(vers. 9, 10). In the second part of the psalm he reverts to the cruel treatment ho hnd received, but speaks of it with more calmness-more in sorrow than in anger. Ho remembers how he had tried to be patient, how he had r('strained himself and returned good for evil. But it had been in vain, Brooding upon this, his heart ~gain rises in wrath (ver. 17). But as he comes nearer to God, and feels more intensely the sweet- ness of God's love, he recovers more quietness. Once more tho surges of passion rise and be i~ in d~nger of being ~verwhelmcd; but ~~in he ~urns to God, his only Refuge: and castrng himself upon his care, and comm1ttrng thmgs wholly to his hand, he enters into the rest of faith and hope and love. The portrait may be said to be true to life. We have not only the good, but the bad; not only love to man, but the struggle t-0 keep that love; not only faith in God, but the difficulty of gaining the height of that faith, and of holding it when it had been won. Thus we havo a record which harmonizes with the experience of God's saints of nil ages from Abraham to Paul, and that is rich in instruction and comfort. Who is there who tries to follow Christ, but knows how hard it is to be patient under injustice, to forgive our enemies, and to pray for them who despitefully use WI and persecute us? It is some comfort for us, as with Christian when sorely tried in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, to hear the voice of a brother, and t-0 be able to say, each one to his &oul, "that some who feared God were in this valley as well as himself."-W. F. Ver. 22.-God's si1ence. "There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak n (Eccles. iii. 7). So it is with man, and with reverence it may be said, so it is with God. There is a sense in which God is never silent. In manifold ways his voice is ever sounding in our ears. But there are times when God may be said to be silent, even with regard to his own people. There is speech on the one side, but no answer on the other. 'l'his silence may be prolonged till it becomes distressingly painful. There is the sense of loss; there is the feeling of desertion; there is the dread of worse things to come-of the going down to the pit of darkness and despair (Ps. xxiii. 4). Luther said, in his strong way, "0 my God, punish me rather with pestilence, with all the terrible sicknesses on earth, with war, with anything, rather than thou be silent to me! " But though this silence is to be deprecated, yet it is ordained of God for good. It may come as- L JusT RETRIBUTION, The wicked do not seek after God. It is no wonder, there- fore, if God should deal with them after their own ways (Prov. i. 24---28; John xiii. 9). But even good men may become negligent-they may fall into sin and forget God. 'l'herefore it may be necessary to let them see and learn the evil of departiog from the living God (Pss. xciv. 10; cxx:v, 6; Jer. ii. 19). II. MERCIFUL WARNING. We must not judge of God by ourselves. We must not think that he is arbitrary or cold. If he is silent, it is for just cause. Remember how it was with Saul (1 Sam. :x:xviii. 6). Well would it have been for him, if he had regarded the doings of God, and turned to him in repentance. But he hardened his heart. God warns WI also. His silence should bring our sins to our remembrance. "Your sins," saith the prophet, "have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isa. lix. 2; cf. Hos. v. 15). III. GRACIOUli DISCIPLINE. The end of the Lord is merciful. If he is silent, it may be: 1. To try our faith. Remember the Syro-Pbcenician woman (Matt. xv. 21-28). 2. To quicken our sense of dependence. God is Sovereign. He is under no o~ligation to us. If he hears, it is in mercy. We are too ready to think we have a claim upon him, and to resent his silence. We need to learn humility. "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1 Pet. v. 8). 3. To enhance t~e value of the blessings we laclc. The worth is known by the want. Memory of pnst Joys makes us the more eager in seeking renewed tokens of love and good will. 'l'he light is sweet to the eyes, but it is sweeter if for a while withdrawn. Friendship is dear, hut. absence makes the heart grow fonder. The love of God is the joy of the heart; but 1f cloud~ and darkness gather between us and God, the more earn<!stly do we cry for the restora• tion of his favour (Jer. xxix. 11-14). 4. To prepare mfor higher manifestations of God's lO'Ve, We need to be brought low in order to bo raised up. We need to be emptied of pride and self-righteousness to be filled with the fulness of God. If we ask o.nd receive not, it is because we ask amiss. This we have to learn. We are PS, XXXV, 1-28.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 273
led, therefore, to self-examination, to penitence, to co·nfession. God has something better than we thought of in store for us. It may be wmething to do or to suffer for him. There is a "needs be" we should be made ready. Let us therefore trust, and not be afraid (Isa, !iv. 7, 8).-W. F.