God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true
Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in their gloomy hours they suppose. His
enemies should be reckoned with, and brought down; they could not ease themselves of their fears,
as David could, by faith in God. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed
by an eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction, will certainly be brought
down to the pit of destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially when attended
with the temptations of Satan; there is also the burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under
it is, to look to Christ, who bore it. Whatever it is that thou desirest God should give thee, leave it
to him to give it in his own way and time. Care is a burden, it makes the heart stoop. We must
commit our ways and works to the Lord; let him do as seemeth him good, and let us be satisfied.
To cast our burden upon God, is to rest upon his providence and promise. And if we do so, he will
carry us in the arms of his power, as a nurse carries a child; and will strengthen our spirits by his
Spirit, so that they shall sustain the trial. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved; to be so
shaken by any troubles, as to quit their duty to God, or their comfort in him. He will not suffer them
to be utterly cast down. He, who bore the burden of our sorrows, desires us to leave to him to bear
the burden of our cares, that, as he knows what is best for us, he may provide it accordingly. Why
do not we trust Christ to govern the world which he redeemed?
Chapter 56
Chapter Outline
David seeks mercy from God, amidst the (1–7)
malice of his enemies.
He rests his faith on God's promises, and (8–13)
declares his obligation to praise him for
mercies.Verses 1–7
Be merciful unto me, O God. This petition includes all the good for which we come to throne
of grace. If we obtain mercy there, we need no more to make us happy. It implies likewise our best
plea, not our merit, but God's mercy, his free, rich mercy. We may flee to, and trust the mercy of
God, when surrounded on all sides by difficulties and dangers. His enemies were too hard for him,
if God did not help him. He resolves to make God's promises the matter of his praises, and so we
have reason to make them. As we must not trust an arm of flesh when engaged for us, so we must
not be afraid of an arm of flesh when stretched out against us. The sin of sinners will never be their
security. Who knows the power of God's anger; how high it can reach, how forcibly it can strike?
Verses 8–13