---

I. BEFORE PARTAKING. It was David's wont, when in distress and ready to doubt whether he had really dedicated himself to God, to remind himself of the solemn transactions which had passed between him and God.

1. Let us consider the meaning and import of these words. He acknowledges God's property in him, and claim upon him. And that he desires to be the Lord's; that he prefers God to all else. He had chosen and acknowledged God as his God. And now, in distress, he repeats all this.

2. Let us remember what professions we have made. It is reasonable that we should; for we are in danger of forgetting. The world wears out the memory of them; and our afflictions tempt us to doubt that Jehovah is our Lord. Therefore it is good to renew our covenant. And it will help us to be more sensible of our duty, and will animate us under every suffering. And as we thus renew our vows we shall see such excellence in them as will engage us to fulfil them with diligence.

3. And there is no more fit time for this than at the Lord's table. We commemorate the everlasting covenant. We profess our faith in Christ's sacrifice. By His blood, which the wine represents, we are brought nigh to God and admitted into endearing relation to Him. Therefore let us, etc.

II. AFTER PARTAKING. Let us take review of what we have done, and each adopt the language of David, "O my soul," etc. This means, "I entirely approve, and give thanks for being inclined to say this." And acknowledge past unworthy behaviour. Failure in love to Him, and in faithfulness. But "I desire that I may not again neglect my duty, that I may not yield to temptation, nor follow the world too eagerly, nor say to it what I had said to the Lord." Are we in affliction? That is a time to repeat the acknowledgment. "Thou hast said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord: in Thee I have all things. Thou canst and wilt support and comfort me; make up my earthly losses, and teach me to glory in tribulation." Finally, do we feel the sentence of death in ourselves? There is no time more proper to repeat the acknowledgment, "Thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord; my God, whom I have sincerely loved and served; to whom I have often committed my soul through Christ; and I would do it again with gratitude, hope and joy, when flesh and heart are failing." Let us thus, in every circumstance of life and death, remember our covenant transactions. If you have sincerely said, and are saying to the Lord, "Thou art my Lord," let this be your comfort, that "He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

(J. Orton.)

---

---

KJV: O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

WEB: My soul, you have said to Yahweh, "You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing."