HOMILETICS. Vers. 1, 2.-The intense longing of tlie soul after God. "My soul tbirstetb " eto. Amid the trackless mountains and rugged valleys beyond Jordan, where the r~aring torrents seem to answer one another from glen to glen, the heart of the pious exile turned with passionate yearning to the city and temple of God. It was, perhaps, as difficult for him to dissociate his deep spiritual yearning after God from the solemn and glorious services of the temple, as it is for us fully to realize the power and value of those services for an ancient believer. Remember that we, as Christians, have in Christ all that the Israelites had in the temple sacrifices and priesthood, and which he could find nowhere else. NevertheleSR, the central inspiration of these words is the intense longing of the heart and soul after God himself. I. THIS LONGING Al"TEB Goo 18 THE HIGHEST AFFECTION OF WBTCB BlJ'MAN NATURE 1s CAPABLE. It is so, because fixed on the highest Object, and capable of lifting human character to the highest level. What we love most both testll and moulds our character; shows what we are, and makes us such. Ignoble, foul, false, and trivial objects degrade in proportion as they attract; pure, noble, worthy objects of affection and pursuit elevate. Misdirected worship, therefore, degrades, The sincerity of the idolater's religious faith and feeling makes no amends for the degrading and polluting influence of his false creed. Heathendom offers the miserable choice of either the gross and even vicious and foul conceptions of God (or the gods) exemplified in Greek mythology and Hindu incarnations; or the shadowy, unreal, far-away ideas of philo- sr,phers, which inspire neither love nor worship, neither obedience nor trust. Contrast the psalmist's view of God-" the living God" (cf. Deut. xxxii. 40, not Revised Version). 'fhe Old Testament saint could not anticipate the full revelation of God in Christ Jesus. Bnt the books of Moses and history of Israel carried the personal revela- tion of God as far as was possible (before the Incarnation), except as supplemented by the teaching of the prophets. The Book of Psalms is filled and inspired with the con- templation of God, as thus known-the Creator, the Author of all life, whoso glory fills tbe heavens, his goodness the earth, his tender mercies reaching even the lowest creatures; as the righteous Judge and Lawgiver, not of Israel merely, but mankind; the Holy One, eternally opposed to sin, yet pardoning the sinner freely; the pitying Father, the only Refuge in trouble, the Hearer of prayer, the soul's true Portion. W71ae does the gospel add 1 The manifestation of God in Jesus Christ (Col. i. 19); and reve- lation of God's love (1 John iv. 9, 10). II. THIS TilIRBT FOB Gon IB Gon'11 OWN VOICE WITmN TIIE SOUL. The germ and capacity of this affection are inborn in our nature. Heathenism bears world-wide witness to men's longing for some kind of worship. But not worship of tho holy, wise, righteous, loving, infinite Creator. Thie is practically dead (Rom. i. 28). The majority, even in a Christian land like this, live in careless forgetfulness of God; utterly indifferent; others (as in France) hating the very name of God. 'l.'he presence, tl,erefore, of this overmastering desire after God implies an adequate cause to !lwo.kcn and maintain. No cause can be suggested but the Spirit of God quickonmg the PS, XLII, 1-11.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 833
dead soul and changing enmity or indifference into love (John iii. 3, 6; 1 Cor. ii. 14; Hom. v, 6). Ill. A 8EAB0HUi'G TEST OF 0HARACTEB AND OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THUS SUPPLIED, This experience is genuine, real, beyond all doubt. Therefore possible for us. \Vith the full revelation of God in Christ, this affection ought to be both easier and more intense. Is it ours 1 If not, why? Is it from defective views of God? From secret love of what is sinful, and so indifference or antipathy to perfect holiness? Or, in many cases, neglect of meditation, study of God's Word, and communion with Christ? Note, as caution: Some natures are far colder than others, incapable of the same spiritual ardour. There may be a quiet devotion, an undemonstrative but unswerving con- secration, which our Saviour accepts as the true evidence of love (John xiv. 21; xv.14). But shall any real Christian be content without some experience of that love and longing of heart towards God, which can make a sanctuary in a. desert solitude, and without which heaven itself would be no true temple?