David's Promise to Sing of God's Righteousness
S. Hieron. Psalm 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. I. WHOSO RECEIVES OR EXPECTS ANY MERCY OR FAVOUR FROM GOD MUST KNOW HIMSELF BOUND TO RETURN SOMEWHAT BACK BY WAY OF THANKFULNESS UNTO GOD. II. THE EXERCISE AND ACT OF SINGING IS A DUTY WELL BECOMING GOD'S PEOPLE, FOR THE DECLARATION OF THEIR DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD'S KINDNESS. And that we might not conceive of this duty as of a service ceremonial, and so ceasing in Christ, who is the body of all ancient types; St. Paul commended it to the practice of Christians in the New Testament; persuading them to psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; and it is St. James's rule, that if any man have a disposition to discover the inward rejoicing of his heart in the feeling of God's mercies, he should sing. It is an excellent means to quicken and enliven the dulness of man's spirits. It is very effectual both to discover and stir up joy. III. THE TONGUE AND VOICE OF MAN OUGHT TO BE USED BY HIM FOR THE DECLARING OF GOD'S PRAISE. It is called a man's glory, both because it is one of the excellencies and prerogatives of man over other creatures, that he is enabled to use his tongue to the expressing of his hand; and because it is the instrument ordained to the setting forth of God's glory, in the advancement whereof the glory of man as God's principal creature doth consist. The special matter of praising God is conveyed unto us by the tongue. The knowledge of salvation through Christ is the main ground of glorifying God. And is it not the tongue of man, which God hath consecrated to the begetting of it within us? Now, as God, by the tongues of those whom He hath appointed to be vessels of bearing His name to the world, conveyeth the matter of His praise into our hearts, so by our tongues He requires a testification thereof. By the tongue we receive good, by the tongue we ought to manifest that good we have received; neither can there be a more fitting means for us to be instruments of good to others, than the well-using of our tongues; those duties of admonition, exhortation, comfort, whereby one Christian is bound to further the salvation of another, how shall they be so well performed as by the tongue? That law of grace, which is in the tongue of God's children, is that which must minister grace unto those which hear us, according to the apostle's rule. There is a certain holy salt in the tongue of a godly man, by which others may be seasoned; whereupon it is said, that the lips of a righteous man do feed many; many do receive refreshing and comfort by his talk. Then again, whether it is not a matter of equity that the tongue should be employed for His honour, by whom it is endued with that faculty with which it is accomplished? (S. Hieron.) Parallel Verses KJV: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. WEB: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.