Psalm 119:52

(c) Opportunity of molesting God's servants is taken away, and they are prevented from afflicting the church by their oppressions; and so way is made for the enlarging of Christ's kingdom.

(d) Thereby also God's justice is manifested: When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: "and when the wicked perish, there is shouting" ( Proverbs 11:10 ); "The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: lo, this is the man that made not God his strength" ( Psalms 52:6-7 ); rejoice over Babylon, "ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her" ( Revelation 18:20 ). When the word of God is fulfilled, surely then we may rejoice that his justice and truth are cleared. --Thomas Mardon.

Verse 52. -- The word "mishphatim", "judgments," is used in Scripture either for laws enacted, or judgments executed according to those laws. The one may be called the judgments of his mouth, as, "Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth"

( Psalms 105:5 ), the other, the judgments of his hand. As both will bear the name of judgments, so both may be said to be "of old." His decrees and statutes which have an eternal equity in them, and were graven upon the heart of man in innocency, may well be said to be of old: and because from the beginning of the world God hath been punishing the wicked, anti delivering the godly in due time, his judiciary dispensations may be said to be so also, The matter is not much, whether we interpret it of either his statutes or decrees, for they both contain matter of comfort, and we may see the ruin of the wicked in the word, if we see it not in providence. Yet I rather interpret it of those righteous acts recorded in Scripture, which God as a just judge hath executed in all ages, according to the promises and threaten this annexed to his laws. Only in that sense I must note to you, judgments imply his mercies in the deliverance of his righteous servants, as well as his punishments on the wicked: the seasonable interpositions of his relief for the one in their greatest distresses, as well as his just vengeance on the other notwithstanding their highest prosperities. --Thomas Manton.

Verse 52,55. -- I remembered thy judgments, "thy name in the night." Thomas Fuller thus writes in his "David's Heartie Repentance": --

"For sundry duties he did dayes deride. Making exchange of worke his recreation; For prayer he set the precious morne aside. The midday he bequeathed to meditation: Sweete sacred stories he reserved for night. To reade of Moses' meeknes, Sampson's might: These were his joy, these onely his delight."

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 52. -- Comfort derived from a review of the ancient doings of the Lord towards the wicked and his people.

Verse 52. --

Verse 52. -- Sweet water from a dark well.