THE EXTENT OF GOD's MERCY.
Ps. lxxviii. 34 — 39. When he slew them, then they sought him ; and they returned and inquired early after God : and they remembered that God was their Mock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues : for their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not : yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath : for he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
THE psalm before us is altogether historical : yet may it be called one great parable. It is, in fact, so called by the Psalmist himself: and the very words by which he designates this composition are quoted by the Evangelist as fulfilled, when our blessed Lord spake to the people in parables, and in parables ex- clusively3. The truth is, that the whole account of the redemption of Israel from Egypt, with their pre- servation in the wilderness, and their final establish- ment in the land of Canaan, is typical of man's redemption through Christ, and of the final salvation of all God's chosen people. It is not unlike the parable of the Prodigal Son : and, unless we view it in this light, and read in it the great concerns of our own souls, we have no just conception of its true import. As a record of the most important events in the Jewish history, the writer of it might justly urge the importance of transmitting it with care, and teaching it with diligence, to all succeeding generations b: but, as a vehicle of spiritual instruc- tion, it is of inestimable value, not to Jews only, but to Gentiles also, and ought to be studied with care by every child of man.
We shall not now enter into a minute illustration of this truth, because it would occupy far more of your attention than could be allotted to one dis- course : but a general view of the subject will be
a Compare ver. 2. with Matt. xiii. 35. b ver. 3 — 6.