Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live, and keep Your word.

Posted : 21 Feb, 2013 02:20 AM

Psalm 119:17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live, and keep Your word.





This prayer appears to have been much upon David's heart,

and in its substance and object it is again repeated. Nor does

he fail to acknowledge the answer to it. The believer, like

David, is a man of large expectations. As regards himself-his

own daily provocations and backslidings-he cannot stand

upon his own ground. But when he brings with him the name,

the blood, the intercession of Jesus; as soon could God deny

His own beloved Son, as resist the supplication of those who

present this all-prevailing plea. Not only so, but-is He not His

own gift to His children, as the pledge of every other gift? And

what other pledge can they need, to encourage them to draw

near with the largest desire, and the most heavenly

expectation? We may, indeed, be too bold in our manner of

approach to God; but we cannot be too bold in our

expectations from Him. Standing as we do upon such high

and sure ground, it is equally dishonorable to Him, and

impoverishing to ourselves, to ask only a little of Him. Rather

let us, according to His own command, "open our mouths

wide; and He will fill them." Rather let us expect that He will

deal-not only favorably-but bountifully with His servants-that,

as "our God, He will supply all our need according to His

riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

And, indeed, the most experienced believer cannot forget, that

he is in himself still the same poor, weak, empty, helpless

creature as at first. Nothing, therefore, short of a bountiful

supply can answer his emergency. And such a supply is

always at hand. The act of prayer increases the power to

pray. The throne of grace is a well, which no power or malice

of the Philistines can stop up. We need not say, "We have

nothing to draw with, and the well is deep." Faith will enable us "with joy to draw out of this well of salvation." Let us bring

our empty vessels, until "there is not a vessel more." Yesbeliever- there is indeed a bountiful supply of grace-of every

kind-suited to every need-grace to pardon-grace to quickengrace to bless. Oh! see, then, that you come not empty away.

Remember-who it is that pleads before the throne.

Remember-that the grace you need is in His hand. From

eternity He foreknew your case. He laid your portion by. He

has kept it for the time of need; and now He only waits for an

empty vessel, into which to pour His supply. He is ready to

show you, how infinitely His grace exceeds all thoughts-all

prayers-all desires-all praises.

And say-what has been the fruit of your pleading, waiting

expectancy at "the throne of grace?" Have you not returned

thence with a fresh spring of devotedness in His service, with

every selfish thought forgotten in the desire, that you "may

live, and keep His word?" Nothing touched or moved your

reluctant heart, but the apprehension of bountiful redeeming

love. This makes obedience easy-delightful-natural-in a

manner unavoidable. It "constrains" to it. The man now livesnot the animal life of appetite-not the sensual life of vanity and

pleasure-but the only life that deserves the name. He lives

singly, supremely "to Him who died for him, and rose again."

He "lives, and keeps His word." His motto and character now

is, "To me to live is Christ." He values life only by his

opportunities of serving his God. The first archangel knows

not a higher object of existence. And how encouraging the

reflection, that in this glorious object the lowest servant in the

household of God is an equal participant with the most

blessed inhabitant of heaven!



by

Charles Bridges

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