II. His ALMIOHTmEsB. "Of great power" (ver 5). III. His BENEFICENCE, (Vers. 8, 9.) It would be a terrible thin", indeed, for all created beings lf almighty power were under the control of malevol~nce, or even of selfishness. We see what happens when exceptional human power is directed by unscrupulousness; we see what suffering, what desolation, is the result. We are so familiar with the thought of God's goodness that we are not much affected by it; but we ought to be profoundly stirred by the truth that omnipotence, exercised every- where in God's vast domain, through every sphere, is put forth to feed, to clothe, to shelter, to help, to relieve, to brighten, to bless. IV. HIS CONDESCENSION. (Ver. 4.) God "humbles himseH to behold'' every particular star that shines in the heavens, every single event that happens on the earth, every individual human soul that thinks, that feels, that struggles, that endures. Christ" calleth his own sheep by name" (John x. 3). He not only cares generally for his flock, but particularly for each member of it. V. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Ver. 6.) Those who are content to accept his ruling, and to take cheerfully the humblest sphere he has assigned them, he" lifts up;" to them he gives honour, satisfaction, joy, life. The meek are made to "inherit the land" (Matt. v. 5), to spend peaceful, happy, useful days. But the wicked that exalt them- selves unjustly and unscrupulously, he" casteth to the ground." God makes pride, violence, vice, to lead downwards, and to end in shame. VI. HIS TENDERNESS. (Ver. 3.) When our spirit is very sorely wounded, when our heart bleeds after some specially hard blow, then we shrink from the rough handling of conventional condolence; we feel that we cannot bear the touch of any hand but the gentlest of all. There is often the truest kindness in silent sympathy, for speech would be hurtful, and make the wound bleed again. Only Christ can help us then. He can render us the ministry we need-can heal the broken heart, and bind up its wounds. There are deep places through which, now and again, we have to pass, of which it has been truly said, "That is a mighty baptism, and only Christ can go down with us into those waters." But he can, and he does. His Divine tenderness" soothes our sorrows, and heals our wounds." VII. HIS GOOD PLEASURE. (Vers. 10, 11.) God's regard is not given to any ot those outward and visible things, in beholding which we t,\ke pleasure, and on which we rely for safety; his regard is granted to the human spirit that is reverently turned to him in lowly worship, to the heart that is trusting in his promised mercy. The Divine Saviour is not approving the Church that is boasting of its wealth, or its numbers, or the compactness of its organization; he is well pleased wit,h the little company of souls that are realizing his presence, having true fellowship with him, sharing his suffering and sacrifice, leaning on his Word. VIII. HIS SALVATION AND RESTORATION. (Ver. 2.) He who brought back the exiles from Ba.bylon, redeeming them from servitude and dishonour, and who "built up" Jerusalem, is the God who now brings home to himself those that have be111 nfnr off; and is he who now builds up his Church in the face of its enemies. V crs. 12-20.-National well-being. Piety and patriotism, that go so well together nnd were so intimately bound together in the mind of the Jews, a.re here very closely associated. We, too, are convinced that the future of our country will be determined by its faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the Lord whom it professes to serve. '!'here are four features of national well-being here. I. SECURITY, (Ver. 13.) 11 He bath strengthened the bars of thy gates." Jerusalem was su1Tounded by its protecting walls (N eh. ii. 12), and its citizens could work in safety and rest in peace. In our island home, which has known no shadow of fenr of invasion for eighty years, we cannot realize how great a blessing is freedom from that great national evil, or from the dread ofit. The thought hardly enters into our minds. But we have, if we would think about it, all the more occasion for gratitude that wo abide in such continuous safety and security; we have "peace in our borJers." II. PnosPERITY. (Vers. 14-18.) The wealth of a country depends very largely on the industry, the frugality, and the forethought of its people. If they do not carefully, systematically, and (we may adJ) scientifically cultivate its fields, ~pare and plant it3 trees, penetrate its mines aud its waters, save their rr,sources for renewed fertili~ation PSALr.ts-m. 2 n 402 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. rrs. CXLVII, 1-20,
and for enterprise of various kinds, the country will, in these times of competition more especially, certainly decline. But its prosperity also depends on the bounties of Divine providence: on the fall of rain and snow ; on tho regular return of the sea.sons in their order; on the cold winds of winter, and the warm airs of summer; on the pulverising frosts and the ripening sunshine. It is the bountiful ha.udo of Heaven that gives the rich harvest, and fills the garners with the" finest of the wheat." III. HoMES AND noME-LIFE. " Ho hath blessed thy children wHhin thee" (ver, 13). No product of field or mine can be comp:i.red wiLh that of the homes of the people. Happy is the nation that dwells in homes of purity, peace, love, piety I IV. RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE. (Vera. 19, 20.) The distinguishing blessing of Israel was its knowledge of the true God, and its consequent training in all personal, domestic, and social virtues. The people of Israel were acquainted with the " word," and there- fore with the will of God, and their life was, to some large extent in their better days, ordered according to bis "statutes" and "judgruents." In their worship, in their pursuits, and in their homes, they rejoiced before the Lord, and they walked in his ways. This is the crowning blessing. Perhaps we may think that we in fuie country may adopt the language of the psalmist, a.nd apply it to ourselves: "he bath not dealt so with any nation." 'l'liat might be the exaggeration of a complacent patriotism, but would it not rather be the right feeling of a grateful piety? With all our sacred edifices, our Christian ministry, our evangelizing and philanthropic institutions (healing, preserdng, remedial), our educational advantages, our preservation of the seventh day as a day of rest and worship, have we not received, and do we not retain, o. measnro of pri,ilege which calls for intense gratitude, which also lays us under very serious obligation? For, fron:. those to whom much is given much will be l'equired; "exalted to heaven" in pridlege, let us see that we a.re not" cast down to hell" in condem- nation for not availing ourselves of it, aud "knowing the day of our visitation."