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His SCHOLARSHIP. "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth."

1. The psalmist was an instructed believer. He had not merely been saved, but taught: conversion had led to instruction. I call the attention of all young Christians to this. How desirable it is not merely that you should be forgiven your sins, and that your hearts should be renewed by the operations of the Holy Ghost, but that you should go to school to Jesus, and take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him.

2. All his instruction the psalmist traced to his God. "O God, Thou hast taught me." He had entered Christ's college as a scholar. Most wisely had he chosen to learn of Him who was infinite wisdom to impart, and divine skill in communicating it. What a school have some of us passed through, a school of trial and a school of love. We have sat on the hard form of discipline.

3. David also had the privilege of beginning early. "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth." If you would be a good scholar you must be a young scholar.

4. Further, notice David tells us he kept to his studies. He says, "O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth," which implies that God had continued to teach him: and so, indeed, He had. The learner had not sought another school, nor had the Master turned off His pupil. Some make slight progress because they seem to begin well, but afterwards turn aside to folly.

II. HIS OCCUPATION. "Hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works."

1. A Divine subject. Did you notice the fifteenth verse, "My mouth shall show forth Thy righteousness and Thy salvation all the day"? That is the great Christian doctrine — the very pith and marrow of theology — the atonement in which grace and justice unite in the sacrifice of Jesus.

2. The style which David used was very commendable. "Declared." David's teaching about his God had not been with an "if," and a "but," and a "may be," but it had been, "Thus and thus, saith the Lord."

III. His PRAYER.

1. He was not ashamed of his former reliance. He knew the secret springs from which all his blessings had flowed, and he pleads with the Lord never to stop the Divine fountain of self-sufficiency, or he must faint and die.

2. This proves that David did not imagine that past grace could suffice for the present. David acknowledged his present dependence, and it was wise to do so, Men always stumble when they try to walk with their eyes turned behind them.

3. He confessed his undeservingness. He felt that for his sins God might well leave him. But he humbly resolved not to be deserted, he could not bear it, he held his God with eagerness, and cried in agony, "O God, forsake me not." His heart was desperately set upon holding to his one hope and consolation, and so he pleaded as one who pleads for life itself.

IV. His WISH (ver. 18). He had spent a lifetime in declaring God's Gospel, but he wanted to do it once more. Aged saints are loth to cease from active service. Many of them are like old John Newton, who, when he was too feeble to walk up the pulpit stairs of St. Mary Woolnoth parish church, was carried up to his place and preached on still. His friends said, "Really, Mr, Newton, you are so feeble, you ought to give over," and he said, "What? Shall the old African blasphemer ever leave off preaching the grace of his Master as long as there is breath in his body? No, never." It is harder work to leave off than to go on, for the love o! Christ constrains us still, and burns with young flame in an aged heart. So here the good man pines to show forth once more God's strength. And, do you notice the congregation he wished to address? He would testify to the generation that was growing up around him. He wished to make known God's power to his immediate neighbours, and to their children, so that the light might be handed on to other generations. This should be on the mind of all who are going off the stage of action: they should think of those who are to come after them, and pray for them, and help them.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

WEB: God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.