The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give
me understanding, and I shall live. (Ps. 119:144)
Men cannot, properly speaking, be said to live when they are
destitute of the light of heavenly wisdom; and as the end for which men are
created is not that, like swine or asses, they may stuff their bellies, but
that they may exercise themselves in the knowledge and service of God, when
they turn away from such employment, their life is worse than a thousand
deaths. David therefore protests that for him to live was not merely to be fed
with meat and drink, and to enjoy earthly comforts, but to aspire after a
better life, which he could not do save under the guidance of faith.
This is a very necessary warning; for although it is
universally acknowledged that man is born with this distinction, that he excels
the lower animals in intelligence, yet the great bulk of mankind, as if with
deliberate purpose: stifle whatever light God pours into their understandings.
I indeed admit that all men desire to be sharp-witted; but how few aspire to
heaven, and consider that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Since
then meditation upon the celestial life is buried by earthly cares, men do
nothing else than plunge into the grave, so that while living to the world,
they die to God.
Under the term life, however, as I have elsewhere said, the
Prophet denotes the utmost he could wish. Lord, as if he had said, although I
am already dead, yet if thou art pleased to illumine my mind with the knowledge
of heavenly truth, this grace alone will be sufficient to revive me. (Commentaries)
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