avid's desire toward God. (1,2) His satisfaction in God.
(3-6) His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. (7-11)
Verse 1,2: Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God
the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with
those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He
arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot
give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of
the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing
in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his
immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his
portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world
appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of
heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God
upon earth.
Verses 3-6: Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. When
this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the
loving-kindness of God more than life. God's loving-kindness is
our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life. We
must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to
the duties of religion with cheerfulness, and speak forth the
praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must
be joyful lips. David was in continual danger; care and fear
held his eyes waking, and gave him wearisome nights; but he
comforted himself with thoughts of God. The mercies of God, when
called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making
darkness cheerful. How happy will be that last morning, when the
believer, awaking up after the Divine likeness, shall be
satisfied with all the fulness of God, and praise him with
joyful lips, where there is no night, and where sorrow and
sighing flee away!
Verses 7-11: True Christians can, in some measure, and at some times,
make use of the strong language of David, but too commonly our
souls cleave to the dust. Having committed ourselves to God, we
must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Those
that follow hard after God, would soon fail, if God's right hand
did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us and comforts
us. The psalmist doubts not but that though now sowing in tears,
he should reap in joy. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God;
he is already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory
will be completed at his second coming. Blessed Lord, let our
desire towards thee increase every hour; let our love be always
upon thee; let all our enjoyment be in thee, and all our
satisfaction from thee. Be thou all in all to us while we remain
in the present wilderness state, and bring us home to the
everlasting enjoyment of thee for ever.
avid's desire toward God. (1,2) His satisfaction in God.
(3-6) His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. (7-11)