That I may declare all thy works— The end breaks off a little abruptly, for want of what the LXX read, in the gates of the daughters of Zion.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prosperity of the wicked has been a common temptation to the saints of God. The Psalmist was staggered at it, and musing, on the mysterious providence, he breaks forth, Truly, or notwithstanding, God is good to Israel, even to them that are of a clean heart: this he is assured of amidst all his doubts and perplexities, and, holding fast this principle, rides out the storm. Note; There are some first principles clear as the sun; to them we must recur under all our difficulties.
2nd, He was strongly tempted, but as strongly supported, and enabled at last to prevail.
1. He kept his thoughts to himself while he ruminated on the subject, lest he should offend God's people; and, though he saw the rash suggestion of his spirit, he would not speak unadvisedly with his lips. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children; and that he was shocked to think of, and carefully avoided. Note; (1.) When evil thoughts arise, our labour must be to suppress them; when once uttered, their mischief may be endless and irreparable. (2.) There are a people in the world dear to God as children, and who love him as their father, whom we must be careful never to offend, to grieve, or discourage. (3.) It would be the greatest reproach on God's service, and most effectually tend to weaken the hands of his people, to misrepresent his good ways, as unprofitable and vain. (4.) They who do so, shew that they have never truly served God, since the experience of every faithful soul proves his service to be the supreme felicity.
2. Though by the light of reason he could not reconcile this difficulty, yet when he went into the sanctuary, sought God by prayer, and communed with his word and ministers, then the mystery was unfolded; he saw the prosperity of sinners no longer to be envied, when they were fattening only as an ox for the slaughter. Their joy had no stability, was precarious and momentary; their destruction inevitable, sudden, and terrible. Like a dream of the night, when God awakes to judgment, their prosperity vanishes, and is exchanged for everlasting shame and contempt. Note; We must form our judgment of men and things, not by appearances, but by the word of God; and when we there see the end of prosperous iniquity in everlasting burnings, and of suffering piety in eternal glory, we shall no longer hesitate about our choice.
3rdly, The temptations of the faithful serve to brighten their graces, and end in their greater establishment. Such good the Psalmist found.
1. He owns his deep obligations to the grace of God. Nevertheless, I am continually with thee, the object of God's tender regard, and cleaving to God amidst all his temptations; thou hast holden me by my right hand, as a tender parent who supports his falling child. Note; We are weak as helpless infancy, and stand wholly indebted to the everlasting arms which are under us, for our preservation. And the more we are convinced of this, the more shall we be engaged to love God.
2. He expresses his confidence of God's continual guidance and support. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, his revealed word, and the teachings of his holy Spirit, and afterwards receive me to glory, when, every trial passed, and death the last overcome, thou wilt bring me to the consummation of bliss in thy eternal kingdom. Note; (1.) God's counsel in his word infallibly conducts to his glory those who follow it. (2.) If there be a sure inheritance for the faithful in eternal glory, the godly little need envy sinners any thing that they possess above them here below.
3. His soul rises up in fervent aspirations after God, Whom have I in heaven but thee? A covenant God is the sole object of the believer's worship and confidence, from whom alone he expects his felicity, and in the enjoyment of whom the eternal happiness of the faithful consists. He hopes to be happy in heaven, because God is there; and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee; all that earth affords, health, wealth, friends, family, honour, &c. are nothing, compared with a sense of God's love, and the enjoyment of communion with him. All without him cannot satisfy; whilst in the want of all, he can satisfy our souls, and be to us a better portion than ten thousand worlds. Note; (1.) The more we see of God's excellence and all-sufficiency, the less we shall regard every thing besides. (2.) What cause have we to lament the coldness of our hearts, which so little correspond with the Psalmist's fervent desires?
4. In every distress he rests his soul upon this Almighty God, his all-sufficient portion. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength, or rock of my heart, to support me in every distress, and my portion for ever; when the body is laid in the dust and forgotten, God will be still the same to the faithful soul, its complete and eternal portion. Note; (1.) We must expect the hour when this feeble flesh shall fail, and sickness, or age, bring us to the grave. (2.) Death is terrible to nature; and our heart, as well as flesh, will fail us in that trying season, unless God be our strength, and faith in his power and grace remove the sting of death. (3.) They who have made God their rock in time, will find him their portion in eternity.
5. Miserable will be the end of the ungodly. For, lo, they that are far from thee, who depart from God in heart and conduct, and live estranged from his love, worship, and service, shall perish eternally. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee, that follow other gods, or, idolatrously attached to the creature, love and serve it more than their Creator; all such sinners have perished, and all such will perish to the end of time, who thus apostatize from God.
6. He declares his fixed purpose of cleaving to God. But it is good for me to draw near to God in prayer, and all those means of grace whereby communion with God is maintained, and which they, who have their souls truly attached to him, find most profitable and delightful. I have put my trust in the Lord God, who will never disappoint the expectations of his faithful people; that I may declare all thy works of providence and grace, wherein his faithfulness and mercy appear, and for which we owe everlasting praise. Note; (1.) They who know the comfort of communion with God, can say by experience, it is good to draw near to him. (2.) None ever trusted in him, and were confounded. (3.) The more we are enabled to trust him, the more shall we see cause to praise him.