Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE MERCY OF GOD? Mercy differs from goodness in that it supposes guilt. Without the fall of man there could have been no occasion for his redemption; and without the plan of redemption it does not appear that we could have formed any opinion of the Divine mercy. II. HOW DOES IT REMEDY MAN'S MISERY? The two evils to which man is exposed are sin and death. Yet they differ only as cause and effect. Sin is the distemper, and death the issue of it. Against sin God hath provided by giving us the light of Scripture; against death by the new principle of life infused into the Christian from the time of his baptismal regeneration. III. WHAT IS IT TO TRUST IN THIS MERCY? We cannot do so till we know what we have to fear. But men are insensible of this, because self-satisfied and resting in a mistaken confidence. To trust in God is to renounce all self-confidence, and to rely on the mercy of God. Do not mistake presumption for trust. They who do, think that God's mercy is only to deliver from punishment. It is to deliver from sin. IV. THE JOY AND COMFORT FOLLOWING. "My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation." (A. Jones, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.WEB: But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. |
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