The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 180

a poet who usul\lly lived in the country. Describes the.pleasure felt at invitation to join I\ pl\rty who were going up to one of the feasts. We have the joy and music of the journey; then the impressions on arrival, the first passionate delight of bei □ g in the holy city-a city beautifully built, well compacted, adorned with pala.ces, and strongly fortified. Observe the intense feeling with which Jerusalem was regarded by Jews. Beautifully situated, it was the centre of national and religious interest, Relics of the national feeling remain in the desire of modern Jews to die within its walls, and in the scenes at the "Place of Wailing." Many of us can underet&nd this. We have a Jerusalem round which our thoughts entwine-the church of uur fathers and of our childhood. What associations we have with it! Three words are here counected- Peace, prosperity, and prayer. I. PEACE VERY LA.BGELY DEPENDS UPON PROSPERITY. "Peace" is a word with an extensive, beautiful, and suggestive connotation. We, perhaps, cannot fully realize it by any aid of memory; we can only enter into it with the help of the familiar engravings of 'War' and •Peace.' It is not possible to overrate the value of peace for nations, or for Churches, or for families. But it largely depends on prosperity. Tbis may be illustrated by the inward life of the religious man. Devotion and work are allowed to flag, soul-prosperity fails, and at once doubts and fears come to spoil the soul's peace. It may be illustrated in the life of the Church. When work and zeal and spiritual life-the signs of Church prosperity-fail, then differences are sure to come, roots of bitterness spring up. II. PROSPERITY VERY LARGELY DEPENDS UPON PRAYER. Show the natural influence of prayer. It lifts into strength the better nature. Show the supernatural influence of prayer in bringing to us spiritual power. Plead for renewal of interest in private and individual prayer; and for more frequent and earnest united prayer. Secret forces are the mighty ones. Men take little count of the atmosphere, but it holds up the clouds. Who is it, then, upholds the prosperity of the Churches? Who are the peace- makers and the peace-keepers? Look below the surface, and you will be sure to see the men and women of faith and prayer. They gain for us prosperity, which leads in peace.-R. T. Ver. 8.-The religiQ'll,B value of the patriotic spirit. -''..For my brethren and com- panions' sakes, I will wish thee prosperity," This may be the expression of a pilgrim on leaviog Jerusalem to return to his home, The love of the psalmist for his country was patriotism. Perowne says, "The last four verses of the psalm breathe a spirit of the noblest, most uoselfish, patriotism. Not for his own sake, but for the sake of his brethren-the people at large-and for the sake of his God, his temple, and his service, he wishes peace to Jerusalem, and calls upon others to wish her peace. With love to Israel and love to Jehovah there is naturally united a warm affection for Jerusalem, a hearty interest in her welfare. L THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT IS KIN WITH THE RELIGIOUS. The moral value of both is the)ame, and it lies in taking a man out beyond himself, and interesting him in some- thing other than himself, 'l'he patriotic spirit interests him in other people, the religious spirit interests him in God. They are also alike in their power to arouse and culture emotion, and to inspire self-denying acts. IL THE PATRIOTIC SPIBIT NOURISIIES TIIE RELIGIOUS, According to the principle laid down by St. John," If a man love not his brother whom he hath seen, how ea, he love God whom he hath not seen?" It is a delusion that religion claims isolation; it is both expressed and nourished through the temporal. Religion separated from life and its common claims and obligations is but weak and deluding sentiment. Patriotic Moses is pious Moses. The separation of Christian men from political, civil, and social interests is entirely a sectarian delusion. The noblest_ and the healthiest Christian lives have always been, and are always sure to be, ID the truest sense patriotic. IIL Tl!E PATRIOTIC SPIRIT QUALIFIES THE UELIGIOUS, For while it is quite true that man is not all body and human relations, it is also quite true that he is not all soul and soul-relations. The religious side of man's nature can be exaggerated, and often is. The unworldly may become a snare as well as the worldly. It is helpful to qualify the heavenly by the duties of the carthly.-R. T. PB. O.XlC.It. 1-9,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 201