The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 216

HOMILETICS. Yer. 5,-:-l,Iercy an_d judgment .. ." His anger , . , n moment," etc. This p:itbdic nn<l beautiful psalm 1s a thanksg1vrng after dangerous, well-niah fatal ~iekness, J 1s Lit.le calls_ it "a song at the dedication of the honse; by David ""(see Re~ised Versiou); q.d. D11v1d's own palace, not the temple. But there is no reference to this in the psalm. This is of small account. 'l'be most profitable study of Scripture is not tele- scopic, peering into the past; nor microscopic, dissecting it like a corpse; but stetho- scopic, laying your ear against its heart, and discerning the life that throbs there. 'l'be psalmist sings " of mercy and judgment." I. GoD's DISPLEASURE, AND ITS Bllll!:F DURATION. There is nothing of which we ~eed to speak more carefully and reverently tban of God's anger. ·with men, anger ts rarely free from personal resentment, ill will, injustice, passion. None of these find place in God's anger. It is righteous displeasure against sin. At bottom, it is a manifestation of his love, which desires his children to he holy and happy. Its reality is shown, from the dawn of man's history, by the inseparable connection of sufferino- with sin (Rom. vi. 23). God loves sinners, though they are unworthy, but does no~ treat them as sinless. Aud "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.'' The chasten- ing may be brief, u for a moment," but it is the expression of his uncha,ngeable opposition to sin. The lightning flash is the expression of eternal forces, unchangeable laws. Are, then, the troubles of Christiane always of the nature of punishments for particular sins? Beware of hastily thinking so, for yourself or others. Trouble has another mission, discipline-the trainiog and culture of Christian character. 'l'he Sinless One himself learned in the school of sorrow (Heh. v. 8, 9; iv. 15). Thus wo learn to "weep with those who weep." But trouble may be the direct fruit of our sin; or sent to waken conscience-bring sin to mind. If so, remember there is no truer exercise of God's love (Pa. cxix. 67). II. GoD's FA voun, AND ITB LIFE-GIVING POWER. The Hebrew seems hardly to bear the sense given in the margin of the Revised Version. "Lifetime" is rather an English than a Hebrew idea. God's favour-his loving-kindness and faithful care-is as truly exercised towards his children in adversity as in prosperity; but not so seen and/elt. The clouds which bide the sun are really drawn up by the sun's rays, that they may " break in blessing;" but for the time they do hide it. The sense of God's favour-the assurance of forgiveness, answer to prayer, removal of trial, opening of the path, comfort of promises, bounty of providence, shedding abroad of love in the heart by his Spirit, is like the life-giving sunshine ; " clear shining after rain." Ill. 'l'HE LAW OF CHBlS'l'IA.N EXPERIENCE CONCERNING TBOUDLE, Sorrow is joy's forerunner. The Hebrew is very terse and vigorous, though it may sound harsh if Englished verbatim, "For there is a moment in his anger; life in his favour. At eventide weeping shall come to lodge; and at morn a shout of joy." Trouble is not for trouble's sal,e, but "for our profit." The end being gained, the process will ceasi, (1 Pet. i. 7; 2 Cor. iv. 17). Joy is for its own sake; therefore inexhaustible (Is:1.. xxxv. 10; liv. 8). How if the process fails; the end is not gained; grace and chasten- ino- both in vain? '!'hen "his ano-er" against sin cannot be "for a moment," bnt m~st al.Jide (John iii. 36; Heb. vi. 8; x. 26, 27). Ver. 9.-.A noble view of life. "Shall the dust praise thee?" etc. We must not take this cry of bitter anguish as an utterance of unbelief or irreligion. On the e;ontrary, it contains a noble and religions view of life. Life, in the p~almist's. view, is a sceue and season in which to glorify God. His quarrel with death lij ~hat it cuts_ fl,ort this opportunity; silences the tongue of testimony and the lips of pra~e; arrests the Lusy worker, and buries his vigorous energies in the dust. Here, then, is- I. 'l'aE Cnuncn's C0MrI.AINT AGAINST DEATII, '!'here is 110 piety in ignoring rs. xxx. 1-12.] 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS, 221