Still David is in affliction, and being so he owns, 1. That his sin was
justly corrected: I know, O Lord! that thy judgments are right, are
righteousness itself. However God is pleased to afflict us, he does us
no wrong, nor can we charge him with any iniquity, but must acknowledge
that it is less than we have deserved. We know that God is holy in his
nature and wise and just in all the acts of his government, and
therefore we cannot but know, in the general, that his judgments are
right, though, in some particular instances, there may be difficulties
which we cannot easily resolve. 2. That God's promise was graciously
performed. The former may silence us under our afflictions, and forbid
us to repine, but this may satisfy us, and enable us to rejoice; for
afflictions are in the covenant, and therefore they are not only not
meant for our hurt, but they are really intended for our good: "In
faithfulness thou hast afflicted me, pursuant to the great design of my
salvation." It is easier to own, in general, that God's judgments are
right, than to own it when it comes to be our own case; but David
subscribes to it with application, "Even my afflictions are just and
kind."