2. The Meaning

1. Here first we are to bewail this, that our hearts are so prone to rebellion and disobedience of God's commandments. Put a match to a heap of gunpowder, on a sudden it will be all on a flame; and as long as we add matter to the fire, it burns: so by nature we are most ready to sin, so soon as the least occasion is given. David had experience of this when he prayed, Knit my heart to you, O Lord, etc. (Psalm 86:11), and incline my heart to your commandments (Psalm 119:37). Those which find not this want in themselves, and the like affection to bewail it, are in a miserable and dangerous case: even as a man that has a great disease upon him, and knows not of it.

2. Again, we must here bewail the sin of the world, as ignorance, schisms, hypocrisy, pride, ambition, contempt of God's word, covetousness, oppression, want of love of God and his word, etc. 2 Peter 2:7: Lot was vexed, and his righteous heart was vexed with the unclean conversation of the Sodomites from day to day: so ought our souls to be vexed and grieved continually at the wickedness of our time: and we are to send up our prayers to God for unbelieving and unrepentant sinners, that they may be brought to the obedience of God's will. Ezekiel 9:4: In a common judgment upon Jerusalem, they are marked in the forehead, that mourn and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst of it.

3. Here also we must humble ourselves for our unquietness of mind, and impatience, when God lays any cross on us. It is God's will that we should suffer affliction, and withal humble ourselves under his mighty hand. Our Savior prayed that the cup might be taken away, but with submission to his Father's will (Luke 22:42). And this David had learned when he said, But if he thus say, behold I have no delight in you, behold here I am, let him do to me as seems good in his eyes (2 Samuel 15:26).