HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-15.-National piety and prosperity. The latter part of this psalm seems hardly to belong to the former; but looking at it in the light of the last verses, we regard it as an utterance which has in view, from first to last, the well-being of the nation. Thus considered, we have- I. THE ONE TRUE SOURCE OF NATIONAL SECURITY, (Vers. 1, 2, 10.) The writer is presumably David. He takes the position of a leader, of a warrior-king. And though we do nut look upon war as the principal activity of nations, we must remember the times to which the psalm belongs, and must take into account the fact that national independence and prosperity were then determined by the sword. \Ve need not he surprised or shocked that the ps'llmist thanks God for teaching him to be a successful soldier; that he calls God " his Strength, his Gooduess, his Fortress," etc., in this connection. We, too, may thank God heartily for the great solrliers who achieved or preserved our national independence; for the courage and the patriotism which made us secure from all assault from without, and from all attempts to infringe liberty within our borders. We pray for" peace in our time;" we work and strive (if needful) for the maintenance of pence; we may be prepared to make some sacrifices for peace; but we shall not shrink from asking God to" go forth with our armies" when they defend our Ii berty; nor will we fail to ascribe their victories to him who is our Strength and Fortress, as be was Israel's under David and Hezekiah, II. 'l'IIE CONSTITUENTS OF NA'l'IONAL PROSPERITY, Some of these ore mentioned here. Let it be nssumed that there is perfect security; that there is no danger of any breach being made in the wall of the city, or any crossing the border of the country-no "breaking in;" nor yet of any being led forth into captivity or exile-no "going out." 'l'hen there will be, or should be: 1. Industrial activity, with its full reward (vers. 13, 14). .Agricultural and p:istoral pursuits are here mentioned; but, while including them, we naturally think uf manufactures, of trade, of commerce, of mining-of all those fields of labour aµd sources of wealth which ore familiar to us. 'l'he wise king (ver. 10), the wise government, will give its first concern to the promotion:of all kinds of activity, in which every one of its citizens may have his share. 2. The peaceful home. (Ver, 12.) That country, whatever be its pastoral or mincrnl wealth, is poor indeed whose sons and daughters are not growing up in health, in wisdom, in virtue, in piety. However full the garners, or well stocked the fields, the great question is that of the home-lifo nnJ the character of the young. We want our sons to be os plants or trees-strong, living, fruit-bearing, with power of growth, obedient to the lows of Heaven; and our daughters to be as "corner pillars "-fair with the beauty of holiness and kindliaess, helping to sustain, useful in the house in which they dwell. Where the children and the young people are declining, there the couatry is on its downward courso; but where they are pure and beautiful and stron", 0 there the country is secure, nnd its future is assured. 3. True, acceptable worship, " Whose God is the Lord" (var. 15). 'l'he service uf God is not only the source of national prosperity; it is nn integral and important pa-rl THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. CXLIV. 1-15.
of it._ Then are the activities of a people most worthily employed, and then is its happ_m_ess of tb~ best and truest order-when its citizens are engaged in worshipping the llvmg God, m learning of the great Teacher, in communicating his holy will to the children in the home and in the school. 4-. Happiness. (Ver. 15.) III. THE WAY To SECURE IT. (Vera. 1, 5.) Praise ancl. prayer. "Bless the Lord," etc. '' Bow thy heavens and come down." .As tlie king blesses God and prays for his presence, so also must the people. The recognition by all of the band of God in past nnd present mercies, and the continual prayer for future blessing,-tbis is the condition of Divine favour and the way to permanent enlargement. IV. OuR INSIGNIFI0ANCE NO BAR TO OUR PRAYER OR OUR HOPE. (Vers. 3, 4.) " Will God in very deed dwell upon the earth?" Will he "bow the heavens and come down"? ·wm be take note of us on this small earLh? Will he care about one section, one nation, on its surface? Is not frail man, who passes away like a flitting ~badow, beneath his regard? The answer to that natural and repeated question is in the historical fact of the manifestation at Sinai; it is also in the much less imposing but immeasurably more affecting and convincing fa.et of the birth at Bethlehem. Then God came to visit us, to dwell with us, to show us how much be cared for us, to fill our hearts with the truth that not only every nation, but every human soul, is dear to the Father in heaven.