Hebrew, "make my bed the grave or hell," Job xvii. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. It is His own; He will maintain it, He will deepen it, and He will finish it. BibliographyClarke, Adam. But not only through these sadder ministries is God’s providence perfeering that which concerneth us. God’s mercy. ].” And, because we are apt to doubt his veracity, he has confirmed his promise with an oath, “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us [Note: Hebrews 6:18. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Bible Language English. I. Sorry, an error was encountered while loading part of the book. “The Lord will perfect.” This is what we need to impart interest to life. 1599-1645. Psalm 138 - A psalm of David. There was an error while trying to create your account. We shall one day own that no time has been better spent, if on these occasions we have exercised patience, forbearance, unwearying kindness, persevering helpfulness, if we have given pleasure, diffused happiness, relieved burdens, cleared perplexity, shed sunlight on those who live under the shadow, quickened dull minds, lightened heavy hearts. “Perfect”: Refers to God’s work in David’s life, specially the Davidic Covenant (compare 2 Sam. Men may leave off a work for very slight reasons which they foolishly undertook from the first, and from which they may have been diverted through their inconstancy, or they may be forced to give up through inability what they enterprised above their strength; but nothing of this kind can happen with God, and, therefore, we have no occasion to apprehend that our hopes will be disappointed in their course towards fulfillment. To some of these methods of the Divine providence I ask your attention. BibliographyPoole, Matthew, "Commentary on Psalms 138:8". He will not begin to interpose in my behalf, and then abandon me. But it is never go be forgotten that the ministry of affliction is wholly contingent on our receptivity. Being rich he becomes richer; being already high born, of still nobler lineage; being illustrious, he gains greater renown; and--what is more than all--once a sinner he is now a saint. New Living Translation Psalms 138:8. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-138.html. Cancel. “I am, as Thy creature, wholly dependent on Thee; without Thee, faith must die, and hope expire; without Thee, love must decay and perish.” (J. H. Evans, M. Can this be good for us? See Philippians 1:6. 1871-8. It comes to us through the ordering of Providence, and is therefore, no doubt, better for us than the great things which we would gladly do instead, but for which the opportunity is not afforded us. He must be prepared for the Kingdom that has been prepared for him, Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. Another often uncomfortable method of spiritual discipline consists in the seemingly excessive annoyance and mortification occasioned by what we account as slight mistakes, follies, and faults. And Luther’s usual prayer was, Confirm, O God, in us that thou hast wrought, and perfect the work that thou hast begun in us, to thy glory; so be it. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”. He does not come back in a quarter of an hour and say, “Have you my money safe? Forsake not the works of thine own hands - What thou hast made; what thou hast begun to do. "Commentary on Psalms 138:8". Don't abandon me, for you made me. The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. cause me then, by the sweet influences of thy Holy Spirit, to glorify thee in Jesus above all. Our grounds of confidence, also, are the same as his. In the vexation and discomfort which we bring upon ourselves by some momentary and almost unconscious deviation from the fitting and the right, we often have an impressive practical commentary on the text, “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” But in these experiences we have a most essential and blessed part of our providential education. II. There must be a foundation for the promise. This he confirms still farther by what he adds, that it is impossible God should leave his work, as men may do, in an imperfect or unfinished state through lassitude or disgust. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." How, then, would the record run? 3. A. ].”], [It was to God alone that David looked for the “perfecting” of all his concerns. Carelessness? God is under no obligation on his part, but when, of his mere good pleasure, he promises to interest himself in our behalf. 231, and vol. The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Forsake not the works of thine own hands - What thou hast made; what thou hast begun to do. I. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. One man of God always feared death; but he might have spared himself his wretchedness, for he fell asleep one night in apparently excellent health, and died in his sleep. It is from the mercy of God that He works for us, and works in us. He will not begin to interpose in my behalf, and then abandon me. "Commentary on Psalms 138:8". In reference to his temporal advancement, his confidence was well-founded. Letter Xliii a Consolatory Letter to the Parents of Geoffrey. III. The promise of a Saviour, and of all good in Him, covers all our interests; hence the word which is given to us is full of promises, and they are "exceeding great and precious"—great in their range, because there is no circumstance which they do not reach; precious in their character, because there is no exigency in our affairs to which they are not adapted. References: Psalms 138:8.—J. The mercy of the creature is finite; the mercy of Jehovah is infinite. But God trains us, for the most part, in ways which we should not choose for that purpose, and sometimes in ways which we are prone to regard as injurious rather than helpful. II. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever - See the notes at Psalm 136:1. Make it thy uniform practice to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1999. Or the reference may be to all Jehovah’s gracious intentions for Israel. I look upon it as the Alpha and the Omega, the source and consummation of all that is excellent in man. The only question, therefore, for him to settle in his own mind, was, whether God was able to effect his promised mercy. "Commentary on Psalms 138:8". Then, wearisome though it be, it is a healthful discipline, equally for the powers which it calls into exercise, and for that conscientious fidelity in our appointed sphere, which must concur with trained and tried capacity in fitting the steward of the few and small things committed to his earthly trust for the larger stewardship of the heavenly life. True it was, that Saul laboured with all his might for his destruction: but it was not possible for man to thwart the purposes of the Almighty; and therefore, relying on the power and faithfulness of Jehovah, he dismissed all fear, and assured himself of a happy and successful issue to his afflictions. ].” “Cast, then, your care altogether upon him [Note: 1 Peter 5:7. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life, (Admonition 23.) There is no reason to mourn a son as lost who is a religious, still less to fear for his delicacy of constitution. It should lead us to precisely the same spirit as he manifested: with a view to which, I would say, [David looked to God to “perfect all that concerned him.” So should we, also, “go on unto perfection.” We should never count ourselves to have attained, as long as any thing remains to be attained. ... NLT The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. The hand of God is in everything. All these promises are promises in Christ Jesus; and herein we have the evidence of their certainty, the assurance of their fulfilment. 1870. An error occurred while marking the devotional as read. Growing knowledge is, no doubt, an unspeakable benefit; yet we may be gee impatient for its acquisition. Do not leave me to perish. Equally is Providence educating us by those trials and griefs--the lighter and the heavier--which belong to our condition as mortals. In reference to his eternal welfare, it was equally just. "John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible". 138:8 Perfect - Will finish the great work of my deliverance. The special intention of the prayer depends on the origin of the psalm. ]:” and you may rest assured that he will fulfil his word; for “He is faithful who hath promised [Note: Hebrews 10:23. Did the Almighty pause in the middle of creation and leave His work unfinished? No man ever had stronger confidence in God than he: yet “he kept under his body, and brought it into subjection, lest by any means, after having preached to others, he himself should become a cast-away [Note: 1 Corinthians 9:27.

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