The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 275

ehe.lt love thy neighbour e.s thyaeH," ie eet at nought. Even in the Churches the lee.van of selfishness is se.dly opere.tive. Bot '' God is love." He is the great Giver. His delight is to show mercy, to do good and to communicate. He has come nearer the.never in Christ Jesus, and under the strong and loving covert of his wings we find refuge from all the oppreseione and ills of life (ver. 7). Let us make it our habit more and more to abide with God. Christ is in the bosom of the Father, and it is as we "live together with Christ" that we abide in the love of God, and are comforted in all our troubles, defended in all our dangers, and strengthened for every good word and work. "Only, 0 Lord, in thy dear love, Fit us for perfect rest above; And help us, this and every day, To live more nearly as we pray." W.F. Vers. 6, 7.-Righleousness; juq,_qment; loving-kindness. There are three great sayings here which deserve our deepest study. First, God's" righteousness," that perfectiou of his character which secures perfect justice in all his doings. It is like" the mountains," so high that it is always above us, so fixed and stable that it cannot be moved. Then God's "judgments "-his ways, his dealings with men-are called a "great deep," as being in many respects beyond our sounding or measuring, unfathomable and full of mystery (Ps. lxxvii. 19). Last, there is God's providential care. It is said, "How excellent is thy loving-kindness, 0 God I" (vers. 6, 7). But while these sayings are very striking and beautiful, looked at by themselves, they become vastly more signifi- cant and consolatory when we regard them in their relationship. Suppose we take the second, and place it in the light of the first and then of the third. In tho "great deep" there is much that is awful and perplexing. But if there be mystery, this should not surprise us. We are but children. How can the finite comprehend the Infinite! But this mystery has its uses: it teaches us humility; it inspires us with reverence; it prepares the way for faith and hope and love. But much dopends on our stand- point, See how different thiugs become when we look at "the great deep n from the sure ground of the everlastini; hills. It is significant that the psalmist speaks of the "mountains" before the "great deep," of the "righteousness" of God before his "judgments." Here is a lesson for us. Let us .first make sure as to God's righteous- ness, Then when our hearts are established in this truth, we can look abroad without fear of the great deep of God's judgments. Even if, like Prml, tossed up and down "in Adria," the assurance of God's righteousness will give us peace, and sustain our hopes; nnd when we rench the shore again, we can look back, as from Melita, with thankful love and praise to God's ways and wonders in the deep. Then, further, when we take up the third great saying here, the light increase~, and the sense of God's gracious presence and care becomes stronger and stronger. How often is it so in G0d's Word and works I Side by side with some grand manifestation of his greatness and m:ijesty, we have some tender touch that speaks of his fatherly love and care. Wbensoever, then, we are oppro3sed and appalled by the sight of the "groat deep," let us call to mind, on the one hand, God's "righteousness;" and, on the other, Go,l's love -that we mo.y bo comforted. Before us is the "great deep," with many thini:s that arc terribie and distressing-the shipwreck of dear hopes, the burying out of si~ht of beloved ones, the mystery of trial 1md of death-but, standing on the sure ground of God's righteousness, we may possess our souls in patience; nnd, contemplating the manifold and increa.qing proofs of God's love and goodness in our dnily life, we may take heart, and say, "He cannot will me aught but good; I trust him utterly." Let us learn to take the right order in considering God's works. Wo should bogin with what 1s plain and certain. We should study tho dark things in tho light of what is clear, the mysteries ~y what is revealed. Further, mnrk the importance of making much of common mercies, that we may be the better prepared for uncommon emergencies. God is educating us. When we know him as carin~ for us in little thinas we can trust him to care for us in greater things (Mntt. vi. 30-34). If we have°l~arned to run with the footmen without being weary, wo can better contend with horses. If we do our duty and serve God in the land of pence, then we shall bo  THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [l'B. XXXVII, 1-40,