mouth, and made thee to resolve never to give way to such unbelieving
thoughts and fears again? and how unbecoming is it for thee now to
sink in trouble? John Willison, 1680-1750.
Verse 6. "I will sing unto the Lord." Mr. John Philpot
having lain for some time in the bishop of London's coal-house, the
bishop sent for him, and amongst other questions, asked him why they
were so merry in prison? singing (as the prophet speaks)
Exultantes in rebus pessimis, rejoicing in your naughtiness,
whereas you should rather lament and be sorry. Mr. Philpot answered,
"My lord, the mirth which we make is but in singing certain Psalms,
as we are commanded by Paul, to rejoice in the Lord, singing together
hymns and Psalms, for we are in a dark, comfortless place, and
therefore, we thus solace ourselves. I trust, therefore, your
lordship will not be angry, seeing the apostle saith, 'If any be of
an upright heart, let him sing Psalms;' and we, to declare that we
are of an upright mind to God, though we are in misery, yet refresh
ourselves with such singing." After some other discourse, saith he,
"I was carried back to my lord's coal-house, where I, with my six
fellow prisoners, do rouze together in the straw, as cheerfully (I
thank God) as others do in their beds of down." And in a letter to a
friend, he thus writes: "Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his wife, and
thank them for providing me some ease in my prison; and tell them
though my lord's coal-house be very black, yet it is more to be
desired of the faithful than the Queen's palace. The world wonders
how we can be so merry under such extreme miseries; but our God is
omnipotent, who turns misery into felicity. Believe me, there is no
such joy in the world, as the people of God have under the cross of
Christ: I speak by experience, and therefore believe me, and fear
nothing that the world can do unto you, for when they imprison our
bodies, they set our souls at liberty to converse with God; when they
cast us down, they lift us up; when they kill us, then do they send
us to everlasting life. What greater glory can there be than to be
made conformable to our Head, Christ? And this is done by affliction.
O good God, what am I, upon whom thou shouldst bestow so great a
mercy? This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and
be glad in it. This is the way, though it be narrow, which is full of
the peace of God, and leadeth to eternal bliss. Oh, how my heart
leapeth for joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof! God
forgive me my unthankfulness, and unworthiness of so great glory. I
have so much joy, that though I be in a place of darkness and
mourning, yet I cannot lament; but both night and day am so full of
joy as I never was so merry before; the Lord's name be praised for
ever. Our enemies do fret, fume, and gnash their teeth at it. O pray
instantly that this joy may never be taken from us; for it passeth
all the delights in this world. This is the peace of God that passeth
all understanding. This peace, the more his chosen be afflicted, the
more they feel it, and therefore cannot faint neither for fire nor
water. Samuel Clarke's "Mirrour," 1671.
Verse 6. "I will sing unto the Lord." How far different
is the end of this Psalm from the beginning! John Trapp.
Verse 6. " I will sing unto the Lord," etc. I never
knew what it was for God to stand by me at all turns, and at every
offer of Satan to afflict me, etc., as I have found him since I came
in hither; for look how fears have presented themselves, so have
supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it
were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender to
me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture
or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often
said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the
greater comfort's sake . Ecclesiastes 7:14; 2 Corinthians 1:5.
John Bunyan, 1628-1688.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
Verse 1. The apparent length of sorrow, only apparent.
Contrast with days of joy, with eternal misery and eternal joy.
Impatience, and other evil passions, cause the seeming length. Means
of shortening, by refusing to forestall, or to repine afterwards.
Verse 1 ( second clause ). Hiding of the divine face. Why
at all? Why from me? Why so long?
Verse 2. Advice to the dejected, or the soul directed to look
out of itself for consolation. A. Fuller.
Verse 2 ( first clause ).— Self-torture , its
cause, curse, crime, and cure.
Verse 2. "Having sorrow in my heart daily."
I. The cause of daily sorrow. Great
enemy, unbelief, sin, trial, loss of Jesus' presence, sympathy with
others, mourning for human ruin.
II. The necessity of daily sorrow. Purge
corruptions, excite graces, raise desires heavenward.
III. The cure of daily sorrow. Good food
from God's table, old wine of promises, walks with Jesus, exercise in
good works, avoidance of everything unhealthy. B. Davies.
Verse 2 ( second clause ).— Time anticipated when
defeat shall be turned into victory.
Verse 3. By accomodating the text to the believer.
I. True character of Satan,
"enemy."
II. Remarkable fact that this enemy is
exalted over us.
III. Pressing enquiry, "How long?" B.
Davies.
Verse 3. " Lighten mine eyes." A prayer fit for (1)
Every benighted sinner. (2) Every seeker of salvation. (3) Every
learner in Christ's school. (4) Every tried believer. (5) Every dying
saint. B. Davies.
Verse 4. Noteth the nature of the wicked two ways; namely, the
more they prevail the more insolent they are; they wonderfully exult
over those that are afflicted. T. Wilcocks.
Verse 5. Experience and perseverance. "I have," "my heart
shall."
Verse 6. The bountiful giver and the hearty singer.
The whole Psalm would make a good subject, showing the stages
from mourning to rejoicing, dwelling especially upon the turning
point, prayer. There are two verses for each, mourning, praying,
rejoicing. A. G. Brown.