_David professing his humility, exhorteth Israel to hope in God._
A Song of Degrees of David.
LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I
exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of
his mother: my soul _is_ even as a weaned child.
Let Israel hope in the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
This is also a blessed Psalm, containing, in a few brief words, the
same most important doctrine which was taught also in the preceding
Psalm,—that we are not to trust in our own righteousness or works: and
it attacks all proud and arrogant hypocrites, who, by human strength,
attempt works beyond all human powers, namely to pacify God; and
understand not the power of grace nor the remission of sins; but
endeavour to pacify God by their own works.
“My heart is not lifted up,” (saith the Psalmist); as if he had said,
Those proud saints (as they imagine themselves) being ignorant of all
trials and temptations, and spiritual things, trust greatly in their
own works, and know not what sin is, nor what the anger and judgment
of God are. But I, being broken down and humbled by these things, know
what they are. For whenever I leave off to trust closely and wholly to
the promise of grace; as often as I cease to suck the breast of mercy
and promised pardon, my rest is gone, and I begin to weep and howl
with distresses and straits of conscience; just as a little
newly-weaned infant cries unceasingly, night and day, for the breast
of its mother which it has lost.
The sum therefore of all true religion and godliness is this, “Let
Israel hope in the Lord:” that is, there is no other salvation, there
is no other consolation, there is no other sure peace of conscience
for any mortal, than the apprehending and embracing the promise of
grace. Take care, therefore, that thou neglect not this true mother’s
breast for thy soul; take heed that thou lose it not out of thy mouth;
for this breast alone is that which can relieve, refresh, and quiet
thirsting and sinking consciences, in any of their agonies on account
of sin. Christ alone is eternal life, peace, and consolation!