The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 188

Vers. 1-7.-Trust in God, "Belongs probably to the time of the Exile. Its pre,ailing thon~ht is that God is the Teacher of the afflicted and the Guide of the erring; and this is constantly repeated, either in the way of statement or of prayer." The first seven verses contain three thing•. L Asrrnrno TnusT IN Goo. (Vers. 1-3.) Seeking, drawn towards, lifting himself up towards God, waiting upon him,-all signify the earnest, confident trust in God, which is the highest act of the soul towards the great Invisible Being. This is associated with obedience; for transgressors will be confounded; they have no ground for expecting sal~ation, and will be made ashamed, II. EARNEST PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE. (Vers. 4, 5.) "Show me thy ways;"" Teach me thy paths;"" Lead mein thy truth." (1) Help me to understand thy providence or govern- ment, for I am often perplexrd by it. (2) Teach me the paths in which thou wouldst have me walk. (3) Let me live in the experience of thy faithfulness. (1) Enlighten my thoughts, and give me the power to interpret thy ways of acting, (2) Control my conduct, move me to duty, and give me an obedient heart. (3) Help me to trust in the truth of thy Word and thy ways. For thou art saving me, and _I am waiting on thee to this end. Ill. A cBY Fon Gon'e UNCHANGEABLE MERCY. (Vera. 6, 7.) God's mercy is called "tender mercy" and "loving-kin<lness," to indicate its qualities and its source. And it is everlasting and unchangeable, because Gud cannot be unlike himself; he cannot ch,mge his nalure nor his conduct. The cry here is for mercy upon the sins of his youth. 1. 'I71e sins of youth are tlie sins of impulse, of incon.~ideration, Not deli berate sins, but Leiter remembered than sins of later life. 2. The sins of inexperience anij ignorance. We know not what we do-like Christ's murderers-when we transgress, The plea is, "Accordiug to thy loving-kindness," etc. For the sake of th~ 9oo~ncss, because thou art love, because thou art good, do these favours for me. 'Ibis 1_s. the e,·erlasting r,lea with God that sinners must uso; not_ that God can ?C ma~e prop1_t1~us towards us, but that be is propitious, has been, and will always remain so, not willing that any should perish,"-S. Vers. 8-14.-The supreme importance of Divine interposition. The ~ain subject of these verses is the Divine teaching, help, and guidance. Men are ignorant and erring, and the supreme importance of Divine interposition is here recognized and unfolded. I. THE PERSONS WHOM Gon ENLIGHTENS AND HELPS. l. He instructs sinners. Shows them the right way, and helps them to walk in it. He helps his peop!e, t_hough they are sinners, a.nu in spite of it (ver. 8). The ground of this conduct 1s given- 1'8, XXV. 1-22,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 191