Ver. 7.-Gorls bountifulness. "Thou shalt deal bountifully with me." The point here seems to be that an unusual experience of the Divine goodness, in one particular case, excites the attention of others who trust in God, and becomes, for them, an inspiration to increased confidence in God. I. Gon's BOt,NTIFULNESS AS OUR IMPRESSION OF Gon's DEALINGS WITH us. It is not the constant impression. Sometimes we have to say, "My purposes are broken off;" "He hath hedged up my way with thorns." Sometimes what strikes us is the narrow limitations within which God pnt.s his answer to our needs and desires. But there is no good man's life into which, at some time, the almost overwhelming impression of God's bountifulness has not come. He has surprised us with his benedictions; alto- ~ether gone beyond our expectations and our prayers. The times he has chosen, the deliverances he has wrought, the guidance he has given, the provisions he has made, have altogether astonished us. His bonntiful goodness has called forth our songs. Ilut the cases of bountifulness illuminate all his dealings with us. We know what he can do, and what he will do sometimes, and so light is thrown on all his dealings. He is never short of the bountiful, save for good reasons. He is always as bountiful ns he can wisely be. It is helpful to read all our life in the light of those times when God, as it were, went beyond his usual in blessing. '!'he infinite resources are open to us. II. Goo's BOU!':TIFULNESS AS OTHER PEOPLE'S IMPRESSION OF GoD'S DEALING WITH us. St. Paul thought of himself as a monument of grace, on whom other people might look, and from whom other people might gain confidence in the grace of God. The unusual in our lives sets us in the world's eye, makes us Rpectacles unto men. If the unusual is manifestly God's unusual, God's bountifulness in dealing with us, it has a most gracious impression on those around us. They learn "what almighty grace can do." And if ours is a Divine triumph over extraordinary difficlllties and depressions, it is the assurance to others that God can make his grace abound unto all sufficiency.-R. T. Vers. 1-7.-A cr!t for deliverance. "The last of the eight psalms to _be referred to David's persecution by Saul. Supposed to describe his thoughts and feelrngs when he was in the "cave," though whether of .A.dullam or of En~edi is not clear. It ~xpresscs the cleaving of the heart to God, the deep seme of loneliness, the cry for deliverance, the confidence that that deliverance will call forth the sympathy and the joy of many others." I. IMPORTUNATE PRAYER UTTERED ALOUD WITH VOICE AND WORDI!, (Vera. 1, 2.) Not mere inward communion with God, but with audible prayer pours out his dis- tractincr trouble, and Jays open before him the burden and the distress of his heart. Uttered prayer more soothing and strengthening than mere silent desire, though both are effectual with God. II. IN OUII DARKEST, MOST DANGEDOUS Turns Goo IS WP:I,T, ACQUAlNTJ',D WITII THll: PB, OXLIII, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 351
WHOLE EXTENT OF OUR TROUBLE. (Ver. 3.) God, therefore, can listen with the more sympathy to prayers, because he can understand how to estimate the depth and meaning of our complaints. This a source of great comfort--that God is not ignorant of our circumstances till we inform him of them. His interest is awakeued by his own knowledge previous to our prayer. III. GoD'B ALL-SEEING EYE RECOIJNIZES HIS LONELINESS AND HELPLESSNESS. (Ver. 4.) No human being will recognize him, nor afford him any help, nor take any sympathetic interest in his affairs. All this is perfectly open to the knowledge of God. IV. DESPAIRING OF HUMAN HELP, HE URGENTLY CRIES TO HIS ONLY REFUGE. (Ver. 5.) Jehovah is his "Refuge" and "Portion "-the only possession that suffices and satisfies him, and guarantees his continuance "in the land of the living." He cannot die, he cannot perish, though abandoned of all human friends and helpers. V. HIS OWN FEEBLENESS AND THE SUPERIOR STRENGTH OF HIS ENEMIES IS ANOTHER PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE. (Ver. 6.) He bas the calm assurance that this plea will be answered, and the Divine Name glorified. VI. Hrs DELIVERANCE WILL 0ALL FORTI! THE SYMPATHY AND JOY OF OTHERS. (Ver. 7.) He is not, therefore, so entirely alone as he once thought; there are other 1ighteous persons besides himself whose destiny is interwoven with his own. In this manner God deals bountifully with him.-S.