The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 252

II. THESE VARIED EXPf:RIENCES OF LIFE ARE HERE TURNED TO MANIFOLD U9EB.1 1. Towards God. (Vers. 1, 2.) The psalmist vowf that, having such manifold proof of what God is t-0 him, and of his faithfulness to all his promisei, his life shall be a perpetual song o[ praise; that he will make his boast in God's goodness and grace, so that those who have, like him, been in the depths of affliction, may also, like him, be brought forth into a wealthy place. Note: Deliverances brought about in answer to prayer should be followed by long-continued and grateful praise. 2. Towards the saints. The psalmist (1) exhorts the s,iints to join him in thankful song (ver. 3). (2) He bids them try for themselves how good the Lord is (ver. 8), and he would have them know the blessedness of those who trust in him (ver. 8). (3) He bids them loyally obey their God: this is what is meant by the word "fear" in ver. 9: not a fear of dread or of servility, but of loyal and obedient reverence. Note: However severe the pressure or great the trouble, we never need depart from the strict line of obedience to God. (4) He assures them that no loyal souls shall ever be deserted (vers. 9, 10). God will see to it that his faithful ones have all needful supplies. 3. Towards all who have life before them. (Vers. 11, 12.) (1) He invites the young to come and listen to him, as out of the depths of his own experience he would show them tbe value of a godly life. (2) He propounds a question, which may well evoke a response in many a young aspiring heart (ver. 12). See the use to which the Apostle Peter puts this passage (1 Pet. iii. 10-16). (3) He gives a clear and definite answer, directing them how to govern the lips and the feet. The lips are to shun guile, and to speak peace and truth. The feet are to avoid evil, and to press after righteousness. (4) He lays down for them a number of a:i;iomata, which may well be their guide through life. (a) That the Lord does hear and answer prayer (vers.15, 17-20). The experience of the faithful gives an overwhelming amount of proof of this. (b) That in pressing on in life, they will find God's judgments abroad in the earth, making a distinction between those who serve him and those who serve him not; rewarding one and condemning the other (ver. 21, Revised Version). (c) That Divine deliverances will compass the righteous around (ver. 22, Revised Version). Loya.I souls will ever be receiving new proofs of the goodness of the Lord, and of the blessedness of such as put their trust in him I "The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion I " Note: 1. Amid all the cha.ngeful currents of human thought and sentiment, there are ever, ever, in all ages, climes, and lands, these two great lines of indisputable fact (vers. 15, 16), to which we do well to take heed-that the Lord is on the side of good, and that "the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." No perplexity in the mazes of metaphysical or theological controversy ought ever to conceal or obscure these plain facts from view. 2. It behoves the young to profit by the experience of the old; for, though no two experiences are precisely the same in all details, and though each one must bear his own burden, yet the lives of our fathers, as rehearsed to us by them, do set forth clearly and distinctly certain great principles according to whicb God governed and guided them-principles which are the same in every age, and which we cannot ignore, save at imminent peril both for the life that now is, and for that which is to come. 3. It behoves us to treasure up the experiences of life, to recount and to record tbem for the use and help of those who have yet to set out on life's journey. We know not how our young ones may be exposed in life. Gladly .would we give them the constant screen of home. But that cannot be. Out into the world they must go. With God's Spirit in their hearts, they are safe anywhere. Without God, tbey are rnfc nowhere. Vve need not talk at them nor try to preach religion obnoxiously t-0 them; but we may, we can, we must, tell them of our God and Saviour, telling them how he has helped us, and will help all who follow him; that they, too, may "taste and see bow good the Lord is " 1-C. Vers. I-10.-Links of grace. I. In this hymn we have first of all PRAISE. Praise is not an impulse, or an outburst of enthusiasm soon to die out, but it is the expression of the heart and the exercise of the life. It is good to have stated ' There is enough in this psalm (and, we hope, in this expository homily thereon) to sugg~st twenty pulpit expositions: but we are comp11Jled to aim at t~e ~ir;tre111e of OOJll• preBBIOD. rll, XXXIV, 1-22,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 261