haven snfe guide for tbo pathway ho should follow. In thus following God's Law, he will he.ve: (1) Ample material for thought. "In his Law doth he meditate day 11nd night" (vcr. 2). "Tho Hobrew worcl t6rah has a much wider range of meaning than" Jaw," by which it is e.lways rendered in the Authorized Version. It denotes (a) teaching, instruction, whether human (Prov. i. 8) or Divine; (b) a precept or law; (c) a body of laws, and in particular the Mosaic Law, and so, finally, the Pentateuch. It should be taken to include all Divine revelation as the guide of life." 1 We do not understand the psalmist as meaning that such a man will always he thinking of one topic. But that (a) by day he will use the Law of God as a direction-post to point the way; (b) by night he will use it as a pillow on which to rest his head. For in the Law there are revealed to him mercy, forgivenes~, sacrifice, intercession, grace, strength. He will enthrone the Word of God in the place of honour, above all other books in the world. Some may raiso a difficulty here, saying," Yes; in the psalmist's time that ~ight have been so. Then tbo sacred books of the Hebrews comprised their national history and their religious literature. There was not so much to call off men's thoughts from the Bible o.s there is now." That is so. But, nevertheless, the follow- ing facts remo.in: That in tho Bible is the only authoritative revelation of the mind and will of God; that our Scriptures are to us a far richer treasure than the Scriptures of the psalmist's time; that therein we ho.ve the only guide through life to immortality. Other books may inform the mind. The Bible still retains its supremacy as the book to regulate the lifo. Hence in the Bible the believer has: (2) Rich nutriment for character. Hence he is described as "a tree planted by the rivers of water" (see also Jer. xvii. 8). Psalmist and prophet agree. 'l'he Scriptures reveal God. In God the believer puts bis trust. So that the study of the book makes him like o. fruitful tree, because it leads up to God. 'l'hus there will be (a) unfailing supplies; (b) fruit in season; (c) o. fadeless leaf; (d) entire success. "Whatsoever he doetb shall prosper." I II. SUCH A LIFE HAS ITS OWN OUTLOOK AND DESTINY. As the man is now, so is his uplook and outlook here and hereafter. 1. There is now Divine approval. "'l'he Lord kooweth the way of the righteous." 2. Bis work and way will be influential fol' good long after he has cell/led to live below. (Ver. 6.) 3. He will be approved at the fudg- ment-day. (Ver. 5.) He will be found "in the congregation of the righteous." And all this is set forth even niore strikingly by the hints here given of the destiny of those with whom be would not be associated. As the Vulgate most touchingly has it," Non sic impii, non sic." As he would not mingle with them here, he shall not be thrown with them hereafter. They will be as" chaff which the wind driveth away." Their guality, as cha.ff. Their destiny, as chaff. Terrible I How blessed to ho.ve a different alestiny separately assigned, as the result of a course separately chosen! III. THE DLESSEDNESS OF BUCII A LIFE IS HEI\E DECLAI\ED AND DEFINED. If we put the qucs!ion, "By whom is this blessedness pronounced?" the o.nswer is: 1. They are intrinsically blessed, ipso facto, in being what they are. 'fhey are right, good, glad, strong, foll of living hope. 2. In the judgment of all good men they are blessed, and even men who are not godly know that a life spent in accordo.nce with the will of God is the truly right one. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ declares them to be so now. (Matt. v. 1-11.) 4. At the lastjudgment the King will confirm the blessing. Note: The pnrposes to be served by such a psalm as this are mo.nifold. They are independent of ils o.uthor, age, or land. 1. To parents this psalm is a treasure of infinite value, ns giving them in outline (1) what they may well desire their children to be; aml (2) the lllo.ce of honour the Bible should occupy in their children's hearts. 2. To teachers. It discloses to them the life to be urged on their scholars, o.nd tells them wluince alone the nutriment for such a life can be drawn. 3. To children. It shows them tho.t true happiness, in the highest sense, is attained only through true good- ness; that true goodness can only be attained by feeding on the truth of God; anJ. that to such a God-like character there is ensured everl&sting life, an ever-during home. "Light is sown for the righteous."-C.
Vers.1-6.-The blessedness of the true. "God is Love." Ile must, therefore, seek the happino~s of his creatures. Man is the highest of his earthly creatures, aml his 1 Kirkpntriek. See also Professor Forbes's • Studies in tho Dook of Pstilms,' pp. 1()2, 193. 8 'fHE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. I. 1-U.