76. Having confessed the righteousness of the Lord, he now appeals to his mercy, and while he does not ask that the rod may be removed, he earnestly begs for comfort under it. Righteousness and faithfulness afford us no consolation if we cannot also taste of mercy, and, blessed be God, this is promised us in the Word, and therefore we may expect it. The words merciful kindness express exactly what we need in affliction: mercy to forgive the sin, and kindness to sustain under the sorrow. Notwithstanding our faults we are still his servants, and we serve a compassionate Master. Some read the last clause, “according to thy saying unto thy servant”: some special saying of the Lord was remembered and pleaded: can we not remember some such “faithful saying,” and make it the groundwork of our petitioning? That phrase, according to thy word, shows the motive for mercy and the manner of mercy. Our prayers are according to the mind of God when they are according to the Word of God.
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