Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him… I. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 1. Grief gathered to a head will not be quieted at the first. What bustling there is here before David can get the victory over his own heart. 2. A gracious and living soul is most sensible of the want of spiritual means. 3. A godly soul, by reason of the grace given it, knows when it is well with it and when it is ill, when a good day and when a bad. Now, our text tells us of David's state wherein he was, and of his carriage in that state. He was much cast down, but he bids himself trust in God. Now, God's people are often cast down. II. THE DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH COME TO GOD'S PEOPLE FROM WITHOUT. 1. God Himself. He sometimes hides His face from them (Matthew 27:46). It is with the godly in this case as with vapours drawn up by the sun, which, when the extracting force of the sun leaves them, fall down again to the earth. So when the soul raised up by the beams of God's countenance is left of God, it presently begins to sink. 2. By Satan. He is all for this; being disquieted himself, he would disquiet others. 3. By Satan's instruments and servants. Hear them (Psalm 137:7). 4. By ourselves. There is a seminary of causes of discouragement within us. Our flesh is one of them. III. THOSE THAT ARE FROM WITHIN. There is cause oft in the body of those in whom a melancholy temper prevaileth. But in the soul, too, there are causes of discouragement. 1. Want of knowledge in the understanding. 2. Forgetfulness (Hebrews 12:5). 3. Underrating our comforts (Job 15:11). 4. A childish kind of peevishness. Abraham (Genesis 15:2; Jonah 4:9; Jeremiah 31:15). 5. False reasoning and error in our discourse. Many imagine their failings to be failings, and their fallings to be fallings away. 6. Proceeding by a false method and order in judging of their estate. They will begin with election, which is not the first, but the highest step of the ladder. God descends down unto us from election to calling, and so to sanctification: we must ascend to Him, beginning where He ends. 7. Seeking for their comfort too much in sanctification, neglecting justification, relying too much upon their own performances. This is a natural kind of popery in men. St. Paul was of another mind (Philippians 3:8, 9). Still, though the main pillar of our comfort be in the free forgiveness of our sins, yet, if there be a neglect in growing in holiness, the soul will never be soundly quiet. Sin ever raises doubts and fears. 8. The neglect of keeping a clear conscience. 9. Ignorance of Christian liberty, by unnecessary scruples and doubts. 10. Want of employment. An unemployed life is a burden to itself. 11. Omission of duties and offices of love to them to whom they are due. 12. Want of firm resolution in good things. Halting is a deformed and troublesome gesture, and halting in religion is full of disquiet (1 Kings 18:21). God will not speak peace to a staggering spirit that hath always its religion and its way to choose. IV. BUT THERE ARE POSITIVE CAUSES AS WELL AS NEGATIVE ONES. 1. When men lay up their comfort too much on outward things. These are ever changing, and to build our hopes upon them is to build castles in the air. Micah is right (Micah 2:10). 2. When we depend too much upon the opinions of other men. Men that seek themselves too much abroad find themselves disquieted at home. 3. When we look too much and too long upon the ill in ourselves and abroad. Now, learn from all this not to be too hasty in censuring others when they are cast down, for there are so many things which cast men down; and to prepare our hearts for trouble, so that when it comes we be not cast down. V. CASTING DOWN OURSELVES CAUSES MANY EVILS. 1. It indisposes a man to all good duties. 2. It is a great wrong to God Himself. 3. It makes a man forgetful of all his former blessings, and — 4. Unfit to receive mercies. Till the Spirit of God meekens the soul, say what you will, it minds nothing. 5. It keeps off beginners from coming in. Hence, we should all labour after a calmed spirit. VI. REMEDIES. 1. To do, as here, cite the soul before itself, and, as it were, to reason the case. God hath set up a court in man's heart, the court of conscience, and its prejudging will prevent future judging. But evil men love not this court; they are afraid of it (1 Kings 22:16; Acts 24:25). Self-love, indolence, pride, are all against it. 2. And we must not merely cite the soul before itself; but it must be pressed to give an account, and if that will not help, then speak to Jesus Christ by prayer, that as He stilled the waves, so He would quiet our hearts. 3. A godly man can cast a restraint upon himself, as David here does. There is an art in bearing troubles as in bearing burdens, and we should seek to learn it. 4. We see here again that a godly man can make good use of privacy. When be is forced to be alone he can talk with his God and himself. The wicked dread being alone. Illustration — Charles IX. of France after the massacre of St. Bartholomew's day. 5. God hath made every man a governor over himself. ( Sibbes, Richard.) Parallel Verses KJV: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. |
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