Psalm 22:26

EXPOSITION

Verse 27. The meek shall eat and be satisfied. Mark how the dying Lover of our souls solaces himself with the result of his death. The spiritually poor find a feast in Jesus, they feed upon him to the satisfaction of their hearts, they were famished until he gave himself for them, but now they are filled with royal dainties. The thought of the joy of his people gave comfort to our expiring Lord. Note the characters who partake of the benefit of his passion; "the meek," the humble and lowly. Lord, make us so. Note also the certainty that gospel provisions shall not be wasted, "they shall eat;" and the sure result of such eating, "and be satisfied."

They shall praise the Lord that seek him. For a while they may keep a fast, but their thanksgiving days must and shall come.

Your heart shall live for ever. Your spirits shall not fail through trial, you shall not die of grief, immortal joys shall be your portion. Thus Jesus speaks even from the cross to the troubled seeker. If his dying words are so assuring, what consolation may we not find in the truth that he ever liveth to make intercession for us! They who eat at Jesus' table receive the fulfilment of the promise, "Whosoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever."

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him; your heart shall live for ever. A spiritual banquet is prepared in the church for the "meek" and lowly in heart. The death of Christ was the sacrifice for sin; his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. The poor in spirit feed on this provision, in their hearts by faith, and are satisfied; and thus, whilst they "seek" the Lord, they "praise" him also, and their "hearts" (or souls), are preserved unto eternal life. Practical Illustrations of the "Book of Psalms", 1826.

Verse 26. The meek. Bonaventure engraved this sweet saying of our Lord, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart", in his study. O that this saying was engraved upon all your foreheads, and upon all your hearts! Charles Bradbury.

Verse 26. They shall praise the Lord that seek him; your heart shall live for ever. Now, I would fain know the man that ever went about to form such laws as should bind the hearts of men, or prepare such rewards as should reach the souls and consciences of men! Truly, if any mortal man should make a law that his subjects should love him with all their hearts and souls, and not dare, upon peril of his greatest indignation, to entertain a traitorous thought against his royal person, but presently confess it to him, or else he would be avenged on him, he would deserve to be more laughed at for his pride and folly, than Xerxes for casting his fetters into the Hellespont, to chain the waves into his obedience; or Caligula, that threatened the air, if it durst rain when he was at his pastimes, who durst not himself so much as look into the air when it thundered. Certainly a madhouse would be more fit for such a person than a throne, who should so far forfeit his reason, as to think that the thoughts and hearts of men were within his jurisdiction. William Gurnall.

Verse 26. Your heart, that is, not your outward man, but the hidden man of the heart (Eze 36:26); the new man which is created after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness, shall live for ever. The life which animates it is the life of the Spirit of God. John Stevenson.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 26. Spiritual feasting. The guests, the food, the host, and the satisfaction.

Verse 26. (second clause). Seekers who shall be singers. Who they are? What they shall do? When? and what is the reason for expecting that they shall?