have subsisted, so " he prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies," Enemies we have on every side ; and such ene- mies as would de])rive us of every blessings if they were not restrained by an invisible and almighty power. But our heavenly friend protects us from their assaults, and gives us an abundant supply of all good things, even " a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.*' Nor does he omit any thing which can possibly evince his love towards us. As a Host who delights to honour his guests, he anoints our head with oil; and as the Master of the feast, he fills " our cup "with the richest wine, so that it " runneth over." These figures, though strong and clear, very inadequately represent the commu- nications of his grace, and the consolations of his Spirit. David in another psalm says, " The Lord himself is the portion of my inheritance and my cup^:" and when this is the case, can it be matter of surprise that " our cup runneth over?" No indeed ; for there is nothing on this side of heaven that can be compared with the manifestations of his love. Truly, " in his favour is life; and his loving-kindness is better than life itself."]
Whilst acknowledging thus the goodness of God to him in past times, the Psalmist does not hesitate to proclaim,
II. His prospective consolations —
These pervade the whole psalm, and arise out of every truth contained in it. Three of his assertions in particular we shall notice :
J. " I shall not want" — [With such a shepherd, and such a friend, how could he want; or what can any one so privileged ever stand in need of ? Does he not know all our wants ? and is he not able to supply them ' ? Has he not absolutely pledged himself to sup- ply them? and is there not an inexhaustible fulness treasured up in him on purpose that he may supply them ? Do we need a righteousness wherein we may stand before God ? " The right- eousness of Christ shall be unto all and upon all them that believe" Do we need grace to mortify all our corrup- tions, and to fulfil the whole will of God? " His grace shall
be sufficient for us" Do we need peace in our troubled
breasts ? He has left us peace as a legacy ; *' Peace I leave with with you; my peace give I unto you:" yea, " He himself will
be our peace" Even of temporal things he has said,
that '^ they who fear him shall want no manner of thing that is gpod*"." Whether we look to the blessings of time or the
glories •■ Ps. xvi. 5. ' Phil. iv. JQ. " Ps. xxxiy. 10.