I. THE TEMPLE-BUILDERS. 1. We know that this was one of the solicitudes of the returned exiles-to uprear again the temple of the Lord. And in the books written after the return from Babylon we read about this and the difficulties they bad to encounter, and the success they at length achieved. Continually they needed to remember that " except the Lord build," etc. 2. ..4.nd in the gathering together the living stones which are to form the Ohurch of God, bow we need to remember this same truth! Her builders are perpetually tempted, and some are all too prone, to try other methods in this work than those the Lord employs. We are apt to rely on wealth, eloquence, learning, talent, and all other such things, and to forget that it is the Lord alone can really make our work successful. II. THOSE OF THE CITY, (Ver. 1,) Jerusalem is doubtless meant, and, surrounded as she was by relentless and ever-watchful foes, the sentinels and guards needed ever to be on the alert. But again the same reminder comes in. A.nd it does so still. This is the age of great towns and cities, of municipal corporations who naturally and properly take pride in the cities over which they are placed. They cannot bot know how much depends upon wise administration and rule, on the sagacity and wisdom which the citizens can supply. And they who know the history of municipalities know how eager corruption and vice are to assert their power. A.nd often it seems that to pander to them would help on the city's prosperity. But the city-builders need to recollect the truth of this psalm. What is all man's wisdom apart from God? III. THE BUSINESS. (Ver. 2.) "Our house," "our firm,"-these are well-known expressions for business associations-how many are hard at work to build such houses I A.nd in the keen competition of the day, how difficult this often is I what temptations are on every hand, by tricks of trade, by what is called smartness, to get 011, it matters not much by what means. How many succumb to such temptations, and try to keep one conscience for Sundays and quite another for weekdays I 'l'hey have little faith in what this psalm says, "Except the Lord," etc. Their faith is in strenuous hard work, risiag early, sitting up late, eating the bread of toil, and so to win rest and repose for themselves. But it is not so, the psalmist declares; for all that toiling and moiling is" vain;" the Lord giveth to bis beloved that which they need without all that restlessness and anxiety; their souls repose in him; he keeps them in perfect peace (cf. Prov. L 22, Revised Version margin). Let the Lord, then, be the pre- dominant partner in every firm; so shall the house be built. IV. THE HOME, (Vere, 3--5.) People marry, and then begins the upbuilding of the family, What strenuous exertion does many a father put forth for the B1Lke of his family I If the children be numerous, the pa.rents are often very slow to appreciate the congratulations of these verses (3-5). 'l'he reason is that they are counting most precious for their children wbut the Lord scarcely counts precious at all. Of course, only a fool would despise secular advantages for bis children, if they may be bad; but infinitely more important for them is the grace of God possessing their hearts. Then no real ill can come to them, but eternal good shall be their portion.-S. C. Vor. 2.-The sleep God gives. 'l'bis psalm is, by its title in our Dible, ascribed to Solomon; in the Septuagint it is left without a title; in the Syriao Version it is ascribed to David. In structure it is like all the rest of these "P~alms of Degrees." Hence we are very much in the dark as to its date and authorship, and arc shut up, as it is well we should be, to its religious teachingH, What these a.re it is not difficult to see; for its plain lesson is that all our defence and security are in the Lord alone. Hence reminder of this is given to the builders of the city\ its watchmen and its toilers;_ an_d of its greatest earthly defence, the numerous children tho.t should be born, 1t 1s declared that the blessed gift of children is from the Lord alone. So that if we _are _to know the real sense of security without which men cannot sleep, the Lord must give it. I. Now, TRIS IB TRUE OF ouB LITERAL, NATURAL LIFE. Strong walls and vigilant guards are not enough; the Lord must give one sleep. And he does so•. 1. .Think_ of the physical condition, of sleep. '!'hey are part of that wonderf~1l organ1zat10n wh)ch God endued us with and which is so constructed that at due t1mos sweet refresh mg sleep shall steal ove; our senses, and our tired bodies shall have rest. 2. Thin_lc of_ the terrestrial conditions. How this earth of ours swings itself round out of the hght mto the darkness. "Thou makest darkness, and it is night" (Ps. civ.). The sounds and 230 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB OXXVII. 1-6.
stir of the _day are hushed, and the glare of light is- gone for a while, and thus provision for sleep 1s ma.de. 3. Of the social conditions. Strong governments, wise laws, skilful administration, security for life and property, all that which we call civilization, which God has been teaching men generation after generation,-all this, which gives that sense of security without which we could not rest, is part of God'!! methods whereby he bestows on us the blessed boon of sleep. II. IT IS YET MORE TRUE OF THAT CALM AND SERENITY OF SOUL WHIOH WE ALL WISH TO ENJOY. It is the Lord who giveth that. 'l'he psalm is a reminder to many who were seeking this" in vain" ways (see former homily). It is be who giveth, etc. It is not they who gain it for themselves or in any way earn it; nor is it given to all, but only to the beloved of the Lord. To thetn he giveth sleep, not the partial and unreal rest of soul which some seem to enjoy. To the builders, the watchmen, the toilers, the word is seut that apart from the Lord all is in vain. "Come unto me, all ye," etc. III. AND 'fRUE, ALSO, OF THE SLEEP OF DEATH. To those who die in the Lord, death is but a sleep prior to a glorious awakening: hence it is so often spoken of as a sleep. But the Lord alone can give this. 1. For it there is needed forgiveness of sin. But this can only come to those who bring the sacrifice of the contrite heart. Even God cannot forgive an impenitent man; for he who will not give up bis sin cannot escape the suffering which ever goes along with it. 2. .And the new heart. The regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit. "Without holiness shall no man see the Lord." He that is not meet for heaven cannot enter there. 3. .And a continual and utter trust in the love of God i,;, (Jhrist. But all these are his gifts. For them "Christ is all and in all.'' Seek them, and so will rest of soul be ours now, and when life is done we shall sleep in bim.-S. C.