HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-21.-0pposition, deliverance, thanlcsgiving. The psalmist (or the nation) ir passing, or has just passed, through great distress. He (it) has been the object of malignant and determined attack; he has been surrounded by enemies, ancl been in peril of his life; he has then, as always, sought help from above; and he has been so graciously relieved that he has the sense of deliverance in his soul, and the song of triumph on his lips. I. Hu.MAN OPPOSITION. This begins in: 1. Hatred; or a hostile feeling (ver. 7). It is bad enough that men should cherish a spirit of enmity toward us, that they should wish us evil. But this passes into: 2. A. hostile attitude. '!'hose who are opposed to us "compass us about" (vers. 10-12). They quietly surround us with the network of their intrigue. They go beyond this; they bring to bear on us: 3• .Active opposi- tion. They "thrust sore at us" (ver. 13); their voice is raised in accusation, in detraction, in opposition; they take active measures to defeat, to distress, even to !~in Ul!. It may be that their efforts conduct to: 4. The most grave results. Pos1t1ve disaster may impend (vers. 17, 18). It may be war "unto death." II. THE HOPE oF THE AFFLICTED. When thus engirt with enemies, our health, or our pence, or our position being seriously threatened, we have a refuge in God. 1. This trouble is so far of him that he has permitted it, nnd he has it under his control. Our appeal is therefore rightly directed to him. 2. Hie power against our adversaries is unquestioned and unbounded; let him lift his hand, and they are discomfited (ver. 16). With God at our side, animating and inspiring us, we ourselyes sh_all pr~ve wiser and stron"'er than they (vers. 10-12). 3. Conscious of our own mtegnty, with clean bands and a pure heart, assured that we are not seeking o_ur own interests but those of the kingdom of Christ, we count confidently on his sympathy and succour ( vers. 6, 7). III. DrvINE BELIEF. We cal I on God, and he answers us, and sets us "in a large place" (ver. 5). He takes us 0ut of the straits in which we were hemmed in, and places us where we can Lreathe freelv and can act happily and fearlessly. He has become" our salvation'' (ver 14). o'ur liabilities are met,. our enemies disarmed, our reputation cleared, our position secured, our friend, reconciled and restored, our path is made plain; we "return unto our rest." Then comes the blessedness of- IV THANK~GIVING. I. In the TU!art. (Vere. 1--4,) Let every one that has been thus PB. cxnn.1-29.J THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 01 -------------·--------------- ------ delivered, to whatever tribe he may belong, say that the pity of the Lord "endureth for ever," that it never fails. 2. In the home. (Ver. 15.) The voice of praise should be heard beneath every roof where God is known and his goodness has been felt. 3. In the sanctuary. (Vera. 19, 20, 21.) In the psalmody which is heard in the Church there is many a note, detected by the ear of God, which is the outpouring of a rescued and relieved human spirit.
Vers. 22-29.-The great reversal. To whomsoever these words (vers. 22, 23) primarily referred, we have foe highest authority for applying them to our Lord himself. In his case we have- I. THE GREAT REVERSAL, (Vers. 22, 23.) No reversal of fortune in human affairs can be comparable to his experience. Consider: 1. His course on earth-the circum- stances of his birth, of his youth, and of his manhood; his claims disowned, his truth rejected, himself insulted, ill-treated, condemned, smitten, crucified! 2. The nature of bis position now as the Divine Head of the Church. He may be said to be both the Foundation-stone and also the Corner or Top-stone (the "epistyle "); for his Church is built upon his truth and, still more truly, upon himself; and, at the same time, it looks up to him as the most conspicuous One on whom its eyes rest with reverence and love. 3. The exaltation he enjoys in the heavenly world (see Phil. ii. 9-12; Rev, v.13). II. THE LONG BRIGHT DAY OF GRACE AMD GLADNESS. (Ver. 24.) The position of Jesus Christ as" Prince and Saviour, giving redemption and remission of sins," is a long, bright day,'succeeding the darkness of heathendom or the twilight of" the Law;" it is a day which "the Lord has made" for the nations of the earth. We may well "rejoice and be glad in it;" not thinking and speaking and singing of it as if it were a dispensation of dreariness and gloom, but realizing that it is one of close fellowship with God, of holy and happy service, of ever-brightening hope (see Phil. iii. 1; iv. 4; Eph. ii. 6; iii. 19; Rev. i. 6). "The joy of the Lord" is that which becomes us; it is our duty and it is" our strength." Yet is there- III. THF. NEED FOR EARNEST PRAYER. (Ver. 25.) 1. That the individual soul may be "saved," strengthened, comforted, sanctified. 2. That the Church, the society, the institution, may be "prospered;" that its officers may be in~pired and directed; that its action may be pure in motive and high in aim; that its efforts may be crowned with true and lasting success. IV. THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE. (Ver. 27.) Jehovah, through his prophets, so enlightened his people thnt they brought to his altar the acceptable sacrifice. The great 'l'eacher has so enlightened us by his Divine truth, that we have reached the pince of purest and most well-pleasing sacrifice-the dedication of the entire nature, the mind, the affections, the will, and of the whole life, at home, in business, in society, to the service of the Lord. V. THE soUL's DELIGHT IN Goo. The contemplation of God's goodness, and especially of his grace to us, may well lead us into an atmosphere of exultation, and call forth from us the language of fervent praise.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 16.-The valiant rigl1t hand of the Lord. The history of Israel was full of illustrations and evidences of this. The occasion of this psalm was one of them. Dnt apply the thrice-repeated declaration of the text- I. 'l.'o OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. For: I. See how he overcomes Satan. He was tempted in all points like as we are, and again aad again, and yet Satan found nothing in him. 2. Sin. He was holy, harmless, and undefiled; he did no sin. 3. The Law's condemnation. "He was just, an,! yet the Justifier of him who," etc. "!Ie magnified the Law, and made it honourable." 4. Death. By his resurrection and ascension. 6, .All the works of the devil. (Cf. 1 Cor. xv. 24.) II. To TIIE TRIUMPHS OF THE oosPEL. Read tho history of the Church, trace its growth and increase, see its onward march still. lll. To THE I~DIVID 'AL BELIEVING sooL. What hindrances we put, and still put, in 92 THE DOOK OF rSALMS. [P8, CXVIII. 1-20.
our Lord's way I what pride, unbelief, love of sin, and all the rest! and yet one after another he beats them all down.-S. C.