Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Можеби овој псалм делумно се однесува на поставувањето на Давид на неговиот престол и на победите над неговите непријатели кои го следеле тоа. Спореди со Псалм 18; 2 Самоил 3, 5, 8, 10, 18, 20. Но, целиот псалм се однесува на Исус, нашиот Откупител. Еве,
(1) Насилниот и хармоничен, но неуспешен отпор што Евреите и незнабошците од сите рангови го прават против личноста и делото на откупувањето на големиот Бог, мојот Спасител. Гледајте каква пропаст и јад си навлекуваат на себе преку нивните обиди! стихови 1-5, 9.
(2) Гледајте како, и покрај целата нивна гневна злоба и бесен отпор, Јехова го поставува нашиот Откупител за Цар во неговата црква, и непогрешливо го утврдува на неговиот престол; го признава како свој единороден Син и му ги дава незнабошците за негов народ! стихови 6-8.
(3) Гледајте ја Божјата заповед за сериозно размислување и стравопочит, за радост во Него, доверба, послушност и љубов кон неговиот воздигнат Син, стихови 9-12.

Додека го пеам ова, нека ја забележам ужасната природа на гревот; нека со скршено срце се покајам за моето занемарување и отпор кон Исус Христос. Нека со восхит го благословувам неговото име што не сум веќе погубен во мојата беззаконие. Со сериозност нека го прифатам тој некогаш понизен Откупител како мој Спасител, мојот владетел, мојот сопственик, мојот Бог, моето сè. Нека научам да го познавам, да се радувам во него, и со света трепет да ја предадам мојата целосна спасение, и спасението на мојата земја, па дури и на сите краишта на земјата, во неговите раце.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Having beheld the royal dignity of my Redeemer, let me here behold the joy, the peace, the safety of the redeemed, amidst their distresses innumerable. Here David, driven from his holy capital and high throne, by his rebellious son Absalom, ( 1.) Complains to his God of the number and malice of his enemies, ver. 1-2. (2.) He encourageth himself in his God, as the source and subject-matter of his safety, joy, and honour, ver. 3. (3.) He recollects, how, on former occasions, his troubles had driven him to his prayers; how he had always found God ready to hear and grant his requests; how safe and easy he had lived under his protection; and how effectually he had broken the power and restrained the malice of his enemies, ver 4-5, 7. ( 4.) Triumphantly trusting in God, as the salvation and blesser of his people, he silenceth all his fears, and pours forth his prayers for new protection and deliverance, ver. 6, 8.

Think, my soul, of Jesus, who, when bulls of Bashan compassed him about, trusted in God, that he would deliver him. In all my distress, let me pour out my heart before him, believing in him as God, even my God. Let me always rejoice in the great God my Saviour. Let me trust in him at all times, that as he hath delivered, and doth deliver, so he will deliver me.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

This psalm was, perhaps, composed on the same occasion as the former, when David fled from Absalom his son. Here, (1.) David encouraged by former experience, casts his burden on the Lord, and supplicates a merciful deliverance, ver. 1. (2.) Addressing himself to men, particularly to his persecutors, he reproves their contempt of God and religion, their delight in, and practice of vanity, fraud, and falsehood. He represents the happiness of the saints in having God their protector, and ready to hear their requests. He recommends a holy filial awe of God, and careful abstinence from sin; together with a devoting of themselves, and their conduct and substance, to the Lord, ver. 2-5. (3.) To encourage them to the study of practical religion, he remarks, what superlative satisfaction and rest himself had found in familiar fellowship with God, and in a believing dependence on him, ver. 6-8.

While I sing, let me have faith in God, as my own God in Christ. Let me abhor that levity of mind, that deceitfulness, that earthly mindedness proper to the ungodly, and every remain thereof. Let my soul pant for Jehovah, and prefer him to everything else. Let me, by faith, lay myself down in his arms, his bosom, as all my salvation and comfort.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Here, (1.) The man according to God’s heart, in the assured faith of God’s hearing his prayers, and hating his sins, fixeth a daily, an early, an earnest, a steady, a grace-founded correspon dence with God, in his ordinances of meditation, prayer, praise, etc., ver. 1-7. (2.) Behold him humbly requesting God’s special direction in duties which his enemies had rendered difficult to perform; supplicating and predicting the ruin of his implacable foes; and, in the assured faith of obtaining it, imploring comfort and prosperity to his fellow saints, ver. 8-12.

While I sing, let my heart and flesh cry out, and my soul pant and wait for the Lord. In the firm faith of infinite mercy to forgive all my crimes, and wash out all my sinful stains, let me blush at, and detest my own abominations. Let me cultivate the closest familiarity with the Lord my God. Let my prayers correspond with his promises, and with the particular condi tion of myself or others.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Observe here, (1.) David, a great saint, under grievous and manifold troubles, sickness of body, conscience-felt charges of guilt, vexation of mind, attended with desertion from God, and contemptuous insults from his enemies, ver. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. (2.) His supplications, with strong cries and tears, to God for mitigation of trouble, support under it, and deliverance from it, ver. 1, 4, 6. (3.) His triumphant separation of himself from the wicked, in the full assurance of faith, that God had heard, and would graciously grant his requests, and would either convert or destroy his opposers, ver. 8, 10.

In all my afflictions, let me believe that Jesus was afflicted for me. Let me call my sin to remembrance, spread my case before him, fill my mouth with arguments; implore his abundant, free, and sovereign mercy, as my sole and all-comprehensive relief. Nor let me ever expect a comfortable answer to my prayers, while I cultivate an intimacy with profane and wicked men.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Here, accused of traitorous conspiracy against his sovereign by king Saul, or by Cush one of his courtiers, David, (1.) Appeals to God, concerning his innocency of that crime, ver. 3-5. (2.) He supplicates, that God, as governor of the world, and King of Israel, would protect him from danger, plead his cause and give judgment for him, ver. 1, 2, 6, 9. (3.) In the exercise of faith, he depends on God, to protect and deliver him, and to avenge the injuries he had sustained upon his implacable adversaries, ver. 10, 16. (4.) He resolves to ascribe the glory of all his deliverances to God alone, ver. 17.

While I sing, let me contemplate the spotless innocency, the finished righteousness of my Redeemer, together with the injurious usage he received from his brethren of mankind and the fearful ruin which hath befallen, or awaits his incorrigible foes. Let me carefully approve myself in his sight who searcheth my heart, and trieth my reins, and who must quickly be my final judge. Let me implore the just vengeance of heaven, against my spiritual enemies. And not unto me, but to his name be the glory and praise of all my protection and deliverance.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

This psalm contains a pleasant, but solemn meditation upon the glory, the greatness, and the grace of God. Let me here observe, (1.) How illustrious and widespread are all his glory and renown, ver. 1, 3, 9. (2.) By how weak and insignificant instruments, he manifests and spreads his superlative fame, ver. 2. (3.) Behold his marvellous condescension and bounty to mankind, but chiefly to the man Christ, in uniting his human nature to his divine person, and in giving him all power in heaven and earth, for the benefit of his chosen people, ver. 4-8.

May this Jesus, this name of God in him, be the enthroned inhabitant, the everlasting wonder, and the superlative darling of my heart. Let me, with the babes of Jerusalem, Matt. 21, pour forth my hosannas to him that cometh in the name of the Lord to save me ­ hosannas in the highest. Let all the works of nature lead, and excite me to admire their Creator’s kindness towards men ­ towards sinful and insignificant me.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

This psalm was, perhaps, composed on the occasion of his son Absalom’s death, 2 Sam. 18; or on the occasion of the death of Goliath the champion and duellist of Gath, 1 Sam. 17. We have in it, (1.) David’s hearty thanksgivings to God, for his pleading of his cause against his and his country’s enemies, and for giving him a complete victory over them, ver. 1-6, and his excitement of others to join with him therein, ver. 11-12. (2). His triumph in God as the righteous judge of the world, protector of his people, and the destroyer of his implacable enemies, ver. 7-10, 15-18. (3.) His requests for further grounds of praising God as his own deliverer, and the confounder of his enemies, ver. 13-14, 19-20.

While I sing these subjects, let me chiefly consider the blessings of redemption, the victories of my Redeemer over sin, death, and hell; and believe that I, through him, shall be more than a conqueror. Let the ruin of transgressors effectually admonish me to stand in awe of God, and at the furthest distance from sin.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

In this psalm of lamentation and woe, we have, (1.) David’s mournful complaints of God’s withdrawment of his gracious and comfortable presence, ver. 1. (2.) His mournful and shocking representation of the wicked men, who persecuted him, during God’s absence: They proudly gloried in themselves; they counteracted the laws, and contemned the judgments of God; they contradicted and defiled their opposers; they were malicious, treacherous, crafty, hypocritical, and atheistical persecutors, ver. 2-11. (3.) His earnest supplications for relief to the people of God, attended with the firm faith of obtaining it, ver. 12-18.

While I sing these lines, ponder, O my soul, what a privilege it is to enjoy familiar fellowship with God! What abominations lie hid in an evil heart of unbelief! What a mercy, that the Lord hath withheld me from that outrage in wickedness, of which my corrupt nature is capable. Let all my views of sins and of judgments cause me to flee to Jesus for relief. If he prepare my heart to pray, he will surely grant my requests.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Behold here, (1.) David, tempted by his timorous friends to escape to some mountain, and hide himself from the fury of Saul, or of Absalom, as if that were his only safe course now when his enemies were exerting themselves to the uttermost, and all things were in disorder and confusion, ver. 1-3. (2.) David baffling the temptation by a resolute profession of his trust in God, as the observer of all men; as the holy and righteous punisher of the wicked, and friend of the godly, ver. 4-7.

Let no temptation decoy me from my duty. Let no danger deter me from it. While Jehovah, my reconciled God and Father, manageth and judgeth the world, my safest course is to commit myself to him in well-doing. Let the just vengeance of God upon sinners deter my heart from sinning, and his kindness to his people encourage me to holiness in all manner of conversation.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

In this psalm, which was probably penned during the reign of Saul, observe, (1.) The times rendered extremely bad by the almost universal death of the godly, the general decay of piety and honesty, the common prevalence of dissimulation and flattery; by the proud and daring contempt of God, and oppression of the poor; and by the protection and encouragement of wickedness, by those that bare rule in church or state, ver. 1-4, 8. (2.) Enough in God to balance the evils of the worst of times. He is ready to help. He will in due time reckon with the wicked, and restrain their insolence. He will seasonably and effectually relieve his oppressed people. His words are pure, firm, and faithful; and he will always secure a remnant for himself, ver. 1-5, 6-7.

In evil times, do thou, my soul, live on thy God. Walk humbly with thy God. Hope continually in thy God; and rejoice in his new covenant promises to men ­ to me.

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

Here we have the Psalmist sowing in tears, but reaping in joy. Observe, (1.) His extreme distress, occasioned by God’s apparent unkindness, and by inward anguish of soul, and the insolence of enemies, ver. 1-2. (2.) His fervent supplications that God would consider his case, strengthen his faith, direct his goings, and comfort his heart, ver. 3-4. (3.) Sudden deliverance, flowing from a fixed trust in God, and inducing to a triumphant joy in him, ver 5-6.

Think, my soul, how divine withdrawments, sensibly perceived, sting a renewed heart! How changeable the saints’ spiritual frames are, while they continue in this world. Weeping endures for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And behold, how quickly the prayers of faith are answered, and its expectations fulfilled!

Белешки на Џон Браун од Хадингтон

This psalm represents the fearful sinfulness and misery of mankind, and the marvellous method of deliverance therefrom. Behold, here, (1.) All mankind fearfully infected with the God -dishonouring, the soul-debasing and defiling, the world -disturbing malady of sinful corruption in heart and life, ver. 1-3. (2.) Warm expostulations for the conviction, awakening, and reclaiming of wicked men, ver. 4-6. (3.) Consolations exhibited to the righteous, from God’s being among them, and being a refuge to them; and from his sending his Son to save and redeem them, ver. 5-7.

While I sing these lines, let me have a deep sense of my corruptions. Let me be ashamed of them before God. Let me, with a broken heart and weeping eye, confess my filthiness and crimes. Let me groan after and flee to Jesus, the Saviour, the salvation of God. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this abominable life, from this inward body of death! Thanks to the Redeemer, who is come to Zion to turn away ungodliness from Jacob! Let therefore Jacob rejoice and the Gentiles sing.