HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-12.-.The s()'U,l's appeal. to God. The groundwork of the psalm is that of great affliction. The psalmist is in very sore trouble; the strongest expressions are used to convey the idea of complete outward disaster and inward dejection (vers. 3, 4). There is only one respect in which things could be worse than they are-- death itsel,f, and the going down into the dark land of forgetfulness (ver. 7). But, as in the preceding psalm, his dire extremity is the very occasion for holy trust in the almighty power and unfailing righteousness of Jehovah. His refuge is in God. Here, indeed, is a strong Rock in which to hide in this dark night of trouble. We have-- 1 Hrs BELU.NCE ON ALL THAT HE KNOWS OF Gon. 1. He remembers what God has been to him and has done for him and for others in past days; what "doings," what "worki:," what deliverances he wrought in" the days of old" (ver. 5). "Thou hast been my help," etc. (Ps. xxvii. 9). 2. He relies on the known character of God; his loving-kindness (ver. 8); his faithfulness, his perfect trueness to his word of promise; his righteousness, his constant readiness to reward those who seek him and serve him, ann his determination to punish the wicked. These recognized and steadfast attri- butes of God are to him a strong security. God cannot be inconsistent with himself. II. Hrs CONBCIOU8NESB OF JNTEGRITY. 'l'he writer would not dare to make his appeal to the Holy One if he himself were living in sic. He knows well that tho man who purposes to continue in rebellion against God! or in rejection of hi~ offered mercy, has no ground on which to stand (see Pss. lxv1. 18; I. 16). Not, JDdeed, that be claims absolute inerrancy or perfection; he knows that such purity is beyond him (ver. 2); but at the same time, he is conscious of moral and spiritual integrity; he is G0d's servant (ver. 12). 'l'be purpose of bis heart is towar? God and the keeping of bis commandments. He intends to walk uprightly and hohly before God, to the full height of his strenuous endeavour. His God is the Lord, and no other lord shall have dominion over him. UL 'l'nE FULNEBS OF HIR APPEAL. 1. He prays God to "quicken" him, to reaci• :nate him, to till his soul with courage and with hope, that he mny ploy a brave 1'8, OXLIIl, 1-12.] ·rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 3G3
and manly part. 2. He pre.ye for deliverance from bis evil estate; for the confusion of bis enemies; for restoration to peace and joy (vers. 9, 11, 12). 3. He prays to be led forward in bis rectitude, that he may fulfil a11 God's holy will concerning him (ver. 10). We cannot hope to rise higher than the spirit shown in this devout desire. It is right to wish and to ask, with all filial deference, for recovery from sickness, or for rescue from bondage, or for deliverance from anxiety or poverty; but it is a loftier and worthier aspiration to long to be led by the good Spirit of God into "the land of uprightness," into a state of lull acquiescence with the will of God, into a spiritual condition in which the doing or the bearing of the will of God is the supreme aim and endeavour of the soul. IV. His EARNESTNESS, (Vars. 6-8.) There is every indication here of great earnestness of spirit. His soul thirsts for God's interposition as e. parched land for water; he cries for a speedy response to his appeal; he yearns to bear God's loving- kindness "in the morning," and "lifts up his soul" unto God. Everything is to the earnest. Lukewarmness is offensive to God, as we learn from the risen Saviour. A spasmodic piety, a fitful enthusiasm, will accomplish nothing for ourselves or for the world. It is steadfast purpose and sustained devotion that rises to the high table- lands of exalted worth and abounding fruitfulness.
HOMILIES BY V.ARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-12.-The cry of the overwhelmed spirit. I. lTs CBA.BAOTERISTICB. 1. How earnest it is I The psalmist was not in e.ny light, indifferent, or formal spirit when he uttered this prayer. Its intensity is evident all the way through. 2. .And believing. "In thy faithfulness answer me" (ver. 1). He believed the promises of God, and claims their fulfilment, expects that what God has promised he will make good. Such expectation is all too rartl; e.n<l its rarity e.ccounts for the many unanswered prayers over which we mourn. 3 . .And sincere. "And in thy righteousness" (ver. 1). lf he had rego.rded iniquity in his heart, ho could not thus have pro.yed, for be would have known that the Lord would not hee.r him ; but he could appeal to him who was the righteous Searcher of a.II hearts, that with true heart he prayed. Heiice he could appeal to the righteousness of God, because "the righteous Lord loveth rightrnusness, and his countene.nce doth behold the upright." 4. Humble. (Ver, 2.) For whilst he could appeal to God to e.ttest his innocence e.nd sincerity of bee.rt, that did not prove him to be faultless in the sight of God. St. Paul said, "I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified." And similar to this is the psalmfat's con- fession here. He might be, and he was, innocent before men, and srncero in heart towo.rd God; but yet there were many a trangression aud fault nud failure, the remembrance of which made him pray, "Enter not into judgment," oto. ( ver. 2). Such were the characteristics <if this prayer, aud should lie of all prayer-indeed, must be, if our prayers are to avail. II. lTs COMPLAINT. 'l'he poalmist tells who.t his enemies had done agRinst him (ver. 3). 1. They had perseC'/1,ted his sool. He had, no doubt, some outward, present persecution in his thought; but in reading this psalm we mo.y transfer his words to those spiritual persecutions which we often have to suffer at the hands of our great enemy; and, thus e.pplied, the whole psalm e.nswers to all too frequent experience of the people of God to-rle.y. For the enemy doth by a.II manner of tempto.tion persecute our soul-he suggests doubt, ho stirs up evil thoughts, he assails our faith, ho darkens our mind, and in every way seeks to loosen our hold on God. 2. .And some have to confe88, "H6 hath smitten my life down to th6 ground." '!'here have been periods in the history of God'd servants-there were in David's-when the Divine lifo in them has been all but non-existent, when they could not pray, nor witness for Go<l, nor give him pre.iee, nor render any service of e. spiritual kind. '!'hey he.ve been tenible seasons-the enemy bath come in like a flood, e.nd the overwhelmed ones were unable to pray that "the Spirit of the Lord would lift up a stande.rd against him." 3. And then, in consequence, there has been the "dwelling in darkness, as those that have been long dead." Oh, the darkness of that time I it waa as the gloom of the grave. The aoul that the enemy hath so smitten is conscious of his awful loss; that the life of fSALMS-lll, 2 .L 354 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. OXLIU. 1-12,