But the king shall rejoice— David was king by designation, and anointed when he was in the wilderness of Judah; but had not then taken the title, and was not advanced to the throne. Hence M. Le Clerc and others think that this psalm could not be written by him when he sojourned in the wilderness. But I apprehend that this objection is but of little force; for all that he affirms is, that when his enemies shall be destroyed, then the king shall rejoice in God; speaking of himself undoubtedly, though not of what he now was, but should then be when God had delivered him from those who sought his life. Every one that swears by him shall glory; i.e. Who invokes his name, worships him, and makes him the object of religious reverence and fear; all which is implied in swearing, as an oath is an immediate appeal and solemn act of worship to God. Mudge renders the latter part of the verse thus: Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; whereas the mouth of them who pronounce a lie shall be stopped: for he observes judiciously, that the two clauses of the verse seem to be opposed to each other: they that swore by the God of Israel, to those who pronounced a lie, or named the false gods. The former should find occasion for glorifying, whereas the mouth of the other should be stopped.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Wherever David was, he found his heart in tune for praise; a wilderness shall echo with his songs, since thither divine Providence hath led him: the children of God should learn of him, even though sorrowful, to be always rejoicing, and, when most desolate and solitary, to make melody still in their hearts unto God.
1. The ground of all his comfort was this, O God, thou art my God: a sense of an interest in his love and favour, can make a prison a palace, a wilderness a paradise.
2. He resolves to cleave to God, and longs for his return to the sanctuary, from which at present he suffered an irksome banishment. Early will I seek thee; here, though destitute of public ordinances, in private prayer and secret meditation he would exercise himself, beginning with the dawn of day; my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, with eager and importunate desire, in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is: no waters of the sanctuary to refresh and comfort his soul; therefore he pants for the courts of God's tabernacle, To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary; to enjoy some sweet manifestations of divine favour where he was, as he had formerly been favoured with when engaged in the worship of the sanctuary, and thither he wishes to return. Note; (1.) This world is a barren land, nothing in it can satisfy the longings of the soul. God alone is the believer's all-sufficient portion. (2.) The more we are convinced of the emptiness of the creature, the more we should fly to the fulness of God. (3.) They who know the blessings of public ordinances, will feelingly regret the want of them. (4.) Wherever we are, a throne of grace is open; and, if we diligently seek the Lord, we may find the same comfortable presence of God under a tree or in a mountain, as in the midst of the congregation.
2nd, His desires are answered, and prayers soon exchanged for joyful praises.
1. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life: my lips shall praise thee; though life is a blessing, yet without God's love, in the midst of life we are in death; we may then only be truly said to live, when, quickened by his Spirit, our souls live by him and for him: in this case even death becomes our privilege, and removal from earth is our translation to the life of eternity.
2. He is determined to continue his praise as long as his being: thus, as he had begun, he purposes to persevere, and lift up his hands incessantly below in thanksgiving, till he should join above the everlasting songs of saints and angels. Note; They who expect to spend eternity in God's praise, will begin the pleasing service here, and learn in every state, condition, and circumstance, to give thanks.
3. He promises himself great delight in his service; this work of praise shall be his present reward. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; the most delicious viands to the taste would not be so grateful, as to his soul this happy communion with God, while his mouth praised him with joyful lips. Note; There is a complacence and inward satisfaction to be enjoyed in God's love and service, compared with which the highest gratifications of sense are poor and insipid.
4. By night as well as day, on this pleasing subject his thoughts continually dwelt. When I remember thee upon my bed; lying down to rest, and waking up in the morning, God was last and first in his thoughts; and meditate on thee in the night-watches; when his eyes were kept waking that he could not sleep, he employed the hours of darkness in contemplation, which more than recompensed the lost repose.
3rdly, Resolved to praise, he wanted not abundant matter for his song.
His experience of past support, and confidence of present help, afforded cause of rejoicing. Thou hast been my help, and art willing to save me to the uttermost, therefore under the shadow of thy wings, where, as the chickens shelter themselves from danger, and are refreshed with the vital warmth, my soul is comfortably lodged, will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee, in prayer, meditation, and every means of grace within his power: thy right hand upholdeth me, by which alone I am supported and strengthened, to run and not be weary, and to walk and not be faint. Note; (1.) They who would cleave to God faithfully, are called upon to follow hard after him in the means of grace and the path of duty. (2.) Our strength for the one or other is not in ourselves but from him, without which our feet would quickly stumble, our hearts grow dead, and our lips be sealed up in silence, and forget to pray or praise.