cases there me.y be the form, but there cannot be the power, of godliness; there may be certain earthly advantages, but there is no real profit, neither the promise of the life that now is, nor of that which is to come. But with all who are taught of God, religion is a choice-the free, settled, rejoicing choice of the heart. It is God manifesting himself to the soul, and the soul iu love and trust uniting and binding itself to God to be his e.nd his only for evermore. True religion is characterized by- I. P1mSONAL TRUST IN Goo, AS THE LORD OUR Goo AND OUR REDEE~ER. "When I sit in darkness," says Micah, "the Lord shall be a. Light unto me" (Micah vii. 8). So says David here (ver. 1). We need" light," from the beginning to the end of our life. God is our Light. All real illumination to the mind, the conscience, and the heart, is from him. Light is revealing. As we draw near to God, the mists and clouds of passion e.nd self-love are driven awe.y, and all things stand out clear e.nd distinct as they really are. Thero is not only the revelation of ourselves, but the revelation of God. We sei, ourselves as sinners, guilty and vile; we see God as a Saviour, and we trust him utterly (John i. 5; viii. 12; 1 John i. 5; 2 Cor. iv. 6). II. FEARLESS DEVOTION TO THE SERVICE OF' Gon, AS THE FREEST, THE RIOHT- F'ULLEST, AND THE MOST BLESSED OF' ALL SERVICES. Religion is more than know- ledge, or feeling, or obedience to the moral law. It is a life. It not only implies trust, but love and service. There are difficulties and trials. We look back and remember times of danger (ver. 2). When we were in straits nnd fears. But God brought us help. As it wns with David (1 Sam. xvii. 37; xxx. 6), so it was with u~ In thought of whe.t God has done for us, we strengthen our hearts. Confidence comes from experience. Whom we have tried we trust. The friend we have found faithful, we cleave to. The physician. whose remedies we have proved good, we confide in. The co=ander under whom we have conquered, we follow bravely to other fields. So do we trust in God. Looking to the future, we may imagine greater trials and distresses than we have yet encountered (ver. 3). The psalmist conjures up e. terrible scene. As in a picture, we see the mustering of the forces, the proud array of the enemy with tent.I and banners, the shock and terror of the battle, when host met host in furious strife. But, like the psalmist, let us not flinch or fear. God is with us. "In this will I be confident" (1 Kings xxii. 19; 2 Kings vi. 15; Act~ :n. 24). III. INORl!;ASING DELIGHT IN Gon, AS THE SATISFACTION AND JOY OF THE HEART. Religion establishes right relations between the soul e.nd God. Every barrier is removed, and free access and friendly communiou have been secured. This is beautifully brought out in the words, "One thing have I desired of the Lord" (ver. 4). One thought hns the mnstery. One desire gives unity and concentration to e.11 efTort. One affection binds the heart and the life into a holy fellowship. God is All and iu a.II. The single- ness of purpose branches iuto two main streams. One is meditation: '' To behold the beauty of the Lord;" the other is like unto it, practice: "To inquire in his templ(l" (ver. 4). 'l'his shows the bent of the renewed soul. There is au inward relish for what is good. There is a delight in all that is true and beautiful. Every Ii ving soul is an inquirer. Truth is not born with us, nor can it be obtained without our own efforts. It must be sought for its own sake. It must be wooed ond won from love, that it may be a posse~sion and a joy for ever. All right inquiry is prnctical. "If ye know these things, happy are yo if ye do them." 'l'bi.1s coming to the light, and walking in the light, "we have fellowship with God, nnd the blood or Jesus Christ hi~ Son cleanseth ns from all sin." We have safoty and peace (vors. 5, 6). IV. .ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO Goo, FOR TIMI!! A!'1D ~'OR ETERNITY. True religion binds us to God, not only for life, but for ever. 'l'his is impressed in the prayer, which implies: 1. Deep humility. 2. IIoly aspirations. 8. Complete submission. 4. Victorious faith. Three things are deprecated, rising one above the other in fearfulness. Displeasure (ver. 9); rejection, "Leave me not;" aban,ionment (ver. 10). But instead of these, we see, by faith, e. glorious victory, and we hail Hs coming with renewed courage and praise (vers. 13, 14).-W. F.
Vers. 1-6.-Fearlesa courage. I. TnE SECRET 01!' A F'EABLESS COURAGE. 1. Hia experience of what God had been to him. " Light" in the darkest periods of his life. Light is 11 revealing power-for guidance. Salvation from hie greatest dangers, temporal and spiritual, "Strength," the power the.t he.d upheld hia life when foiling into 20(3 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. XXVII, 1-14.
weakness and despair. Experience confirmed and rewaried the faith which he had in Goel. When experience coincides with our faith, tl:.en we arn at our stronaest. But faith must always live above experience. 2. His experience of liis enemies. •l'heir mo~t furious and savage onsets had been hlffied. This also was of God. And the <'xplanation was --;-th~y were wiclud, and be was. rigliteou~. This thought was fundam"nta! to his faith-that God would not permit the evil to triumph over the good. His experience of this in the past gave him confidence for the future (vers. 2, 3). Our past victories should inspire us for the future. !I. How A FEARLESS COURAGE MAY BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED, 1. By fellow- ship with G?d· 13eholding his beauty or goodness, and meditating upon it. The heart and mmd must be fed and strengthened by constant converse with God in worship and holy thought, 2. Frequent seclusion is the best way to strengthen oursdves for conflict. (Ver. 5.) "In time of trouble, he shall hide me, and set me up upon a rock;" i.e. shut out from man, and shut in with God, is the way to conquer trouble and prepare for danger. 3. Thankful worship is another lieT,p. (Ver. 6.) "Sacrifices of joy," or "shouting," "singing praises,"-all mean grateful exercises of the heart towards God, recounting to ourselves what he has done for us in his wonderful goodness. Courage, hopefulness, must be fed with joy, and not with sadness and sorrow.-S.