2. That which he comforted himself with, was, the remembrance of God's judgments of old, the providences of God concerning his people formerly, both in mercy to them, and in justice against their persecutors. God's judgments of old, in our own early days, and in the days of our fathers, are to be remembered by us for our comfort and encouragement in the way of God, for he is still the same.
53. Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Here is, 1. The character of wicked people; he means those that are openly and grossly wicked; they forsake thy law. Every sin is a transgression of the law, but a course and way of wilful and avowed sin is downright forsaking it and throwing it off.
2. The impression which the wickedness of the wicked made upon David; it frightened him, it put him into an amazement: he trembled to think of the dishonour thereby done to God, the gratification thereby given to Satan, and the mischiefs thereby done to the souls of men. He dreaded the consequences of it, both to the sinners themselves, (and cried out, O gather not my soul with sinners, let mine enemy be as the wicked,) and to the interests of God's kingdom among men, which he was afraid would be hereby sunk and ruined. He does not say, "Horror has taken hold on me, because of their cruel designs against me," but "because of the contempt they put on God and his law." Sin is a monstrous horrible thing in the eyes of all that are sanctified, Jer. v. 30.—xxiii. 14. Hos. vi. 10. Jer. ii. 12.
54. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Here is, 1. David's state and condition; he was in the house of his pilgrimage, which may be understood either as his peculiar trouble; he was often tossed and hurried, and forced to fly; or as his lot, in common with all; this world is the house of our pilgrimage, the house in which we are pilgrims; it is our tabernacle, it is our inn; we must confess ourselves strangers and pilgrims upon earth, who are not at home here, nor must be here long. Even David's palace is but the house of his pilgrimage.
2. His comfort in this state; "Thy statutes have been my songs, with which I here entertained myself; as travellers are wont to divert the thoughts of their weariness, and take off something of the tediousness of their journey, by singing a pleasant song now and then. David was the sweet singer of Israel, and here we are told whence he fetched his songs; they were all borrowed from the word of God; God's statutes were as familiar to him as the songs which a man is accustomed to sing; and he conversed with them in his pilgrimage solitudes. They were as pleasant to him as songs, and put gladness into his heart, more than they have that chant to the sound of the viol, Amos vi. 5. Is any afflicted then? Let him sing over God's statutes, and try if he cannot so sing away sorrow, Ps. cxxxviii. 5.
55. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law. 56. This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
Here is, 1. The converse David had with the word of God; he kept it in mind, and upon every occasion he called it to mind. God's name is the discovery he has made of himself to us in and by his word. This is his memorial unto all generations, and therefore we should always keep it in memory; remember it in the night, upon a waking bed, when we are communing with our own hearts. When others were sleeping, David was remembering God's name, and, by repeating that lesson, increasing his acquaintance with it; in the night of affliction, this he called to mind.
2. The conscience he made of conforming to it. The due remembrance of God's name, which is prefixed to his law, will have a great influence upon our observance of the law; I remembered thy name in the night, and therefore was careful to keep thy law all day. How comfortable will it be in the reflection, if our own hearts can witness for us, that we have thus remembered God's name, and kept his law!
3. The advantage he got by it; (v. 56.) This I had, because I kept thy precepts. Some understand this indefinitely; This I had; I had that which satisfied me, I had every thing that is comfortable, because I kept thy precepts. Note, All that have made a business of religion will own that it has turned to a good account, and that they have been unspeakable gainers by it. Others refer it to what goes immediately before; "I had the comfort of keeping thy law, because I kept it." Note, God's work is its own wages: a heart to obey the will of God is a most valuable reward of obedience; and the more we do, the more we may do, and shall do, in the service of God; the branch that bears fruit is made more fruitful, John xv. 2.
8. CHETH.
57. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.
We may hence gather the character of a godly man.
1. He makes the favour of God his felicity; Thou art my Portion, O Lord. Others place their happiness in the wealth and honours of this world; their portion is in this life, they look no further, they desire no more, these are their good things; (Luke xvi. 25.) but all that are sanctified take the Lord for the Portion of their inheritance and their Cup, and nothing less will satisfy them. David can appeal to God in this matter; "Lord, thou knowest that I have chosen thee for my Portion, and depend upon thee to make me happy."
2. He makes the law of God his rule; "I have said, that I would keep thy words; and what I have said, by thy grace I will do, and will abide by it to the end." Note, Those that take God for their Portion, must take him for their Prince, and swear allegiance to him; and, having promised to keep his word, we must often put ourselves in mind of our promise, xxxix. 1.
58. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
David, having in the foregoing verse reflected upon his covenants with God, here reflects upon his prayers to God, and renews his petition. Observe,
1. What he prayed for; having taken God for his Portion, he entreated his favour, as one that knew he had forfeited it, was unworthy of it, and yet undone without it, but for ever happy if he could obtain it. We cannot demand God's favour as a debt, but must be humble supplicants for it, that God will not only be reconciled to us, but accept us, and smile upon us. He prays, "Be merciful to me, in the forgiveness of what I have done amiss, and in giving me grace to do better for the future."
2. How he prayed; with his whole heart; as one that knew how to value the blessing he prayed for: the gracious soul is entirely set upon the favour of God, and is therefore importunate for it; I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
3. What he pleaded; the promise of God; "Be
