The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 121

calamity, which every hour records-pestilence, earthquake, tempest, and so forth. Another sees that the iiniversal design and general working of all natural laws is f.,r good and happiness, not evil; that the main part of human suffel'ing has its root in sin; that "the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord;" and trusts God for the rest. 2. God's dealings not only appear different; they are and must be different nccordina to the temper an<l attitude of our souls. To the soul that bows under God's hanci~ ~rusts his \Vord, .?lings closer to him in tris;, it is "chastening "-full of mercy, rich m result (Heh. xn. 6, etc.). The proud, stubborn heart, tha.t resents and rebels against affiiction, is hardened by it, like Pharaoh. II. IT 1s so WITH GoD's WoRD. Come to the Scriptures in a ca.villing critical hostile _spirit, Md they_ will teem with difficulties. Read them carelessly, s~ornfully; they will be dull and lifeless. Search them, with an earnest desire to know the truth, with prayer for the Holy Spirit's teaching, with ea.odour and humility; they will " talk with thee" (Prov. vi. 22), and unfold their secrets. Thou sbalt hear God's own voice speaking to thy soul; and find what the Thessalonians found (1 Thcss. ii. 13). III. So IT WAS WITH OUR LORD JEsus. Isaiah's prediction was fulfilled (Isa. liii. 2, 3). Scrupulously religions persons, but blinded by self-righteousness, could no more see his glory than sceptics, hypocrites, or scoffing triflers (Matt. xiii. 14, 15). Ilut bis <li.;ciples-those who first believed on him, and then lived in close converse with him- could say," We beheld his glory" (John i. 14). CoNCI,USION. So it is to-da.y. This is 11, universal law-Wnat God is to yott,-whae Christ is to you, shows what you are, and determines what you shall be. '!'he gospel is an open secret, but still a secret, from proud, worldly hearts. 'l.'he physician is for those who are sick and know it. 'l'he Saviour is for sinners who feel themselves sinners. The living water will not flow into a vessel turned upside down. Heaven itself would be no heaven to a heart full of love of the world, of self, of sin, and void of love to God. Ver. 35.-0ur e:wltation through God's gentlenesa. "Thy gentleness bath made me great." "Gentleness!" .A. most remarkable and wonderful word to apply to the .Almighty Creator, the infinite God I Nowhere else do we find it thus applied. As applied to men, the Hebrew word so rendered here means "meekness," "lowliness." We are reminded of our Sa.viour's words, "Learn of me; for I am rncek and lowly in heart." " Gentleness" is a very happy and beautiful transla.tion. "Condescension," which the Revisers give in the margin, would not be Dea.rly so apt. It reminds us of Ps. cxiii. 6. But there the leading thought is the glory and condescension of God; here, our exaltation through bis gracious gentleness. L 'l'HE GENTLENESS OF GoD'S PROVIDENCE IS THE SAFEGUARD OF ALL OUR WELFARE, the condition of all huma.n greatness and prosperity. Human life is like a flower, that can thrive only if fenced from storms and frosts. We are in a world filled with forces which, if they broke loose, would be our destruction. There is power sleeping in the winds and waves to wreck or drown all our navies; in earthquakes, to overthrow all our cities; in blight and insect ravages, to destroy our ha.rvests. Even the light snow- flakes, if they fell for a fortnight twenty feet deep all over our land, would turn it into a desert of the dead. On the other hand, how gently those immense forces work which minister to life! How smoothly earth flies in her yearly circle I No eye, or ear, or sense of ours can make the vapour rising from the ocean to fill the springs and water the plains; the secret ministry of the world of plants to the lire of the animal world- pouring forth from numberless millions of millions of invisible mouths vital air, and removing what otherwise would soon poison and stifle us; or the pulse of growth in bud and blade, leaf, flower, and fruit, in spring and summer, as the returning tide of life answers to the gentle sunshine. "He causeth the grass to grow," etc. (Ps. civ. 14, 24, 27; 2 Cor. ix. 10). How gently the great machine works I How gently the sun- hcam touches the eye, after its flight of over ninety millions of miles in eight minutes I lfow gently the force of gravity, that holds suns and worlds in their places, draws the child's foot to the ground and poises the gnat in the air I True, nature has a stern ficle, by fixing our thoughts on which a gloomy view ma.y be made out. Ilut take in tl,e whole scope of natural law and Divine providence. For one city overthrown by e~rtbquake, how ma.Dy have stood safe for ages I For one shipwreck, how many pros•  PS, :XvtII, 1--50.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 123