Ver. 10.-The first stage of salvation is deliverance. "Who rescueth David hia servant from the hurtful sword." This describes what ia involved in "giving salvation unto kings." An act of deliverance is always the beginning of salvation; but such act of deliverance is only a. beginning. I. AN ACT OF DELIVERANCE IS THE DWINNING OF SALVATION. This is the truth of e. fact that is once for all illustrated in the history of Israel. God would save that people in a large sense of saving. He must begin by a formal act of delivernnce, in bringing his people out from bondage in Egypt. '!'hat truth once presented in so huge e. way, is afterwards presented again and again in more limited spheres. In the time of the Judges, when God would save his people, be begau the salvation by a formal act of deliverance, as is seen strikingly in the case of Gideon. When God W_?Ultl save his people from captivity in Babylon, he began by the formal act of Iiberatlou ma,le by Cyrus. And it was the same with the gr.iat spiritual salvation of men, Its beginning is that sublime act of sacrifice which is man's rescue from the thre.ldom of ,in. 'fhe formal act of surrender made on the cross was Christ's triumph over man's sin, his "leading captivity captive." And so in personal experience salvation begins in that act of consecration to Christ which we make, and which is met by Christ's act of delivering us from the power of self and sin, II. Suon AN ACT OF DELlVEUAl'sCJ;: 1S ONLY A BE0INNlNO. The deliverance of l'S4LMB-lll, 2B 370 THE BOOK OF PSA.LMS. [PS, 0XLIV, 1-lo,
Israel from Egypt was only a beginning of God's dealings in their salvation. Gideon's overthrow of the Midianites was only a beginning. Cyrus's decree was only a beginnillg. Our Lord's sacrifice was only a beginning. Our consciousness of accept- ance is only a beginning. 'l'he salvation of a nation is a large and comprehensive thing; so is the salvation of a man. But in every case God's beginning is the pled<re that he will carry on the work alld perfect it.-R. T. "
Vers. 12-15.-True national prosperity. "It is only n narrow and one-sidcr\ religion that can see anything out of place in this beatitude of plenty and peace." "As plants: this figure marks the native strrngth and vigour and freedom of the youtl1 of the land. As corner-pillars: marks the polished gracefulness, the quiet beauty, of the maidens; who arc like exquisitely sculptured forms (Caryatides) which adorned the comer of some magnificent hall or chamber of a palace." (It does not, however, seem probable that at any time sculptured figures were allowed in Hebrew houses or palaces.) Ornamentation and variolls colouring of pillars may be referred to. Three things make up temporal prosperity. Family joys; business success; social security. 'l'he sense of God's gracious relations sanctifies all three. I. FAMILY JOYS. From Ea;,tern points of view, large families were desirable; but usually in the East daughters are despised. Two things are noticeable in these verses, 1. Daughters are spoken of as honourably as sons. 2. It is the growing up, developing character or children, that is the chief source of family joy. JL BusINESS succEss. Dealt with in the psalm from the strictly agricultural point of view. The figures employed all belong to farm-life. This may give indication of the date of the psalm; but we may take it as illustrative of all the ways in which men work for their living. Harvest is the key to the prosperity of the year, and that is in God's hand. Times of confidence and enterprise bring national prosperity. III. SocuL SECUlUTY. This is suggested by the sentence, "That there be no breaking in nor going out." Security is the condition or business enterprise. Men will not work for what they have no hope of keeping when it is gaiaed. Social security is imperilled by fear of attack from national foes, and also by the restlessness of sectiona within the nation (nihilists, and extravagant socialists, etc.). But family joys, business succesB, and social security are, in a way, merely material things. Back of them all there mllst be this secret of bappin~ss-tbe "nation's God is the Lord."-R. T. Vers. 12-15.-.A golden age. "'l'he psalmist recounts glorioll3 victories in the past• complains that the nation is now beset by barbarous enemies, so false and treac'herous that no covenant can be kept with them; prays for deliverance from them by an interposition great and glorious as bad been vouchsafed of old; and anticipates tlie return of a golden age of peace and plenty." The people who have Jehovah for their God, who obey bis will aud are governed by his laws, will be distinguished in the following ways. I. BY TIIE CHARACTER OF ITS YOUKG MEN AND WOMEN. (Vcr.12.) 1. They will be beautiful. In body aud mind. Like plant~, the young men, with vigour and freedom and beauty. Like polished corners, the maidcas-or corner-pillars, with exquisitely sculptured figures. 2. They will be vigorous. As a consequence of their purity and health. 3. 1'hey wal be free. The plant has the freedom of all the air of heaven· nothing between it and heaven. II. B;,. THE WEALTH OF ITS POSSESSIONS, 1. Rich in merchandise. (Ver. 13.) Full garners. A free, healthy, pure people nre bound to pros~cr._ 2. Rich in agricultural and pastoral possessions. (Ver. 13.) Sheep and oxen multiplied. III. BLESSED WITH THE PROSPERITIES OF PEACE. (Ver. 14.) "No sallying forth from our walls, and no cry of battle iu our streets." A state of war destructive of all kinds of prosperity.-S, PS, OXLV, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 371