he psalmist complains that God had long withdrawn. He
earnestly prays for comfort. He assures himself of an answer of
peace.
- God sometimes hides his face, and leaves his own children in
the dark concerning their interest in him: and this they lay to
heart more than any outward trouble whatever. But anxious cares
are heavy burdens with which believers often load themselves
more than they need. The bread of sorrows is sometimes the
saint's daily bread; our Master himself was a man of sorrows. It
is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think that
it will last always. Those who have long been without joy, begin
to be without hope. We should never allow ourselves to make any
complaints but what drive us to our knees. Nothing is more
killing to a soul than the want of God's favour; nothing more
reviving than the return of it. The sudden, delightful changes
in the book of Psalms, are often very remarkable. We pass from
depth of despondency to the height of religious confidence and
joy. It is thus, ver. 5. All is gloomy dejection in ver. 4; but
here the mind of the despondent worshipper rises above all its
distressing fears, and throws itself, without reserve, on the
mercy and care of its Divine Redeemer. See the power of faith,
and how good it is to draw near to God. If we bring our cares
and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them there, we may
go away like Hannah, and our countenances will be no more said,
(1Sa 1:18). God's mercy is the support of the psalmist's faith.
Finding I have that to trust to, I am comforted, though I have
no merit of my own. His faith in God's mercy filled his heart
with joy in his salvation; for joy and peace come by believing.
He has dealt bountifully with me. By faith he was as confident
of salvation, as if it had been completed already. In this way
believers pour out their prayers, renouncing all hopes but in
the mercy of God through the Saviour's blood: and sometimes
suddenly, at others gradually, they will find their burdens
removed, and their comforts restored; they then allow that their
fears and complaints were unnecessary, and acknowledge that the
Lord hath dealt bountifully with them.
he psalmist complains that God had long withdrawn. He
earnestly prays for comfort. He assures himself of an answer of
peace.