Praise for God's goodness. (19–24)Verses 1–8
Faith and prayer must go together, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. David gave
up his soul in a special manner to God. And with the words, ver. 5, our Lord Jesus yielded up his
last breath on the cross, and made his soul a free-will offering for sin, laying down his life as a
ransom. But David is here as a man in distress and trouble. And his great care is about his soul, his
spirit, his better part. Many think that while perplexed about their worldly affairs, and their cares
multiply, they may be excused if they neglect their souls; but we are the more concerned to look
to our souls, that, though the outward man perish, the inward man may suffer no damage. The
redemption of the soul is so precious, that it must have ceased for ever, if Christ had not undertaken
it. Having relied on God's mercy, he will be glad and rejoice in it. God looks upon our souls, when
we are in trouble, to see whether they are humbled for sin, and made better by the affliction. Every
believer will meet with such dangers and deliverances, until he is delivered from death, his last
enemy.
Verses 9–18
David's troubles made him a man of sorrows. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was acquainted
with grief. David acknowledged that his afflictions were merited by his own sins, but Christ suffered
for ours. David's friends durst not give him any assistance. Let us not think it strange if thus deserted,
but make sure of a Friend in heaven who will not fail. God will be sure to order and dispose all for
the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand. The time of life is in God's hands,
to lengthen or shorten, make bitter or sweet, according to the counsel of his will. The way of man
is not in himself, nor in our friend's hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's. In this faith and
confidence he prays that the Lord would save him for his mercies's sake, and not for any merit of
his own. He prophesies the silencing of those that reproach and speak evil of the people of God.
There is a day coming, when the Lord will execute judgment upon them. In the mean time, we
should engage ourselves by well-doing, if possible, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Verses 19–24
Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under our troubles, we should turn our thoughts
to the goodness of the Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. All comes to sinners through
the wondrous gift of the only-begotten Son of God, to be the atonement for their sins. Let not any
yield to unbelief, or think, under discouraging circumstances, that they are cut off from before the
eyes of the Lord, and left to the pride of men. Lord, pardon our complaints and fears; increase our
faith, patience, love, and gratitude; teach us to rejoice in tribulation and in hope. The deliverance
of Christ, with the destruction of his enemies, ought to strengthen and comfort the hearts of believers
under all their afflictions here below, that having suffered courageously with their Master, they
may triumphantly enter into his joy and glory.