Ps. cvii. 43. JVhoso is jvise and will olserve these things, even they shall undersland the loving-kindness of the Lord.
TO know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, is the highest privilege and perfection of man. This attainment, infinitely beyond all other, con- stitutes true wisdom. But to acquire this know- ledge, it is necessary that we study well, not the book of Revelation only, but the records also of God's providential dealings with mankind. The Word and works of God mutually reflect light on each other ; and the more extensive and accurate our observation is of those things which occur from day to day, the more just will be our apprehension of God's nature and perfections. True indeed it is, that, as far as theory is concerned, we may learn every thing from the Scripture alone: for in the
world
410.] god's love seen in all his dispensations. 357
world and in the Church we can find only a re- petition of those things which are recorded in the Sacred Volume: but a practical sense of God's love is greatly furthered by the constant exhibition of it which may be seen in his dealings with us ; so that we may well say with the Psalmist, " Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall under- stand the loving-kindness of the Lord."
We propose to shew, I. What those things are which are here presented to our notice —
To enter fully into them, we should distinctly con- sider the different representations which are here given of God's merciful interposition in behalf of be- wildered travellers, incarcerated prisoners, dying- invalids, and mariners reduced to the lowest ebb of despondency. But instead of minutely prosecuting those different inquiries % we will draw your attention to the two principal points which pervade the whole ; namely,
1. The timely succour which he affords to the distressed —
[The instances mentioned in the psalm are only a few out of the numberless interpositions which God vouchsafes to men in distress : but whatever be the trouble from which we are delivered, it is of infinite importance that we see the hand of God both in the trouble itself and in the deliverance from it. There is neither good nor evil in a city, but it must be traced to God as its author. Whether men or devils be the agents, it matters not ; they can do nothing without a special license from God himself: and hence, when men had plundered Job of all his possessions, and Satan had destroyed all his children, he equally ascribed the different events to God ; " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." Thus must we do : we must ascribe nothing to chance, and nothing to the creature, except as an instnmient in the hands of God. If the folly or malignity of man injure us, or the wisdom or benevolence of man repair the injury, we must look through the second causes, and fix our eyes on God, as the first great Cause of all. If we see not God in the dispensations,
of
' If this subject were used as a Thanksgiving after a Storm, or after a Recovery from Sickness, the particular circumstances should here be noticed, with an especial reference to that part of the psalm that is proper to the occasion.
358 PSALMS, evil. 43. [410.
of course we shall learn nothing of God from them : but if we behold his agency in them, then will our eyes be opened to see his wisdom and goodness also.]
2. His condescending attention to their prayers — • [In all the instances specified in the psalm, God's interposi- tions are mentioned as answers to prayer : " They cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their dis- tresses." Many, alas ! of the prayers which are offered in seasons of difficulty and distress have respect to nothing more than the particular occasion, and are accompanied with no real desire after God : yet even these prayers God often condescends to hear, just as he did the prayers in which Ahab deprecated the judg- ments denounced against him. But when the prayers proceed from a penitent and contrite heart, and are offered up in the prevailing name of Jesus Christ, God will hear them at all times and under all circumstances. We do not say that the precise thing which may be asked shall certainly be granted ; because God may see that, on the whole, that would not prove a blessing to the person who asks it : but no prayer that is offered up in faith shall go forth in vain : it shall surely be answered, if not in the way expected or desired, at least in a way that shall ultimately prove most conducive to the good of him that offers it.]