My soul melts for heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.

Posted : 7 Mar, 2013 12:43 PM

PSALM 119:28 My soul melts for heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.





Is this David, "whose heart is as the heart of a lion, here

utterly melting?" But the sorrows, as the joys of the spiritual

man-dealing immediately with the Infinite and Eternal God-are

beyond conception. Ordinary courage may support under the

trials of this life; but when "the arrows of the Almighty are

within us, the poison thereof drinks up our spirit." How, then,

can the Christian's lot be so enviable, when their souls thus

melt for heaviness? But this, be it remembered, is only "for a

season." There is a "needs-be" for it, while it remains: and in

the end it "will be found unto praise, and honor, and glory."

Never, perhaps, are their graces more lively, or the ground of

their assurance more clear, than in these seasons of sorrow.

They complain, indeed, of the diversified power of indwelling

sin. But their very complaints are the evidence of the mighty

working of indwelling grace. For what is it but the principle of

faith, that makes unbelief their burden? What but hope, that

struggles with their tears? What but love, that makes their

coldness a grief? What but humility, that causes them to

loathe their pride? What but the secret spring of thankfulness,

that shows them their unthankfulness, and shames them for

it? And, therefore, the very depth of "that heaviness which

melts their souls" away, is the exhibition of the strength of

God's work within, upholding them in perseverance of conflict

to the end. Would not the believer then, when eyeing in his

heaviest moments the most prosperous condition of the

ungodly, say-"Let me not eat of their dainties?" Far better,

and, we may add, far happier, is godly sorrow than worldly joy. In the midst of his misery, the Christian would not

exchange his hope in the gospel-though often obscured by

unbelief, and clouded by fear-for all "the kingdoms of the

world, and the glory of them." "If the heart knows his own

bitterness, a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy." Yet

the bitterness is keenly felt. Sin displeases a tender and

gracious Father. It has "pierced" the heart that loves him; and

shed the blood that saves him. It grieves the indwelling

Comforter of his soul. God expects to see him a mourner; and

he feels he has reason enough to mourn-"My soul melts for

heaviness."

But this cry of distress is sometimes that of the child under his

Father's needful chastisement. The world is dethroned, but

not extirpated, in the heart. Much dross is yet to be removed.

The sources of the too attractive earthly joy must be

embittered: and now it is that the discipline of the cross forces

the cry-"My soul melts for heaviness." Yet in the midst of

heaviness, the child of God cannot forget that he is loved-that

he is saved; and the recollection of this sovereign mercy

makes his tears of godly sorrow, tears of joy.

But this melting heaviness has not wrought its work, until it

has bowed us before the throne of grace with the pleading cry

of faith-Strengthen me! For do we stand by the strength of our

own resolutions or habits of grace? Unless the Lord renew His

supply from moment to moment, all is frail and withering. But

what burden or difficulty is too great for Almighty strength?

"Fear not, you worm Jacob; you shall thresh the mountains,

and beat them small." And especially is our success assured,

when the plea is drawn, as it is repeatedly in this Psalmaccording to Your word. For what does that word assure us?-

"As Your days, so shall Your strength be." "Will He plead

against me"-said Job-"with His great power? No! but He will

put strength in me." Thus David found it in his own case: "In

the day when I cried, You answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul." Thus also to the Apostle was the

promise given and fulfilled: "My grace is sufficient for you; for

My strength is made perfect in weakness." And is not "the

God of Israel" still "he who gives strength and power to His

people?" still the same "faithful God, who will not suffer them

to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the

temptation also make a way to escape, that they may be able

to bear it?"

When we are most sensible of our utter helplessness, and

most simple in our reliance upon Divine strength, then it is,

that the "soul melting for heaviness," is most especially upheld

and established. "Heaviness in the heart of man makes it

stoop; but a good word makes it glad." And how reviving is

that "good word" of the Gospel, which proclaims the Savior

anointed to "give the garment of praise for the spirit of

heaviness," and gifted with "the tongue of the learned, that he

might know how to speak a word in season unto him that is

weary!" And no less encouraging is it to view Him "melting for

heaviness"- "sore amazed, and very heavy" under the

accumulated weight of imputed guilt; learning by this bitter

discipline, "in that He Himself suffered being tempted, to

support them that are tempted." Yet was He, like His faithful

servant, strengthened according to His Father's word, in the

moment of his bitterest agony, by the agency of His own

creation. And this faithful support, given to the Head, is the

seal and pledge of what every member in every trouble will

most assuredly enjoy. "As the sufferings of Christ abound in

His people, so their consolation also abounds by Christ." The

blessed word will supply all their need-life for their quickening,

light for their direction, comfort for their enjoyment, strength

for their support-"Strengthen me according to Your word."

Lord, may I ever be kept from despondency-regarding it as

sinful in itself, dishonorable to Your name, and weakening to

my soul; and though I must "needs be sometime in heaviness through manifold temptations," yet let the power of faith be in

constant exercise, that I may be able to expostulate with my

soul-"Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you

disturbed within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him,

who is the health of my countenance, and my God."



by

Charles Bridges

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