Monthly Archives June 2015

Vs. 158 — I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.

Prayer:

I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Then … then I saw that I was once as they are. At that very moment my self-righteous indignation collapsed, rather it seemed more to have turned against me.  Suddenly I was disgusted with myself. Is it not, O’ Lord, only by Your grace that I have been delivered unto newness of life and filled with Your love? Yes, it is not of my works or any goodness or frame of consciousness within myself that I now love and know the Gospel truth. Oh, I repent of this judgmental and self-righteous attitude towards others. Forgive me. How can I judge them for what I am unable to do? Even today I cannot fully keep Your word and walk as I ought. As You have mercy upon me, so have mercy upon those who are as I was. Open their eyes to see Jesus and turn their hearts to the cross. Quicken them to new life in Christ Jesus that we may rejoice in praise together with the hosts of heaven.

Richard Baxter (1615–1691):

Oh, if you have the hearts of Christians or of men in you, let them yearn towards your poor ignorant, ungodly neighbours. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell: many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate they are lost for ever. Have you hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the word of God, and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned, so you be saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace: (“The Saints’ Everlasting Rest.”)

Vs. 157 — Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.

John Calvin:

The Psalmist here as in other places testifies, that although he had been provoked by many injuries, yet he had not departed from the right way; which, as I have elsewhere observed, was an evidence of great and singular constancy. It is an easy matter to act well when we are among the good; but if wicked men afflict us, if one man openly assault us by force, if another rob us of our property, if a third circumvent us by wiles, and a fourth attack us by calumnies, it is difficult for us to persevere in our integrity, and we rather begin to howl among the wolves. Besides, the license which is allowed them of doing what they please without the fear of being punished, is a powerful engine for shaking our faith, (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 5, p. 33). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Sustain Your people, O Lord. By Your restraining hand hold our tongue from vengeance or retaliation when we are injured by others. Give us an attitude of grace to be strong within and not seek to carry out Your judgments upon those who strike against the fold of the Great Shepherd. Though our faith be the target of the scoffer, their actions cannot prevail. Give all saints the grace to keep Your word and be constrained by the Love of Christ. You, O God, are able to defend Your name–the banner over Your covenant people.  You will have the last word.

Vs. 156 — Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your judgments.

William Cowper:

Two epithets he ascribes to God’s mercies; first, he calls them “great,” and then he calls them “tender” mercies. They are great in many respects: for continuance, they endure for ever; for largeness, they reach unto the heavens, and are higher than they; yea, they are above all the works of God. And this is for the comfort of poor sinners, whose sins are many and great; let them not despair; his mercies are greater and more; for since they are greater than all his works, how much more greater than thou and all thy sinful works!… The other epithet he gives them is, that they are “tender” mercies; because the Lord is easy to be entreated; for he is slow unto wrath, but ready to show mercy. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 419). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

O’ God, I would fear Your judgments if I were left in my own righteousness and sin. But because of Jesus Christ I know that Your judgments towards all who are in Christ are merciful. This is why Jesus came. This is why He had to come. This is why I need His cleansing and imputed righteousness over me. Though my sins are many, yes even too numerous to count and too great to carry, and they are ready to condemn, Jesus has paid for all of them, yes all. Your mercies towards me are both Great and Tender. There, under such a flowing fountain, I will eternally abide. Great are Your tender mercies through the Savior. Therefore I can say, ‘Revive me according to Your judgments, O’ Lord.’

Vs. 155 — Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.

John Calvin:

Fully persuaded that the world is governed by the secret providence of God, who is a just judge, the Prophet draws from that source the doctrine, That the wicked are far removed from safety, and safety from them. Hence proceeds the confidence of prayer; for as God is turned away from the despisers of his word, so he is ready to succour his servants. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 5, p. 31). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“For they seek not thy statutes.” They do not endeavour to be obedient, but quite the reverse; they seek themselves, they seek evil, and therefore they never find the way of peace and righteousness. When men have broken the statutes of the Lord their wisest course is by repentance to seek forgiveness, and by faith to seek salvation: then salvation is near them, so near them that they shall not miss it; but when the wicked continue to seek after mischief, salvation is set further and further from them. Salvation and God’s statutes go together: those who are saved by the King of grace love the statutes of the King of glory. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 414). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Salvation was far from me, and it would be even this day if You had not turned my heart to the Beloved Christ. I once walked in the futility of my mind and polished the hardness of my rebellious heart as thief enjoys the glitter of his ill-gotten spoils. Being blind to the state of my soul and the path of destruction that in which I walked there was no hope in myself and in this fleeting world. But You, being rich in mercy with the great love that You have for me, rescued me, making me alive with Christ and raised me up in Him–who is the eternal Lamb of God, forever and ever. Have mercy, O’ God of love, on the wicked, for they are as I was. I too was far from Salvation, but You swept me up into Thy bosom, by grace I am saved. I too despised Your statutes, but then the Spirit of Light removed the scales from my eyes. Bring light, O’ God; bring light unto the nations and show to us the need and glory of the crucified, resurrected, and ascended One. To His name be the glory. Amen.

Vs. 154 — Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

When we feel ourselves dumb before the foe, here is a prayer made to our hand. What a comfort that if we sin we have an advocate, and if we do not sin the same pleader is engaged on our side. “Quicken me.” We had this prayer in the last section, and we shall have it again and again in this. It is a desire which cannot be too often felt and expressed. As the soul is the centre of everything, so to be quickened is the central blessing. It means more love, more grace, more faith, more courage, more strength, and if we get these we can hold up our heads before our adversaries. God alone can give this quickening; but to the Lord and giver of life the work is easy enough, and he delights to perform it. “According to thy word.” David had found such a blessing among the promised things, or at least he perceived that it was according to the general tenor of God’s word that tried believers should be quickened and brought up again from the dust of the earth; therefore he pleads the word, and desires the Lord to act to him according to the usual run of that word. What a mighty plea is this—“according to thy word.” No gun in all our arsenals can match it. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 414). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

You, my Father God, are my help, my redeemer. Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. Jesus is my advocate and propitiation before the holy throne of God. I rest in Him. Stir my soul to the matters of Your kingdom, to walk in the light as He is in the light, and to delight in all things of the light. I ask that your dealings with all of Your servants be in accordance with the promises of Your word.