The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 272

example of the wicked, as by a flood, quits the subject., and recovers himself by reflect- ing on~ a different theme." 1 Whether this be precisely the correct account of the matter or no, certain it is that too prolonged a ga.ze into the desperate wickedness of man would unnerve us and would generate a spirit of misanthropic distrust. For our own balance of mind, and peace and rest, we must tnru our gaze away from the haunts of sin to the abode of perfect righteousness and halcyon calm. And, thank God, we can do it. And if we turn the glass of the Word upward instead of downward, we shall find more to inspire with rapture than we have seen to crea,te dismay. But neither the one description nor the other can be accounted for by the ordinary laws of the human mind. The psychology of the natural man will not serve us here. Only a "man whose eyes are open" could have written either the first or the second part of this psalm. And we here see the working, not of psychology, but of pneumatology---of the pneumatology of the spiritual man when receiving and transmitting a revelation from God and of him. What the Apostle Peter says of prophecy generally may be applied to this psalm: it "came not of old time by the will of man." David epake as be was "moved by the Holy Ghost." Having, then, spied into the abyss of depravity by the glass of the Word, let us peer into the boundless heights of glory by looking through the same glass when turned upward. Let us study- I. THE PERFECTIONS OF Goo IN TREIB BUllLIME AND PEERLESS GLORY, (Ver. 6, et seq.) We have put before us the sphere in which the Divine Being dwells-"in the heavens;" "nnto tbe clouds." The heavens, in the highest sense, are regarded as the dwelling-place of God; and, to the same intent, the word translated "clouds." 1 Since God is everywhere present, we must not confine his presence (in our thinking thereof) to one spot rather than another (Ps. cx.xxix. 7-12). Yet we are permitted to think of" heaven" as being a region where he specially manifests his glory-" Our Father, which art in heaven;" "The Son of man" "came down from heaven" (cf. Ezek. i. 26-28; Isa. vi. 1-4; John xvii. 5). High, high above this troublous scene of unrest and sin there is a throne of glory, there is a seat of power, there is a realm of unruffled, everlasting calm (Ps. xcvii. 1). But here we have revealed to us him who is on the throne, and the glorious attributes which mark his infinite Being. 1. "Me'rcy," "goodness;" benignitas, misericordia. God has a heart, " He that formed the ear, doth he not hear 't He that formed the eye, doth he not see? He that formed the heart, doeth he not feel?" Yea, verily. God is a Being of infinite tenderness, compas- sion, and love. 2. "' Truth;" i.e. "faithfulness;" fides, veritas. "Hath he said, and shall he not do it? " "Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" "Firm e,e e. rook hie truth remai1111 To guard his promises." Not one thing bath failed or shall fail of all that the Lord hath spoken, 3. "Righteous- ness:' (Ver. 6.) "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains." 3 Justitia. ~t is because the righteousness of God is so firm and unmovable that we can repose in him the most entire and absolute confidence. Even love, divorced from righteous- ness, would fail to win our hearts. The work of Christ commands our homage, love, and rest, because therein love and righteousness are seen in sublimest concord. Note: How intense the relief to turn our eyes away from this scene of sin and corruption to him "whose dominion extendeth over all" in righteousness, mercy, and truth I II. THE PERFECTIONS OF Goo IN THEIR BEARING UPON us. 1. Perfect administration. (Ver. 6.) "'l'hy judgments are a great deep;"' a profound abyss (cf. Pe. lxxvii. 19). They often present a depth of mystery which we have no plummet to sound. But th~y are judgments for all that; i.e. right-settings-they are never at fault. And never 1s there any flaw in the Divine admiuistration on this globe (Ps. xcvii. 2). 2. Loving- , See Calvin's' Commentary,' in loo. • The word occurs in the following passages: Deut. xxxiii. 26; 2 Sam. xxii. 12: Job xxxv. 5; xnvi. 28; xxxvii. 18, 21: xxxviii. 37; Pee. xviii. 11; lvii. 10; Ix viii. 34; lixvii. 17; l.xxviii. 23; lxxxix. 6, 37; cviii. 4; Prov. iii. 20; viii 28; Isa. xl. 15: xlv. 8; Jer. li. 9. • Literally, "mountains of God;" cf. tho following expressions (l'ss. civ. 16; lxv. 9), .. • Not, e.s Hengstenberg, "e. grellt flood." The word eiguifies "abyss" (see Job xxvuL 14; Pa. ilii. 8; Amos viL 4; Gen. viL 11). PB. XXXVI, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 281