Charles Bridges
Psalm 119:77a Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live.
So in is no light trouble to the man of God. Mercy is therefore no common blessing to him. Never can he have – never can he ask – enough of it. Hence his repeated cries. Mercy brought him out of sin and misery. Mercy keeps him, holds him on, assures him to the end. Every blessing comes in the way of mercy. The most careful walker according to the gospel “rule” (Gal 6:16) needs mercy. The elect are “vessels of mercy” – filled up to the brim with mercy. The crown of glory at last is received at the hands of mercy.
The distinguishing character of God is that His mercies are tender mercies, a father’s pitying – yearning – mercies. When his returning prodigal probably expected upbraiding looks, if not a frown of banishment, how did these tender mercies bury in the depths of the sea, not only his sins, but also his very confessions, and welcome him without a cloud to his forsaken home! The same tender considerations put away from God’s children all anxiety about what they shall eat, or what they shall drink, or wherewithal they shall be clothed. As a Father He also “chasteneth” them, He “will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him”. In a yet more endearing character He speaks: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you”; “They may forget; yet will I not forget thee”.
Yet we have no just apprehension of these tender mercies, unless they come unto us. In the midst of the wide distribution, let me claim my interest. Let them come unto me. Praised be God, the way is open to me. The mere report of them is unfruitful. I cannot speak of them with glow and unction. The application of them is life – not the mere breathing of spiritual existence, but the life of my life: the living principle of devotedness and enjoyment, living to and for God in every form and sphere, in every hour and action of the day; my feebleness becoming strength in the Lord; walking up and down in His name. This truly is to “reign in life”, rising to more of its honour and dignity, and reaching forth to more of its excellence and happiness.
But let us not lose sight of the abundant overflowing spring from which our life is maintained. “In [Christ] was life”; and He came that sinners “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. There can therefore be no exercises of life without vital union to Christ, the source of life. Shall we then give up the hope of believing in Christ till we feel the influence of this spiritual principle? This would be indeed like refusing to abide in the vine
1An edited extract from Bridges on Psalm 119. This fine book has been reprinted by the Banner of Truth and is available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
till we could bring forth fruit; whereas the branch, while separated from the vine, must ever be fruitless and withered. We must receive life from Christ, not bring it to Him. Faith implants us in Him; and Christ dwelling in the heart by faith becomes the life of the soul, animating it in the ways of God.