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I. EXPERIENCE.

1. David had experienced Divine help. The Roman used to speak of Deus ex machina; God appearing in an unexpected manner in the midst of a history to rescue the hero, and change the scene. This is no figure of speech in the life of faith. Every now and then we have witnessed a distinct interposition, a stretching out of the Divine hand, an inroad of the supernatural. To us has it been true, "He bowed the heavens also, and came down." Others might think our experience fanatical, if we were to tell it as we see it; but this we cannot help. To us it has been a real manifestation of the Divine thoughtfulness on our behalf. Looking back upon our lives, we cannot help saying deliberately, and as cool statement of fact — The Lord has been our help.

2. David had often experienced this help. He does not make this statement in reference to one solitary incident in his life, or he would have said, "Thou wast once my help"; but he sees a continuity in the lovingkindness of the Lord his God. He means, "Thou hast all along been my help." In doing his duty as patriot and king, God was his help, and enabled him to walk uprightly in his government. In his sufferings the Lord was his help, and enabled him to be calm and brave. In the time of danger God was his help, and kept him from the hand of the enemy. And now, in this psalm, though David is in the wilderness of Judah, and probably hunted by his own son, yet he sings unto the Lord, "Thou hast been my help." I do not want you to stop with David any longer. I beg you, now, to come nearer home, and review your own lives.

3. These helps rendered to David had been very choice ones. He had often been helped in special ways. God had taken great care of him. He was the favourite of Providence, and the darling of Heaven. Has it not been so with some of you? Have you not enjoyed choice morsels of experience? Are there not incidents in your life which you could scarcely tell, lest the hearer should smile at your credulity?

4. God's help has also been continuous to us. In the time of our darkness we could not see the link; but, looking back, we can see it now.

5. Observe also that the Lord has granted us educative mercy. David says, "Because Thou hast been my help." He says not, that He has wrought everything for us, but He has set us working also. You see, if you do a thing for a man, it is well; but if you help him to do it, it may be better for him, for thus he learns the way.

II. EXPECTATION.

1. What we have experienced of God's goodness is a revelation of Himself: God's actions are Himself in motion. If, then, we have experienced God's power, He is powerful; and we know that anything is possible to Him. If I have experienced His acts of faithfulness, I conclude that He is always faithful, and that He will keep His promise and His covenant, and will be true to all those who trust in Him.

2. This reasoning is good, since you have to do with an unchanging God. If you have changeable man to deal with, there will be no logic in your reasoning; but when you think of Jehovah who changeth not, then you may infer great things, and the severest logic will support you. He was my help, He is my help, and therefore He will be my help, even to the end.

3. This kind of argument is very sure to a man's own self, and he is the person most concerned. We know whom we have believed, and we are persuaded that He will not fail us. We know what we do know; and if we cannot tell it to others, we are none the less sure of it ourselves.

4. It is clear that this is an accumulating argument. The young man who has known the Lord twelve months, and experienced a great deliverance, is sure that the Lord is to be trusted. But when he has passed twenty, thirty, or forty years of the same experience, his assurance will be doubly sure. To a believer in Christ every day teems with providences and mercies. This tree beareth its fruit every month, and the fruit feeds faith wondrously.

III. ASSURANCE.

1. Contented assurance. David, grateful for past help, holds himself still, and happily awaits the purpose of the Lord. He manifests no fear, no fret, no hurry, no worry. Neither does be cast his eyes towards man. "Thou hast been my help," saith he; and he looks that way.

2. Patient assurance. It is not ours to hasten the Divine vengeance, nor to wish for a personal triumph; but it is ours to feel the bliss of safety in nearness to God.

3. The assurance of faith. "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore" — what? "In the light of Thy countenance will I rejoice"? No: he had then but little light; he was "in the shadow." The wilderness cut him off from beholding God in the sanctuary. If you cannot see the face of God, His shadow may give you peace. Lord, I will pray to Thee to lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me; but if Thou dost continue to hide Thyself, I will still trust Thee, and be sure that Thou art the same God of grace. Knowing that Thy shadow is full of defence for me, I will rejoice therein.

4. Continued assurance. We read not, in the shadow of Thy wings have I rejoiced, but, "I will rejoice." He is rejoicing, and means to go on rejoicing. His joy no man taketh from him. He will rejoice so long as he has a God to rejoice in.

5. The best of all is, this is rejoicing assurance. The text does not say "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I trust," but, "in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice." That is going further than silent submission, or humble trust. David is in the dark; but, like the nightingale, he sings in it.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

WEB: For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.