Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The Psalmist is here at his devotions, in the exercise of faith. He speaks of his situation as trying, and of the insults of his foes; but casts himself upon the faithfulness of his God.

To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

Ps 70

I include the whole under one view, both on account of its shortness, and also because we have already gone over it in the five last verses of Ps 40, to which therefore I refer. Perhaps the title of this Psalm is on this account called to bring to remembrance. The same mercies were prayed for then, and the remembrance is made of them now. It is one of the sweetest offices of the Holy Ghost to act as the remembrancer of the Lord Jesus. And when he graciously doth this, in bringing to our forgetful minds the past tokens of his favour, what a blessedness is wrought in the heart! John 14:26. The several parts of this short Psalm are all interesting. Here is the cry of the soul to God; the earnestness of that cry, in the haste the soul wishes the Lord to manifest in deliverance. Here is the cause of the vehemency of supplication, in the malice of the enemies. Here is the assurance of deliverance, in the exercise of faith: while a soul can call God his help, he may be assured of a speedy rescue. And here is the consolation in which the faithful soul reposeth, that all true seekers of the Lord will be found triumphing in the Lord, and continually rejoicing in hope. If we read the whole of this short Psalm with reference to Christ in the days of his flesh, it will be very sweet in the believer's enjoyments. The sure triumphs of Jesus, and all his church in him, will put the same hymn in every heart: Let God be magnified.

REFLECTIONS

IT is always profitable in our soul exercises, to behold Christ in his sufferings; and when we go up to the mercy-seat, always to have our eye fixed on the great Intercessor. What a relief to the soul, under temptations, trials, difficulties, and the like, to look at him who, when here below, felt the whole force of such things, on purpose that, having suffered being tempted, he might know how to succour them that are tempted. To this effect is the apostle's advice; for consider him who endured such a contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your mind. Hebrews 12:3. And certain it is, that nothing affords equal consolation, under the several sorrows of life, as the conviction that Christ himself, when upon earth, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Blessed Lord! help me ever to keep thee in remembrance: let me by faith behold thee going before, dignifying the tribulated path by thy bright example! And Oh! for grace to hear in gracious words, as if addressed, not only to thy more immediate disciples, but to all they represented, Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations: and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.