was hidden before-truths that had remained in obscurity, and which had great bearing on his condition, he could now see. His mind had been illuminateil, and he was as in a new world. And light cheers and gladdens the heart. By means of the Word of God such light had come to him, nnu with such power, that he could only exclaim, "'l'hy testimonies are wonderful." 3. And the like experience has been reproduced in all men like-minded to the psalmist. Wonderful is the book of Holy Scripture, for its age, preijerve.tion, interest, adaptation to all, for its inspiration, for its spread, for its blessed and ever-increasing power, for the revelation of God given in it., and for me.ny morn and persona.I reasons beside. II. THEY REVEAL THE INFLUENCE AND EFFEOT THEY EVER HAVE. 1. They explain the tenacity with which the soul clings to God's Word. (Ver. 129.) Of course, the soul which has had such experience of its powel' will "keep them." Do we fliug gold away? Neither will such soul the testimonies of God. 2. They produce deep humility. Ver. 139 is a plea for mercy. 'l'he psalmist knew thnt he needed that.. Theso wonder- ful testimonies had made that clear to him, as they ever do. But as one of the company of them that loved God's Name, he pleads for the mercy he needs. 3. Made him lO'flgfor complete rectitude in God's sight. (Ver. 133.) He would have bis every step, not merely his general walk, ordered in God's ·word, and ho would that no iniquity should have, etc. Thie is a constant result of such e. realization of the power of God's Word. Nothina less than complete obedience will serve. 4. Gives renewed /orct!. to his prayers for grao-i lo obey. Henco he prays (1) that me.n's oppression may cee.se (ver. 134). How often such oppression does hinder the keeping of God's precepts I Not entirely, but largely. How many would openly serve God,. but are cruell7 138 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, CXIX, 1-176.