Psalm 51:18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem. David, as he could not choose but promise thankfulness to God, upon the restoring of him to his ancient state; so, because he knew that his goodness could not reach to the person of God, therefore he could not conceive wherein better to discover it, than in labouring to do others good, by endeavouring their conversion. The talent of mercy which he hoped to receive, he vowed to employ to others' edifying. The Scripture confirms the being of this disposition in all whom God hath truly turned by variety of examples. When Andrew had found Christ he had no rest until he had called Simon. Neither could Philip forbear until he had brought Nathaniel. What haste did the woman of Samaria make to run into the town to call her neighbours! How earnestly did Paul wish that others were in religion, in the knowledge and obedience thereof, like unto him! The jailor's joy was not full till he perceived that his household as well as himself believed upon Christ. When Christ had called Matthew, he invited Christ to his house, and there were a great company of publicans and of others. Can we think they came into Matthew's house without his leave, or that Matthew invited them with any other intent, than that they might get that good by Christ which his soul reaped? This was prophesied of old, that it should be the disposition of those which should be gathered in by the Gospel to the Christian Church; one should provoke and call upon another, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, etc. They which dwell in one city, shall go to another, saying, Up, let us go and pray before the Lord of Hosts. Christ laid it as a task upon Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Indeed, God gives no man any spiritual good for his own private benefit alone, but that he might be a good disposer and steward of the grace of God for others' good. Like as the apostle saith, that God comforted him, that he might comfort others with the same comfort which himself had received. Wheresoever there is true conversion, there is true faith; for, how shall we suppose a man converted in the state of grace who hath no faith? And faith worketh by love; and how can love (which is said to be bountiful) be barren and unfruitful in this special evidence of love, the saving of a soul from death? We would reckon it a barbarous and a cruel act (and well we might) if two men in their travel by the way should fall into a pit, and the other, being by some means rescued thence, should go his way without respect to him that was in the same danger. Is it possible, think ye, that there should be such an heart in a man, in whom God hath wrought a work of grace, that being himself recovered from that pit of destruction, into which we are all plunged by Adam's disobedience, he should not care what became of others that are enwrapped in the same misery? God's children are no niggards, nay, it grieveth them to eat their spiritual morsels alone; when they have received any mercy from God, they are as the vessel whereto Elihu compared himself, which must needs have vent. Come, hearken, said David, and I will tell you what God hath done to my soul. (S. Hieron.) Parallel Verses KJV: Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.WEB: Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. |
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