'world, will find abundant illustration of the two features of a perpetual judcrmenl which has long been, still is, and yot will be, going forward in the world; and that in two directions. 1. As regards the wicked. (1) God is angry every day; his holy indignation over goes forth against sin. There is no featurn of human life more striking than the sorrow and misery which follow on sin. (2) God sends forth his arrows, yea, fiery arrows (ver. 13). (3) The evil which bad men devise a"'ainst otlrnrs often comes back on their own head (vers. 15, 16). Many a Haman ha~gs on the gallows he had prepared for Mordeeai. 1 2. As regards the righteous. "Who savcth them that are upright of heart" (ver. 10). Even so. The whole of the thirty-seventh psalm is an exposition of this fact, and the seventy-third psalm is an illustration of it. Obser- vation and experience will perpetually furnish new proofs of the same. " Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord."-C. Ver. 3,-Purity of heart. "If I have done this." I. TRUE INNOCENCE IS MARKED DY DUMILITY, David is bold before men, but humble before God. Why? There ie the sense that innocence is limited and imper- fect. We may be free from particular sins, and yet be guilty in others. Besides, innocence is but comparative. Measured by the standard of men, we may be without offence, but tried by the holy, spiritual Law of God, we are convicted of innumerable sins, and behind all is a sinful heart. II. AssooIATED WITH MERCY. "Yea, I have delivered him" (ver. 4). So David dealt gently with Saul. His magnanimous sparing of him when he was in bis power was no mere impulse, but the free outcome of bis loving and generous heart. Tbo merciful, whom our Lord has blessed, are placed between those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness " and "the pure in heart," who see God. III. APPEALS WITH CONFIDENCE TO THE JUDGMENT OF Goo. The sense of right prophesies of the triumph of right. Having faith in the jnstice of God, we can leave all in his hand8; and, loving him and assured of his love toward us, we can patiently await the end, knowing that all things shall work together for our good.-W. F. Ver. 1.-God the true Refuge of the sool. This psalm, like many others, refers to a time of trial. The key-note may, perhaps, be found in ver. 1, "In thee." When trouble comes wo naturally look out from ourselves for help. Some lean upon friends ; others cry for a favourable change of circumstances; while others again preach patience to themselves, in the hope that somehow deliverance will come. But only by trusting in God can we find real help; be is the Adullam, the true Refuge of tbo soul. "In thee." Here is- I. RESCUE FROM BIN. When the paralytic was let down in the midst of the people before our Lord, his first word to him was, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." He needed healing, but he more sorely needed deliverance from sin. And so it is with us. Troubles may press heavily on the soul, but the first and chief thing is to be made right with God. Let this be done, and then we co.n bear the ills of life with patience, and face tbo future without fear (Ps. cxliii. 9). II. REFUGE FROM SOCIAL OPPRESSIONS. Foes may bo many and fierce ; their tongues may be as sharp swords, and their malice unrelenting. Much that they speak against us may be false and calumuions; much more may be cruel perversions of the truth; but so long as we are able to rest in God, we are safe. Ha is just; he is the true Vindicator; he will not only defend us, but deliver us. Like Job, we can say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Job xix. 25). III. REST AMIDST THE CONFUl!IONS AND MISERIES OF THE wom,D. Evil abounds. We often feel constrained to cry, with the gentle Cowper- " My ear is pain'd, My soul is sick with every day's report Of wrong and outmge with which earth is flll'd." What then? How liUlo can we do in the way of remedy I We can feel griuf; wo can exprcHs sympathy; wo can try, as we have opportunity, to lessen human woe; _1 See a striking illustr11tiQn ill Spurgeon'e • Troaeury of D~vid,' in loo. 48 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. vm. 1-!l.
~•,e can bear our part in the great business of confession, humbling ourselves bofore the Lord for the sins of others as well as our own. There may be no result. 'l.'hings m11y cvon seem to grO\v worse; but in the darkest hour we can cry, "Our Father, ... deliver us from evil;" and take comfort from the thought that not only is God "our Father," but that his are "the kingdom and the power and the glory." "In thee:" hero is hope for the sinner, and comfort for the 81\int. "In thee:" here is defence for the wenk, and inspirntion for the worker, and a bri~ht future for all who long and labour f0r the 11dvancement of truth and righteousness (Isa. xxvi. 20, 21; Rev. xix. 6).-·w. F.
Ycrs. 1-17.-71,·ust in God. An earnest appeal to God to save him from the wickedness of men who would requite him with evil for the good he had done in sparing Saul's life. 'l.'he charge against him probably wns that he still sought the lire of Saul; and they plotted against his life. In the midst of this wrong and danger, what was bis resource? I. TRUST IN Goo. Not in counter-plotting against his enemies, nor neglecting the use of means for his own safety; but faith in the all-controlling providence of Goel. II. A LOFTY c0Nsc10us:i-.'Ess OF INNOCENCE. (Vers. 3-5.) Nothing can give such confidence in a righteous God as the consciousness of righteousness in ourselves. Wo cannot pray for Divine help if we regard iniquity in our heart. III. IN HIS BLAMELESSNESS RE APPEALS TO Goo FOR JUDGMENT BETWEEN HIM A1'-n ms ENEMIE_s. (Vers. 6-9.) He calls upon God to "arise," •• to lift himself up," "to awake," to exert bis mightiest power in doing justice to both sides. IV. GoD's IlIGHTl!:OUSNESS GIVES HIM HOPE THAT THE OVERTHROW OF ms ENEMIES JS :t.'EAB. (Vers. 10--13.) God's justice is a manifest present fact, not deferred. "He judgeth the righteous, and is angry with the wicked every day." 'l.'he overthrow may come at any moment. V. THE OVERTHROW HAS ALREADY BEGUN, AND THIS GIVES HIM CONFIDENCE AND GRATITUDE. "Is fallen into the ditch which he made." Deliverance is come, there- fore" I will sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high." Dut he did not see this so clearly before. Experience opens our eyes.-S.