The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 201

Vers. 1-6.-The history of a soi,il. That which wai written of and for the returned exiles of Judah lends itself so accurately and beautifully to describe the history of a redeemed soul, that it seems as if that larger and higher history were meant as well as that of Judah. The same words tell of both. I. THE SOUL WAS ONCE A OA.PTIVE. Not alone the people of Zion, but every redeemed soul. It was captive once: 1. To the Law of God. That Law which was holy, just, and good, the Law of God's household, and which for the good of all his children must be maintained; but to that Law the soul was liable, for it had transgressed again and again. Unless, therefore, something was done, the sentence of the Law must be carried out. 2. To sin. The soul was carnal, sold under sin. It yielded itself as a bondslave to serve sir! (Rom. vi. 16). And this lust makes him captive; yet further: 3. To death. Not merely the death of the body, but, what is far worse, the death of the soul. II. lTs CAPTIVITY WAS BROKEN. From being a captive, he became one of the redeemed of God. Consider: 1. Wnat was done. Sin was forgiven, all the guilt of the past put away._ The soul became regenerate, a new heart was given; )ld things passed away, all thmgs became new; the soul passed from death to life, from the power of Satan unto God. . 2. Wno did tlds 1 It was the Lord's doing. True, as with Judah, there was co-operation on man's part. As Jndah, so had we to avail ourselves of what God had done. The soul must repent and believe, and turn from dead works to serve the living God. Unless we do this, God's mercy is in vain for us. But all this does not make it the less true that it was the Lord who turned our captivity; it was Lis Spirit who prompted all that was done by us; without him it had never been done at all, no part of it. 3. How was it done 1 Perhaps in no two instances have the same instrumentalities been employed. God has many ways of bringing men to himself. He uses now his providence, now his Word, now his Spirit, and sometimes all of them together. Only the work is done. III. NOTABLE RESULTS FOLLOWED. 1. Surprise. "We were like them that dream" (cf. Luke xxiv. 41). It seemed too good to be true. This 11, blessed experience, the rapture and delight of the soul when it realizes what God has done for it. 2. Ex?J,°berant joy. (Ver. 2," laughter,"" singing.") How reasonable this, whether we think of whence we have been saved, from what terrible depths of woe; or whither, to what heights of blessedness; or by what means, the infinite love of God in CLrist I 3. Confession on the part of tl,e unsaved world. (Ver. 2.) "Then said they among the heathen," etc. Yes, the world will take note, godless men will see that a great change has come. IV. BUT 1,, MORE FULL SALVATION IB YET YEARNED FOB. (Yer. 4.) What has been gained is blessedness, but the soul comes soon to see how much more yet is needed. The river of the water of life in him is such a slender stream; he would have it full, flowing, in force and volume like the streams of the south when the mountain snows have melted. Hence the prayer for a second blessing," 'l'urn again our captivity" (ver. 4). The soul craves a complete salvation, a full deliverance. He would be cleansed from all sin, made pure in heart. V, AND HE IB ENCOURAGED TO SEEK THIS BY THE CONSTANT EXl'EnIENOE OF THOSE THAT sow IN TEARS. The pitiless rain and cold may render the toil of the sower hard, but his reward surely come~. So they who with real earoe~tness of heart seek the fulness of God's salvation shall surely obtain it.-S. C. Ver. 6.-The refoicing reaper. Consider- !. WHA.T HE WAS FORMERLY, That is told us in the first half of the text. 1. He w_as one who went forth to sow. He went forth, he was an active worker. In spiritual husbandry this is what is needed. There are many who will talk, some who will pray, but not all these really go to the work. If only the much talk and many prayers could he as they ought to be, and will be if they are sincere, translated into work, active, strenuous work, what a change would come over the Church and the world also I But would we be rejoicing reapers, we must be really workers. 2. The burden of tlui Lord iB upon him. Thie is the meaning of the word "and weepeth." How perpetually in the prophetic Scriptures we meet with this expression, "the burden n I It tells of some messaae which the Lord had given the prophet to declare concerning some place, some person~somc nation. It was a burden to the prophet; he felt its solemn  PS. cx.xvr. 1-6.] THE BOOK 01<' PSALMS. 223