David's Behaviour in Trouble
H. Belfrage, D. D. Psalm 119:87 They had almost consumed me on earth; but I forsook not your precepts. I. HOW HE BEHAVED IN EXTREME DISTRESS. 1. The precepts of God were the constant subject of his thoughts. 2. He was careful to walk in the way wherein he was directed by the Word of God to walk. 3. He patiently submitted to the will of God in all his persecutions and tribulations. 4. His patience was attended with meekness of spirit and behaviour towards the instruments of his calamities. 5. He maintained his uprightness under all the temptations of adversity and persecution. 6. He served God and his country in the best way that he could when he was restrained from serving them as he wished to do. II. WHAT HIS REASONS WERE FOR SO INVARIABLY ADHERING TO HIS DUTY. 1. He was fully persuaded that nothing happened or could happen to him without the permission of Divine providence. 2. It was of incomparably greater importance in his view to behave dutifully under trouble than to obtain deliverance from it. 3. He knew that his troubles would all come to a happy end. 4. He knew that his troubles would turn to a good account through the grace of God enabling him to make the proper improvement of them. (H. Belfrage, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. WEB: They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn't forsake your precepts.