fear of man; Princes persecuted him. They looked upon him as a traitor and an enemy to the government, and under that notion sought his life, and bid him go serve other gods, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. It has been the common lot of the best men to be persecuted; and the case is the worse, if princes be the persecutors, for they have not only the sword in their hand, and therefore can do the more hurt, but they have the law on their side, and can do it with reputation and a colour of justice. It is sad that the power which magistrates have from God, and should use for him, should ever be employed against him. But, marvel not at the matter, Eccl. v. 8. It was a comfort to David, that, when princes persecuted him, he could truly say it was without cause, he never gave them any provocation.
2. How he was kept to his duty, notwithstanding, by the fear of God; "They would make me stand in awe of them and their word, and do as they bid me; but my heart stands in awe of thy word, and I was resolved to please God, and keep in with him, whoever is displeased, and falls out with me." Every gracious soul stands in awe of the word of God, of the authority of its precepts, and the terror of its threatenings; and to those that do so, nothing appears, in the power and wrath of man, at all formidable. We ought to obey God rather than men, and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the frowns of all the world, Luke xii. 4, 5. The heart that stands in awe of God's word, is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution.
162. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
Here is, 1. The pleasure David took in the word of God. He rejoiced at it, rejoiced that God had made such a discovery of his mind, that Israel was blessed with that light, when other nations sat in darkness; that he was himself let into the understanding of it, and had had experience of the power of it. He took a pleasure in reading it, hearing it, and meditating on it, and every thing he met with in it was agreeable to him. He had just now said, that his heart stood in awe of his word, and yet here, that he rejoiced in it; the more reverence we have for the word of God, the more joy we shall find in it.
2. The degree of that pleasure, as one that finds great spoil. This supposes a victory over the enemy. It is through much opposition that a soul comes to this, to rejoice in God's word. But, besides the pleasure and honour of a conquest, there is great advantage gained by the plunder of the field, which adds much to the joy. By the word of God we become more than conquerors, that is, unspeakable gainers.
163. I hate and abhor lying; but thy law do I love.
Love and hatred are the leading affections of the soul; if those be fixed right, the rest move accordingly. Here we have them fixed right in David.
1. He had a rooted antipathy to sin, he could not endure to think of it; I hate and abhor lying; which may be taken for all sin, inasmuch as by it we deal treacherously and perfidiously with God, and put a cheat upon ourselves. Hypocrisy is lying; false doctrine is lying; breach of faith is lying. Lying, in commerce or conversation, is a sin, which every good man hates and abhors, hates and doubly hates, because of the seven things which the Lord hates, one is a lying tongue, and another is a false witness that speaks lies, Prov. vi. 16. Every man hates to have a lie told him; but we should more hate telling a lie, because by the former we only receive an affront from men, by the latter we give an affront to God.
2. He had a rooted affection to the word of God; Thy law do I love. And therefore he abhorred lying, for lying is contrary to the whole law of God; and the reason why he loved the law of God, was, because of the truth of it. The more we see of the amiable beauty of truth, the more we shall see of the detestable deformity of a lie.
164. Seven times a day do I praise thee: because of thy righteous judgments.
David, in this psalm, is full of complaints, yet those did neither justle out his praises, nor put him out of tune for them; whatever condition a child of God is in, he does not want matter for praise, and therefore should not want a heart. See here,
1. How often David praised God; Seven times a day, very frequently; not only every day but often every day. Many think that once a week will serve, or once or twice a day, but David would praise God seven times a day at least. Praising God is a duty which we should very much abound in.
We must praise God at every meal, praise him upon all occasions, in every thing give thanks. We should paise God seven times a day, for the subject can never be exhausted, and our affections should never be tired. See v. 62.
2. What he praised God for; because of thy righteous judgments. We must praise God for his precepts, which are all just and good, for his promises and threatenings, and the performance of both in his providence. We are to praise God even for our afflictions, if through grace we get good by them.
165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Here is an account of the happiness of good men, who are governed by a principle of love to the word of God, that make it their rule, and are ruled by it.
1. They are easy, and have a holy serenity: none enjoy themselves more than they do; Great peace have they that love thy law, abundant satisfaction in doing their duty, and pleasure in reflecting upon it. The work of righteousness is peace, (Isa. xxxii. 17.) such peace as the world can neither give nor take away. They may be in great troubles without, and yet enjoy great peace within; sat lucis intus—abundance of internal light. They that love the world have great vexation, for it does not answer their expectation; they that love God's word have great peace, for it outdoes their expectation, and in it they have sure footing.
2. They are safe, and have a holy security; Nothing shall offend them; nothing shall be scandal, snare, or stumbling-block, to them, to entangle them either in guilt or grief. No event of providence shall be either an invincible temptation or an intolerable affliction to them, but their love to the word of God shall enable them both to hold fast their integrity and to preserve their tranquillity. They will make the best of that which is, and not quarrel with anything that God does. Nothing shall offend or hurt them, for every thing shall work for good to them, and therefore shall please them, and they reconcile themselves to it. They, in whom this holy love reigns, will not be apt to perplex themselves with needless scruples, or to take offence at their brethren, 1 Cor. xiii. 6, 7.
166. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
Here is the whole duty of man; for we are taught,
1. To keep our eye upon God's favour as our end; "Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, not only temporal but eternal salvation. I have hoped for
