This psalm reviews Israel’s history of failure and God’s patience with man. But first hear
- The Psalmist’s Call: Praise, vv. 1, 2. First comes a call to thanksgiving, praise and worship. Those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious can never praise Him enough. Thanksgiving shows an appreciation of what God has done for us. Worship expresses appreciation of what God is in Himself. There is an element of wonder in the words, “Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can show forth all his praise?”, v. 2. This is the spirit of worship. Men will worship the future last world emperor much as they worshipped Nebuchadnezzar, Rev. 13. 4. But God alone, Jehovah, is incomparable. Thus Moses, when saved from the Egyptian army, worshipped, saying, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”, Exod. 15. 11.
- The Counsel: Do Right, v. 3. Both saint and sinner need reminding that the righteous Lord loves righteousness and hates iniquity. Doing right does not come naturally to fallen man. But God insists on just dealings “at all times”, in the family, in business, and in the church.
- The Cry: Save Me, vv. 4, 5. This cry is not only for personal salvation, but for others too. Israel is recognized as a nation in which God had a special interest because of His promise to Abraham. It was His peculiar possession in a rebellious world. Moses said long before, “the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance”, Deut. 32. 9. Should not we also appeal to God, not only for ourselves, but for our local church testimony? The seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1-3 are all viewed as golden lampstands, but what a feeble light some emitted!
- The Confession, vv. 6, 7. Now comes an unreserved confession of sin, not merely the psalmist’s but that of the nation. Like Daniel, he humbly associated himself with his wayward brethren, “We have sinned”. The man who walks with God never feels himself superior to his brethren. He is too keenly aware of his own failures for that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”, 1 John 1. 9.
