Ps. cxlvii. 5 — 7. Great is our Lord, and of great poiver : his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek : he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving ; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.
AN acquaintance with God is the one object which we should seek after ; since by that alone can we ascertain the extent of our guilt and danger ; or be brought to accept the salvation offered us in the Gospel. In the passage before us we have a glorious
representation of him : and if we view him aright, our souls will be filled with unutterable peace and joy.
Let us consider, I. The character of God as here declared —
He is here set before us,
1. In his essential attributes —
[He is a God of inconceivable power, and of infinite wis- dom. View him in the works of creation, and see what an union of these two perfections is displayed both in heaven
and earth Behold the same in all the works
of providence, upholding every thing in its order, and accom- plishing for every thing all that is necessary for its well-being
Behold it above all in his works of grace. Well is the
Gospel called the " wisdom of God and the power of Goda." Truly when man had fallen after the example of angels, it seemed impossible but that he must also share their doom. But infinite wisdom devised a way whereby mercy might be extended to sinners in perfect consistency with the rights of justice ; and the poiver of God has carried into effect that plan, " laying help for us upon One that was mighty," and opening, through the sacrifice of his only-begotten Son, a way of ac- ceptance with him for every child of manb
Had either of these perfections existed in him without the other, his power would have been an object of terror only, and his wisdom might have been exercised for us in vain. But their united exercise renders him a fit object for our most ardent love, and unbounded affiance.]
2. In his dealings with mankind —
[" The meek" are objects of his peculiar care. But under
this name we do not comprehend those who are naturally of a
calm and placid disposition ; but those who are humbled under
a sense of sin, and abased before God as deserving his wrath
and indignation0 Now such as these " he lifteth up,"
speaking peace to their souls, and causing their hearts to over- flow with joy d If there were but one such person in the
universe, God would search him oute and " raise him
up out of the dust to set him among princes, and to make him inherit a throne of glory f"
On the other hand, " the wicked," who hold fast their wickedness and refuse to humble themselves before him, " he will cast down to the ground," and consign over to everlasting
perdition^ He will assuredly, and in all cases, carry
into effect that determination which he has so often announced
a 1 Cor. i. 24. » John hi. 16. 1 Tim. i. 15. c Isai. lxi. 1.
d Isai. lxi. 3. e Isai. lxvi. 2. f 1 Sam. ii. 8. s Ps. ix. 17.