The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 308

then the setting upon the rock; then the new song and the new service, as the outflow and the expression of the new heart. "By grace are ye saved, through faith" (Eph. ii. 4-10; Rom. viii. 29, 30). II. ,VHAT HIS SERVANT WOULD DO FOR Gon. "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?" is tho question of the prophet; and he gives the answer, "He hafo showed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but tJ do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah vi. 6-8). The same great truth had been taught long before by Samuel," Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Sam. xv. 22). 1. 'l'he sacrifice of the W1,1l. Without this all else is vain. There is death, not life; the letter, but not the spirit; the form of godliness, but not the power. 2. The obedience of the life. Whatever way we interpret the obscure phrase, "Mine ears hast thou opened," the meaning seems to be the free and complete surrender of the soul to God. The right disposition leads to the life-devotion (Rom. xii. 1; 2 Cor, v. 14, 15). 3. The thanksgiving of the heart. Doth privately and publicly, in our daily Jife before God and before men, we are to serve in the spirit of love and joy. Amidst all the changes and chances of our mortal state, we should continue faithful to him who hath called us that we might show forth his praise. Thus we shall have parl with those saints of God- ,. Who carry musio in their heart, Through dusky lane and wrangling mart, Plying their daily task with busier feet, Because their secret souls e. holy ~train repeat." W.F. Vere. 7, 8.-2:7111 heart of Messiah. "Lo, I come!" Many questions might be asked e.s to this announcement. Who is this? Whence, and whither, and for what purpose, does he come? It is enough that we can identify the Speaker (Luke xxiv. 44; Heh. x. 5-7). Let us therefore ponder his words. I. 'fHE WILL OF Go» WAS THE CITTEF Tl!OUG!IT OF ms IIEART. We see this in his earthly life. See him at his fil'st Passover. When Joseph and Mary found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, his answer was, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?'' He was but twelve, and yet, at that tender age, how intense his consciousness of the trust committed to him I So it was on his baptism at the Jordan (Matt. iii. 15); in the temptation in the wilderness (Matt. iv. 4); at the well of Jacob (John iv. 34); and onward to the end. Daily, hourly, constantly, to the 111st moment, it was his chief thought to do the will of him that seut him, and to finish his work (John iii. 34; v. 19; vi. 37). Evermore, as the will of the Father was revealed to him, it was accepted and obeyed in the spirit of love. The will of the Father was equally and truly the will of the Son. 'l'his is true freedom. II. T1rn WILL OF GoD WAB THE ~ECRET BTRENGTII OF HIS IIEART. It was said of Moses, "He endured as seeing him who is invisible." So it has been with God's servants in every age. The sense of the invisible, commerce and familiarity with the great unseen world, alliance with G,>d, make men strong for duty. So it was in the highest sense with Christ. The will of God was the strength of his heart, because: 1. It harmonized with eternal righteousness. Our Lord knew he had the most absolute conviction, that in doing the will of God he was walking in the path of trnth and righteousness, Hence he was strong an,l brave (Isa. xiii. 1-4). 2. It harrno11ized with the h.:ghest good of man. \Vhen men's hearts are not in their work, they soon weary. But when labour is congenial, it is no long,•r a task an,l a burden, but a delight. So it was with Newton in his love of truth; with Howard and Wilberforce and Living- stone, in their generous enthusiasm for humanity. And so it was in tho most perll'ct way with our Lord, He came to save, and not to destroy. "Good will to men and zeal for God His every thought cngro~e." Ill. THE WILL OF GOD WAB THE SUPREME JOY AND SATISFACTION OF !118 HEART, Thus: 1. He enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God (John xv. 10). 2. He perfectly filled up the plan of God for the development of his human nature. His life was the only life that answered perfectly to the will of God-with no defect to be supplied, 110 320 THE BOOK OF PRA.LMS. [PB. XL. 1-17,