Every believer may take it to himself. God perfectly justifies and perfectly sanctifies all that come unto him through the Son of his love.

ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH PSALM

In this Psalm the Spirit of God proposes to us the case of a person oppressed with the wrath of God against sin, yet flying to him for comfort, remission, and purification.

I. Acknowledging his miserable condition, he prays to be heard, ver. 1, 2.

II. He desires remission of sin, ver. 3, 4.

III. He expresses his hope and confidence ver. 5, 6.

IV. He exhorts God's people to trust in him, ver. 7, 8.

I. The psalmist likens himself to a man in the bottom of a pit: - 1. "Out of the depths have I cried," &c. A true penitent cries out of the depth of his misery, and from the depth of a heart sensible of it.

2. "Lord, hear my voice." Although I be so low, thou canst hear me.

3. "Let thine ears be attentive," &c. Or I cry in vain.

II. But there was a reason why God should not hear. He was a grievous sinner; but all men are the same; therefore, 1. "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquity." And I have nothing of my own but it to bring before thee, yet execute not thy just anger on account of my transgressions; for, 2. "There is mercy with thee," &c. True repentance requires two things, the recognition of our own misery and the persuasion of God's mercy. Both are needful; for if we know not the former, we shall not seek mercy; and if we despair of mercy, we shall never find it.

3. "That thou mayest be feared." Not with a servile but a filial fear, which involves prayer, faith, hope, love, adoration, giving of thanks, &c. This fear leads to God's throne as a merciful and pardoning God.

III. The method of God's servants in their addresses to heaven is, that they believe, hope, pray, and expect. Thus did the psalmist.

1. "I expect the Lord." In faith.

2. "My soul doth wait." His expectation was active and real, and proceeded from fervency of heart.

3. His expectation was not presumptive, but grounded upon God's word and promise: "In his word is my hope." 4. "My soul waiteth for the Lord." Which he illustrates by the similitude of a watchman who longs for the morning.

5. "I wait for the Lord more than they," &c. It was now night with him, darkness and misery were upon his soul; the morning he expected was the remission of his sins, which must come from God's mercy.

For this he eagerly waited.

IV. He proposes his own example to God's people: - 1. "Let Israel hope in the Lord," like me, and cry from the depths.

2. "For with the Lord there is mercy." This is the reason and encouragement for the hope. Mercy flows from him.

3. "And with him is redemption." Which we need, being all sold under sin; and this redemption was purchased for us by the death of his Son.

4. And this redemption is plentiful; for by it he has redeemed the whole world, 1 John i. 2.