Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me.
Prayer for mercies vouchsafed to the good
I. Direction in the right way. We are all travellers on an unknown road, and we want direction. Order my footsteps.
II. Defence against our foes. The dominion of evil is the greatest curse. There is a danger of having this dominion established. God alone can prevent it.
III. Deliverance against malignant foes. Man oppresses man everywhere. Who but God can deliver from the oppression under which humanity groans?
IV. THE favour of Almighty God (verse 135). God’s approval is man’s heaven. (Homilist.)
A page from a royal diary
I. David’s brief petition. “Look Thou upon me.”
1. His own eyes had failed him (verse 123).
2. Man’s eye had misjudged him (verse 134).
3. He knew that God’s eye perceives what His servant needs.
4. He leaves all with God.
5. God’s look will be a sign of Divine favour.
6. God’s look would prepare him for future obedience.
II. David’s humble confession. “Be merciful unto me.”
1. His prayer grew out of this confession.
2. By this petition he evidently sought forgiveness.
3. Upon this ground alone he sought for the blessing he desired.
III. David’s tacit profession. “As Thou usest to do,” etc. David hardly dares to say that he does love God’s Name, but he does practically say it by praying that God will treat him as He treats those who do love His Name. Some of those who love God best are not the loudest in proclaiming their love. The true child of God does love His Lord’s Name. This includes--
1. The person of God.
2. The character of God.
3. God’s revelation.
4. The glory of God.
IV. David’s gracious aspiration.
1. He would be dealt with as saints have always been dealt with. Well, you know what He used to do to those who loved His Name; He used to come and visit them. For instance, there were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These all had visits from the Lord, as did Moses, when God was in the burning bush. God not only used to visit those who loved His Name, but He used to instruct them What teachings they had from Him! What revelations and manifestations of Himself! Lord, teach me as Thou usest to teach those who loved Thy Name! How patient also He was with them! They had many faults and failings, and they grieved His Holy Spirit; but He forgave them, and went on teaching them; and when they fell and wandered from Him, He restored them, and brought them back again. Then you know the Lord was always faithful to those who loved His Name. When He made them a promise, He always kept it. But notice this also, the Lord used to whip them when they needed it; those who loved His Name were chastened. Asaph said, “All the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” Well, suppose you should have the same treatment, you can thank God that He is doing to you as He used to do to those who loved His Name.
2. I think also that, when using these words, David meant that he was quite willing that God should deal with him in His usual way, in His regular order. He did not want to have some special railway thrown up for him, in which he could ride first-class to glory; but he was willing to go the old way, the way the holy prophets went, and the saints, and martyrs, and confessors of God; that is to say, he did not want salvation without holiness, he did not want justification without sanctification, he did not want pardon without regeneration. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fellowship with the righteous
I. There are some who love God’s Name. His Name means His perfections, His nature, His being, Himself; and they who love His Name mean those who love Himself.
II. His mercy is the source of all the goodness they experience.
III. The Lord has been always accustomed to deal mercifully with them. He was merciful to them when He frowned, as well as when He smiled; when He denied, as well as when He indulged; when He took away, as well as when He gave. What use ought we to make of this?
IV. His mercy towards them should encourage us to implore mercy for ourselves. Beggars naturally love to go to a door where others have been successful, especially where none have ever been sent empty away. This, indeed, is never the case among men. No earthly benefactor, however disposed, can afford universal relief. But we have everything to inspire our application at “a throne of grace.” In what He has done through every age, we see His resources and His bounty. And we know that He is unchangeably the same.
V. We should be anxious to secure the mercy that is peculiar to them; and not be satisfied with His common kindness.
VI. We should be content if God deals with us as He has always dealt with His people. While he could not be satisfied with anything less than their portion, David asks for nothing better; he implores no singular dispensation in his favour, no deviation from the accustomed methods of His grace. (W. Jay.)
The plea of use and wont
The psalmist employs the great plea of use and wont; for, says he, “As Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy Name.” Use and wont generally have great weight in a court of law. A friend said to me, “How will such a suit go? The case has never been before a court until now.” I answered, “Are you sure that what was done is according to universal and long-established custom? for, if so, though there be no law, the custom of the trade will stand.” Custom among men reaching far back holds good in court; how much shall the custom of the eternally unchanging God decide His future acts? The psalmist pleads the Lord’s own custom; and this is a grand plea with him, because He is unchanging. If you think it a good plea, urge it at the throne. (C. H. Spurgeon.)