As a few of you know, I love, love, LOVE Psalm 119. I thought it would be great to spend a summer focusing on that psalm and what others have had to say about it. I'll begin with Thomas Manton's Exposition of Psalm 119. It may take all summer to read all 158 sermons. But they're so GOOD, so RICH, I think it will be worth it.Sermon 27 (Psalm 119:26)
- As a sick patient will tell the physician how it is with him, so should we deal with God if we would find mercy. This declaring his ways may be looked upon— 1. As an act of faith and dependence. 2. As an act of holy friendship. 3. As an act of spiritual contrition and brokenness of heart; for this declaring must be explained according to the sense of the object of what David means by this expression, My ways.’
- It is a piece of religious manners to begin every business with God; to go to God, Lord, shall I do so, or shall I not? to desire him that is Lord of all to give us leave; who is the fountain of wisdom, to give us counsel; and the disposer of all events, to give us a blessing.
- This is holy friendship, to acquaint God with our doubts, wants, griefs, and fears; and we may do it with more confidence, because we go to him in Christ’s name: John xvi. 23, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, it shall be granted unto you.’ It is no fiction or strain, but a real truth. Will Christ deceive us when he saith, Verily? And then whatsoever you ask? You have liberty to go to God for the removal of any fear, the granting any regular desire, or for satisfying any doubt: Whatsoever you ask the Father in my name.’ Our prayers by this means are Christ’s request as well as ours.
- If you would not have your trouble and anxious thoughts continued upon you, go open yourselves to God, declare your ways: Ps. 32:5, I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.’
- It is no profit to cover our sins, for either Satan will declare them, or God find us out, and enter into judgment with us.
- To tell God all our mind notes freedom and familiarity; not such as is bold, rude, nor a dress of words; but such as is grave, serious, proceeding from an inward sense of God, and hope of his mercy: 1 John 3:21, If our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God;’ then we can deal with him as one friend with another, and acquaint him with all our griefs and wants.
- The more particularly we pry into our estate, the more we are affected, and the more we shall see of the deceitfulness of our own hearts:
- It will be of great advantage in the spiritual life to declare often our whole estate to God; for the more men know themselves the more they mind God and their heavenly calling.
- Let us clearly and openly declare our condition to the Lord, our griefs and sorrows, and so our sins.
- We love his benefits more than we love God, when we delight in him only when he doth us good. But when we can delight in him even when our desires are delayed, and nothing appears but tokens of God’s displeasure, this is delight indeed.
- God will have the soul more stretched out when he means to fill it up with grace.
- Answers of prayer are an argument against atheism, which is so natural to us, and inbred in our hearts;
- I AM is God’s name; not I was, or will be; for ever remaining in the same constant tenor of goodness and power. His providence is still new and fresh every morning. God is but one, always like himself.
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
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