This
psalm is David's profession of humility, humbly made, with thankfulness to
God for his grace, and not in vain-glory. It is probable enough that (as
most interpreters suggest) David made this protestation in answer to the
calumnies of Saul and his courtiers, who represented David as an ambitious
aspiring man, who, under pretence of a divine appointment, sought the
kingdom, in the pride of his heart. But he appeals to God, that, on the
contrary, I. He aimed at nothing high nor great, ver. 1. II. He was very
easy in every condition which God allotted him (ver. 2); and therefore, III.
He encourages all good people to trust in God as he did, ver. 3. Some have
made it an objection against singing David's psalms that there are many who
cannot say, "My heart is not haughty," &c. It is true there
are; but we may sing it for the same purpose that we read it, to teach and
admonish ourselves, and one another, what we ought to be, with repentance
that we have come short of being so, and humble prayer to God for his grace
to make us so.
A song of degrees of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise
myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely
I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother:
my soul is even as a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in
the LORD
from henceforth and for ever.
Here are two things which will be comforts to us:--
I. Consciousness of our integrity. This was David's rejoicing, that his
heart could witness for him that he had walked humbly with his God,
notwithstanding the censures he was under and the temptations he was in.
1. He aimed not at a high condition, nor was he desirous of making a figure
in the world, but, if God had so ordered, could have been well content to
spend all his days, as he did in the beginning of them, in the sheep-folds.
His own brother, in a passion, charged him with pride (1 Sam. xvii. 28), but
the charge was groundless and unjust. God, who searches the heart, knew,
(1.) That he had no conceited opinion of himself, or his own merits: Lord,
my heart is not haughty. Humble saints cannot think so well of
themselves as others think of them, are not in love with their own shadow,
nor do they magnify their own attainments or achievements. The love of God
reigning in the heart will subdue all inordinate self-love. (2.) That he had
neither a scornful nor an aspiring look: "My eyes are not lofty,
either to look with envy upon those that are above me or to look with
disdain upon those that are below me." Where there is a proud heart
there is commonly a proud look (Prov. vi. 17), but the humble publican will
not so much as lift up his eyes. (3.) That he did not employ himself in
things above his station, in things too great or too high for him. He
did not employ himself in studies too high; he made God's word his
meditation, and did not amuse himself with matters of nice speculation or
doubtful disputation, or covet to be wise above what is written. To know God
and our duty is learning sufficiently high for us. He did not employ himself
in affairs too great; he followed his ewes, and never set up for a
politician; no, nor for a soldier; for, when his brethren went to the wars,
he staid at home to keep the sheep. It is our wisdom, and will be our
praise, to keep within our sphere, and not to intrude into things which we
have not seen, or meddle with that which does not belong to us. Princes and
scholars must not exercise themselves in matters too great, too high, for
men: and those in a low station, and of ordinary capacities, must not
pretend to that which is out of their reach, and which they were not cut out
for. Those will fall under due shame that affect undue honours.
2. He was well reconciled to every condition that God placed him in (v.
2): I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his
mother. As he had not proudly aimed at the kingdom, so, since God had
appointed him to it, he had not behaved insolently towards any, nor been
restless in his attempts to get the crown before the time set; but, (1.) He
had been as humble as a little child about the age of a weanling, as
manageable and governable, and as far from aiming at high things; as
entirely at God's disposal as the child at the disposal of the mother or
nurse; as far from taking state upon him, though anointed to be king, or
valuing himself upon the prospect of his future advancement, as a child in
the arms. Our Saviour has taught us humility by this comparison (Matt. xviii.
3); we must become as little children. (2.) He had been as
indifferent to the wealth and honour of this world as a child is to the
breast when it is thoroughly weaned from it. I have levelled and quieted
myself (so Dr. Hammond reads it) as a child that is weaned. This
intimates that our hearts are naturally as desirous of worldly things as the
babe is of the breast, and in like manner relish them, cry for them, are
fond of them, play with them, and cannot live without them. But, by the
grace of God, a soul that is sanctified, is weaned from those things.
Providence
puts wormwood upon the breast, and that helps to wean us. The child is
perhaps cross and fretful while it is in the weaning and thinks itself
undone when it has lost the breast. But in a day or two it is forgotten; the
fret is over, and it accommodates itself well enough to a new way of
feeding, cares no longer for milk, but can bear strong meat. Thus does a
gracious soul quiet itself under the loss of that which it loved and
disappointment in that which it hoped for, and is easy whatever happens,
lives, and lives comfortably, upon God and the covenant-grace, when
creatures prove dry breasts. When our condition is not to our mind we must
bring our mind to our condition; and then we are easy to ourselves and all
about us; then our souls are as a weaned child.
II. Confidence in God; and this David recommends to all
Israel
of God, no doubt from his own experience of the benefit of it (v. 3):
Let
Israel
hope in the Lord, and let them continue to do so henceforth and
for ever. Though David could himself wait patiently and quietly for the
crown designed him, yet perhaps Israel, the people whose darling he was,
would be ready to attempt something in favour of him before the time; and
therefore endeavours to quiet them too, and bids them hope in the Lord
that they should see a happy change of the face of affairs in due time. Thus
it is good to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord.
