David here tells us, and it will be of use to us to know it, 1. That he
had been jeered for his religion. Though he was a man of honour, a man
of great prudence, and had done eminent services to his country, yet,
because he was a devout conscientious man, the proud had him greatly in
derision; they ridiculed him, bantered him, and did all they could to
expose him to contempt; they laughed at him for his praying, and called
it cant, for his seriousness, and called it mopishness, for his
strictness, and called it needless preciseness. They were the proud
that sat in the scorner's seat and valued themselves on so doing. 2.
That yet he had not been jeered out of his religion: "They have done
all they could to make me quit it for shame, but none of these things
move me: I have not declined from thy law for all this; but, if this be
to be vile" (as he said when Michal had him greatly in derision), "I
will be yet more vile." He not only had not quite forsaken the law, but
had not so much as declined from it. We must never shrink from any
duty, nor let slip an opportunity of doing good, for fear of the
reproach of men, or their revilings. The traveller goes on his way
though the dogs bark at him. Those can bear but little for Christ that
cannot bear a hard word for him.