were sometimes his judges, as Saul, and Achish; but, if he were called before them to give a reason of the hope that was in him, he would speak of God's testimonies, and profess to build his hope upon them, and make them his council, his guards, his crown, his all. We must never be afraid to own our religion, though it should expose us to the wrath of kings, but speak of it as that which we will live and die by, like the three children before Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. iii. 16. Acts iv. 20. After David came to the crown, kings were sometimes his companions, they visited him, and he returned their visits; but he did not, in complaisance to them, talk of every thing but religion, for fear of affronting them, and making his conversation uneasy to them: no, God's testimonies shall be the principal subject of his discourse with the kings, not only to show that he was not ashamed of his religion, but to instruct them in it, and bring them over to it. It is good for kings to hear of God's testimonies, and it will adorn the conversation of princes themselves to speak of them.
(3.) That he should be cheerful and pleasant in his duty; (v. 47.) "I will delight myself in thy commandments, in conversing with them, in conforming to them; I will never be so well pleased with myself, as when I do that which is pleasing to God." The more delight we take in the service of God, the nearer we come to the perfection we should aim at.
(4.) That he should be diligent and vigorous in his duty; I will lift up my hands to thy commandments; which denotes not only a vehement desire toward them, (cxliii. 6.) "I will lay hold of them as one afraid of missing them, or letting them go;" but a close application of mind to the observance of them; "I will lay my hands to the command, not only praise it, but practise it; nay, I will lift up my hands to it, I will put forth all the strength I have to do it." The hands that hang down, through sloth and discouragement, shall be lifted up, Heb. xii. 12.
(5.) That he should be thoughtful and considerate in his duty; (v. 48.) "I will meditate in thy statutes; not only entertain myself with thinking of them, as matters of speculation, but contrive how I may observe them in the best manner." By this it will appear that we truly love God's commandments, if we apply both our minds and our hands to them.
7. ZAIN.
49. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Two things David here pleads with God, in prayer for that mercy and grace which he hoped for, according to the word, by which his requests were guided.
1. That God had given him the promise on which he hoped; "Lord, I desire no more than that thou wouldest remember thy word unto thy servant, and do as thou hast said;" (see 1 Chron. xvii. 23.) "Thou art wise, and therefore wilt perfect what thou hast purposed, and not change thy counsel. Thou art faithful, and therefore wilt perform what thou hast promised, and not break thy word." Those that make God's promises their portion may with humble boldness make them their plea. "Lord, is not that the word which thou hast spoken; and wilt not thou make it good?" Gen. xxxii. 9. Exod. xxxiii. 12.
2. That God, who had given him the promise in the word, had by his grace wrought in him a hope in that promise, and enabled him to depend upon it, and had raised his expectations of great things from it. Has God kindled in us desires towards spiritual blessings more than toward any temporal good things; and will he not be so kind as to satisfy those desires? Has he filled us with hopes of those blessings; and will he not be so just as to accomplish these hopes? He that did by his Spirit work faith in us, will, according to our faith, work for us, and will not disappoint us.
50. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Here is David's experience of benefit by the word:
1. As a means of his sanctification; "Thy word hath quickened me. It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is good, when I was backward and averse to it; and it has quickened me in that which is good, when I was cold and indifferent."
2. Therefore as a means of his consolation, then when he was in affliction, and needed something to support him; "Because thy word has quickened me at other times, it has comforted me then." The word of God has much in it that speaks comfort in affliction; but those only may apply it to themselves who have experienced in some measure the quickening power of the word. If through grace it makes us holy, there is enough in it to make us easy, in all conditions, under all events.
51. The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet have I not declined from thy law.
David here tells us, and it will be of use to us to know it,
1. That he had been jeered for his religion. Though he was a man of honour, a man of great prudence, and had done eminent services to his country, yet, because he was a devout conscientious man, the proud had him greatly in derision, they ridiculed him, bantered him, and did all they could to expose him to contempt; they laughed at him for his praying, and called it cant; for his seriousness, and called it mopishness; for his strictness, and called it needless preciseness. They were the proud that sat in the scorner's seat, and valued themselves on it.
2. That yet he had not been jeered out of his religion; "They have done all they could to make me quit it for shame, but none of these things move me; I have not declined from thy law for all this; but, if this be to be vile," (as he said when Michal had him greatly in derision,) "I will be yet more vile." He not only had not quite forsaken the law, but had not so much as declined from it. We must never shrink from any duty, nor let slip an opportunity of doing good, for fear of the reproach of men, or their revilings. The traveller goes on his way, though the dogs bark at him. Those can bear but little for Christ, that cannot bear a hard word for him.
52. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.
When David was derided for his godliness, he not only held fast his integrity, but,
1. He comforted himself: he not only bore reproach, but bore it cheerfully; it did not disturb his peace, nor break in upon the repose of his spirit in God. It was a comfort to him to think that it was for God's sake that he bore reproach, and that his worst enemies could find no occasion against him, save only in the matters of his God, Dan. vi. 5. They that are derided for their adherence to God's law, may comfort themselves with this, that the reproach of Christ will prove, in the end, greater riches to them than the treasures of Egypt.
