V, THEY BENDER THE PRACTICES OF THE PROUD POWERLESS TO DO US HARM, (Vere. 69, 70.) They woulld shrink from no falsehood to injure the godly, but they cannot separate him from the God in whom he trusts and delights. VI. THEY MAKE Goo AND IIIS WORD VERY PRECIOUS. (Ver. 72.) We say, "A friend in need is a frieod iodeed." But if when in deep affliction God came to our help, and sustained us under it, and sanctified us through it, and comforted us con- tinually, must not that God be precious to our soul? Assuredly yes 1-S. C. Vers. 73-80.-The sustaining power of the Word of God. The psalmist has just come forth from some heavy affliction; but all through it God's Word has been his stay; and some of the results of such God-sustained affliction a.re showo in this section. They may be classed under the three heads of- I. CoNVICTION. This relates: 1. To the fact that his life has been ordered of God. (Ver. 73.) "Thy hands have," etc. He is speakiog not merely of his body, that God created that, but rather he speaks of that as proof that all else concerning him had been ma.de and fashioned of God-his life was according to the settled purpose and plan of God. "He knoweth the way that I take." llles~ed is it when we come to recogoize this truth; for then shall we know that we are not the sport of mere caprice or blind chance, but are under the control of God, who cannot err, and wbo, " like as a father, pitieth his children." 2. That in righteousness and faithfulness God had af/Ucted him. (Ver. 75.) Men find it very hard to say this now; they never do say it of themselves; but God's grace can enable a. man to say it, as here and hereafter in .heaven we shall say it. But it is good to be able to say it now. H. AssuBANCE (ver. 74) that his trust in God under his affliction would win for him the glad welcome of those who feared God. The warm welcome of the people of God is one of the many recompenses with which those who for Christ's sake suffer will be met (Matt. xix. 29). III. PRAYERFULNESS, Note his petitions: 1. Fo1· understanding, so that he might learn, etc. (Ver. 73.) 'fhis is II petition he is perpetually offering (see vers. 3f, 1:!5, 144, 169, 27, 100, etc.). It implies that if men did but understand, their hearts would turn to God (Pas. xiv. 2; lxxxii. 5; Isa.. vi. 10). And, undoubtedly, it would be so. The failure is not in the intellect, but in the heart. 2. For more knowledge of God's promised mercy (vers. 76, 77); so that he may be comforted thereby, and that he might live (ver. 77). Life without the realization of God's tender mercies would not be worth having. 3. For the bringing of the proud to shame, if so be God's will; if it were not, then he would not bo without help, for he would meditate in, etc. (ver. 78). 4. For the friendship of the good. How blessed to have this (ver. 79) I 6. Fvr soundness of heart in God's statutes. Tbo heart is the all-important thing.-S. C.
Vers. 81-88.-" Persecuted, but not forsaken." I. PERSECUTED. That he was so is clear from the verses before us. For he says: 1. "JJ[y soul fainteth," etc. (Ver. 81.) He was heart-sick at the long delay of the hoped-for help. Year after year, generation after generation, it he.s been at times the lot of God's people to suffer persecution. And then the piteous confession of these verses is heard. 2. "Mine eyes fail," etc. (Ver. 82.) As one who steadily gazes out into the distance, looking for aid promised, expected, but does not come, at length his eyes become weary and dim, and his sorrow finds utterance in the plaintive words, "When wilt thou comfort me?" Hard, indeed, is the lot of such. 3. His very countenance and his body generally showed the marks qf hia dist1·ess. (Ver. 83.) Like as a wine skin-bottle hung up in the smoke or the fire would blacken e.nd shrivel, become dry, parched, wrinkled, aml useless, so the deep lines and the wasted look and the shrunken form told of the inward anguish of the soul. 4. It was near the close of his life, and his persecution, so wrong and unjust, still continued, (Vere. 84-86.) They sought to trap him as if ho were n wild beast (ver. 85). So did the ungodly deal with him. Persistont, cruel, cunning, unjust, ever seeking his life-how pite01.n such a condition I 6. He was "almost consitmed.'' (Ver. 87.) As a '.Jrand blackened and charred, and all but burnt up and reduced to ashes. It is an emblem of uttermost distress. Ycs; he was persecuted, and it wa3 hanl to bear. II. BoT HE WAS NOT FORSAKEN, 1. For the promises of Gotl were his slay. Ho TIIE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. CXIX, 1-178,
l10ped in them still (ver. 81.). Did not forget God's statutes, Forsook not his precepts (,crs. 83, Si). 2. He wa,s sure that God would fulfil his Word, (Ver. 84.) It was only a qm,stion ?f "~hen?" 3. His soul still tw·ned to God. Praying for help (ver. 86). For qmckenmg, so that be might keep hold of God's testimonies. Belie,·ing absolutely in the loving-kindness of God (ver. 88). Now, a man who can do all thi~, persecuted he may he, as this man was, but forsaken he is not. Oh the blessedness of re.al faith in God! Life is often terribly stern. Gethsemane and Calvary are along the way God's people often have to take, though never can they be to us so awful as they were to our Lord. But as unto him, so to us, light ariseth out of darkness; for such is the blessedness of the people of God.-S. C.