1 Samuel 23:29

REFLECTIONS

READER, let us pause over the perusal of this chapter, if it be for no other purpose than to remark the gracious care of a covenant God over his people; and to observe, that though many be the afflictions of the righteous, yet the Lord delivereth out of them all. But let us further learn from the view of it, how graciously the same merciful Lord supports the trials of his people, and makes their back suited to their burden; that as their day is, so their strength shall be. Surely nothing but the Lord's grace could have been found sufficient to have borne up David's mind under such heavy afflictions. And who, thus supported, but must have been constrained to say as he did; It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes? if trouble, and the malice and persecution of our enemies, be made the means, in the hand of our most wise and gracious God, to bring our hearts to live on him; and if, (as is most probable) without these exercises, our hearts would not be found so closely cleaving to the Lord; oh! who would not wish to be driven out from all creature comfort, that we might experience such sweet and holy enjoyment as David did, in communion with God.

But chiefly, from the perusal of this chapter, let us, Reader, eye Jesus. Was not that precious Lamb of God represented in all David's troubles? Did Saul hunt David from city to city, and from one place to another; and can we forget, how strong bulls of Bashan beset him around, until his strength was poured out like water; and his heart, like wax, was melted in his bowels! Yes! thou dearest Jesus, David's Lord and Son! thou wast exposed to the wrath, both of devils and of wicked men, in the day of thy calamity. Thou didst endure such a contradiction of sinners against thyself; and wast brought under oppression and suffering, until that thy life was made an offering, and a sacrifice for sin. But here, blessed Jesus, in the view of thine unequalled sufferings, may I always connect with it the cause. All this was not for thyself, but thy people. In the midst of all, thou wast holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. And when I see thee in these situations of trial and suffering, and behold thee personating thy people, the heir of all things, and yet not where to lay thine head; the brightness of thy Father's glory, and yet thy visage marred more than any man: the wonder, the praise, the adoration of angels, and yet, as thou saidst thyself, a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and the outcast of the people! Oh! precious, precious Jesus, what love must have enflamed thy heart, that thou shouldest become all this, and infinitely more than this, even sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in thee. Hail! holy Saviour! gracious Lord God, Emmanuel! add one blessing more, and incline every heart to love thee, that every knee may bow before thee, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.