The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 57

Vera. l-9.-God the glorious Creator. It is midnight. The sky is bright with stars. As the psalmist muses, the fire burns, and he bursts into song. The psalm is not for Israel alone, but brings before the mind such a vision of the glory of Glod as the great Creator, as binds all people of every land and age in a brotherhood of worship. I. Gon's GLORY REVEALED IN NATURE. The heavens have a purpose. The outward glory images the inward and spiritual glory. The stars are silent witnesses for God. '!'heir size, their order, their steadfastness, their splendour, and their mystery, which grow and deepen as investigation is prosecuted and knowledge increases, all proclaim the greatness of God. A.nd the more the glory of God strikes our eye, the humbler do we feel in his awful presence. "When I have gazed into these stars," so.id Carlyle, "have they not looked down upon me, as if with pity, from their serene spaces, like eyes glistening with heavenly tears over the little lot of man?" But while the glory of God in the heavens is fitted to humble us, it also awakens aspiration, It is the same God who rules above o.nd below. If God so cares for stars, will he not much more care for souls? The argument of our Lord applies to tho heo.vens ns well as the earth-to the creation above and beneath. "Are ye not much better than they?" (Matt. vi. 26). II. Goo's GLORY MORE FULLY REVEALED IN MAN, It mny be said that in man mundane creation first of all became intelligent, self-conscious, endowed with conscience and will, able so far to understand its Maker. Man is the Inst and fullest expression of God's thought-a being like himself, and that can hold commuuication with himself. It is only through man, made in God's imap:e, that God could rightly reveal himself. If the heavens stood alone, there would be silence. But when man was created, there was an eye made to see, and a heart to feel, and a voice to proclaim God's praise. 1. The greatness of man's being. 2. The dignity of his position. 'l'ho last is first, Man is put e.t the head of creation. '!'he past has evidence of his lordsbip, and more and more his sway increases. It is his, not only to replenish, but to subduo the earth. 3. The grandeur of his destiny. He has not only a great past, but a great future. God has not only given man his being, but provided also for his well-being, lie has visite,l and redeemed his people (Eµh, i. 3-10). 1 See Bishop Perowne's notes on this ps11lm. 51 TUE BOOK OF PSALMS. frs. vrtr. 1-9.