Vers. 137-lG0.-Ea,-nestness. Much is said in this psalm a·oout seeking and serving "with the whole heart." This is, indeed, the secret of real success, of ultimate victory. Many will fail t-0 reach the goal and to wear the prize because they set out in II languid, half-hearted spirit, or because they started with nothing more than religious excitement. What is needed is genuine earnestness of soul. 'l.'his- I. INCLUDES A PROFOUND REGARD FOR THE WILL AND WORD OF Goo. To this the psalmist gives utterance here (vers. 137, 138, 140, 142, 144, 151, 152, 159, 160). 1. It is the truth itself. 2. It makes perfectly juRt and righteous demands. 3. It offers only that which is certain to be granted, and rcq uires only that which is truly necessary; it is "very faithful." 4. It is free from everything that would wound sensitiven...ss or hurt the conscience, and it makes for absolute goodness and virtue; it is very pure. 5. It blesses and sustains through all the changes of a human life, and it outlives the changes of the centuries. It is as needful now as it ever was, e.nd it will be the stay an,l strength of human souls for ever; it is "everlasting." 6. It is worthy of our deep and true affection; it is something we "love." H. TRIUMPHS OVER OUR SENSE OF PERSONAL INSIGNlFJCANCE. (Ver. 141.) Religious earnestness does not dwell upun, and is not arrested by, a sense of personal obscurity. Every human soul is great., because related intimately to God, and because bound to duty and capable of holy service. The most despised individual soul can huld in its mind the tboughts and il!Ubtrate in its life the truth and principles of God himself (see Ps. xl. 17). IIL TRIUMPHS OVER THE DEPRESSION OF GREAT SORROWS. (Ver. 143.) Troubles may accumulate, heavy burdens may weigh down the soul, saddest losses may darken the way, but the earnest spirit that trusts in God and looks to him for help will not be overwhelmed. IV. INvOLVES DEVOTEDNESS TO THE OAUSE OF Goo AND TRUTH. (Vera. 136, 139, 158.) The reverent study oi God's Word will make us increasingly conformed to the likeness and deepeningly interested in the cause of God. Hence there will be growing in our hearts a profuund grief as we witness the sins and the consequent sorrows and miseries of mankind. This will rest on our heart and sadden our life, even as it did with our Lord. The woe of the world will be our trouble ; and the cause of Christ, so often defeated and so long arrested., will be the source of great and lifelong solicitude. Of ourselves, as of our Master, it will be relatively true that "our zeal has consumed us," has worn us ont (Ps. lxix. 9; John ii. 17). V. SHOWS ITSELF IN A STRONG BENSE OF Goo's NEAR PRESENCE .AND GREAT GOODNESS. (Vers. 151, 156.) VI. SHOWS ITSELF IN CONTINUAL DELIGHT IN DIVINE TRUTH. (Ver. 148.) Whether taken hyperbolically or literally, the text indicates a deep unbroken delight in medi- tating on the revealed truth of God; even weariness and sleep give way to the eager• ness and interest which is taken in these high themes, in these precious promises. VII. SHOWS ITSELF IN FERVENT PRAYER. (Vera. 145~147, 149, 154, 156, 169.) The psalmist tells us how much and how earnestly he cried and pleaded with God; be continually breaks int-O the strain of his song with the prayer, "Quicken thou me I" If we are in earnest in the service of Christ, we shall: r. Realize that we have urgent need of constant Divine influence from the Holy Spitit. 2. Have our regular times of public and private devotion, which we shall not permit business or pleasure to invade. a. Maintain intercourse with Heaven by the abiding sense of God's presence and tho frequent, ejaculatory prayer.
Vers. 161-168.-True things. Here we have- I. THE TRUE DREAD. (Ver. 161.) 1. Not the displeasure or the opposition of man; thou;!:h this may be incurred without cause, and we may feel that the suspicion, _or the ill feding, or the attack is altogether wanton and unprovoked. 2. But the dis- pleasure of God. Uudisturbed by hum~n i_ll will or intrigue, we _"s~and in awe'.' of Divine disapproval; we shrink from thmkrng the thought,. chcnshm~ the feeling, takin, the course which Christ would condemn; we are afraid of leavrng undone or unattc7mpted that't, which he is calling us with his sovere;gn voice. II. Tm: TnUE TREASURE. (Ver. 162.) 1. Not the "spoils" of wealth, or rank, or powe1, or learning, or a round of pleasurable excitements; these soun lose their relisl:.. I'S, onit. 1-176.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 119
and they too often leave a bitter taste bebi!!d. 2. But the revelation of God's grace of bis mind, of his purpose and promise, as made known in bis Word. ' Ill. THE TRUE WOIID. (Ver. 163.) Falsehood is utterly offensive to God, and it is most hurtful to ourselves; it spells spiritual ruin to him that indulges in it; it is an evil weed that grows with saddening rapidity. Truthfulness in utterance is a larue and essential part of all spiritual worth. " IV. 'l'HE TRUE SPIRIT. That of thankfulness. (Ver. 164.) It is not, of course, the number of times we offer praise that is acceptable; for mere mechanical thanksuiving is worthless, though rendered a hundred tirr.es a day. It is the spirit of gratitude which is everything-the recognition by the mind that it is by God's grace we are what we are, and the feeling of thankfulness dwelling in the soul; it is the inner sense of God's goodness, carried with us everywhere, uttering itself simply and unaffectedly. V. 'l'HE TRUE SECURITY. (Ver. 165.) In the ordering of our life, we want these two things among others-peace and integrity. The love and the practice of Divine truth will yield both of these. 1. It will save us from stumbling (nothing will "offend" us); we shall not fall into the vices or faults which lead down to shame and self- reproach; we shall not give way to the contentiousness which ends in feuds and separations. 2. Hence we shall have peace-the approval of our own conscience, tb.e good will of men, the " well done '' of God. VI. Tm: TRUE HOPE. (Ver. 166.) The final "salvation" for which we hope (see Rom. xiii. 11) is the true hope for man. The "peace of the grave" is not a true peace, but a false one. Mere unbroken unconsciousness is not a thing to be desired by us. But the hope of eternal life, based on the firm promises of G,,d, and secured by "doing his commandments," by fidelity to the end (see Heb. iv. 1; 2 .1:'et. i. 10, 11; Rev. iii. 11), by being "faithful unto death." VIL THE TRUE SOURCE OF SANCTITY. (Ver. 168.) If we would maintain our obedience everywhere and always, we must realize the truth that "all our ways are before God." We must "stand before God," must "walk with God," as the saints of olden time did. We must take with us everywhere the truth that we thiuk our thoughts, speak our words, live our life, in the near presence and under the approving or disapproving eye of our Lord himself.