Psalms 119:8

Verse Psalms 119:8. O forsake me not utterly.] עד מאד ad meod, "to utter dereliction;" never leave me to my own strength, nor to my own heart!

ANALYSIS OF LETTER ALEPH. - First Division

I. In this first octonary the prophet commends to us the law of God, and persuades us to practise it by two arguments: 1. Happiness, Psalms 119:1. 2. The excellence of the Lawgiver, Psalms 119:4.

II. He shows his affection to this law, desiring grace to keep it, Psalms 119:5.

On which he knew there would follow two effects:

1. Peace of conscience: "He should not be ashamed," c.

2. Thankfulness to God for his teaching, Psalms 119:7.

"Blessed are they who are undefiled in the way," c.

"Blessed are they who keep his testimonies," c.

"They also do no iniquity," c.

I. The first argument used by the prophet to persuade men to obedience is blessedness. He that would be happy must be obedient and his obedience, if true, may be thus discerned: -

1. "He must be undefiled in the way." Keep himself from sin.

2. "He must walk in the law of the Lord," c. Which is the rule of our faith, life, and worship.

3. "He must keep his testimonies." Search them out in God's word.

4. "He must seek him with a whole heart." With sincerity search his law to the utmost, both what it bids, and what it forbids, in order to know the mind of the Lawgiver.

5. "They also do no iniquity." They work no iniquity with 1. Purpose of heart 2. Delight 3. With perseverance; 4. Nor at all, when the heart is fully sanctified unto God; Christ dwelling in it by faith.

6. They walk in his way, which the wicked do not: but the righteous have taken it for their path through life; and should they at any time swerve from it, they come back by repentance and confession to God.

The prophet's second argument to persuade to obedience is the authority of the Lawgiver. All disobedience proceeds either from contempt of God's laws, or rebellion against them: but David brings to our mind the authority of the Lawgiver, from a consideration of who he is who commands our obedience as his servants: "Thou hast commanded that we keep,' c.

1. Thou, who knowest when we err, and wilt punish us.

2. Hast commanded - absolutely enjoined.

3. That we keep, c. - they cannot be dispensed with.

4. Diligently, c. Not negligently or lazily, or Satan will take advantage of us.

II. The blessedness promised to the keepers of God's law moved the prophet to send forth this ardent prayer, "O that my ways," c.

1. David was a great king, and yet desires to be obedient.

2. He answers God's command by a prayer, to be enabled to perform it by his grace.

3. "O that my ways," c. My counsels, actions, c., were conformable to the straitness and regularity of thy law.

4. He knew he could not be too closely united to God, and therefore he prays to be directed.

Which prayer he knew God would hear and that the effect would be quietness of soul, and boldness at a throne of grace.

1. "Then shall I not be confounded," c. If his heart were right with God, he should not fly from him, as did Adam: that was the effect of disobedience.

2. If God directed his ways to the keeping of his commandments, he should find no amazement in his conscience, but holy boldness.

And this effect will produce another fruit, a thankful heart.

1. "I will praise thee." Give thee thanks for they grace and assistance.

2. "With uprightness of heart." Not with his tongue only, but with an honest and upright heart.

3. But this could not be done till God had taught him: "I will praise thee when I shall have learned," c. Not to know them only with my understanding, but to make them the rule of my life, which cannot be but by the influence of the Spirit of GOD.

And what follows upon this will be a firm purpose of heart to be obedient to God's laws.

1. "I will keep thy statutes." So am I fully resolved and decreed with myself. And it is a great help to godliness to resolve to live a godly life for how shall that be performed which is not purposed.

2. And yet this purpose or conclusion he makes in God's strength and therefore constantly prays: "O forsake me not utterly." Without thy aid I can do nothing: but if at any time in thy just judgment thou desert me, that I may know and feel my own weakness, and learn the better to fly to thee, let it not be an utter desertion. Forsake me not, neither too much nor too long.