The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 8

-wh&t is there for hi~ bu~ to ~ink do_wn into a wretched pessimism, a despair of good, such as may be met with m wide regions of the thought, speech, and writing of this unbelieving age? Pride, miserable atheistic pride, is another of the Dead-Sea fruits which grow on the tree of unbelief in the supernatural. Believing that man ie self- made, he has a wonderful respect for his maker, but no gratitude to God. What then is to be done? for surely the spirit of praise- ' ' IIL Is EA.BNESTLY TO BE SOUGHT AFTEB. But how may men be me.de to praise the ~ord for his goodness-bow? This is, indeed, an important question, and almost as difficult as important. Not, we think, by their simply going over the mercies they have received, because, unless they believe them to be God's mercies, the mere enume- ration will do no good-will probably only foster pride. But we believe that St. John supplies the true answer. He says, "We love him, because he first loved us." This is the genesis of the spirit of praise, its true point and spring-our seeing and believing God's love to us in Christ our Lord. So, then, would we quicken this spirit of praise in ourselves, let us get back whence it first began; and would we awaken it in others the best, we believe the only way, is to ' "Tell them the old, old story Of Jesus e.nd his love." B.C. Vera. +-32.-Four portraits of one soul. L INQumE AS To THIS SOUL. 1. TM psal,m tells of ransomed exiles, of redeemed Israelites, and recounts the sad but varied experiences through which they had passed. Some had been wanderers, some captives, some stricken with mortal sickness, some all but lost at sea. 2. But in all ages of the Church this psalm has been taken as telling not merely of the literal facts which it records, but as setting forth in vivid and varied way the h·istory of every soul as yet imsaved. It is, then, of the soul not yet saved that this fourfold portraiture is given. II. LooK .A.T THE PORTRAITS. 1. That of the wanderer. Out of the right way, in the wilderness, and going astray there; very miserable since he can find no home or rest ; famine stares him in the face, and his soul faints within him, Is not this a. true description of such as are unsaved? Every detail answers to his experience and condition. "All we like sheep have gone astray." Wanderers from God, and weary because of it,-such is the unsaved soul./ 2. That of the captive. He is shut up in some dark dungeon, fettered hand and foot, doomed to die; he has brought it all on himself by his rebellion; the weight of his trouble has utterly cast him down; he lies prostrate on the ground, without help or hope. Here, again, the real resemblance between this portrait and the unsaved soul can be readily seen. Many such can bear testimony that they have been through it all. Christ speaks of such as captives, held fast behind prison doors and bound (Luke iv.18). Then: 3. That of the man stricken with morla1 disease. Fools are they, and not simply unhappy, for these also have brought their misery on themselves; they a.re sinners as well as foolish. But now, so stricken with sickness a.re they, that they turn from all food, and a.re at the point of death. Sin is such a disease, and they a.re fools who bring it on themselves; and the effects of it are just what is said, and there is but a. step betwixt them and death. 4. The storm-driven mariner ready to perish. Again we have a. portrait of the soul, so driven and tossed by the tempests, trials, and storms of lire, that he has almost made ahipwreck. We may he going on in our ordinary pursuits when these dreadful tempests rise; and then, at our wit's end, not knowing what to do, our soul is melted because of trouble. Out of Christ, we a.re ever exposed to such storms; for his word alone can still the tempest, and bring us to the haven where we would he. IIL OBSERVE THE POINTS OF DIFFERENCE AND - BESEMBLANOE. 1. Of difference. The first tells of the unrest and failure of the soul to find satisfaction apart from God, 'l'he second, of the awful power, oppression, and cruelty of sin. "0 wretched man that I am! who," etc.? (Rom. viL 24). 'l'he third, of the paralysis of all spiritual energies, and the drawing ever nearer death of all the faculties of the soul, which sin causes. The fourth, of the liability to sudden and overwhelming destruction of the soul unpiloted by Christ. 2. Of resemblance. All such souls have to suffer. That suffering reaches extremity ere succour comes. Nor does it come then until prayed for; but then it does CQme, and according to the need of each. 1'he Lord alone sends it. The,. PB, CVII, 1-43.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 9