Psalm 119: 167 - My soul keeps your testimonies,
and I love them exceedingly
Let not our consciousness of daily failures make
us shrink from this strong expression of confidence. It is alleged as an
evidence of grace, not as a claim of merit, and therefore the most humble
believer need not hesitate to adopt it as the expression of Christian sincerity
before God. David aspired to no higher character than that of a poor sinner:
but he was conscious of spirituality of obedience, "exceeding love"
to the divine word, and an habitual walk under the eye of his God— the
evidences of a heart (often mentioned in the Old Testament) "perfect with
him."
Charles Bridges, quoted in Charles Spurgeon's The Treasury of David.
Bridges (1794-1869)was a preacher and theologian in the Church of England, and a leader of that denomination's Evangelical Party. As a preacher he was well regarded by his contemporaries, but is remembered today for his literary contributions. He also wrote an exposition on Psalm 119, when he was only 33. The book went through twenty-four editions before his death, is still available and is somewhat shorter - at 534 pages - than Spurgeon's massive tome.
From the additional notes to Charles Spurgeon's The Treasury of David, on
Psalm 119 verse 43.
Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.
Sometimes we are
afraid to speak for the Saviour, lest we should incur the charge of hypocrisy.
At other times we are ashamed to speak, from the absence of that only
constraining principle— "the love of Christ." And thus "the
word of truth is taken out of our mouths." Often have we wanted a
word to speak for the relief of the Lord's tempted people, and have not been
able to find it; so that the recollection of precious lost opportunities may
well give utterance to the prayer— "Take
not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth." Not
only do not take it out of my heart; but let it be ready in my mouth for a
confession of my Master. Some of us know the painful trial of the indulgence of
worldly habits and conversation, when a want of liberty of spirit has hindered
us from standing up boldly for our God. We may perhaps allege the plea of
bashfulness or judicious caution in excuse for silence; which however, in many
instances, we must regard as a self deceptive covering for the real cause of
restraint— the want of apprehension of the mercy of God to the soul. Charles Bridges.
Among other works, Bridges wrote a very popular commentary on Psalm 119, which
went through twenty-four editions in his lifetime alone....
