The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 15

happiness must be of the highest kind, not only fit for him to receive, but worthy ol God to bestow. Such is the happiness here depicted. It does not come anyhow, but in accordance with law. It does not depend upon what a man has, but upon what he is. It is inward, not outward. It is of the spirit, not cf the flesh. Happiness is Llessedncss-the blessedness of the true in character. I. Mark THE FOUNDATION. Sin is self-will. This implies separation from Gcd; and this separation mus~ be final, unless God himself prevent. But the godly man has been brought back mto a right relation to God. God's will is his will. To know and to love and to obey God is his delight. His life is centred in God. Thus he is able to receive the blessing in its fulness, which God is ready freely to bestow. His character is founded upon the rock of the eternal, and not upon the shifting sands of time. II. Mark next THE HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT. This is shown under the figure of a tree, fair and flourishing. I. The situation is choice. It stands, not in the desert, but in a fit place. "Planted." The hand of God is seen in the godly man's life. This is his security. Where God has put him, God can keep him. 2. The environment isfavourable. From the heavens above and the earth beneath nourishment is pro- vided. The supply is rich and sure. Though worldly supplies may cease, and the waters of earth fail (Isa. xix. 5), the river of God will still run free (1 Kings xviii. 5; lsa. lv. 1-3). 3. The pr<>gre$$ is appropriate. There is the power of assimilating (Mark iv. 27, 28). Life develops according to its own order. What the plant does unconsciously, subject to the law of its being, the godly man does freely and con- sciously, under the benign rnle of Christ. III. Lastly, mark THE CONSUMMATION. God's work always tends to completeness. Every advance is an approach. Every fulfilment is a prophecy of the perfect end. In the life of the godly there is the truest pleasure, the noblest usefulness, the heaven- liest beauty. And the charm of all is permanence. There is not only moral freshness, as where there is real soundness of health, but there is enduringness. This is brought out vividly by contrast. "The ungodly are not so." With them there is no reality. Separated from the true life, everything is unstable and uncertain; There may be a kind of prosperity, but it is false and delusive. The pleasures of sin are but for a season ; but the love of God is for ever. In the day of trial the just shall stand, accepted and blessed; but the wicked shall be winnowed out of the society of the true Israel, and swept away, as the worthless chaff, by the swift and resistless judgment of God.-W. F. Vers. 1-6.-0haracter. This psalm supplies us with- I. TEST OF CHABACTER. A man is known by the company he keeps. What doest thou, O my soul? With whom dost thou ''walk" and "sit" (Ps. cxix. 63)? II. RuLE OF LIFE. What should we do? Surely the right thing is to ask counsel of God, and to submit ourselves to his holy and blessed rule. Let us do this, and we shall not only have life (Ps. xl. 8), but food (John iv. 44); and not only food, but society (Matt. xii. 50); and not only society, but education (Ps. cxliii. 10); and not only education, but joy unspeakable and full of glory (Ps. cxi:s:. 65; 1 Pet. i. 8). "He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John ii. 16, 17). IIL FORESHADOWING OF DESTINY. Acts fix habits, habits settle character, and character determines destiny. "The wind" may represent tbe various trials which mtet us and which so far show what we are and whither we are going. By conscience, by public opinion, by experience of the results of conduct, we are p~emonished of the coming end and the perfect judgment of God. Thus, not in an arbitrary way, but by our own deeds and life, our destiny for weal or woe is being settled. Eternity is the harvest of time. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."-W. F. Vers.1-6.-Greatness, 1,appiness,prosperity. We learn here the true idea of- . I. GnEATNEBB. It is not mere intellectual power, bnt moral worth. Grc:itncss 1s goodness-the being like God. II. HAPPINESS. It is living together with God, doing his will, in the light antl joy of bis love. III. PnosPEnITY. It is of the soul-the true health of the soul (3 John 2). Its ra. 1. 1-6.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 9