Spurgeon PS0913

EXPOSITION.

Memories of the past and confidences concerning the future conducted the man of God to the mercy seat to plead for the needs of the present. Between praising and praying he divided all his time. How could he have spent it more profitably? His first prayer is one suitable for all persons and occasions, it breathes a humble spirit, indicates self knowledge, appeals to the proper attributes, and to the fitting person. _Have mercy upon me, O Lord_. Just as Luther used to call some texts little Bibles, so we may call this sentence a little prayer-book; for it has in it the soul and marrow of prayer. It is multum in parvo, and like the angelic sword turns every way. The ladder looks to be short, but it reaches from earth to heaven.

What a noble title is here given to the Most High. _Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death_! What a glorious lift! In sickness, in sin, in despair, in temptation, we have been brought very low, and the gloomy portal has seemed as if it would open to imprison us, but, underneath us were the everlasting arms, and, therefore, we have been uplifted even to the gates of heaven. Trapp quaintly says, “He commonly reserveth his hand for a dead lift, and rescueth those who were even talking of their graves.” We must not overlook David’s object in desiring mercy, it is God’s glory: “_that I may show forth all thy praise_.” Saints are not so selfish as to look only to self; they desire mercy’s diamond that they may let others see it flash and sparkle, and may admire Him who gives such priceless gems to his beloved. The contrast between the gates of death and the gates of the New Jerusalem is very striking; let our songs be excited to the highest and most rapturous pitch by the double consideration of whence we are taken, and to what we have been advanced, and let our prayers for mercy be made more energetic and agonizing by a sense of the grace which such a salvation implies. When David speaks of his showing forth _all_ God’s praise, he means that, in his deliverance grace in all its heights and depths would be magnified. Just as our hymn puts it:– “O the length and breadth of love! Jesus, Saviour, can it be? All thy mercy’s height I prove, All the depth is seen in me.” Here ends the first part of this instructive psalm, and

in pausing awhile we feel bound to confess that our exposition has only flitted over its surface, and has not digged into the depths. The verses are singularly full of teaching, and if the Holy Spirit shall bless the reader, he may go over this Psalm, as the writer has done scores of times, and see on each occasion fresh beauties.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

Verse 14.–“_That I may show forth all thy praise_,” etc. to show forth _all_ God’s praise is to enter largely into the work. An occasional “_God, I thank thee_,” is no fit return for a perpetual stream of rich benefits.–^William S. Plumer.

HINTS TO PREACHERS.

Verse 13.–“_Have mercy upon me, O Lord_.” The publican’s prayer expounded, commended, presented, and fulfilled.

Verse 13.–“_Thou liftest me up from the gates of death_.” Deep distresses. Great deliverances. Glorious exaltations.

Verse 14.–“_I will rejoice in thy salvation_.” Especially because it is _thine_, O God, and therefore honours thee. In its freeness, fullness, suitability, certainty, everlastingness. Who can rejoice in this? Reasons why they should always do so.