Charles Spurgeon Collection: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet: 08 Exposition of Psalm 119:57-64
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Charles Spurgeon Collection: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet: 08 Exposition of Psalm 119:57-64
TOPIC: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 08 Exposition of Psalm 119:57-64
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Exposition of Psa_119:57-64
by Charles Spurgeon
57. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep
thy words.
58. I intreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto
me according to thy word.
59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy
testimonies.
60. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not
forgotten thy law.
62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of
thy righteous judgments.
63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that
keep thy precepts.
64. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy
statutes.
In this section the Psalmist seems to take firm hold upon God himself;
appropriating him (57), crying out for him (58), returning to him (59),
solacing himself in him (61, 62), associating with his people (63), and
sighing for his personal instruction (64). Note how the first verse of this
octave is linked to the last of the former one, of which indeed it is an
expansion. “This I had because I kept thy precepts. Thou art my portion,
O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.” Being many, these
verses are still but one bread.
57. “Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy
words.”
“Thou art my portion, O Lord.” A broken expression. The translators
have mended it by insertions, but perhaps it had been better to have left it
alone, and then it would have appeared as n exclamation — “My portion,
O Lord!” The poet’s lost in wonder while he sees that the great and
glorious God is all his own! Well might he be so, for there is no possession
like Jehovah himself. The form of the sentence expresses joyous
recognition and appropriation — “My portions. O Jehovah!” David had
often seen the prey divided, and heard the victor shouting over it; here he
rejoices as one who seizes his share of the spoil; he chooses the Lord to be
his part of the treasure. Like the Levites, he took God to be his portion,
and left other matters to those who coveted them. This is a large and
lasting heritage, for it includes all, and more than all, and it outlasts all; and
yet no man chooses it for himself until God has chosen and renewed him.
Who that is truly wise could hesitate for a moment when the infinitely
blessed God is set before him to be the object of his choice? David leaped
at the opportunity, and grasped the priceless boon. Our author here dares
exhibit the title-deeds of his portion before the eye of the Lord himself, for
he addresses his joyful utterance directly to God, whom he boldly calls his
own. With much else to choose from, for he was a king, and a man of great
resources, he deliberately tums from all the treasures of the world, and
declares that the Lord, even Jehovah, is his portion.
“I have said that I would keep thy words.” We cannot always look back
with comfort upon what we have said, but in this instance David had
spoken wisely and well. He had declared his choice; he preferred the word
of God to the wealth of worldlings. It was his firm resolve to keep — that
is, treasure up and observe — the words of his God; and as he had
aforetime solemnly expressed it: in the presence of the Lord himself, so
here he confesses the binding obligation of his former vow. Jesus said, “If
a man love me, he will keep my words,” and this is a case which he might
have quoted as an illustration; for the Psalmist’s love to God as his portion
led to his keeping the words of God. David took God to be his Prince as
well as his Portion. He was confident as to his interest in God, and
therefore he was resolute in his obedience to him. Full assurance is a
powerful source of holiness. The very words of God are to be stored up;
for whether they relate to doctrine, promise, or precept, they are most
precious. When the heart is determined to keep these words, and has
registered its purpose in the court of heaven, it is prepared for all the
temptations and trials that may befall it; for, with God as its heritage, it is
always in good case.
58. “I intreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me
according to thy word.”
“I intreated thy favor with my whole heart.” A fully assured possession of
God does not set aside prayer, but rather urges us to it; he who knows God
to be his God will seek his face, longing for his presence. Seeking God’s
presence is the idea conveyed by the marginal reading, “thy face,” and
this is true to the Hebrew. The presence of God is the highest form of his
favor, and therefore it is the most urgent desire of gracious souls: the light
of his countenance gives us an antepast of heaven. Oh that we always
enjoyed it! The good man entreated God’s smile as one who begged for his
life, and the entire strength of his desire went with the entreaty. Such eager
pleadings are sure of success; that which comes from our heart will
certainly go to God’s heart. The whole of God’s favors are ready for those
who seek them with their whole hearts.
“Be merciful unto me according to thy word.” He has entreated favor,
and the from in which he most needs it is that of mercy; for he is more a
sinner than anything else. He asks nothing beyond the promise, he only
begs for such mercy as the word reveals. And what more could he want or
wish for? God has revealed such an infinity of mercy in his word, that it
would be impossible to conceive of more. See how the Psalmist dwells
upon favor and mercy, he never dreams of merit. He does not demand, but
entreat; for he feels his own unworthiness. Note how he remains a
suppliant, though he knows that he has all things in his God. God is his
portion, and yet he begs for a look at his face. The idea of any other
position before God than that of an undeserving though favored one never
entered his head. Here we have his “Be merciful unto me” rising with as
much intensity of humble pleading as if he still remained among the most
trembling of penitents.. The confidence of faith makes us bold in prayer,
but it never teaches us to live without prayer, or justifies us in being other
than humble beggars at mercy’s gate.
59. “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”
While studying the word he was led to study his own life, and this caused a
mighty revolution. He came to the word, and then he came to himself, and
this made him arise and go to his Father. Consideration is the
commencement of conversion: first we think, and then we turn. When the
mind repents of ill ways, the feet are soon led into good ways; but there
will be no repenting until there is deep, earnest: thought. Many men are
averse to thought of any kind, and as to thought upon their ways, they
cannot endure it, for their ways will not bear thinking of. David’s ways had
not been all that he could have wished them to be, and so his thoughts
were sobered o’er with the pale cast of regret; but he did not end with idle
lamentations, he set about a practical amendment; he turned and returned,
he sought the testimonies of the Lord, and hastened to enjoy once more the
conscious favor of his heavenly Friend. Action without thought is folly, and
thought without action is sloth: to think carefully and then to act promptly
is a happy combination. He had en-treated for renewed fellowship, and
now he proved the genuineness of his desire by renewed obedience. If we
are in the dark, and mourn an absent God, our wisest method will be not so
much to think upon our sorrows as upon our ways: though we cannot turn
the course of providence, we can turn the way of our walking, and this will
soon mend matters. If we can get our feet right as to holy walking, we shall
soon get our hearts right as to happy living. God will turn to his saints
when they turn to him; yea, he has already favored them with the light of
his face when they begin to think and turn.
60. “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” He
made all speed to get back into the royal road from which he had