Sermon 91

Psalm 119:83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke: yet do I not forget your precepts.

Here is rendered a reason why he does so earnestly beg for comfort and deliverance. The reason is taken from his necessity; he was scarce able to bear any longer delay of comfort. Not only his faith and hope was spent, but his body was even spent, through the trouble that was upon him. He had told us in verse 81, My soul faints for your salvation. In verse 82, My eyes fail for your word. And now, I am become like a bottle in the smoke, etc.

Observe here, 1. His condition represented. 2. His resolution maintained. Or,

First, the heat of tribulation: I am become like a bottle in the smoke.

Secondly, his constant perseverance in his duty: Yet do I not forget your precepts.

1. His condition is represented by the similitude of a bottle in the smoke, alluding therein to a bottle of skin, such as the Jews used: As in Spain their wine is put into Borachos, or bags made of hog-skins, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] in Homer; in a vessel or bottle of a goat-skin. And Christ's similitude of old bottles and new bottles relates to that, Matthew 9:17. For he means it of skin-bottles, or bladders; if such a bottle be hung up in the smoke, and by that means it becomes black, parched and dry. The man of God thought this a fit emblem of his condition. The Septuagint reads [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], in the frost; Kitor signifies any fume or vapor, whether of smoke or mist, as Psalm 148:8: Fire and hail, snow and vapor. The word for vapor is the same as this which is here rendered smoke. Here it signifies smoke, rather than vapor or mist.

2. His resolution: Yet do I not forget your precepts. [I do not forget.] That is, I do not decline from, or neglect my duty: as Hebrews 13:16, To distribute and communicate forget not; that is, neglect it not. As on God's part, when he will not perform what belongs to him, being hindered by our disobedience, he threatens to forget his people (Jeremiah 23:39) — that is, will not deliver them — so we forget God's precepts when we do not fulfill, or neglect our duty. Now forget God's precepts he might either as his comfort, or his rule; both ways must the word be improved, and remembered by us: yet because the notion of precepts is here used, I understand the latter. Often is this passage repeated in this Psalm, as verse 51: The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from your law. Though scorned, and made a mockery by those that were at ease, and lived in pomp and splendor, yet his zeal was not abated. Verse 61: The bands of the wicked have robbed me: yet have I not forgotten your law. Though plundered by the violence of soldiers. So verse 109: My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget your law. That is, though he was in danger of death continually. We have it again in verse 141: I am small and despised: yet do I not forget your law. Though contemned and slighted as a useless creature, and one that might be well spared in the world. So in the text, I am become like a bottle in the smoke, though wrinkled and shriveled with age and sorrow. Thus in all temptations David's love to God and his ways were not abated.

Doctrine. That though our trials be never so sharp and tedious, yet this must not lessen our respect to God, or his Word.

In handling this point I shall show you three things.

First, that God may exercise his children with sharp and tedious afflictions.

Secondly, that these afflictions are apt to draw us into manifold sins and errors of practice.

Thirdly, that yet this should not be: a gracious heart should withstand this shock of temptations.

For the first. David is an instance, whose sad complaint we have had continued for three verses together. I shall only now open the similitude in the text, whereby he represents his condition.

1. A bottle in the smoke is dry and wrinkled, and shrunk up: so he was worn out, and dried up with sorrow, and long suspense of expectation. This notes the decay of his bodily strength: so also elsewhere, Psalm 102:3: My days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt as a hearth. And he says, Psalm 32:4: Your hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. His chief sap, oil was spent, humidum radicale. As a leathern sack long hung up in a smoking chimney, so was he dried up, and shriveled, and wrinkled, by long continued troubles and adversity. We are told, Proverbs 17:22, that a merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. A cheerful heart helps well to recover health lost, but a sad one breeds diseases, as we see grief is often the cause of death. Now so it may be often with God's children: God may so follow them with afflictions, that sorrow may waste their natural strength, and they may have such hard and long trials, as to make them go into wrinkles; and what by temporal sorrows, or troubles of conscience, or sickness, the infirmities of age may be hastened upon them.

2. A bottle in the smoke is blacked and smutched, whereby is meant that his beauty was wasted, as well as his strength; and as he was withered, so he was black with extreme misery. Job 30:30. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burnt with heat. So Lamentations 5:10. Our skin was black as an oven, because of the terrible famine. So Lamentations 4:8. Their visage is blacker than a coal: they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaves to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a stick. So here like a bottle in the smoke. And you must consider that this was spoken of David, that ruddy youth, of whom it was said (1 Samuel 16:12), Now he was ruddy, of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. But great sorrows had made an alteration, and afflictions do quickly cause the beauty of the body to fade. Psalm 39:11. When you with rebukes correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty consume away like a moth. God's rod may leave sad marks and prints upon the body, which do not only waste our strength, but deface our beauty. Observe here the difference between the beauty and strength of the body, and of the soul: the beauty of the soul grows fairer by afflictions, whereas that of the body is blasted. David was a bottle shriveled and shrunk up; yet the holy frame of his soul was not altered, his beauty was gone, but not his grace. Outward beauty is but skin-deep, turn it inside outside, it is but blood and rawness. It fades by sickness, age, troubles of conscience, and great and manifold afflictions. Once more, in the sight of God a man is never the more uncomely, though he be as a skin-bottle in the smoke, if he does not forget his statutes: if he be outwardly deformed, but yet the hidden man of the heart be well adorned, even with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price (1 Peter 3:3-4). Any great affliction soon makes an impression upon the skin; this flower of beauty is soon blown off, age or sickness will soon shrivel it up, and make it look like a bottle in the smoke; but let us regard the beauty of the soul, which fades not.

3. A dried bottle in the smoke is contemned, and cast aside, and of no use: so was David no more esteemed and regarded among men, than such a bottle would be; and to this Christ alludes (Matthew 9:17). Men do not put new wine into old bottles, lest the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and perishes. An old dry shriveled bottle is good for nothing, the force of wine will soon break and rend it; therefore it is cast away as a thing of no use. So many times, to the great grief of their hearts, may God's children be laid aside as useless vessels; the world may cast them off as unworthy to live among them. It is not for the king's profit to suffer them (Esther 4:8), and 1 Corinthians 4:13. [illegible], We are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things. So Hebrews 13:13. Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. At that time they were cast out of the synagogues, or cities, and societies. Was not Christ himself cast off, despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3)? The stone which the builders refused, though he were the cornerstone of the building, yet they laid him aside, as if he were of no use, as rubbish, or a refuse stone. So are his people thrust out by the world, laid by, as not deemed worthy to be employed for any use. Acts 22:22. Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. This is the judgment which the world makes on God's servants.

Secondly, what are the usual sins which are incident to such sharp and tedious afflictions.

1. Impatience and murmuring against God. When our wills are crossed, we cannot bear it. To be sick of the fret, is a disease very incident to such as have not learned to deny their own wills, and entirely to give up themselves to the conduct of God's providence. Genesis 30:1. Give me children, or I die. Psalm 37:1. Do not fret yourself because of evil doers. We should not vex and fret, but we are apt to do so; to murmur and repine against God, and that for small matters, as Jonah for a gourd, I do well to be angry (Jonah 4:9). So strangely are men transported! Peevish desires earnestly solicited, and finally disappointed, breed this impatience in us. In every frame of heart, when notably stirred, we should say, Is this well? God puts the question to Jonah, Do you do well to be angry? What, to be discontented with God's own providence, especially in small matters? But we let loose the reins to our passions, and if we be crossed a little, then let me die. Some of this impatience was in good David, for it presently follows the text, verse 84. How many are the days of your servant? If the affliction must last yet longer, then even let me know when I shall die.

2. A spirit of revenge against the instruments of our trouble. When we dare not let fly against God, we vent our passions freely against men, and seek their hurt and loss, and think we are safe. Whereas Christianity establishes a universal and diffusive charity, even to enemies, that we should pray for them, and seek their good. (Matthew 5:44) Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. The command of love does not extend only towards kindred and friends, and acquaintance, but even to enemies. I say to you Christ will try our sincerity and obedience by this precept, by forgiving wrongs, and forbearing all unjust and unmerciful revenge; and our love, by loving our enemies. 'Tis hard to bring the revengeful heart of man to it. The faults they have committed against us, do not exempt us from the general law of charity, from doing good to them according to our power: as we must not hate or curse, or requite injury with injury, so we must love, bless, do good, and pray for them, wishing them all the good in the world, especially that which they most want, the good of their souls; returning friendly words for railing, and evil speaking; feeding and clothing them when hungry, thirsty, or naked, desiring pardon and grace. This is our rule, but how few Christians comply with it, and conquer their unruly passions! No, rather justify them by the greatness of their temptations, and if they be kept from retaliating of injuries that's rare. Most have too great a coldness and indifference for enemies. (Proverbs 24:29) I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. This is to take the work out of God's hands; to review the arrogance of Adam, Be as Gods. Generally men are vindictive and transported with uncomely passions, when wronged by men. (2 Samuel 16:9) Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head. This was the ruffling humor of Abishai. But David was in a calmer, cooler frame and temper of spirit; no, God bid him curse. Many a man can bear afflictions, but not injuries. No man is troubled at a shower of rain, but if one cast a bucket or basin of water upon us, we shall not let it pass, if it be in the power of our hands, without revenge.

3. Using indirect means for our relief. 'Tis better to pine away in affliction, than to be freed from it by sin; to be as a bottle in the smoke, than to forget our duty: therefore no trouble should drive us to sin, or to use sinful means for our escape; though worn out with expectation, let our duty hold our hands from evil. Whatever our trouble be from the hand of God, or men, we have no reason to go to the Devil to ease us of it; as Saul goes to the Witch of Endor, (1 Samuel 28:7) Seek me out a woman that has a familiar spirit. And to the Devil we go, when we use bad means. Carnal shifts are very natural to us, and when we cannot trust God, and depend upon him, we presently are apt to take some indirect course of our own. Affliction is often compared to a prison, and the sorrows which accompany it, to fetters and chains. Now, God that puts us into prison, can only help us out again; for he is the governor and judge of the world. Now, to use carnal shifts, is an attempt to break prison: we are not able to hold out, till God send a happy issue, but take some carnal course of our own; if the heart be not the better resolved, thus it will be. The Devil will make an advantage of our afflictions, if he can; he tempted Christ when he was hungry, (Matthew 4:3) so he tempts us when he sees us needy, disgraced, reproached, trampled under foot. No, though our estate be low, and the fountain of our supplies be dried up; though our credit be smutched, and blacked with slander and reproach; though we be cast out as useless things, as an old withered skin bottle, counted unfit to hold wine, yet we must not forget God's precepts. We need not take a sinful course for the vindication of our credit from unjust reproaches. (Isaiah 51:7) Hearken to me, you that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law: fear you not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings. You that make reckoning of keeping close to my word; that have my law not only in your heads, but in your hearts; God has his times to vindicate you; you need not distrust the providence of God under straits. When Jacob was low, he tells Laban, My righteousness shall answer for me, (Genesis 30:33). The hand of God will help us, and reward honest labors, without our being false or unfaithful to men. We need not make a foul retreat in the day of trial; nor shift for ourselves, by complying with the lusts of men; nor wax weary of our duty, as quite discouraged and disheartened, (Hebrews 12:3) as we are apt to do, when troubles are grievous, and long continued.

4. Another evil is desponding, and distrustful thoughts of God. David, after all his experiences, was surprised with these kinds of thoughts (1 Samuel 27:1): I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. He had a particular promise and assurance of the kingdom, and had seen much of God's care over him, and yet after all this David doubts of the Word of God, and betrayed his weakness of faith and affiance in him, who had watched over him, and delivered him out of many great and imminent dangers, in a marvelous manner, when there was less appearance of hope than now (1 Samuel 22:5). So (Psalm 31:22): I said in my haste, I am cut off from before your eyes: nevertheless, you heard the voice of my supplications, when I cried to you. God has no more care and thought of me, than if I were not: this was said at the very time when deliverance was coming. Here David yielded a little to foolish haste, and lost the steadiness of his faith. So (Psalm 77:7-8): Will the Lord cast off forever? will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? does his promise fail forevermore? Questions to appearance full of despair and despondency, yet there is some faith couched under them. Will the Lord cast off? It implies the soul cannot endure to be thrust from him. Will he be favorable no more? It implies some former experience, and desire of new proof. Is his mercy clean gone? I have deserved all this, but God is merciful. Will not mercy help? To appearance indeed despair carries it from faith. That's uppermost.

5. Questioning our interest in God, merely because of the cross. Our Lord has taught us to say [My God] in the bitterest agonies; but few learn this lesson. (Judges 6:13): If God be with us, why is all this befallen us? As if they were never exercised with trouble, who have God with them. Sometimes we question the love of God, because we have no afflictions, and then because we have nothing but afflictions; as if God were not the God of the valleys, as well as of the mountains, and his love did change with our outward condition; and worldly prosperity were a mark of grace, which when lost, our evidence were gone. However hardly God deals with his people, yet he loves them. (Hebrews 12:6): Whom the Lord loves, he chastens. So (Revelation 3:19): As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. A father is a father when he smiles, and when he frowns; he may have love in his heart, when a rod in his hand. And we have no reason to question our adoption, merely because we are put under the correction and discipline of the family.

6. Not only despairing thoughts arise, but atheistical thoughts, as if there were no God, no providence, no distinction between good and evil, and it were in vain to serve him. (Psalm 73:13): I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. The flesh is importunate to be pleased, and therefore when it does not meet with desired satisfaction, we are apt to question all, and to cast off the fear of God, and all regard of his service. (Malachi 3:14): You have said, It is in vain to serve God: and what profit is it, that we have kept his ordinance, and walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? When temptations are severe, and afflictions tedious, thoughts of so horrid a complexion may float in our minds.

These are the distempers which are incident to those who have been long afflicted, and are often disappointed in the issue which they expect.

Thirdly, that this should not be. David omitted not his duty for all this, though his troubles were long and tedious. However great our trials may be, they should not weaken our love to God, and our respect to his Word. God's precepts must not be forgotten, though we are withered and dried up with sorrows, as a skin-bottle is shriveled in the smoke.

1. Because then we plunge ourselves into a greater evil, if we fall into sin because of trouble and affliction, and so make our condition so much the worse. Job's friends charged this upon him, that he had chosen sin, rather than affliction (Job 36:22), when he would rather give way to impatience, than patiently bear what God had laid upon him. Many are so transported with their pains and grievances, that they care not what they say or do, as if they were loosed from all bonds of duty. On the contrary, it is said of Moses (Hebrews 4:25), choosing rather to suffer afflictions, etc. The least sin is worse than the greatest suffering. Suffering is an offense done to us; sin is an offense done to God. By suffering we lose some worldly comfort; but by sinning we hazard the favor of God. Suffering is only an inconvenience to the bodily or animal life; sinning brings a blot and blemish upon the soul. The sinful state is far worse than the afflicted: and therefore however calamitous our condition may be, we must take great care it is not sinful. Wormwood is bitter, but not poison.

2. A sincere love to God will make us adhere to him when he seems to deal most hardly with us. Among all his corrections, God has not a rod severe enough to drive away a gracious and loving soul from himself. (Psalm 44:17): All this has come upon us: yet have we not forgotten you, nor dealt falsely in your covenant. God is the same, and his ways are the same, though his dispensations be changed; so different a thing it is to love the ways of God upon foreign, and upon intrinsic and proper reasons: and the intent of such dispensations is to put us upon trial, what our reasons and motives are for why we love God and his ways, and whether our love is strong enough to encounter with difficulties, whether it can overcome temptations from sense and the world. Until all probabilities are spent, and our afflictions grow long and tedious, we are not tried to the purpose. Our covenant vow to God binds us to own him in all conditions, whatever our portion be in the world.

3. By forgetting God's precepts, we put away our own comfort from ourselves, and make our afflictions the more grievous. Take the word precepts either strictly for his commandments, or statutes, or more largely, as it may also include his promises. If any faint and fail in trouble, it is because they trust not the promises, or keep not the commandments of God; these two mutually strengthen one another. If you would not have your faith broken, labor to keep the commandments. In verse 166 of this Psalm, I have hoped for your salvation, and done your commandments. And if you would keep the commandments, confirm your faith in the promises of forgiveness of sin, of God's providence, and eternal life. For if you can believe these, no pleasure or pain shall make you forsake your obedience (Psalm 130:4). A child of God dares not warp and turn away from God in part, or in whole, nor slacken any part of his diligence in God's service. Faith in God's promises breeds obedience, and obedience confirms faith in God's promises. We apprehend promises to check that sensitive lure, which would entice us from God, and our obedience to him: a greater benefit is offered to counterbalance the baits and troubles of the flesh. The more we obey the precepts, the more we believe the promises; for together with our obedience, our confidence and sound comfort increases: so that to forget the word, is to throw away our strength from ourselves.

4. Afflictions rightly improved, are a means to make us remember God's precepts, rather than to forget them (Hebrews 12:11). The baits of the flesh are removed, that the spirit may be more at liberty (2 Corinthians 4:16). God sees fit to afflict the bodies of his people sometimes. The body being in good plight, is a clog to the soul; therefore they are withered and wrinkled, that the soul may thrive the more. Our worldly portion is blasted, that our heavenly treasure may be increased. When we are at full we grow wanton, neglectful, forget his precepts; now that we may remember them the more, God sends such afflictions which sit near and close. The moon is never eclipsed but when it is at full; so many have eclipsed the glory of the spiritual life, when full and at ease: therefore in afflictions we should not forget his word.

1. USE. Is to reprove us, who are so soon discouraged in the ways of God. If we suffer but a little sickness, and a little trouble and contempt in the world, a little loss of honor and interest, the mocks and scorns of foolish men, we cannot bear it, but murmur and are impatient. David could submit himself to the Lord, and find sweetness in the word, though he were like a bottle in the smoke. Few nowadays suffer any great matter for Christ; surely when God's people have endured harder things, we should be ashamed of our tenderness: were we only appointed to escape the afflictions and inconveniences of our pilgrimage? And must God make a new way to heaven for our sakes, wherein we shall meet with no difficulty in our passage? Or rather in defiance of all sense, would we abide here for ever, and flourish in ease and plenty, and never see change? No, it becomes us early to prepare for the cross: none so strong now, but they shall wither; so ruddy and beautiful, but their beauty shall consume as a moth; nor so happy and flourishing in honor and esteem, but they will be laid aside as a dried, withered bottle. We must look to have our turn, and bear it patiently.

2. Let us not, for any afflictions and troubles whatever, abate of our zeal and diligence and respect to God's service.

First, it is not obedience to God's precepts, or godliness, that is the cause of our sufferings and chastenings, but our sin and folly. Are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walks uprightly? (Micah 2:7). God delights not in dealing harshly with his people. The rod is not that he takes pleasure in, if our case does not call for it (Lamentations 3:33). He afflicts not willingly. We provoke him to it: and shall we grow weary of his service, because we suffer justly for our sins? There is reason indeed why we should grow weary of sin (Jeremiah 2:19), we find the bitterness of it: but no reason why we should grow weary of duty. Sin less, and suffer less. Provoke not God, and nothing will proceed from him but what is good and comfortable; he does not punish or chasten men for holiness and well-doing, no, it is for want of holiness. Shall the physician be blamed for the trouble of medicine, when the patient has contracted a surfeit that makes it necessary? It was sin in general brought us into a state of suffering, and particular errors that actually bring it on.

Secondly, the benefits and fruit of afflictions should allay and abundantly recompense the trouble of them, that they should not be a hindrance or a snare, but a help to godliness. They prevent our surfeit of worldly prosperity, which would cost us dearer than all the troubles of the flesh which we meet with. Alas! what sad work does honor and wealth, and power make in the world! Blessed be God that he keeps us under, low, humble, and contemned, like bottles in the smoke. Shall a little affliction which saves us from these opportunities of discovering our corruption, be so resented by us, as that we should grow weary of God, and forget his precepts? Great and long prosperity would be a sorer temptation to us, than sharp and tedious affliction; the one keeps us modest and humble, whereas the other would make us vain and proud, and wanton. When Jeshurun grew fat, he kicked (Deuteronomy 32:15). He forsook God that made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation. He slighted God, and grew cold in duty, ready to sin. As a rank soil breeds weeds, a pleasant estate does but fill us with vanity and folly.

Thirdly, God in good time will send help and deliverance. If we remember to plead the promise, God will remember to fulfill the promise. And those who are not unmindful of their duty, God will not be unmindful of their safety. The Lord listened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name (Malachi 3:16). You see there that God will not forget those, that forget not his word. Those that keep their feet in the worst times, when others reel and stagger, God has a great care of them. Every word you speak for God, every inconvenience you suffer for him, every duty you perform to him, it is all upon record.

Fourthly, we may with the more confidence recommend our case to God. (Psalm 119:153) Consider my affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget your law. They that do not make haste to deliver themselves, God will deliver them. The same God that requires duty, does assure them of comfort.