Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

Jeremiah Burroughs, “Sermon II,” in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (London: W. Bentley, 1651), 19.

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PSALM 17

PSALM 17:14

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COMMENTS

I don’t recall if I mentioned this in a previous post, but I have been reading and studying my way through “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment” by Jeremiah Burroughs. The above text is referenced to Psalm 17:14:

By the power of your hand, O LORD, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants. (NLT)

I hope you noted that this was published in 1651. Yet every portion of this book that I read can be directly related to and applied to the world today. How many folks do you know that seem to “have it all” yet are not content with their lives? They are driven by the need for fame, fortune, or some other seemingly earthly treasure. No matter how hard they strive, they never seem to achieve contentment. It is an addiction, no different than any other, and the cure rests in Christ Alone, through Grace Alone.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:19 (AMP) how miserable man is if our only hope lies in this world: If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. Note that Paul says our only hope is in Christ, and that hope must extend beyond this world.

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STUDY

Here are three resources to read, study, and download “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment” by Jeremiah Burroughs

Chapel Library

https://www.monergism.com/rare-jewel-christian-contentment-ebook

https://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/burroughs_jeremiah/

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What does the Bible say about contentment?

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What Is the Secret to Contentment?

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Contentment as a Christian Virtue

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Here is likely the best resource on the Book of Psalms, C.H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David.

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TITLE and SUBJECT. A prayer of David. David would not have been a man after God’s own heart, if he had not been a man of prayer. He was a master in the sacred art of supplication. He flies to prayer in all times of need, as a pilot speeds to the harbour in the stress of tempest. So frequent were David’s prayers that they could not be all dated and entitled; and hence this simply bears the author’s name, and nothing more. The smell of the furnace is upon the present psalm, but there is evidence in the last verse that he who wrote it came unharmed out of the flame. We have in the present plaintive song, AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN from the persecutions of earth. A spiritual eye may see Jesus here.

DIVISIONS. There are no very clear lines of demarcation between the parts; but we prefer the division adopted by that precious old commentator, David Dickson. In verses 1-4, David craves justice in the controversy between him and his oppressors. In verses 5 and 6, he requests of the Lord grace to act rightly while under the trial. From verse 7-12, he seeks protection from his foes, whom he graphically describes; and in verses 13 and 14, pleads that they may be disappointed; closing the whole in the most comfortable confidence that all would certainly be well with himself at the last.

Verse 14. Almost every word of this verse has furnished matter for discussion to scholars, for it is very obscure. We will, therefore, rest content with the common version, rather than distract the reader with divers translations. “From men which are thy hand.” Having styled the ungodly a sword in his Father’s hand, he now likens them to that hand itself, to set forth his conviction that God could as easily remove their violence as a man moves his own hand. He will never slay his child with his own hand. “From men of the world,” mere earthworms; not men of the world to come, but mere dwellers in this narrow sphere of mortality; having no hopes or wishes beyond the ground on which they tread. “Which have their portion in this life.” Like the prodigal, they have their portion, and are not content to wait their Father’s time. Like Passion in the “Pilgrim’s Progress,” they have their best things first, and revel during their little hour. Luther was always afraid lest he should have his portion here, and therefore frequently gave away sums of money which had been presented to him. We cannot have earth and heaven too for our choice and portion; wise men choose that which will last the longest. “Whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure.” Their sensual appetite gets the gain which it craved for. God gives to these swine the husks which they hunger for. A generous man does not deny dogs their bones; and our generous God gives even his enemies enough to fill them, if they were not so unreasonable as never to be content. Gold and silver which are locked up in the dark treasuries of the earth are given to the wicked liberally, and they therefore roll in all manner of carnal delights. Every dog has his day, and they have theirs, and a bright summer’s day it seems; but ah! how soon it ends in night! “They are full of children.” This was their fondest hope, that a race from their loins would prolong their names far down the page of history, and God has granted them this also; so that they have all that heart can wish. What enviable creatures they seem, but it is only seeming! “They are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.” They were fat housekeepers, and yet leave no lean wills. Living and dying they lacked for nothing but grace and alas! that lack spoils everything. They had a fair portion within the little circle of time, but eternity entered not into their calculations. They were penny wise, but pound foolish; they remembered the present, and forgot the future; they fought for the shell, and lost the kernel. How fine a description have we here of many a successful merchant, or popular statesman; and it is, at first sight, very showy and tempting, but in contrast with the glories of the world to come, what are these paltry molehill joys. Self, self, self, all these joys begin and end in basest selfishness; but oh, our God, how rich are those who begin and end in thee! From all the contamination and injury which association with worldly men is sure to bring us, deliver thou us, O God!

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