Bible Commentaries

DISCOURSE: 523

TRUST IN GOD, THE MEANS OF SUCCESS

Psalms 20:7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

ASTONISHING is the success of united prayer: nor are any so situated as not to need the intercessions of others. David, though so great and powerful, stood in need of them: and he here records the benefit he received from them [Note: See, and quote the whole preceding context.] — — —

The Psalmist here records,

I. The different grounds of men’s confidence—

The generality make the creature their confidence—

[This prevailed universally among the heathen — — — And it too generally pervaded the Jewish nation also — — — We too, in all our straits and difficulties, are prone to it; leaning to our understanding — — — resting on our own resolutions — — — and undertaking every thing in a dependence on self — — —]

The only proper ground of confidence is God—

[He alone is all-sufficient — — — With him every thing is easy — — — David abhorred the idea of resting on any other [Note: Psalms 121:1-2; Psalms 11:1-4. Mark the spirit of these passages.] — — — Hence he adopted the resolution in the text.]

II. The correspondent issues of their confidence—

Those who depend on the creature are disappointed—

[This has frequently been the case [Note: 1 Kings 20:23.] — — — And it is only what may be expected [Note: Psalms 33:17.] — — — Creature-confidence arms God against us [Note: Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 31:3.] — — — and entails his curse on all who indulge it [Note: Jeremiah 17:5-6.] — — —]

But those who depend on God succeed—

[So did Asa [Note: 2 Chronicles 14:11-12.] — — — So did Jehoshaphat [Note: 2 Chronicles 20:12; 2 Chronicles 20:15; 2 Chronicles 20:20.] — — — So did Hezekiah [Note: 2 Chronicles 32:7; 2 Chronicles 32:21.] — — — So did David [Note: ver. 8.] — — — And so shall all, even to the end of the world [Note: Psalms 34:22; Psalms 125:1-2.] — — —]

Infer,

1. What obligations do we owe to God for the mercies we have now received [Note: Here bring forward the particular circumstances for which the Thanksgiving is appointed.]! — — —

2. What shall not they receive who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? — — —