The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 18

of a man's self as a living sacrifice." The Prayer-book Version seal,; this in Hs rendering, "with the best member that I have."-H. 'l', Ver. 2.-Morning religion. "I myself will awake right early" (Revised Version). The (dea seems to be, that the anxiety to be praising God is so strong in the pealmiHt that 1t actually wakes. A man wakes early when he has a mind burdened with busi- ness or family cares; the psalmist wakes early because his mind is burdened with its sense of indebtedness to God. Perhaps but few of us can say that we shorten our self- i~dulgent sleep for the sake of praise and prayer. Our Lord lived a crowded, bustled bfe; but as he _must have, for: soul-refreshing, daily communion with his Father, he was wont to "rise a great wlnle before day." According to the Eastern use of the figure, waking early to do a thing was the sign of beina thoroughly in earnest in the doing. A man has his heart in the thing which he get~ up early to accomplish. I. MORNING RELIGION IS REFRESHING TO THE SOUL, Because then thought is free and emotion lively, and there is a bright and cheerful tone on all that is said and done. When wearied with the day and its toils and care, religious meditation easily becomes iloomy, the fatigued body :flinging its shadows over all the expressions of the spirit. Give the freshness of morning thoughts to God, and that service will surely come back on you as refreshing. II. Mm:NING RELIGION 18 ACCEPTABLE TO GoD. Because it shows him that we a.re in earnest in his service, and hold onr very best as the fitting gift to offer to him. " The :flower that's offered in the bud is the best sacrifice.'' 'l'hat is as true of the day as of the life. And God may be expected to estimate our gifts in the light of what they cost us to present to him. That is our way of appraising the gifts which we receive, and we may be sure that it is God's way. What, then, is God's estimate of our daily praise and thanksgiving? Does it really cost us much! It does if, for it, we awake early; preventing the day lest we should lose our holy opportunity, or be beneath our best and freshest in our communions. fil MoB:i..TJNG RELIGION IS INFLUENTIAL ON OTHERS. It is one of the most effective and impressive examples; and it has a special influence on the young, helping them to form good life-habits, Many of us can gra!;afully remember the influence of the early morning devotions of our parents. Let us gain the power on others which they have gained on us.-R. T. ' Ver. 6.-Hope and prayer inspired by praise. In this verse we trace the influence which the spirit and utterance of praise has upon the psalmist. It leads to prayer, and gives him confidence in prayer. I. PRAISING GoD BRINGS HOME TO •s GoD'B RELATIONS TO us, AND OUR RELATIONS TO GoD. Praising God for what be has done convinces us of his kindly feeling toward us and interest in us, so that we may even think and speak of ourselves as God's beloved. This may be regarded as David's way of thinking of himself; but a similar appropriation of the Divine love we may make. It is the realization of our Father's personal love to us that fills us with hope, and gives us confidence to pray, We never think of putting God under any constraint of prayer. We pray as children make their requests of parents who love them. JL PRAIBlNG GOD BEOOMES AN INSPmATION TO PRAYER FOR FURTHER BLESSINGS. 1. It gives us argument. For we only praise because we know that God h~s answered our prayers. It is really for those answers that we offer prayer. Once let 1t be estab- lished in our Learts that God is the prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God, and we have the all-sufficing ground on which to seek him in every form of now distress and need. Praise is only possible when we fully recognize reasons for praise. 2. It gives us the feeling that makes us long to pray, and so gain yet. more reason to pr~ise. Praise and prayer are indissolubly linked together. No man will pray long who gives up praising, and no man will keep up his praise who neglects his prayi~g. If we _find our~clves hesitating about praying for what we ~ewly need, th_e best t~mg to do 1~ to set aliout praisin;,: for the blessings we have received. Just as 1t was w~th the psalmist, so it will be with us. Let praise do its work, and it will be sure to lead m prayer.-R. T. Ver. 7.-Conscious strength through God's pledge. The conslniction of this and the tLn,8 Lll1_,wi □.:,: versed is somewhat difficult to trace. It may be that tho verses are l'8. ovw. 1-18.j 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 19