The Dejected Believer’s Soliloquy
The Dejected Believer’s Soliloquy
A Discourse, occasioned In, the Decease of Mrs. Ann Button
Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God—Psalm 40:11
The Psalmist (who, it is highly probable, was David), when he wrote this Psalm, seems to have been at a distance from the house of God. This was the cause of his distress and disquietude. He longed to return thither, that he might appear before God in his sanctuary; enjoy his presence, and hold communion with him. This panting of his soul after God in his house, he signifies by, and compares unto, the panting of the hart after the water-brooks, when pursued in hunting: which greatly resembles the case in which he then was. What is here figuratively expressed, is more plainly asserted by him elsewhere, when he says; That his soul longed, and even fainted, for the courts of the Lord; and his flesh, and his heart, cried out for the living God. (Psalm 84:2)
What made his distress the greater, was, his remembering with what good company he had frequently went up to the house of God; and what spiritual pleasure he had enjoyed when there. This was a cause of uneasiness unto his mind. However, he encourages himself in his God, and stirs up his soul to hope in the Lord, that he would bring him back again, and that he should see his ark, and his habitation. For this purpose, he calls to mind some past experiences of divine goodness to him, when he was in a state of exile. I will remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar: places where, it may be, he had met with God, where he had enjoyed the divine presence, or had been indulged with some remarkable favour.
We find, likewise, that at this time many afflictions attended him: which he compared to floods of water, to depths, and to the waves of the sea. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of thy water-spouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. By which he intends various afflictions that he met with from his family, and from his friends; from within, and from without. Nor is it unusual, in Scripture, to express afflictions, and trying dispensations of Providence, by waves. So Heman, the Ezrahite, says, that God had afflicted him with all his waves: Psalm 87:7, with one affliction after another, which came rolling upon him as the waves of the sea. But God hath graciously promised, that he will be with his people, when they pass through the waters, meaning afflictions; and that they shall not overwhelm them. This faith the Psalmist had, that God would command his loving kindness to him. For thus he speaks; Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time. He was well persuaded, that though he was afflicted of the Lord, yet he would not utterly, nor at all take away his loving kindness from him but would, in due time, command some manifestations of his love to him, that should support, carry him through, and in due time deliver him out of all his trials.
He speaks also of the afflictions, distresses, and oppressions, that he met with from men. I will say unto God, my rock, why hast thou forgotten me; why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me: while they say daily unto me, where is thy God? Where is thy God, that thou hast so much talked of; in whom thou has put thy trust, and who hath promised thee his protection? Where is he now? and where is thy confidence in him? This was cutting to him; like a sword in his bones. It was no unusual thing for the enemies of God’s church and people, to insult over them in such language as this, when they were in distress, and there was not an immediate appearance on their behalf. Wherefore should the Heathen say, where is now their God? Our God is in the heavens, and he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. (Psalm 115:3)
After this, follows the soliloquy in my text, or the Psalmist’s address to his own soul. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me, on account of those various trials? What reason is there for it? Why shouldst thou give way to any degree of despondency? hope thou in God for protection and deliverance, which will be granted in due time. Whilst he is thus encouraging his hope in the Lord, his faith grows strong; For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Faith never shines brighter than when it is exercised in trying dispensations.
The experiences of God’s people, in all ages, are much the same. As, in water, face answers to face, so does the heart of man to man: the heart of one saint unto another. What was the experience of David, in those early times, is the experience of the people of God in latter ages, and in ours; both with respect to trials, and with respect to the exercise of faith and hope—From these words I shall observe the following things:
I. That the saints often are, as David was, under dejection, and disquietude of soul, though they have not all that reason for it which they imagine: and, sooner or later, are sensible of it; and, therefore, expostulate with themselves, as he did; Why art thou disquieted? Why art thou Cast down?
II. That true believers in the Lord, as David did, are helped to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and to excite themselves, to hope in the Lord for strength to support them under their trials, for power to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies; and to wait for his gracious presence with them, and his kind appearances for them.hope thou in God.And,