Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace to his people, and to his saints… We have here a solitary believer introduced, reviewing the dispensations of God, meditating on the prayers and praises already offered to the Divine Majesty, humbly waiting for the result. I. HIS DISPOSITION. He had sought forgiveness, consolation, revival, from the hands of God, both for himself and his people; and now he would watch, wait, attend, expect the Divine direction, and the Divine blessing. 1. It is a patient disposition. I long now for pardon; for the assurance of pardon; for the powerful efficacy of Divine grace, that I may be converted, and sanctified, and enabled to glorify God; but I must wait in the use of the appointed means, till the Lord shall "lift up upon me the light of His countenance." 2. It is an attentive disposition, an expecting, watching frame of mind. God the Lord will speak, and I must be observant of His voice. It may not come in the great and strong wind, nor yet in the earthquake, nor yet in the fire; it may be the "still small voice," the silent intimation of Providence; the gentle moving of the pillar and of the cloud. I must therefore attend and watch, to know what my Master's will is. 3. It is an obedient disposition. It is the disposition which Abraham evinced, when, having heard the most painful precept, he arose early in the morning, and hastened to its fulfilment. It is the temper of the wounded Israelite, who no sooner heard of the brazen serpent, than instead of reasoning or disputing, or prescribing some more excellent way, turned his dying eyes, beheld and lived. II. HIS EXPECTATION. God speaks peace to His people — 1. By enlightening their understanding to perceive the way of peace. God "can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus"; such gracious words as "these descend like the dew or the rain upon a thirsty land. 2. By communicating to the soul the assurance of peace. Believing the declarations of His word; seeing a suitableness and sufficiency in the atonement of Christ, the convinced sinner comes with humble faith pleading His sacrifice and relying on Him. 3. By communicating to them a spirit of peace. Having much forgiven, they love much. III. THE CONCLUDING CAUTION. "Let them not turn," etc. The deceitfulness and depravity of the heart of man appears in nothing more striking than in the backslidings of those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (T. Webster, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. |
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