Psalm 130:1-8 Out of the depths have I cried to you, O LORD.… I. THE CHILDREN OF GOD DO FALL INTO DEPTHS. In this plight we find David often, though a man after God's own heart (Psalm 6:2, 3; Psalm 88:2, etc.; 40:12; and Jonah, a prophet, Jonah 2:2, etc.; and Hezekiah, Isaiah 38:13; and Job especially, Job 6:4). But why is this thus, seeing our Head, Christ Jesus, hath suffered for us? 1. That we may know what Christ suffered for us by our own experience, without which we should but lightly esteem of our redemption, not knowing how to value Christ's sufferings sufficiently, which is a horrible sin (Hebrews 2:3). 2. By our sufferings we know what a bitter thing sin is. 3. By our afflictions and depths we manifest God's power and glory the more in our deliverance: for the greater the trouble is, the greater is the deliverance; as the greater the cure is, the greater credit the physician gets. 4. Many times, by less evils, it is God's manner to cure greater; and thus He suffers us to feel wrath, to cure us of security, which is as a grave to the soul; as also to cure spiritual pride, that robs us of grace (2 Corinthians 12:7). 5. These depths are left to us to make us more desirous of heaven; else great men, that are compassed about with earthly comforts, alas, with what zeal could they pray, "Thy kingdom come," etc.? No; with Peter they would rather say, "Master, it is good for us to be here" (Mark 9:5). 6. God works by these afflictions in us a more gentleness of spirit, making us meek and pitiful towards those that are in depths, which was one cause of Christ's afflictions: He suffered that He might help and comfort others. He suffered Peter to stumble, that, when he was converted, he should "strengthen his brethren" (Luke 22:32). II. THOUGH CHRISTIANS FALL INTO DEPTHS, YET GOD UPHOLDS THEM THAT THEY SINK NOT DOWN INTO THEM WITHOUT RECOVERY. 1. For the Spirit of God is in them, and where it is it is stronger than hell, yea, though the grace be but as a grain of mustard seed. 2. As there are depths of misery in a Christian, so in God there are depths of love and of wisdom. 3. Faith, where it is, unites the soul to Christ, and to God through Him, and draws down Divine power — to lay hold on the almighty power of God by true and fervent prayer, — at whose rebuke the waters of affliction flee away (Psalm 77:16); and so the stronger the faith is, the stronger is the delivery, for it is of a mighty power, enabling us to wrestle with God, as Jacob did. Thus when we lay hold on God, and God on us, what can drown us? 4. It is the nature of God's working to be by contraries: in His works of creation, making all things of nothing; in His works of providence He saves by little means from greatest dangers. III. AFFLICTIONS STIR UP DEVOTIONS. 1. Let us interpret God's dealings with a sanctified judgment. He is a wise physician, and knows when strong or gentle physic is most requisite. Sometimes God by great afflictions doth manifest great graces, but so as notwithstanding they may be mingled with a deal of corruption; and it is God's use that hereby His graces may be increased, and the corruption allayed, to bring down the greatest cedars, and to eclipse the greatest lights. 2. Let us oppose desperations by all means, by prayer, by crying; and if we cannot speak, by sighing; if not so, yet by gesture, especially at the time of death, for God knows the heart. For then it stands upon eternal comfort. And therefore let us do anything to show our faith fails not. We must know that every one shall meet with these enemies, that would cause us to despair if they could, for this life is a warring and striving life. We shall have enemies without and within us that will fight against us. IV. OBSERVE BY THE EXAMPLE OF THIS HOLY MAN THAT PRAYERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY TO GOD, who knows our wants, supports us and binds us up; and it is only Christ that doth this. None can love us more than He that gave Himself for us. He is our eye whereby we see, our mouth whereby we speak, our arms whereby we lay hold on God; and therefore it is an intolerable unthankfulness to leave this "fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and to dig to ourselves cisterns that will hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13). ( Sibbes, Richard.) Parallel Verses KJV: {A Song of degrees.} Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. |
    |