he psalmist prays to God to plead his cause, and judge for
him. (1-9) He expresses confidence in God, and will give him the
glory of his deliverance. (10-17)
Verses 1-9: David flees to God for succour. But Christ alone could call
on Heaven to attest his uprightness in all things. All His works
were wrought in righteousness; and the prince of this world
found nothing whereof justly to accuse him. Yet for our sakes,
submitting to be charged as guilty, he suffered all evils, but,
being innocent, he triumphed over them all. The plea is, "For
the righteous God trieth the hearts and the reins." He knows the
secret wickedness of the wicked, and how to bring it to an end;
he is witness to the secret sincerity of the just, and has ways
of establishing it. When a man has made peace with God about all
his sins, upon the terms of grace and mercy, through the
sacrifice of the Mediator, he may, in comparison with his
enemies, appeal to God's justice to decide.
Verses 10-17: David is confident that he shall find God his powerful
Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their
conversion; for it is threatened, If he turn not from his evil
way, let him expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the
threatenings of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy. God
gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and
prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish. The sinner is described,
ver. (14-16), as taking more pains to ruin his soul than, if
directed aright, would save it. This is true, in a sense, of all
sinners. Let us look to the Saviour under all our trials.
Blessed Lord, give us grace to look to thee in the path of
tribulation, going before thy church and people, and marking the
way by thine own spotless example. Under all the persecutions
which in our lesser trials mark our way, let the looking to
Jesus animate our minds and comfort our hearts.
he psalmist prays to God to plead his cause, and judge for
him. (1-9) He expresses confidence in God, and will give him the
glory of his deliverance. (10-17)