The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 317

die. First on earth, and then in heaven, the sacred will ascribe all honour to their God; while the vast redeemed host will never cease to add their grand ".A.men." 1-0. Vers. 1-13.-God's poo1-. There may be a good time coming, when the poor will cease out of the laud; but it is not yet. The state of things in our day is much the sa1pe as in the past (Deut. xv. 11; Mark xiv. 3). God has always shown bis care for the poor. Under the Law of Moses, special provisions were made for their help (cf. Deut. xv. 7-11). Besides this, there were manifold exhortations in the Psalms and prophets tending w foster a spirit of love and brotherhood. The duty of kindness to the poor is inculcated still more cle11rly and forcibly under the gospel. The Jews are remarkable for their charities, but they limit their ea.re chiefly to their own poor. Christians are called to act in a more generous spirit. While we are bound to have special regard to the poor of our own blood and faith, we must not restrict our charity to them; but '' do good to all" as we have opportunity, after the example and teaching of our blessed Lord. We may make use of this psalm to illustrate- !. THE DUTY OF CARING FOR THE POOR. (Ver. 1.) "Considereth." This implies thought, insight, and practical brotherly kindness. The very fact that there are ~o mnny "poor" should arrest our attention. Surely there must be great wrong some- where, or there could not be such inequalities and miseries. The more closely we look into the matter, the more will it be impressed upon us that we are bound to take pnrt in remedying the evil. Circumstances and needs vary. Indiscriminate charity is bad. We cannot relieve all. Our powers are limited. We need, therefore, to act circumspectly. But whatever we do should be done in the spirit of love. Consider- ation without sympathy is torture (Jas. ii. 15, 16; 1 John iii. 17; Rom. xii. 10). II. THE BLESSmG PROMISED, 1. The blessing is first to the man himself. We cannot do good without being the better for it. Every act of true self-denial and love raises us in dignity and strength. We are" blessed in our deed" (Jas. i. 25- 27). 2. There is also the blessing of the poor. We have helped them in the time of need. They feel that they have not been forsake:c.. They have still brothers and sisters who care for them, and they are grateful. It is better to have the confidence of the poor than their contempt; their gratitude than their hate; their prayers than their curses. Remember Job (Job x:x:ix. 12). 3. Besides all this, there is the blessing of God. He is the God of the poor. He marks their state. He defends their rights. He provides for their relief. He counts what is done to them as if it were done to himself. The law and order of God in the world secure that a blessing will surely come to him who "considereth the poor." III. THE DIFFICULTIES .A1''1> ENCOURAGEMENTS, We have not only the abstract, but the concrete. The doctrine is translated into fact. It seems as if the psalmist had been bringing the word home. Let each of us put himself in his place. Then we may not only consider the poor, but consider ourselves with regard to the poor. What are we, what have we done, and what has been the result? In this case there will be : 1. Consciousness of great shortcomings in love and duty. We have not done what we could, and what we have done we have done weakly and imperfectly. Pride and vanity and other unlovely things have mixed themselves with our best endeavours. Men may praise us, but before God we are grievous sinners. 2. There will also be disappointments. We should "do good, hoping for nothing again ; " but few of us are so disinterested, Besides, it is reasonable to consider results. Perhaps we have "enemies," who misrepresent what we do, Or, worse still, there may be people who come to us in the guise of friendship, and profess to inquire as to what we have done- as to our plans and endeavours, and, finding out the secrets of our life, turn their knowledge to base uses. Instead of truth, they spread falsehoods. Instead of giving sympathy, they exaggerate our failures, and prate maliciously of our troubles. But there may be even a worse trial still. Our familiar friend, in whom we trusted, may turn against us (ver. 9). Amidst all such difficulties there is always encourage- ment. We turn to God, and find comfort. We know what he is. and what be would Lave us to be. We kuow that be will surely perform bis word, and that if we are ' A very thoughtful homily by Mr. Conway, on what he calls "the much-neglected "-'ord, 'Amen,'" will be found in the volume of the 'Pulpit Commentt\ly' on the Rtvelation.  'HIE BOOK OF PSALMS. 3:29