The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 189

because he is good and righteous, or upright. It becomes his nature to act thus. 2. He leads the lowly ur meek; or those who are lowly because of oppression. He leads them in righteousness; i.e. he gives to them, who do not oppose might with mi"bt 0 justice against their oppressors. The right is sure to triumph in the end. 3. H; rei·eals himself to his faithful, obedient people. (Ver. 10.) Sb ows to them that all his ways are gracious and faithful. Human faithfulness discovers Divine faithfulness, and is the organ through which it is revealed, 4. He teaches them that/ear him. (Vcrs. 12-14.) Only those who fear God are anxious to know the right path; and even God can teach only those who are anxious to find the way of life. II. THE BENEFIT AND THE BLESSING OF DIVINE GUIDANCE, 1. He who/eds guided by God is emboldened to cry fur purdonfor his sins. His argument for pardon is two- fold. "For th_y Name's sake," etc.; "For mine iniquity is great," etc. I shall sink under it unless it be pardoned. 2. He shall know how to choose wisely his own 1cay. {Ver. 12.) .Acquires an inherent, constant wisdom, as the fruit of Divine teaching, and is raised above the power of changing human opinion. 3. He shall enfoy enduring prosperity (vu. 13), and his seed by way of natural consequence. 'Jhe path of ri.cht- eousness is the only" way everlasting." 4. Only those who live and u,alk with God know his will. (Ver. 14.) "The secret of the Lord" is hidden from the eyes and hearts of the disobedient, God himself is hidJen; but the secret of his love is further oIT still from their perceptions. God's "covenant" with man through Christ surpasses in glory all hie former covenants with man.-S. Vers. 15-22.-The troubles of the righteous. The two previous sections of the psalm express trust in the Divine help and prayer for guidance. Jt'rom the fifteenth verse we see the reasons of the urgency of bis prayer. The friends ancl the enemies of God are in conflict in this world, aud the psalmist is suffering at the hands of the wicked, and needs the interposition of God. The troubles of the righteous. I. EVIL COUNSELS ABE SET IN MOTION AGAINST HIM, (Ver. 15.) ".A net is laid for his feet." 'fhis may mean physical or moral danger, putting in peril his life or his character, aiming either at his death or drawing him into evil courses. Evil men rrjoice if they can prevail upon a good man to abandon his principles or sacrifice his cliaracter. His danger is not from open temptation, but from artful sophistries, making the worse appear the better reason; plots against his honour, II. HE IS m SPECIAL NEED OF DIVINE SYMPATHY, (Ver. 16.) On account of bis loneliness in his trouble-desolate. He is i~olated from sympathy and com- panions, and cast upon God's companionship. \Ve are often thus tried if we are faith- ful to Go1l and our work-as Christ was, and our consolation ,vas his, " I am not alone; for the Father is with me." III. HE HAD MANY INWARD AS WELL AB OUTWAilD TBOUDLES. (Vers. 17, 18.) He suffered pain and affeiction, and an intense consciousness of sinfulness. Either of these experiences, separately, is bard enough to bear; but when both ho.ve to be endured at the same time, there is no greater misery. We can but cry and pray as the psalmist did. IV. HE DilEADED THAT THE ACTIVE HATRED OF ms MANY EllEMIES WOULD DnING HUI TO OPEN ~HAME. (Vers. 19, 20.) He was afraid that the Divine cause, as rqJTe- sentcd in his person, might appear, in somo way, to be worsted; and if so, he would feel the deepest humiliation. "Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee." If God disappointed I.is hope, his enemies would pour derision on his trust in Go,!, and that would be a deep calamity, if men proclaimed that faith in God wo.s a vain thing. But God is not unfaithful; it is we who are faithless, and expose ourselves to shame. V, liB CONCLUDES WITH A PRAYER FOR INTEGRITY AND Ul'RIOIITNESS AS HIS DEFENCE, (Ver. 21.) He desires to have thcso as his guardians, because his way is perilous from inward and outward foes, 'l'he effect of deep trouble is sometimes to make us reckless, and to for(eit steadfast perseverance; to unstring and relax our moral nature. .And sometimes it braces us up to the highest aim and the strongest effort, as here, to realize our trust in God and to seek for the whole armour of righkourncss, that" we may withstand in tho evil day, and, having done all, to st 11,J.." 'l'he tweuty• second verse was adt.led when this psc1lm camo to be used in public worship.-S.  192 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. XXVI. 1-12.