Psalm 119:22
stumbling" to the unbeliever's ruin. As regards also the means of salvation—how can pride lift up his head in the view of the Son of God, "taking upon Him the form of a servant," that He might bear the curse of man? "Behold, the soul that is lifted up, is not upright in him."
But can a sinner—can a saint—be proud?—one who owes everything to free and sovereign grace—one who has wasted so much time— abused so much mercy—so grieved the Spirit of God—who has a heart so full of atheism—unbelief—selfishness? No, the very pride itself should be the matter of the deepest daily humiliation. Thus the remembrance of it may, under Divine grace, prove an effectual means of subduing it in our hearts. We shall overcome corruption by its own working, and meet our adversary with his own weapons. And if this cursed principle be not wholly destroyed, yet the very sight of its corruption, deepening our contrition, will be overruled for our spiritual advancement.
O blessed end intended by the Lord's dealings with us! to "humble and to prove us" "to know," and to make us know "what was in our heart, that He might do us good at the latter end!" Let us not frustrate His gracious intentions, or build again the things which He would have destroyed. May we love to lie low—lower than ever— infinitely low before Him! Lord! teach us to remember, that "that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in Your sight."
Teach us to bless You, for even Your sharp and painful discipline which tends to subjugate this hateful pride of our hearts before our
Savior's cross!
Psalm 119:22
22. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept Your testimonies.
The proud under the rebuke of God are usually distinguished by their enmity to His people. They delight to pour upon them
"reproach and contempt," with no other provocation given, than that their keeping the testimonies of God condemns their own neglect.
This must, however, be counted as the cost of a decided, separate, and consistent profession. Yet it is such a portion as Moses valued above all the treasures of the world; yet it is that reproach, which our
Master Himself "despised," as "reckoning it not worthy to be compared with "the joy that was set before Him." For did He bear
His cross only on the way to Calvary? It was laid for every step in His path; it met Him in every form of suffering, of "reproach and contempt." Look then at Him, as taking up His daily cross in breathing the atmosphere of a world of sin, and "enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself." Mark Him consummating
His course of "reproach and contempt," by suffering "outside the gate;" and can we hesitate to "go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach?"
The trial, however—especially if cast upon us by those whom we have loved and valued, or by those whom we wish to love and value us— proves most severe; and the spreading our case, after David's example, before the Lord, is the only preservation from faintness,
"Remove from me reproach and contempt."
Perhaps "contempt" is more hard to bear than "reproach." Even our enemies think of us so much better than we deserve, that it strikes with peculiar poignancy. Yet when the submissive prayer of deprecation is sent us; doubtless some answer—and that the right answer—will be given; and whether the "reproach" be removed, or "grace" given "sufficient" to endure it, the outcome will prove alike for the glory of God, and the prosperity of our own souls.
But let us beware of that "way of escape" in returning to the world, which the insincere are ever ready to pursue. They dare not act according to the full conviction of their consciences: they dare not confront their friends with the avowal of their full determination to