kindness. The same word as is rendered "mercy" (Authorized Version) in ver. 5. But the translators saw the meaning of " mercy "per se becoming "loving-kindness" towards us. Not only has the sun light, but we feel the warmth of his rays. Even so the tender mercy of God discloses itself to us in innumerable acts of kindness and love. 3. Protection. (Ver. 7.) "The shadow of thy wings" (cf. Exod. xix. 4; Deut. xnii. 9-12; Ruth ii. 12; Pss. xvii. 8; xci. 4; !vii. 4; !xiii. 7; lxi. 4). Perhaps th~ most wonderful of God's attributes is that patience with men, whereby he restrains the power that could crush, and puts it forth so gently as to guard. Had we not been sheltered by e.n invisible guardianship, we had been crushed ere now a thousand times over. Note, e.lso, that the figure of "wingR,'' etc., indicates e. marvellons tenderness of love. 4. Supply. (Ver. 8.) "The fatness of thine house "-the rich provisions of Divine love which are so largely enjoyed in the fellowship of worship in the courts of the Lord. "The river of thy pleasures;" literally," of thine Eden." Is there here an allusion to the river which flowed peacefully through the garden of Eden when sin had not as yet tainted its bowers? Or is this phrase a declaration that of the pure joy which is in the heart of God he gives those to partake who are in communion with him? If so, here is a wonderful anticipation of the truth," My peace I give unto you." 5. Life. (Ver. 9.) "The fountain of life." Here is a sublime expression of the doctrine which in modern phraseology is called "the origin of force "-a sublime expres- sion thereof, however, on its moral and spiritual side. Such a phrase as this may well have been borne in mind by the Apostlll John,1 when he says of the Son of God, "In him was life." 6. Light. (Ver. 9.) "In thy light shall we see light," In how many senses this is true, and how richly it is true in every sense, it would require many homilies to show. We can but hint, Without God we can see no light any- where. We have no basis for thought, no account to give of existence. Without the light from God to illumine our souls, we cannot see the glory of his love in creation. Without the enlightening and regenerating power of his Spirit, we cannot see the kingdom of God. But with God above, around, within, in what a blaze of light and glory may we live! 1 Note: What amazing bliss is ours, even now, when the fulness of God is made over to us in Christ through his Word and Spirit! Perfect judgment, loving-kindness, guardianship, living food, life, light I What more can we have? Ill. THE DIVINE PEBFEOTIONB AS LAID HOLD OF BY BELIEVING MEN. "When our God reveals himself thus to uses our God, it is but fitting and right that our hearts should respond to such revelntion. A response we find here. It is fivefold. 1. Here is an exhilarating sense of being in the possession of a precious treasure. (Ver. 7.) "How excellent,'' etc. I rather, 11 How precious is thy loving-kindness, 0 God I" Indeed, it is. Precious beyond thousands of gold and Bil ver; yea," bettor thnn life" (Ps. !xiii. 3; xliii, 4). God is our II exceeding Joy." Often and often may we muso with ever- increasing delight on the exhe.ustless stores of love which are ours in the beart of the infinite and eternal God ( cf. Dent. x:xx:iii. 26, 27). 2. Here is a srnse nf safety and repose i11 fleeing for refu,qe to God. (Ver. 7.) "Put their trust;" litcrnlly, "fleo for refuge" (cf. Ps. xci. 2). How intense the repose when wo make God our Refuge I From the plots of men, from the strife of tongues, from perils of every kind, we ca.n hide in God -blessed and safe in his almighty keeping. 3. Here is a sense of satisfaction in the abundance of a Divine supply. God's love is 11s meat and drink to us (cf. John vi.). When all the fulness of God is made over to us in Christ, wo nre indeed well supplied. We often want more of Christ; we never want more than Christ. 4. Tile trust and love of the heart express themselves in prayer. (1) For others (ver. 10). We runy bear all the saints on our heart as intercessors bcforo God. (2) Fur ourselves (ver. 11). That God would so prove himself to us to be all that he has promised to be, that we may never be moved from the right and safe pnth by nny of the plots and snares of designing men. 6. .11.lready, in the anticipation of faith, we si11g praise for delivei·ing
1 Well says Bishop Alexander," Of how much of St. John's theology is this verse the root I" (' The Witness of the Psalms to Christ u.nd Christianity,' p. 259). • The psychology of the naturnl m11n will not account for such a glorious psalm RB this ever h11Ving been written by any one, anywhere, in u.ny age of the world. It is high time for those who would subject exegesis to naturalistic psychological law to review the g"")UUd on which they profess to ta.ke their stand, 282 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [re. XXXVI. 1-12.
grace. (Ver. 12.) "There are the workers of iniquity fallen." "Thero 1"-emphe.tic. There they are! I look on far ahead, and know that I shall triumph in redeeming love, and t.ha t I shall yet see those that plotted my ruin brought to nought, as Israel saw their foes dead on the sea~hore (Exod. xiv. 30, 31; Pss. xlvi. 6; xxxvii. 34-38; lxii. 8; lxi~: 7-10). (For the application of all this in its highest and grandest form, see Rom. vm. 34-39.) Let us trust God, brothers, while danger is nigh, and we shall shout in triumph when life's storms are o,cr.-C.