Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:122

1. Suretyship entreated.

2. Good expected.

3. Obligation acknowledged: "thy servant."

Ver. 122 (first clause). After explaining the Psalmist's meaning as shown in the preceding verse, this sentence may be used for a sermon upon the Suretyship of Christ, by a reference to Hebrews 7:22.

1. A Surety for good wanted the deeply felt, though, perhaps, undefined want of a sin burdened soul.

(a) The mere statement of a gratuitous pardon on the part of God is not thoroughly believable to such a soul, nor, if it could be believed in, would it give peace to the conscience. For, on the one hand, the pardon could not be perceived as just, nor as consistent with God's necessary hatred of sin, yet the conscience demands this perception; on the other hand, mere pardon does not show how the obligation to a perfect fulfilment of

God's law, as righteousness, can be met, yet the conscience demands to see this before it can be satisfied to realize peace Luther's experience.

(b) Now the Scriptures tell us that God "justifies the ungodly, "and that his "righteousness" is declared in his justifying sinners: Romans 3:25. He can forgive sins with justice. He can treat sinners as righteous persons, and yet bo righteous in doing so. How? By a

Surety. Therefore, a Surety is the real want.

2. A Surety existent. Jesus is the Surety.

(a) He undertook to bear our obligation to the law's penalty, and fulfilled it in death. Thus pardon, though mercy to us, is an act of justice to Christ.

(b) He undertook our obligation to a perfect obedience, and satisfied for that in his fulfilment of the law; thus for God to treat us as righteous is only just to

Christ.

(c) God has shown his satisfaction with the office of

Christ, and with his work, by the resurrection and glorification of Christ. Hence a well accredited and efficient Surety exists.

3. A Surety nigh at hand.

(a) In the gospel, Christ as Surety comes to the sinner as truly as though he himself left his throne and came in his own person.

(b) Thus, he is so close that a sinner has but to receive the gospel into his heart and he receives Christ.

(c) Christ received as a Surety is the Surety for whosoever receives him. J.F.

Psalms 119:123*