The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 127

nel'cr been so precious, nor so clearly seen and understood. 4. He would be able ta comfort others as he could not have done before. Then his words would come with power, for he himself would know not merely what deep affliction was, but how God can sustain the soul beneath it all. 5, This very affiiction would prove a means of heavenward ascent-a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, up which his soul would surely mount. 6. And God would be glorified. His persecutors would see how God- sustained he was, and they would be compelled to confess the mighty power of God. How reasonable, therefore, was and ever is this prayer I Let it be our own.-S. C. Vers. 161-168.-The ever-blessed Word. Here, again, tbere seems to be the joyful acknowledgment of answered prayer. 'l'be longing cry of the former section was for God'8 quickening grace; here there seems to be the proof and evidence that that cry had been heard. And the answer of God had come through his Word, that ever-blessed ,vord which he here so lauds and magnifies. For- 1 I3Y IT HE HAD DEEN DELIVERED FROM THE FEAR OF MAN. (Ver.161.) Princes, with "the awe and maje~ty of kings," bad persecuted him, innocent thou~b he was; but instead of being abashed and afraid, the greater holier fear, the awe of God's Word, came to his help and drove out all other fear, It is ever so; but only by the fear of God is it so. JI. His JOY IN IT WAS THAT OF ONE WHO FINDETH GREAT SPOIL. Sometimes spoil is found unexpectedly, as by the lepers in the Syrian camp (2 Kings vii.); or as by the man who found the treasure hid in the field (Matt. xiii.). But the finding here spoken of seems to be that of the warrior who, after stern struggle and the hard conflict of battle, has at length conquered, and is rewarded by the great spoil which he now takes possession of. And it is in such way that the great spoils of the Scriptures are won. Doubt, indolence, distraction, love of sin, the world's clamour, and much beside, have to be met and overcome by faith and earnestness, toil of brain and heart, and by persevering prayer. To those who will thus strive, the Scriptures will open up to them its rcachcst treasure, and they slmll rejoice therein, as is here said. III. IMPARTS A HOLY AND DEEP DETESTATION OF ALL DECEIT, (Ver. 163.) He who loves God's Law must hate and abhor lying. As the one comes in, the other goes out, and vice versa. And what a blessing this holy hatred of lying is I All society and commerce of man must be based on truth and honesty. Lying is destructive of all good both in the liar and those lied to ; but truth, the sure product of the love of God's Law, is for the blessing of us all. IV. ITs PRAISE IS NEVER WEARISOME TO HIM. (Ver. 164.) He means that he is always, on all possible occasions, to praise God because of bis Word, so great is bis delight in it. And the reason is not far to ~eek. The sense of God's loving-kindness is tbe highest and purest joy of the soul (Ps. ]xiii. 3). But that is given only to the pure in heart and life. This purity, however, is the product of the Law of God loved and obeyed, and of this only. What wonder, then, that the instrument of such blessedness should be prized by him so highly? V. IMPARTS A PEACE WIIIOH NOTHING CAN DESTROY. (Ver.165.) For such peace has its anchor in God, and that anchor hohls. Experience has proved this perpetually. VI. SusTAINB GOOD HOPE OF SALVATION. (Ver. 166; cf. Gen. xlix. 18.) The commandments of God obeyed create sunshine in tbe soul, part of which is this hope oi salvation. The unfaithful and disobedient have it not. Vll. THE MORE IT IB KEPT THE MORE IT IS LOVED. (Ver. 167.) When not alone there is external obedience; but that which is inward, of the soul, the love which led to this obedience, now becomes exceeding great. But all such keeping of God's Word is owing to his having set the Lord always before him (var. 168; cf. Ps. xvi. 8).-S. C. Vers. 169-1"6.-11ie humilily of holiness. We suppose no one ~a1;1 have gone through this psalm but must have come more and more to the co1;1v1ct1on that the writer of it was a true saint of God. The signs and tokens of truo holiness of character could scarcely be more manifest than they are in this p~alm. Dut ?OW that he com~s to the close, instead of there bcinu any note of ex:nltat10n or gloryrng because of his attainments in holiness, there is the profoundest humility. We might have expected  PS, OXIX, 1-176,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 141