The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 122

this, for example, that occasionally they may allow themselves in some evil way. And so they never attain to holiness; such double-hearted ones never can. God must teach us this (ver. 102). IV. BECOMES HIS DELIGHT. (Ver. 103.) This is the meaning of the metaphor of this verse. The soul has its relish as well as the palate. And it is a blessed thing when the soul has a real relish for the things of God. Christ said, "I de!iO"ht to do thy will, 0 my God." So was it foretold of him (Ps. xl.). And he him"self said, •• My meat and my drink is to do the will of him that sent me." The religion of fear, of conscience, of sense, of duty, of hope, of reward, is feeble-must be so-but the religion that delights in God is strong for all things. V. GrvEs HOLY HATRED OF ALL BIN. (Ver. 104.) He whom God has taught so to understand will thus hate all sin. Blessed hatred is this.-S. C. Vere. 105-112.-The illuminated path. We have here- I. A BLESSED FACT, WITNESSED TO BY THE EXPERIENCE OF ·MYRIADS OF Goo's PEOPLE. (Ver. 105.) There has been no age of the world since God's revelation has been given, !JO period of life whether in youth or age, no rank of society from the lowest to the highest, no condition of lire in which men have been placed, but what they have found this Word true. God's Word has counsel for every difficulty, comfort in every trouble, guidance in all perplexity. Men go wrong, not from want of knowledge of the right, but from unwillingness to follow the right. II. NoTABLE BESULTB THAT FOLLOW. 1. .A steadfast resolve to 1,eep to this path. (Ver. 106.) 'l'he soul has seen how well it is to abide i11 God's way, and here declares that what it has seen and resolved upon it will also do. And this is the secret of the perseverance of the saints. They have known by experience bow blessed the ways of the Lord are-that nothing will induce them to depart from them. Their one desire is to be found walking in the ways of God more steadfastly and more vigorously. 2. The soul will turn to it in trouble. (Ver. 107.) Even the ungodly, when they are afflicted very much, will send for the minister, take down the hitherto neglected Bible, and begin to read it, under the influence of a conviction they have never been able to Rhake off, that here, after all, are to be found the words of eternal life, which can alo11e help them. But the godly soul at once turns to them. They are his songs in the night, the joy of bis heart. 3. Unbounded gratitude. (Ver. 108.) For what, when we look back on our way, can we find that more makes up our grateful acknowledg- ments than the fact that God has so illumined our fo.it,h by his Word that we havo been kept in the right way, and have not fallen? Oh, the joys of this I May we all know it, as we may, if we will! Of course, it leads to the iu~atiable longing to know more of God'H judgments. 4. Perpetual peril cannot drive liim off from it. (Ver. 109.) Such condition-" my soul continually in my hand "-by its distrncting, alarm- ing, depressing influence, is apt to banish all holy thought and all recollection of God's Word. Men have been known to become very beasts under such circumstances- selfisb, sensual, brutal; the sort of spirit which tho sauve qui peut is ever seen to engender in the ordinary run of men. But how different what is said here I-the en.Im, holy, soul-sustaining remembrance of God's Word. 5. The traps and snares which the wicked plant for the soul utterly fail. (Ver. 110.) Keep in that illuminnted path, and you may laugh at these snares. For they are never placed where Lhe light shines on Lhem, but where there is no light. 6. Desire that it may be the heritage of himself and his children after ltim. (Ver. 111.) He who knows the blessedne.s of what is here told of longs for it, not for himself alone, but for a heritage for those who shal_l come after him. 7. Steady guard upon tM restless he2rt that would wander from this path. (Ver. 112.) Strenuous care must be taken-watchfulness and prayer-or else the cleceitful heart will wan<ler away. Who knowR not this? III. How THIB BLESSEDNESS lliY BE REALIZED. If the Word is to thus illumine our path, we must take the Word, keep it continually, and bring it to bear on the path we are to take. Many turn the light of the Word skywards, or backwards, or on the right hand or left. Hold it doWll on your path.-S. C. Vers. 113-120.-Deait denounced a-nd detested. Tho tli.oughts spoken of here are not more idle thoughts, hut deceitful and double-minded ones. We learn- 136 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. cx1){. 1-170.