All the worship we can render to the Lord is beneath his excellences, and our obligations to
him, especially in our redemption from sin and wrath. What God had done on Israel's behalf, was
kept in remembrance by public solemnities. To make a deliverance appear more gracious, more
glorious, it is good to observe all that makes the trouble we are delivered from appear more grievous.
We ought never to forget the base and ruinous drudgery to which Satan, our oppressor, brought us.
But when, in distress of conscience, we are led to cry for deliverance, the Lord answers our prayers,
and sets us at liberty. Convictions of sin, and trials by affliction, prove his regard to his people. If
the Jews, on their solemn feast-days, were thus to call to mind their redemption out of Egypt, much
more ought we, on the Christian sabbath, to call to mind a more glorious redemption, wrought out
for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, from worse bondage.
Verses 8–16
We cannot look for too little from the creature, nor too much from the Creator. We may have
enough from God, if we pray for it in faith. All the wickedness of the world is owing to man's
wilfulness. People are not religious, because they will not be so. God is not the Author of their sin,
he leaves them to the lusts of their own hearts, and the counsels of their own heads; if they do not
well, the blame must be upon themselves. The Lord is unwilling that any should perish. What
enemies sinners are to themselves! It is sin that makes our troubles long, and our salvation slow.
Upon the same conditions of faith and obedience, do Christians hold those spiritual and eternal
good things, which the pleasant fields and fertile hills of Canaan showed forth. Christ is the Bread
of life; he is the Rock of salvation, and his promises are as honey to pious minds. But those who
reject him as their Lord and Master, must also lose him as their Saviour and their reward.
Chapter 82
Chapter Outline
An exhortation to judges. (1–5)
The doom of evil rulers. (6–8)Verses 1–5
Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public good. Magistrates are the ministers of
God's providence, for keeping up order and peace, and particularly in punishing evil-doers, and
protecting those that do well. Good princes and good judges, who mean well, are under Divine
direction; and bad ones, who mean ill, are under Divine restraint. The authority of God is to be
submitted to, in those governors whom his providence places over us. But when justice is turned
from what is right, no good can be expected. The evil actions of public persons are public mischiefs.
Verses 6–8