than any works of his hands. Hence the change of the word "God " to the word "Jehovah." II. JEHOVAH, THE llEVEALED GoD, HAS PUT llEFODE us PRICELESS MATERIAL FOR OU~ USE. There are six: various terms to indicate this. Law; or the great body of truth in which God would have his people instruct-ed. Testim1Jny; or the Divine declaration as to what he is, has done, is doing, and will do. Statutes; or precepts, which indicate specific duty. Commandments; or rules for the regulation of the entire iife. Fear; i.e. that fear of him, so repeatedly enjoined, and which in an infantioe age was the predominant view of duty towards God. Judgments; the right-settings, in the Divine declarations pronounced against sin and in favour of righteousness. Let us put all these togeth~r, and lo! how rich are wo in having all these voices from the eternal throne! But how much richer still are we in having the words of the New Testament economy superadded to those of the old! III. THE WORDS OF JEHOVAH ARE AS REMARKABLE FOR QUALITY AS FOR VADIETY. The very names given to them are inspiring: "perfect," "sure," "right," "pure," "true,"" righteous,"" standing fast." These several terms may be gatbercd up into three-true in statement, right in direction, everlasting in their duration. Even so. Jn the words of God we have absolute truth, In the precepts of God we have perfect directories for life and duty. And we know that, change what may, time is on our side, for "the Word of the Lord endureth for ever." Note: The words of God in the Bible are the only ones to which these epithets apply. Then it will be a very serio'ls mistake if in school education or family training we ever allow the Bible to be cro~;ded out or set on one side. For we must note- §.V. THAT THE WORDS OF GOD ARE ADDRESSED TO THE INNERMOST PART OF ouu NATURE, (Ver, 7, "the soul.") Although this word, in Hebrew, is very frequently used in as free and popular a sense as it is with us, yet, on the other band, it often denotes the highest part of our nature-even that which pertains to spirit, conscience, and to the regulation of the moral life of man. Such is the case here; as, indeed, the marvellous effects of the Divine Word (as pointed out under the next heading) pin.inly indicate. So much is this the case, that the Word is regarded even here o.s '' dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, of the joints and marrow," and as o. "discerner of the thoughts o.nd intents of the heart." The Old Testament conceptions of man and of sin are very deep and very solemn.1 As the late Dr. Duncan, Professor of Hebrew, rightly remarked,a "The Hebrew language is peculiarly rich in religious and morn\ terms, though scanty enough in others. The reason is evident-it chronicled a revelation." V. 'l'HE EFFEOT OF GoD'B WORDS ARE AS MARVELLOUS AS THEIR CONTENTS AND AIM. Some six of these are specified in the psalm. And one other is illustrated by its writer. The six effects referred to are: 1. Converting the soul. Restoring it, calling it back from its wanderings, and causing it to return to God and home. 2. Making wise the simple. WhC'l'e the words of God are read, studied, appropriated, by o.n honest and upright heart-, they will lead in the wo.y of understanding, and make wise unto salva- tion. 3. Rejoicing the heart, by their disclosures of God's glory, grace, wealth, o.nd love. To those who driok iu the Word, God is their "exceeding Joy," 4. Enlightening the eyes. This ma_v mean either illumination or refreshment,3 restoring lifo nm\ fain ling energies (cf. 1 Sam. xiv. 2i, 29). 'l'he former meaning, "illumination," is triply true; for God's commandments enlighten a man concerning God, duty, and himself. '!'here is nothing like the searching Word to reveal to us what wo are. 6. Warning is another effect. The exhortations to good nnd the dissuasion from evil are standing menaces of the peril of refusing the one nnd choosing the other. 6. Reward. No one can follow the commandments of God without ensuring a rich, ample, constant recompense. Another effect of the Word of God is illustrated by the writer of this very psalm, who shows us the influence it had upon him. It awoke from him an earnest, prayer- ful response, awakened by the sight of himself which the commandment gave. The I See • Synonymes of the Old Testament,' by Rev. R. D. Girdlestone, ohs. iv., v., vi. • See bis Life, by J. Brown, p. 406. • See nn intoresting remnrk on this phrase in Mr. Fe.usset'■ •Studies In the Psalms,' leot Y. p. 25; o.nd also in Perowne, in loo. 136 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [t>s, xrx. 1-14.
prayer is threefold-against involuntary, secret, and presumptuous sins. It is: 1. Cleanse me, which has a double meaning of" Pronounce me clean, and keep me so." 2. Keep nie back. It is a prayer that the restraining grace of God may keep in subjection a wayward and impulsive nature. 3. Accept me. (Ver. 14.) It is an earnest prayer that at the moment the Word reveals his guilt, the grace of God may cover it with the mantle of forgiving love, and receive him in spite of all his guilt. And to this prayer there is appended an earnest plea. 'fhe praying one invokes two of the names of God in which the Old Testament saints were wont most to delight, "My Rock" and "my Redeemer." The word translated "Redeemer" is specially noticeable. It is Goel.' (For illustrations of the use of the former word, see Deut. xxxii. 4, 31 ; 2 Sam. uii. 32; Pss. lxii. 2, 6, 7; lxxiii. 26; Isa. :r.xvi. 4. Of the latter, see (in Hebrew)- Numb. xxxv. 12, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27; Job xix. 25; Isa. xii. 14; xliii. 14; lx. 16; lxiii. 16.) Note: (1) How unspeakable is the mercy that, though our guilt might well make us dread the approach to a holy God, yet his grace is such that we may flee to him and find deliverance there I The same Word which unbares our sin also reveals his grace. (2) The revelation of God through the stars will JlOt suffice for us; we want the word of promise too. (3) Those who most luxuriate in the Word should also, more than others, luxuriate in the works of God. (4) Those who accept both know perfectly well that nothing in the book of nature can run counter to the book of grace.-C.