Psalms 36:10

DISCOURSE: 563
GOD’S CONTINUED CARE IMPLORED

Psalms 36:10. O continue thou thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart!

DAVID, in all his troubles, “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” He was in great trouble at the time he wrote this psalm; but whether from the persecutions of Saul, or the rebellion of Absalom, is not certain. But his views of the Deity were exceeding grand: “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” To this God he commits his cause; and, in behalf of himself and all his persecuted associates, prays, “O continue thou thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee, and thy righteousness unto the upright in heart!” The same petition will every faithful minister urge in behalf of himself and his people, under a full assurance that “all their fresh springs are in God [Note: Psalms 87:7.];” and that God himself, if ever they be saved at all, must “work all their works in them [Note: Isaiah 26:12.].” In this view, I will endeavour to shew you,

I. What need we all have of the blessing here implored—

The term “righteousness,” in the Old Testament, is of very extensive meaning. In my text it imports “goodness,” and, as joined with “loving-kindness,” must be understood to mean, a continuance of God’s tender and watchful care even to the end. And
Of this, all, whatever be their attainments, stand in need—
[Of the ignorant and ungodly I am not at present called to speak; but rather of “those who know God, and are upright before him.” Now all of these, without any exception, “offend God in many things,” and, “if God were extreme to mark what is done amiss, must perish.” From gross and wilful transgressions they may be free: but “who can say, His heart is clean?” How many sins are committed there, which no eye but God’s beholds! — — — But, waving sins of commission, how greatly do we offend in a way of omission! See how “exceeding broad are the demands of God’s Law.” Our duties to God, our neighbour, and ourselves, who can be said perfectly to know them all; and much less to do them — — — But, waving these also, let us mark only our sins of defect. Be it so: We do really love God: but do we love him “with all our heart, and all our mind, and all our soul, and all our strength?” We love our neighbour, too: but do we love him with the same intenseness, and constancy, and activity “as ourselves?” We believe in Christ also: but is our habit of dependence on him, and communion with him, like that of “a branch united to the vine?” We devote ourselves to his service: but are all our faculties and powers, both of mind and body, put forth into action, as if we were running a race, or fighting for our lives? Let us look at our very best services, whether in public or in private; our prayers, for instance: Are our confessions accompanied with that brokenness of heart which we ought to feel? or our petitions urged with that importunity which God requires? or our thanksgivings presented with that ardent gratitude which God’s mercies, and especially the great blessings of redemption, call for at our hands? I must say, that the grossest iniquities of the ungodly do not, in my apprehension, more strongly mark our alienation from God, than do the very prayers and praises of the godly; so exceeding cold are they, and unsuited to our state as redeemed sinners.

We need, therefore, the continuance of God’s tender mercies to us yet daily, as much as ever we did in our carnal and unregenerate state.]
And what should we do, if God should withdraw his loving-kindness from us?
[What would our “knowledge of God” avail us, or even our own “integrity?” Satan prevailed over our first parents, even in Paradise: how, then, could we withstand his power, if God should deliver us up into his hands? In point of knowledge and integrity, David was as eminent as any of the Scripture saints: yet you all know how he felt, when once he was left to the workings of his own heart. Hezekiah was perhaps not inferior to him: yet, when “God left him, to try him, that he might see all that was in his heart,” he also fell, and brought upon himself and his posterity the sorest judgments [Note: 2 Chronicles 32:31.]. Who then amongst us could hope to stand, if God should withhold his loving-kindness from us, or suspend for a moment the communications of his grace?

We need, then, all of us to entreat of God to “continue his loving-kindness to us,” or, as it is translated in the margin of our Bibles, to “draw it out at length.” You all know how a rope, or line, or thread, is formed, by adding fresh materials continually, till it shall have attained its destined length. In reference to this, the prophet represents the ungodly as “drawing out iniquity as cords of vanity, and sin as a cart-rope [Note: See Isaiah 5:18. with Bishop Lowth’s note upon it.],” that is, by constant additions even to their dying hour. And precisely thus we need, that God, who has begun a good work in us, should carry it on even to the end, by drawing out, and imparting to us, such communications of his grace as our necessities require, till we have attained that measure which in his eternal counsels he has ordained, and we be fully “meet for our Master’s use.”]

Seeing, then, that we all need this blessing, let me shew you,

II.

On what grounds all “who know God, and are upright before him,” are authorized to expect it—

The petition in my text was offered under a full assurance that it should be granted: for he had scarcely uttered it before he saw, by faith, the answer given: “There,” says he, “are the workers of iniquity fallen; they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.” And we also may expect that it shall be answered to all who offer it in faith. We may expect God’s continued care, since it is assured to us,

1. By the promises of God—

[Numberless are the promises which God has made to us respecting the continuance of his love towards all whom, according to his sovereign will, he has chosen to be the objects of it. David, in another psalm, says, “The Lord will not cast off his People, neither will he forsake his inheritance [Note: Psalms 94:14.].” And again, “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him; and his righteousness unto children’s children, to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them [Note: Psalms 103:17.].” In fact, the whole Scripture testifies that God will perfect that which concerneth his people [Note: Psalms 138:8.]; and that, having loved them, he will love them to the end [Note: John 13:1.]. Taking, therefore, these promises, we may spread them before the Lord, in full assurance that they shall be fulfilled; and in the language of David may say to God, “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness [Note: Psalms 143:1.]!”]

2. By the intercession of Christ—

[St. John has said, “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins [Note: 1 John 2:1.].” Yes, were it not that the Lord Jesus Christ lives to intercede for us in heaven, it could not be but that God’s displeasure must break forth against us on ten thousand occasions: but he prevails for us, as Aaron prevailed for Israel of old, through his unwearied intercessions. To this Peter was indebted, when he denied his Lord with oaths and curses. Had not our blessed Lord interceded for him, that his faith might not fail, he, in all probability, would have perished as Judas did [Note: Luke 22:31.]. In this view, a greater stress is laid on the intercession of Christ than even on his death: “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ who died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right-hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us [Note: Romans 8:34.].” And we are encouraged to believe that “Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us [Note: Hebrews 7:25.].” Put then your cause into the Saviour’s hands; and beg of him to “pray the Father for you [Note: John 14:16.],” and you cannot but succeed: “for him the Father heareth always [Note: John 11:42.].”]

3. By the honour of God himself—

[God from all eternity entered into covenant with his dear Son in our behalf, engaging, that “if he should make his soul an offering for sin, he should see a seed, and should prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hands [Note: Isaiah 53:10.].” This covenant our blessed Lord has fulfilled on his part, having taken our nature, and “borne our sins in his own body on the tree.” And whilst yet he was upon earth, he made this a ground of his petitions, and a ground also of his expectations, in behalf of his people: “I pray for them,” says he: “I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine: and all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world: but these are in the world; and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Whilst I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that.thou gavest me have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things speak I in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil [Note: John 17:9.].” Then he adds, what insures to us the completion of his desires, “Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me [Note: John 17:24.].” Now I ask, Is not here abundant ground to expect God’s continued care of his people? May we not from hence “be confident, that He who hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ [Note: Philippians 1:6.]?” Yes, surely: and therefore when David, under the influence of unbelief, had entertained a fear, “Will the Lord cast off for ever? will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?” he corrected himself, and with conscious shame exclaimed, “This is my infirmity [Note: Psalms 77:7.].” We may be sure that God’s covenant shall stand. In the 89th Psalm it is declared, again, and again, and again, in terms the most express that can be imagined [Note: Psalms 89:28.] — — — and therefore we may be assured that for his own name and honour sake “he will keep his people by his own power through faith unto salvation [Note: 1 Peter 1:5.]:” as it was said by Samuel, “The Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it hath pleased him to make you his people [Note: 1 Samuel 12:22.].” “He is a God that changeth not; and therefore we neither are, nor shall be, consumed [Note: Malachi 3:6.].” We shall be living witnesses for him to all eternity, that “his gifts and calling are without repentance [Note: Romans 11:29.].”]

Application—
1.

Seek to answer to the character here described—

[If you “know not God,” you can have no claim upon him: nor, “unless you be upright in heart,” have you any reason to hope that he will ever look upon you with satisfaction. You must “have your hearts right with God,” if ever you would be approved of God. Seek, then, to know God as reconciled to you in Christ Jesus — — — and beg of him so to “put truth in your inward parts,” that he may acknowledge and commend you as “Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile.”]

2. Implore of God the blessing you so greatly need—

[You need it, all of you, and will need it to your dying hour. It is from God that you have received all that you possess. Never would you have known him, if he had not opened the eyes of your understanding, and revealed himself to you [Note: Compare Galatians 4:9. with Philippians 3:12.]. And never would your heart have been upright before him, if he, of his own sovereign grace, had not “given you a new heart, and renewed a right spirit within you.” It is to Him, then, you must look to carry on the work within you. “No hands but His, who laid the foundation of his spiritual temple within you, can ever finish it [Note: Zechariah 4:9.].” “He alone who has been the author of your faith, can ever complete it [Note: Hebrews 12:2.].”]

3. Whilst you seek this blessing for yourselves, implore it earnestly for others also—

[So did David, under all his trials; and so should you. It is our privilege and our duty to intercede one for another; parents for their children, and children for their parents; ministers for their people, and people for their ministers. And, O! what happiness should we enjoy in our respective families, and in the Church of God, if we were all partakers of these blessings! It is said, in the very words before my text, “With thee is the fountain of life; and in Thy light shall we see light:” and no doubt, in proportion as the blessings of salvation flow down into our souls, we shall be blessed in ourselves, and blessings to all around us.]