David's words furnish us with these observations, 1st. That it is a sure evidence that a sinner is savingly convinced of sin by the Spirit of God, when the salvation of Jesus is the desire of his heart. 2d. That the soul, though destitute of the joy of faith, in the assurance of interest in Christ's salvation, yet may have the grace of hope in lively exercise. 3d. That when the soul faints, the word of the Lord is the sure support of hope. Study these points: settle them in your hearts: the Lord give you comfort from them.
When a person faints, the blood returns to the heart; it ceases to flow through the veins: hence the spirits sink? nature fails, the eyes see not, the limbs cease to move, life and strength depart. Have you not experienced it thus with your soul! Have you not been ready to give up hope and let all confidence go–just at the last gasp? See the actings of a gracious soul. Learn experience by David's conduct: he thinks of his best Friend, his dear Saviour; he looks up to him; he tells him what he faints for, thy salvation: for fresh knowledge of his interest in it; for the joys and comforts of it. What, when his sins stared him in the face? when his conscience was burdened with guilt? when his soul fainted within him, and without assurance in his heart of interest in Christ's salvation? is this a time to go to Christ? Yes, the very time, the proper time, the time of need, in which we are exhorted to "come boldly." Heb. 4:16.
O, my fainting fellow-sinner! What a precious Saviour is Jesus! What a glorious salvation hath he finished for us! What a special mercy it is, that the Spirit excites desires in our souls for the enjoyment of it! Well, though David's soul faints, yet says he, "I hope in thy word." What, without faith? No: he had living faith in his heart, though he fainted for the joy and comfort of faith: he believed the word of grace and salvation, and he hoped for the fulfilment of the promises of his Lord, to the reviving of his soul: he honours his Lord's word, trusts in his faithfulness, and casts the anchor of his hope upon his truth. Go and do likewise; "for we are saved by hope." Rom. 8:24. "Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail, whither Jesus is for us entered." Heb. 6:19, 20.