Ver. 43.-The wise observance of God's loving-kindness. The Prayer-book Version reads, " Whoso is wise will ponder these things;" will think about them; will brood over them. The signs of God's active and gracious working, in men's lives, is clear enough, but only to the "wise," who "thoughtfully ponder what the thoughtless pass by." I. THE LOVTh"G-Krn'DNESS OF GoD IS NOT APPARENT TO EVIIRYDODY. Many are stumbling oHr the severities of God's dealings, and, indeed, over the presence of evil, in the senses of wrong and calamity, in his world. How can the God of love stani:l aloof, and permit the misery of the earth? How can the doom of vast masses of humanity be consistent with Divine love and Fatherhood? We venture to say that these difficulties a.re fdt because men a.re car-ried away by surface appearances, and do not ponder. They look upon the events of a limited time and space, and do not try to estimate God's dealings in view of all time ancl all ~pace. Mistake follows studyin" parts; it is relieved by studying wholes. It is not easy to appraise a.right passing things; we cannot see how they fit. A bird's-eye view sets things in places and relations, and so explains a great deal. II. THE LOVING-KINDNESS OF GoD 18 REVEALED TO THE UNBIASBED. And they only a.re the "wise." Every bias, prejudice, preconceived opinion, is a limitation of faculty, a misdirection of judgment. And if man would understand God's ways, it is of supreme importance that he should clear his mind, and come with the simplicity of true wisdom, to such studies. IIL THE LOVING-KINDNESS OF GoD 18 REVEALED TO THE THOUGHTFUL. Here the idea is that mistake is made by coming to a too hasty decision or judgmeut. The thoughtful man is the man who is content to keep on thinking; who wants to see things all round and all through before he makes up his mind. Quietly wait to see the loving-kindnesa. It is often only revealed when the ends of God's dealings are reached. 1 IV. THE LOVING-KINDNESS OF GoD 18 REVEALED TO TBE EXPERIENCED. lt is the man who only observes it who is so often misled. The man who feels it will be sure to realize the loving-kindness at last, if not at first.-R. T.
Vers. 1-43.-God's watchful care. "Whatever the circumstances under which the psalm was written, there can be no doubt as to the great lesson which it inculcates"- that God watches over men, and his ear is open to their prayers. Look ot some illustrations. L GOD HAD ANSWERED THE CRY OF THE JEWS IN EXILE, A.ND RESTORED THEM TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. (Vers. 2, 8, 9.) They were called on to give thanks for those wonders, and to remember that " he filleth the hungry soul with good." God is working toward the deliverance of all enslaved nations. This thought is amplified in vers. 10-16, with special reference to the sins that had plunged them into such helpless afliictiun, and therefore how much they should praise God for loving-kindness! I!. THE Ell!PHATIO THOUGHT IN VERB. 17-22 IS THAT GOD DELIVERS WICKED MEN1 WREN THEY CALL UPON HIM, OUT OF TBE VERY SHADOWS OF DEATH. God pities transgressors, and loves them with an infinite compassion in their terrors and sufferings. He sendeth his word-the message of his mercy-and healeth them ; delivers them " from tLeir graves." III. .Another example : HE DELIVERS THE BAILOR FROM THE STORMS OF THE BEA. (Vera. 23-32.) Wonderful description of a storm and its subsidence. "Then a.re they p;lnd because they be quiet, and he leadeth them to their desired haven." The psalmist is writing poetry under the inspiration of a devout faith; and not science, dis- cussing the unchangeable laws of material nature. The preacher must do his utmost to reconcile poetry and science in the theology be teaches. IV. N0w the current of thnught changes its direction, but only for a moment. Go:t> SOMETIMES MAKES THE WICRED AN EXAM,PLE OF BIB TE.MPOllAY. JUDGMENTB. (Vers. PS. avm. 1-13.J THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 15
33, 34.) But this thought is uncongenial, and is soon changed again for the thought of God's mercy. The wildtirness is crowned with cities; and the poor and hamble are rnised to the condition of princes, and the rich and the proud overthrown. The question nt the close most suggestive-that it is only the observant and the wise that can understand the loving-kindnesses of God; only they that can approach to the solution of the great problems of God's providence.-S.