By Henry Law
Firm confidence in God is here avowed. He is commended as a high fortress of protection. The ruin of the ungodly is foreshown; exhortations to trust in God follow, with recognition of His precious attributes. May we be enabled to adopt His language as the feeling of our souls!
1-2. "Truly my soul waits upon God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved."
Amid all tossing conflicts and disturbing alarms, the Christian has a home of sweet repose. He can recline on God, and feel that everlasting arms are underneath him. This, amid all the troubles of his troubled life, was David's sweet experience. He looked not to man; he conferred not with flesh and blood. He knew that from God only sure protection came. With overflowing joy he testifies, "He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense." A rock high above all foes, immovable against all assaults--salvation to the very uttermost from all the menaces of man, from all the miseries of sin, from all the accusations of conscience, from all the powers of Satan. Sheltered in Him, he had no fears that he should be cast down; he might tremble when hard pressed, but he well knew that he should not be greatly moved.
3-4. "How long will you imagine mischief against a man? You shall be slain, all of you; you shall be as a bowing wall, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly."
From his high munition he expostulates with his crafty foes. He foresees that their schemes will soon be overthrown--that all their boasted prowess shall be crushed in ruins, as the wall falls whose foundations are undermined, and as the weak fence which shakes beneath the slightest touch. He avows his knowledge of their inward character--their plot to subvert those whom God has exalted. Falsehood and curses are their constant means of mischief.
5-7. "My soul, wait only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."
By easy transit he reverts to God, and realizes his own happy state. He calls upon his soul to utterly reject all other trust, and to make God its only resting place. Faith glows in brighter blaze, and renews expressions to testify the firmness of such hope. He recently had stated that he had no fears of being "greatly moved;" but now he rejoices in the persuasion that he shall not be moved at all. What God was to David, the same is He yesterday, today, and forever. Let us fan by all means this persuasion into the strength of full assurance. Then we shall lift high our heads above surrounding troubles.
8. "Trust in Him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."
Faith ever strives to win others to partake in its delights. Here others are exhorted at all times to repose their confidence in God. Let them restrain no feeling. Let them hide no distress. Let them pour forth all their woes. Let their inmost need be referred to Him. Let their whole hearts be opened to His view. He will not turn away. He will give audience. His arms will be a sure and ready refuge.
9-10. "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart upon them."
Disappointment is the lot of those who turn from God to man. No sure help can ever be derived from such source. Survey our total race from highest station to the lowest grade. Weigh them together in the balances of truth. How worthless is their accumulated weight! One inscription marks them all--"Vanity of vanities. All is vanity."
If wealth is hoarded, and iniquitous means obtain it, let the heart scorn it. There is no real help in it.
11-12. "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongs to God. Also unto You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to every man according to his work."
Blessed be God, He has revealed Himself! Again and again His attributes are set before us. Let them be our constant study and our constant trust. They tell us of His POWER. It is omnipotent. Is it not then sure protection? They tell us of His MERCY. It has no bounds. Will it not extend to us? They tell us, also, that soon the JUDGMENT will be set and the books opened, and we shall be judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to our works.
