Psalm 86:17 Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because you, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me. At the outset note — 1. How this man in the hour of conflict looks to his Divine protector. Not to men but to God does he cry, And observe — 2. That his troubles drove him to God. Too often they drive men away from God. 3. We look to God along. We may not set up a rival with God in the temple of our trust. What is it that thou wouldst yoke with God? Oh to be cut clear of all visible supports, and props, and holdfasts! You have seen a balloon well filled struggling to rise: what kept it downy What hindered it? The ropes which bound it to earth. Cut clear the ropes, and then see how it mounts! With a spring it leaps upward while we are gazing into the open sky. Oh for such a clearance and such a mounting for our spirits! Alas, we are hindered and hampered, and those bonds which detain us are our visible supports and reliances. "My soul, wait thou only upon God." The Lord bring us into this high state of spiritual emancipation. Now, let us notice the request David puts up. If we are in his state of mind when we put up a like prayer, this asking for a token will do us no harm: otherwise such desire may be very hurtful to us. I. THIS REQUEST FOR A TOKEN. It was to be from God and according to God's will, and asked in faith, not in unbelief. For we have no right to say we will not believe unless God give us a token. We are bound to believe Him whether He gives us a token or not. And tokens that men have had, or thought they had, they have come to question about after a while. Peter, though he had seen our Lord's transfiguration, declares that he had the "more sure word of prophecy." Yet may we ask for tokens in a subordinate sense, when we are willing to believe God without them: we may ask for them as confirmatory signs and seals. Several such are named in this psalm. 1. We may long for answer to prayer (Cf. 5:1, 6). If we have received such answers (and have we not?), we may take them as tokens for good. 2. Then, preservation of character is another token (ver. 2). If amid much trial and temptation we have been able to maintain an unblemished reputation, then you need not envy any among the sons of men. 3. Deliverance in trouble is another such (ver. 2). And there is another form of token which must never be overlooked, and that is — 4. A sense of pardoned sin (vers. 3, 5). Before this all ills disappear. And — 5. Support under trial. If God gives you this, if you are able to say to all God sends you, "Thy will be done," take comfort from that. 6. Cheering visits from Christ, and fresh anointings of the Holy Spirit are also most sure tokens for good. They are implied in vers. 4, 11, 16; and in our text. II. THE RESULT OF SUCH TOKENS. Our enemies are abashed before them, The most malicious adversaries of God's people have stood in awe of them. III. CONCLUSION. What an unhappy state must those be in who have troubles, but have no God to go to: enemies, but no defender; darkness, but no star of hole. Your friends, and, still less, yourself, are to be trusted in such times. What can they do? Oh, seek the Saviour's face. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me. |
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