Psalm 119:50

Gospel comforts are, first, unutterable comforts, 1 Peter 1:8 ; Philippians 4:4 . Secondly, they are real, John 14:27 ; all others are but seeming comforts, but painted comforts. Thirdly, they are holy comforts, Isaiah 64:5 Psalms 138:5 ; they flow from a Holy Spirit, and nothing can come from the Holy Spirit but that which is holy. Fourthly, they are the greatest and strongest comforts, Ephesians 6:17 . Few heads and hearts are able to bear them, as few heads are able to bear strong wines. Fifthly, they reach to the inward man, to the soul, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 , the noble part of man. "My soul rejoiceth in God my Saviour." Our other comforts only reach the face; they sink not so deep as the heart. Sixthly, they are the most soul filling and soul satisfying comforts, Psalms 16:11 Song of Solomon 4:3 . Other comforts cannot reach the soul, and therefore they cannot fill nor satisfy the soul. Seventhly, they comfort in saddest distresses, in the darkest night, and in the most stormy day, Psalms 94:19 Hebrews 3:7-8 . Eighthly, they are everlasting, 2 Thessalonians 2:16 . The joy of the wicked is but as a glass, bright and brittle, and evermore in danger of breaking; but the joy of the saints is lasting. --Thomas Brooks.

Verse 50. -- Thy word hath quickened me. It is a reviving comfort which quickeneth the soul. Many times we seem to be dead to all spiritual operations, our affections are damped and discouraged; but the word of God puts life into the dead, and relieveth us in our greatest distresses. Sorrow worketh death, but joy is the life of the soul. Now, when dead in all sense and feeling, "the just shall live by faith" ( Hebrews 4:4 ), and the hope wrought in us by the Scriptures is "a lively hope" ( 1 Peter 1:8 ). Other things skin the wound but our sore breaketh out again, and runneth; faith penetrates into the inwards of a man, doth good to the heart; and the soul revives by waiting upon God, and gets life and strength. -- Thomas Manton.

Verse 50. -- Thy word hath quickened me. Here, as is evident from the mention of "affliction" -- and indeed throughout the psalm -- the verb "quicken" is used not merely in an external sense of "preservation from death" (Hupfeld), but of "reviving the heart," "imparting fresh courage," etc. --J.J. Stewart Perowne.

Verse 50. -- Thy word hath quickened me. It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is good, when. I was backward and averse to it; and it has quickened me in that which is good, when I was cold and indifferent. --Matthew Henry.

Verse 50. -- (Second Clause). Adore God's distinguishing grace, if you have felt the power and authority of the word upon your conscience; if you can say as David, "Thy word hath quickened me." Christian, bless God that he has not only given thee his word to be a rule of holiness, but his grace to be a principle of holiness. Bless God that he has not only written his word, but sealed it upon thy heart, and made it effectual. Canst thou say it is of divine inspiration, because thou hast felt it to be of lively operation? Oh free grace! That God should send out his word, and heal thee; that he should heal thee and not others! That the Same Scripture which to them is a dead letter, should be to thee a savour of life. -- Thomas Watson.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 50. -- Each man has his own affliction and his own consolation. Quickened piety the best comfort. The word the means of it.

Verse 50. --