88. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness. Most wise, most blessed prayer! If we are revived in our own personal piety we shall be out of reach of our assailants. Our best protection from tempters and persecutors is more life. Lovingkindness itself cannot do us greater service than by making us to have life more abundantly. When we are quickened we are able to bear affliction, to baffle cunning, and to conquer sin. We look to the lovingkindness of God as the source of spiritual revival, and we intreat the Lord to quicken us, not according to our deserts, but after the boundless energy of his grace. So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. If quickened by the Holy Spirit we shall be sure to exhibit a holy character. We shall be faithful to sound doctrine when the Spirit visits us and makes us faithful. We ought greatly to admire the spiritual prudence of the psalmist, who does not so much pray for freedom from trial as for renewed life that he may be supported under it. David prayed for a sound heart in the closing verse of the last octave, and here he seeks a revived heart; this is going to the root of the matter, by seeking that which is the most needful of all things.
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