He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave
to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly
enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world.
By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his
providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his
way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being
ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt.
Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want.
God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that
will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan,
and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.
Verses 34–40
Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to
him. What a striking picture is in ver. #(35, 36), of many a prosperous enemy of God! But God
remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect
in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy,
his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet
his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing.
He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well,
and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then
depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through
Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore
in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's
mercy.
Chapter 38
Chapter Outline
God's displeasure at sin. (1–11)
The psalmist's sufferings and prayers. (12–22)Verses 1–11
Nothing will disquiet the heart of a good man so much as the sense of God's anger. The way
to keep the heart quiet, is to keep ourselves in the love of God. But a sense of guilt is too heavy to
bear; and would sink men into despair and ruin, unless removed by the pardoning mercy of God.
If there were not sin in our souls, there would be no pain in our bones, no illness in our bodies. The
guilt of sin is a burden to the whole creation, which groans under it. It will be a burden to the sinners
themselves, when they are heavy-laden under it, or a burden of ruin, when it sinks them to hell.