The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 92

to others as well as ourselves; and whose direct acts in relation to one are designed to inspire confidence in the others, and therefore must be made known. If our donor is the sovereign of the land, it is a right feeling that impels us to make lcno1.1111, her good- ness to us. ·when the prince was brought back from the gates of death, the right feeling of the nation demanded a national service of thanksgiving, and this psalm may be efficiently illustrated by the great service at St. Paul's. In this matter Christian sentiment needs to be directed. In communities where the element of worship is not prominent, public acts of praise and thanksgiving are sadly neglected. '!'rue feeling says, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord."-R. T. Ver. 22.-The stone in the corner. "The stone which the builders rejected is become the bead of the corner.'' '!'his may be the rejoicing of the leader of the procession, when it is admitted within the gates of the new temple, and advances towards the great altar. We must remember that we have here poetical figure, and we must not endeavour to force the language, as if it were descriptive fact. The figure is a very familiar one. God constantly makes the " weak things of this world confound the things that are mighty." Israel, as a nation, was like a despised stone in Babylon; now that it had again its sacred temple, it might easily be thought of as having become the corner-stone of the temple of religion for humanity. "'!'his saying was true of David, the despised one among the sons of Jesse, but raised to be the ruler of Israel and the progenitor of Christ. It was true of his descendant Zerubbabel, the head of the returning Israelites after the Captivity, whose person and work were despised (Zech. iv. 10), but who began and finished the building, and who' brought forth the head-stone with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it I ' (Zech. iv. 7). But it was to be fulfilled in the largest sense by Messiah, as the Jews themselves acknowledge." "Israel is this stone, rejected as of no account in the political plans of those who were trying to shape the destinies of the Eastern nations at their own pleasure, but in the purpose of God destined to a chief place in the building up of history." '' The emblem applies with the fullest meaning to our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though rejected by the Jewish authorities, was nevertheless destined to unite both Jews and Gentiles in one vast and glorious spiritual building." l. THE ELEVATIONS AND BENEDICTIONS OF GOD ABE ALWAYS A BUBPBISE TO THE MODEST AND BUMBLE SOUL. Their natural feeling leads them to wonder why God has dealt so graciously with them. They contrast their insignificancy in themselves with the dignities to which God lifts them; and feel the surprise of Divine grace. II. MODEST AND HUMBLE SOULS ARE THE ONES BEST FITTED TO REOEIVE DIVINE ELEVATIONS AND BENEDICTIONS. The man who glories in what he attains, as if be had obtained it himself, is proved unworthy of the elevation, and is not likely to make the best of it. The David-mood is always more hopeful than the Solomonic. In what mood do we regard the triumphs of Divine grace in our lives ?-R. T. Ver. 24.-The God-ma.de day. Jesus, rejected by the wholo Hebrew nation, :i.nd put to death, but raised from the grave, may be taken as the subject of these verses. 1n our variable climate we often have a cold and dark day followed by one full of sunBl,ine and warmth. Such was the last sabbath of the old dispensation, when Jesus was in his grave. Suddenly the clouds disappeared, and God made another day- the first day of the week-a holy and joyful sabbath to all Christians. The first saLbath was desecrated by the Crucifixion; the Lord's day was hallowed by the Resurrection. l, 'l'HE LORD'S DAY IS COMMEMORATIVE OF THE GREAT VICTORY OF JEBUS OVER ms ENEMIES. .Apparently everything had succeeded that aimed at ending the life and career of Jesus. 'l'he Comer-stone was rejected by the chief builders of the day. Jesus was in his grave; the disciples were disheartened; and Jllrusalem was exulting over the temporary triumph of Friday. 'l'he contes~, however, was ~ot _de~ided; on the morning of the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead; his d1sc1ples sprang to their feet, and the Re& urrection sealed every word that he had uttered, and every deed that he had accomplished. It was the confirmation of his life. 1. 1t was a victory over calumny and misrepresentation. He came forth the Son of God. 2. It was a victory over the weakness and faithlessness of his disciples. The Crucifixion mad@ them. PB. oxvm. 1-29.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 101