Address —
[ We now revert to the resolution announced by the Psalmist at the very beginning of the psalm : " Because the Lord has in- clined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." This shews how justly he appreciated the Divine goodness ; that he regarded it as an inexhaustible fountain, from whence the whole creation may incessantly *' draw water with joy." The very command which God himself has given us, attests the same, and proves, that it is no less our privi- lege than our duty to " pray without ceasing," to " pray, and not faint." Oh Brethren, let every answer to prayer bring you back again more speedily to the throne of grace ; and every communi- cation of blessings to your souls make you more importunate for further blessings, till " your cup runneth over," and you are " filled with all the fulness of God."]
415.] PSALMS, cxvi. 8, g. 3/9
ccccxv.
Ps. cxvi. 8, 9. Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling : I ivill walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
IT is justly said by David, in another psalm, " The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein":" and great indeed they will appear, to all who endeavour to trace them even in the narrow sphere of their own experience. David, it is true, had a greater variety of extraordinary incidents to enumerate, and of mer- cies to be thankful for, than almost any other person whatever ; but still there is no such difference between his experience and that of other men, but that his complaints may be poiu'ed out by them, and his thanksgivings be adopted by them. In the psalm before us he seems to have been delivered from some heavy afflictions, and to have been raised from the depths of sorrow to an extraordinary eleva- tion of peace and joy. He had been encompassed with the sorrows of death, and the pains of hell had got hold upon him ; but God, in answer to his prayers, had graciously delivered him from all his troubles.
In the words which we have just read, we see, I. His review of past mercies —
God, it seems, had delivered,
1. His " soul from death" — [In its primary sense, we apprehend, these words refer to the death of the body. Saul had sought to the utmost of his power to destroy him : but God had on many occasions signally interposed for his protection, and had preserved him to the pre- sent hour. And have not we also reason to adore our God for the interpositions of his providence in our behalf ? Though we have not been in similar circumstances with David, we have been exposed to many dangers, both seen, and unseen ; and have therefore just occasion to adopt before God the same expressions of reverential gratitude.
But
"" Ps. cxi. 2.
360 PSALMS, cxvi. 8, 9. [415,
But we must doubtless include under these terms a deliverance from eternal death also''. David was assured that God had " forgiven all his sins%" not excepting those committed in the matter of Uriah'' : well therefore might he magnify the grace which had been exercised towards him. And have not we also reason to magnify our God for having rescued our souls from per- dition ? True; many of us, it is to be feared, are yet in an un- pardoned state : nevertheless, even they have cause to bless God that they have not long since been consigned over to everlasting and irremediable misery. Millions of the human race have been cut off in their sins, though they had not, it may be, attained one half the measure of iniquity that lies upon our souls : and yet they have been taken, and we left. O let us admire and adore this inscrutable mystery, and let us give unto God the glory due unto his name !