The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 282

we have a gen.era! knowledge of his occupatiou o.nd his more outward and formal ~aJ:iits. That goes a very little way. 3. Sometimes wo mean more than this-we :nt1mate that w~ know what a man's principles are, what he believes, after what manner he worsb_1ps, what are bis tastes and his companionships. Here we may think that we have arrived at something very definite and solid. 4. We do not really know what a man's spirit is, and what is his real character, until wo have seen him (as the apost\es saw our Lord) both in public and in private-at those times when be is conscious of our observation, and when he is perfectly unrestrained, and expresses himself with unchecked freedom. 5. Even then, how imperfect is our knowledge of one another I how often and how greatly we mistake one another I bow frequently we ascribe to one another deeds that were not done, or words that were not spoken, or feelmgs that were not cherished I how different we know ourselves to be-in character, in spirit, in motive-from the conception of ourselves which our neighbour has formed of us! 6. And, yet again, how far from being absolutely true is the estimate we form of ourselves ! how possible and how practicable it is for us to over-estimate our virtues and under-estimate our weaknesses, our follies, our guilt I So much so that it is a question whether a man knows himself as well as his discerning neighbour does. We are convinced that it is often the case that the verdict of a man's intimate friend is much nearer the mark of truth than is his own. 7. The cooclusion to which we are driven is that Ooe, and only one, "knows us altogether." Only God knows us as we arc. Guided by the text, we think of God's knowledge of us thus. I. ALL THINGS ARE OPEN TO BIS VIEW. (Ver. 1.) He" searches" us through and through. There are inward recesses and remote points that escape our eye, but not one that escapes his penetratiog, his far-reaching glance. We may conceal some things from man and elude hia keenest search; we can hide nothing from God; he searches and knows all things, even the most secret chambers of the soul. II. HE OBSERVES ALL OUR WAYS. (Vers. 2, 3.) From morning till evening, from evening till morning, everything is done before him. He is the Lord" before whom we stand," as tbe old prophets used to say. There is no action of ours that is too slight for his notice; he is the Infinite Ooe, and infinity reaches downwards as well as upwards. Ill. HE IS FAMILIAR WITH EVERY UTTERED WORD AND UNUTTERED THOUGHT. (Vers. 2, latter part, and 4.) It is not difficult to think of our shouted sentences or of our formal addresses being heard and noticed by God; it requires some effort of thought to realize that the casual conversation, the interjected remark, the whispered secret,-that these are heard and heeded by him. Yet it becomes us to remember that they are. This is the thought of Christ when he said, •• Of every idle [casual] word shall men give account," etc. (Matt. xii. 36, 37). Nay, the unspoken sentence, the half-formed thought, the rising feeling, that has not found expression, the "thought afar off," is understood by that omniscient Spirit I What reason here for purity of mind, for the "clean heart and the right spirit" I IV. HE TOUCHES us AT EVERY POINT. "'l'hou hast laid thine hand upon me." It has been the unseen and unfelt touch of the Divine hand that has: 1. Preserved our spirit in being from momeut to moment; for all earthly forces have been the working of his power. 2. Restored us every night, and renewed to us the vigour ~f body and wind we have needed for the labour and endurance of another day. 3. Qmekened our mind and etabled us to think to reason, to reply, to invent, to devise, to direct. 4. Brought us back from sickdess and the shadow of death to life and health again. 5. Made our souls to be refilled with love and hope and sacred joy, so that we have lived the life of holy serv:ce and of spiritual growth. The explanation of all our power, our excellency, our success, is found in the simple words, "'l'hou hast laid thine hand upon me." Vers. 7-16.-7%e domain of God. The main thought of these noble words is- I. THE BOUNDLESSNESS OF GoD's DOMAIN. Wherever we are, whithersoever we '.go, we are always within his charge. Could we reach the h)ghest heavens, he is ther~; or Lhe lowest depths of Hades, he is there; and could we wmg our way to the far horizon, where sea and sky meet, he is tnere. In vain_ should we seek the sh~lter of t?e darkness, for darkness and light arc alike to him. Even before the hght of hfe PS, CXXXIX, 1-24.] THE BOOK OF PSAL1IS. 317