his loins earns the first stanza: "It is God that girdeth me with strength,
and maketh my way perfect." Girt about the loins with power from heaven,
the warrior was filled with vigour, far above all created might; and,
whereas, without this wondrous belt he would have been feeble and
effeminate, with relaxed energies and scattered forces, he felt himself,
when braced with the girdle of truth, to be compact in purpose, courageous
in daring, and concentrated in power; so that his course was a complete
success, so undisturbed by disastrous defeat as to be called "perfect." Have
we been made more than conquerors over sin, and has our life hitherto been
such as becometh the gospel? Then let us ascribe all the glory to him who
girt us with his own inexhaustible strength, that we might be unconquered in
battle and unwearied in pilgrimage.
Verse 33. The conqueror's feet had been shod by a divine hand, and the next
note must, therefore, refer to them. "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet,
and setteth me upon my high places." Pursuing his foes the warrior had
been swift of foot as a young roe, but, instead of taking pleasure in the
legs of a man, he ascribes the boon of swiftness to the Lord alone. When
our thoughts are nimble, and our spirits rapid, like the chariots of
Amminadib, let us not forget that our best Beloved's hand has given us the
choice favour. Climbing into impregnable fortresses, David had been
preserved from slipping, and made to stand where scarce the wild goat can
find a footing; herein was preserving mercy manifested. We, too, have had
our high places of honour, service, temptation, and danger, but hitherto
we have been kept from falling. Bring hither the harp, and let us emulate
the psalmist's joyful thanksgiving; had we fallen, our wailings must have
been terrible; since we have stood, let our gratitude be fervent.
Verse 34. "He teacheth my hands to war." Martial prowess and skill in
the use of weapons are gratefully acknowledged to be the result of divine
teaching; no sacrifice is offered at the shrine of self in praise of natural
dexterity, or acquired skilfulness; but, regarding all warlike prowess as a
gift of heavenly favour, thankfulness is presented to the Giver. The Holy
Spirit is the great Drillmaster of heavenly soldiers. "So that a bow of
steel is broken by mine arms." A bow of brass is probably meant, and these
bows could scarcely be bent by the arms alone, the archer had to gain the
assistance of his foot; it was, therefore, a great feat of strength to bend
the bow, so far as even to snap it in halves. This was meant of the
enemies' bow, which he not only snatched from his grasp, but rendered
useless by breaking it in pieces. Jesus not only destroyed the fiery
suggestions of Satan, but he broke his arguments with which he shot them, by
using Holy Scripture against him; by the same means we may win a like
triumph, breaking the bow and cutting the spear in sunder by the sharp edge
of revealed truth. Probably David had by nature a vigorous bodily frame;
but it is even more likely that, like Samson, he was at times clothed with
more than common strength; at any rate, he ascribes the honour of his feats
entirely to his God. Let us never wickedly rob the Lord of his due, but
faithfully give unto him the glory which is due unto his name.
Verse 35. "Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation." Above
all we must take the shield of faith, for nothing else can quench Satan's
fiery darts; this shield is of celestial workmanship, and is in all cases a
direct gift from God himself; it is the channel, the sign, the guarantee,
and the earnest of perfect salvation. "Thy right hand hath holden me up."
Secret support is administered to us by the preserving grace of God, and at
the same time Providence kindly yields us manifest aid. We are such babes
that we cannot stand alone; but when the Lord's right hand upholds us, we
are like brazen pillars which cannot be moved. "Thy gentleness hath made
me great." There are several readings of this sentence. The word is
capable of being translated, "thy goodness hath made me great." David saw
much of benevolence in God's action towards him, and he gratefully ascribed
all his greatness not to his own goodness, but to the goodness of God. "Thy
providence " is another reading, which is indeed nothing more than goodness
in action. Goodness is the bud of which providence is the flower; or
goodness is the seed of which providence is the harvest. Some render it,
"thy help ," which is but another word for providence; providence being the
firm ally of the saints, aiding them in the service of their Lord. Certain
learned annotators tell us that the text means, "thy humility hath made me
great." "Thy condescension " may, perhaps, serve as a comprehensive
reading, combining the ideas which we have already mentioned, as well as
that of humility. It is God's making himself little which is the cause of
our being made great. We are so little that If God should manifest his
greatness without condescension, we should be trampled under his feet; but
God, who must stoop to view the skies and bow to see what angels do, looks
to the lowly and contrite, and makes them great. While these are the
translations which have been given to the adopted text of the original, we
find that there are other readings altogether; as for instance, the
Septuagint, which reads, "thy discipline"—thy fatherly correction—
"hath made me great;" while the Chaldee paraphrase reads, "thy word hath
increased me." Still the idea is the same. David ascribes all his own
greatness to the condescending goodness and graciousness of his Father in
heaven. Let us all feel this sentiment in our own hearts, and confess that
whatever of goodness or greatness God may have put upon us, we must cast our
crowns at his feet and cry, "thy gentleness hath made me great."
Verse 36. "Thou hast enlarged my steps." A smooth pathway leading to
spacious possessions and camping-grounds had been opened up for him.
Instead of threading the narrow mountain paths, and hiding in the cracks and
corners of caverns, he was able to traverse the plains and dwell under his
own vine and fig tree. It is no small mercy to be brought into full
Christian liberty and enlargement, but it is a greater favour still to be
enabled to walk worthily in such liberty, not being permitted to slip with
our feet. To stand upon the rocks of affliction is the result of gracious
upholding, but that aid is quite as much needed in the luxurious plains of
prosperity.
Verse 37. The preservation of the saints bodes ill for their adversaries.
The Amelekites thought themselves clear away with their booty, but when
David's God guided him in the pursuit, they were soon overtaken and cut in
pieces. When God is with us sins and sorrows flee, and all forms of evil
are "consumed" before the power of grace. What a noble picture this and
the following verses present to us of the victories of our glorious Lord
Jesus!
Verse 38. The destruction of our spiritual enemies is complete. We may
exult over sin, death, and hell, as disarmed and disabled for us by our
conquering Lord; may he graciously give them a like defeat within us.
Verses 39 and 40. It is impossible to be too frequent in the duty of
ascribing all our victories to the God of our salvation. It is true that we
have to wrestle with our spiritual antagonists, but the triumph is far more
the Lord's than ours. We must not boast like the ambitious votaries of
vainglory, but we may exult as the willing and believing instruments in the
Lord's hand of accomplishing his great designs.
Verse 41. "They cried, but there was none to save them; even unto the
Lord, but he answered them not." Prayer is so notable a weapon that even
the wicked will take to it to in their fits of desperation. Bad men have
appealed to God against God's own servants, but all in vain; the kingdom of
heaven is not divided, and God never succours his foes at the expense of his
friends. There are prayers to God which are no better than blasphemy, which
bring no comfortable reply, but rather provoke the Lord to greater wrath.
Shall I ask a man to wound or slay his own child to gratify my malice?
Would he not resent the insult against his humanity? How much less will
Jehovah regard the cruel desires of the enemies of the church, who dare to
offer their prayers for its destruction, calling its existence schism, and
its doctrine heresy!
Verse 42. The defeat of the nations who fought with King David was so utter
and complete that they were like powders pounded in a mortar; their power
was broken into fragments and they became as weak as dust before the wind,
and as mean as the mire of the roads. Thus powerless and base are the
enemies of God now become through the victory of the Son of David upon the
cross. Arise, O my soul, and meet thine enemies, for they have sustained a
deadly blow, and will fall before thy bold advance.
"Hell and my sins resist my course,
But hell and sin are vanquish'd foes
My Jesus nail'd them to his cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose."
Verse 43. "Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people."
Internal strife is very hard to deal with. A civil war is war in its most
miserable form; it is a subject for warmest gratitude when concord rules
within. Our poet praises Jehovah for the union and peace which smiled in
his dominions, and if we have peace in the three kingdoms of our spirit,
soul, and body, we are in duty bound to give Jehovah a song. Unity in a
church should assuredly excite like gratitude. "Thou hast made me the head
of the heathen; a people whom I have not known shall serve me." The
neighbouring nations yielded to the sway of Judah's prince. Oh, when shall
all lands adore King Jesus, and serve him with holy joy? Surely there is
far more of Jesus than of David here. Missionaries may derive rich
encouragement from the positive declaration that heathen lands shall own the
Headship of the Crucified.
Verse 44. "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me." Thus readily
did the once struggling captain become a far-renowned victor, and thus easy
shall be our triumphs. We prefer, however, to speak of Jesus. In many
cases the gospel is speedily received by hearts apparently unprepared for
it. Those who have never heard the gospel before, have been charmed by its
first message, and yielded obedience to it; while others, alas! who are
accustomed to its joyful sound, are rather hardened than softened by its
teachings. The grace of God sometimes runs like fire among the stubble, and
a nation is born in a day. "Love at first sight" is no uncommon thing when
Jesus is the wooer. He can write Caesar's message without boasting, Veni,
vidi, vici; his gospel is in some cases no sooner heard than believed.
What inducements to spread abroad the doctrine of the cross!
Verse 45. "The strangers shall fade away." Like sear leaves or blasted
trees our foes and Christ's foes shall find no sap and stamina remaining in
them. Those who are strangers to Jesus are strangers to all lasting
happiness; those must soon fade who refuse to be watered from the river of
life. "And be afraid out of their close places." Out of their mountain
fastnesses the heathen crept in fear to own allegiance to Israel's king, and
even so, from the castles of self-confidence and the dens of carnal
security, poor sinners come bending before the Saviour, Christ the Lord.
Our sins which have entrenched themselves in our flesh and blood as in
impregnable forts, shall yet be driven forth by the sanctifying energy of
the Holy Spirit, and we shall serve the Lord in singleness of heart.
Thus with remembrance of conquests in the past, and with glad
anticipations of victories yet to come, the sweet singer closes the
description, and returns to exercise of more direct adoration of his
gracious God.
Verse 46. "The Lord liveth." Possessing underived, essential,
independent and eternal life. We serve no inanimate, imaginary, or dying
God. He only hath immortality. Like loyal subjects let us cry, Live on, O
God. Long live the King of kings. By thine immortality do we dedicate
ourselves afresh to thee. As the Lord our God liveth so would we live to
him. "And blessed be my rock." He is the ground of our hope, and let him
be the subject of our praise. Our hearts bless the Lord, with holy love
extolling him.
Jehovah lives, my rock be blessed!
Praised be the God who gives me rest!