The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 43

may not press the sentences of this psalm to any nice exactitude, yet it is substnntially as true of the good man, and as applicable to his life on earth now, as it was at the hour when it was written. Piety, a reverence for God which shows itself in ready obedience to his will, has these solid advantages: it ensures- !. THE BLESSEDNESS OF HOLY SERVI0E. (Ver. 1.) The man who fears God" delicrhts greatly in h!s commandments." Others may be tasting the bitter fruits of self-;'ill, may be reapmg the sad consequences of disobedience, but his heart is filled with the peace _and with the joy of holy service. He finds a pure, elevating, lasting happiness m domg everything unto God his Saviour, even in bearing his will. Languor and dissatisfaction are banished from the life of devotion, and in their place are serenity of spirit and gladness of heart. " I delight to do thy will, 0 my God." For UB to live is Christ-to be engaged every hour in his blessed service. II. THE EFFICIENT TRAINING OF THE YOUNG (ver. 2), and all which that includes. ~o~ from ~be _home of the ~oly do there go for~h sons and daug~ters unprincipled, v1c10us, m1scb1evous, sbort-hved. Taught Gods truth and tramed in Christian principle5, young men and women leave the home of the godly prepared for the battle of life. It is they who are most ready for serious duties, for responsible positions, for offices of trust; it is they who are most likely to rise to power and to honour. Exceptions being excepted, H is distinctly true that " the generation of the upright are blessed." Even from a temporal standpoint, it is a very great advantage for any son or daughter to be trained in a Christian home. DI. WoRK THAT WILL LAST FOR LIFE. (Ver. 3.) If the upright man does not obtain" wealth and riches "-though the virtues which are the fruit of piety are the root of much material success-he has the far more precious wealth of moral and spiritual worth, and " bis righteousness endureth." It is not a brief flash that goes out and is lost; it is a steady light that shines through all his days. He bas the favour of God, the esteem of his neighbours, actual intrinsic goodness, for his possession. And of this no accident or misfortune can rob him. IV. DELIVERANCE IN THE DABK HOUR. (Ver. 4.) He does not expect to go through life without bis share of trial. If he were wise he would not choose such a dubious exemption (see Heb. xii. 5-11). But he knows he will not. "Many are the afflictions" even "of the righteous," and they will surely come to his door. He, too, will know something of "the power of darkness." But to him there will "arise light." 1. Present deliverance will come. He will patiently 11nd devoutly pursue his course of integrity and of waiting upon God, and God will give him his heart's desire; his name will be cleared, his health restored, his property regained, his friendship renewed, his work prospered. 2. Divine support will be so abundantly bestowed that his soul will be filled with peace even in the midst of bis trouble (see 2 Cor. xii. 10). 3. After bearing the burden of earthly trial, and passing through a long night of temporal adversity, there will gleam the bright light of the heavenly home. V. THE BLESSING OF ENDURING GRATITUDE. (Vere. 4-6, 9.) He is gracious, com- passionate, generous, full of practical kindness, just to others (guiding hiH affairs with a due regard to what is owing to other men); the result will be that be will earn the esteem and the thanks of many hearts, and he will live lung in their grateful remem- brance. The unholy and consequently self-centred man passes through life w;thout awakening any affection or evoking any appreeiation,-he is disregarded, perhaps denounced; men either forget or disparage him when he is dead; but the holy and unselfish man lives in the love of his fellows, and when he dies leaves a fragrant memory behind him. VI. DEVOUT CONFIDENCE IN FACE OF THE FUTURE. (Ver. 8.) Unaccompanied, undefended, by a heavenly Friend, we may well fear as we look before us. Who can tell wha.t the next turn in the road will reveal to us? Who can say what losses and disappointments a':"'ait us? _Who can count on continued healt~ ~r prosperity?. Who can be assured acramst calamity or sudden death? But the Clmst1an man, who 1s well assured that all ~vents are in the band of God, that the life and death of his saints o.re precious iu his sight, that all things work together for good to them that love God, that in the saddest sorrows there may be disguised the truest love and the greatest blc,i;sing, that death itself is but the sombre gateway of eternal glory,-be need not foar. His heart is established; he will not be afraid. All will be well with him; everything will conduce to spiritual good and to a lasting heritage. PII, CXII. 1-10,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 45