The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 186

I. HoLY ASPIUATION, The psalmist was a man of prayer. His yearnings were ever towards God. There was much to weigh him down; but against all obstacles he pressed upward and onward. "Nearer my God, nearer to thee," was his cry. II. APPROPRIATING FAITH. There is not only faith in God ns God, but the higher and nobler faith of appropriation. "My God." This implied knowledge and personal trust. But while the confession is boldly made, it is accompanied by true lowliness of heart. The sense of weakness; the danger of yielding to false shame; the p0ssibility of being overborne, as others had been, by the might and craftiness of the foe,-constrain the soul to cling the more closely to God. , III. Lovnm SELF-SURRENDER. Here is the spirit of the learner (ver. 4), humble and trustful, willing to be led and to be taught of God. It is what we find in Paul, who cried, "Lord, what wih thou have me to do?" and then, in obedience to the heavenly vision, was content to sit at the feet of the humble Ananias of Damascus. We must feel ourselves simply and unreserverlly in the hands of God, if we are to learn aright. If we trust to our own wisdom, we shall go astray, if we take counsel of men, we are in danger of being led into by-paths and devious ways ; but if we commit ourselves to God, he will guide us into all the truth, and lead us in the way everlasting. IV. LOYAL SERVICE. "Waiting" does not imply inaction. It is not resting in ease, or foldiog the hands in idleness, or holding back from effort, as if we could do nothing. Rather it implies faith and work (Ps. cxxiii. 2). We see also that there is no limit or stop to the service. It is not for an hour, but "all the day." So it was with our blessed Lord (John :xi. 9); so it should be with us. V. QmcKE!,'UIG MEMORIES. The mercies of the past are pledges of mercies in the future (ver. 6). "Of old" reaches far back. Imagination looks to the beginnings when God first showed mercy to sinful man; while memory recalls the special tokens and proofs of Divine kindness to ourselves. God's mercies always flow in the channel of his righteousness. VI. !NsPIRING HOPES. Memory has its pains as well as its pleasures. As tho psalmist looks back, the "sins of his youth n come up before him. But God is merci- fol. Other sins also rise in dread array; not only errors, but "transgressions," wherein he had wilfully offended. Again the only refuge is in God. 'l'he worse our case, the greater our need of mercy. God's Name inspires hope, and _assures us not only of forgiveness, but of grace to sanctify and sustain our souls till the conflict closes in victory, and our prayers end in praise.-W. F. Ver. 7.-Sins of youth. "Remember not the sins of my youth." 'l'his prayer implies- L P AilffUL MEMORIES. Brought up under the eye of God, our life should have been pure. It is our shame that it has been otherwise. Looking back, we arc dis- tressed at the remembrance of our follies and offences. Oh that we had hearkened unto God! then it might have been with us as with the holy Chihl Jesus- " A son that never did a.miss, That never ehnm'd hie mother's kiss, Nor cross'd her fondest prayer." II. DEEPENING BENSE OF nESPONSIDILITY. Life is one whole. Amidst all changes personal identity remains. The present is linked to tho :past. We_ nro nnswera~le, not oniy for what we do to-day, but for what we have done m our earliest days. '!he sms of our youth are "ours." They form part of our burden, and press upon us the more heavily because of the added sins of riper years. Ill. Grtow1NG ooNscrousNESB OF THE EVIL OF BIN. Once, perhaps, we thought lightly of the sins of youth. '!'hey were but errors and faults common to all-the inevitable result of ignorance and inexperience at the worst. We were only sowing PB, XXV, 1-22,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 189