Ver. 4.-Prayer. What is true of Christ is true, in a sense, of his people. Here we learn- I. THE TRUE NATURE OF PRAYER. It is the desire of the heart (ver. 2). This is frequently taught by doctrine and fact in Holy Scripture. Words are of the mouth, thouc:bts are of the heart. "Words without thoughts never to heaven go." It is asking of God for things agreeable to his will. \Vhile there is real "asking," there is also loving trust and acquiescence. God's will is aye the best will. JI. SOME Llr.HT AS TO THE MAl-"NER IN WHICH Goo ANSWERS PRAYER, 1. By giving what is good. "Life." 2. In a higher sense than we tho'U(Jht of. " For ever." 3. In such a way as shall be for the greatest benefit to others as well as to ourselves. "Dlcss- ings" (cf. Paul, "more needful for you," Phil. i. 24). Hence faith is confirmed. Our hopes as to the future arc sustained. Our hearts are soothed amidst the disap- pointments and trials of life, by the assurnnee that all is well. We ask "life" for ourselves; and God gives what he sees best. We ask "life" for our friends. Some child or loved one is in peril of ueath. We plead for him. We entreat that he may be spared. We continue with "strong crying and tears" to pray that his life, so precious and so dear, may be prolonged. But in vain. He dies. We are troubled. We mourn in bitternes, of soul, as if God had forgotten to be gracious. But when we look at thir,gs aright, we find comfort. God has answered us in his own wRy. He knows what is best. Your little one has gonc;i quickly to hel\ven. Your darling boy has been taken to a nobler field of service than earth. The "desire of your eyes" has bern caugLt up into the glory of God. There they await us. Love never faileth. The fellowship in Christ endures for ever.-W. F. V ers. 1-13.-Tlvml.sgiving for prayer answered. Close connection between this and the previous psalm-that a prayer for the king; this B thanksgiving that the prayer has been answered. 'l'he people speak to God (vers. 1-7); then (vers. 8-12) they speak to the king; then in ver. 13 they speak again to God. The occasion of the psalm has been disputed. Some think it is a birthday ode; some, a coronation lll·mu; and others, a thanksgiving for victory in battle. Let us take it first- - I. As A DIRTIID.!.Y ODE. "He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of <lays fur ever and ever." 1. This notwithstanding hiB sin. Which was tliouglit in the Hebrew mind to forfeit length of days. Hi~ long life, therefore, wae a F pecial act of God's salvation ( vers. 1, 4, 6). 2. His long life had been made a prosperous ow. (Ver. 2.) His heart',; desire had been granted him. How few can say this of a lorw life! How fow feel that they have grasped the greatest good in life I JI. A cor.oNATION HYMN. (Ver~. 3, 5.) "'l'hou forestallest, or surprisest him with chuice;t Llessings; thou settest a crown of gold upon his head." "Honour and majesty Last tliou laid upon him." 1. '17tis hi.'fhest earthly honour was to represent God. He ,vas God's vice 6crent to the nation. 'l'he Lord's anointed, who stood on enrth for God in heaven; the image of the invisible King. '!'his ought to be the idea still of all the highe,t earthly offices-king, statesm~n, teacher. 2. But the grandest crown is that of llirprerne moral injf:ucnce. That is Christ's crown; he is King of men, not by physic:il PS, XXII, 1-31.) TilE nooK OF PSALMS. 151
force, but by spiritual power. And this is our brightc,t crown when we can influence men supremely for their goo<l. n_r. 'l'BANKBGIVING Fon_ VICTOr.Y IN BATTLE. (Vcrs. 8-12.) This may be the bcanng. of _the who_lc strarn of the _psalm. Then from bis previous victories it i~ prophesied 10 the eighth and following verses that he shall gain the victory in all !uture ~attics. 1. Trust in God is the source of all our strength in our conflicts. This 1s the victory that overcometb the world, even your faith-not a passive but an active faith. 2. Ji'ormer victorie., show us that we can, if we will, conquer' in all future conflicts, By taking unto us ".the whole armour of God."-S.