HOMILETICS. Vere. 1, 2.-TM uncl.angeableness of God. "God 1s our Refoge," etc. Mounto.ins are tl1e grandest of God's earthly works; natural lmages of majesty, strength, dumble- nes~. Rearing tlieir peaks above the clouds, they gather the o.iry treasures of snow c.nd rain; and pour from never-failing fountains the streams tho.t wo.ter the valleys PB, XLVI, 1-11.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 359
and feed the plains. Natural fortresses, where liberty has often found an impregnablo asylum. Yet they are perishable. Waters wear their rocky sides. Earthquakes and landslips topple their crags into the valleys. Volcanic fires sometimt8, as in our own day, tear them. from their ancient foundations, and hurl their ruins into the sea (Krakatoa, 1883). Such an overthrow of what seems strongest and most stable in outward nature, is in the text the image of the possible failure of all earthly support, defence, comfort,. hope. But he who built the mountains and gave ocean its bounds, fails not, cham;es not. "God is our Refuge and Strength: therefore will we not fear." 'l'hese are the two contrasted thoughts of our text. I. Tm,; INBECUilITY OF EVERY EARTHLY REFUGE; the instability or all human strength. This may be realized: 1. In public calamity; national di=t~s. Depression of trade may carry discomfort, even ruin, into hundreds of thousands of homes. Our commercial system is so complicated and nicely balanced that one gi~antic failure may give a shock to the whole fabric. 'l'he tremendous possibilities or war have to be reckoned; clear though the sky may be, the war-clouds may at any time gather and burst; perhaps with destructive fury surpassing all example. Even if our own shores still escape, war expenditure may drain our resources, and the destruction of our commerce entail scarcity-even famine. Some new form of pestilence may defy healing skill. 'l'he pride of the nations may be broken, their wealth wasted, their science proved unavailing. 2. In personal and family trouble. It has happened sometimes- travcl!ers well know the spots-that when sky and sea were calm, and no earthquake shook the land, a whole hillside has slid down without warning, carrying down and wrecking peaceful homesteads, even overwhelming whole villages. Even so, when public prosperity is untroubled; the private foundations of your health, fortune, happiness, hope, may fail, and with brief or no warning, and o.11 your earthly welfare be laid in ruins (P~. xxx. 6, 7). 3. In prevailing unsettlement of thought and belief. When old forms go out of fashion; traditional beliefs are discredited; trusted lea<lers fail; men seem to hold nothing firm or settled. Worst of all, when this agitated atmosphere infects our inward life; doubt surges in, anrl threatens to overwhelm faith and conviction; the ground seems to quake under our feet, and darkness to beset and bewilder our soul. II. THE NEVER-FAILING REFUGE. God's children, in these and all other calamities, find a "very .present Help" in him. 1. His power to save is all-sufficient. All hearts nnd events are in his hand (2 Chron. xiv. 11; xvi. 9). 2. His wisdom is infinite. All that can happen is known-has always been known to him. He can never be at a loss to answer prayer. 3. His promises meet every emergency (Heh. xiii. 6, 6). 4. His faithfulness is the immovable foundfltion on which we may build absolute trust (Heb. vi. 18, 19). All the experience of the past, all the hope of the future, sheds its light on the dark present, because he changes not. If there be any truth, God must be true. And if anything be certain, it is that Jesus Christ, "the true and faithful" Witness, speaks God's truth to us (John xiv. 6, 10, 27; xix. 37; Hob. xiii. 8).
Vers. 1, 7, 11.-" Our Refuge." The whole spirit of this noble psalm is condensed in this one phrase-" Go,! is our Refuge." The Hebrew, as the margin of our Bibles shows, has a different word in vers. 7, 11 from ver.1, signifying" a high place" (Revised Version, "or a high tower '')--a retreat beyond reach of foes. The word in vcr. 1 means "somewhere [or,' some one 'J to trust in." These two thoughts-trust and safl'ly-are well expressed in onr word "Refuge." Take the whole psalm as embodying and enforcing this sentiment. I. IN TR0UDLE WE NEED A REFUGE. In bodily sickness and wenkness, healing ministry, careful watching, an nrm to lean on. In perplexity, a wise counsellor. la want, danger, or misfortune, timely succour. In sorrow, sympathy and comfort. Under sense of sin, a voice of forgiveness. 'l'o lean helplessly on others when we oug;ht to put our own shoulder to the wheel, is unmanly and shameful. Dut tho pride of independence is an illusion when it makes us forget how constantly and how much we depend on one another. None is selfvsufllcient. II. GoD 18 THE ALL-SUFFICrENT, NEVER-FAILING REFUGE OJ' HIS CHILDREN. The Hebrew for "very present" means literally "greatly found;" not far to seek, but nigh at hand; not difficult to find, but offerillg himself; found by experience to he 'l'HE l!OOI{ OF PSALMS. trs. xt,vr. 1-11.
all that he promises, all that we need. Human ministry can do much in the lesser troubles of life; it is God's appointed way of help. But when "the mountaios" are removed-in the great crises and overwhelming sorrows, dangers, burdens of life, nothing will serve short of this-" underneath are the everlasting arms." Above all, io snintmi.l troubles. "Who can forgive sin but God alone?" Who but Jesus can shepherd us through the dark valley? HI. WHEN TROUBLE DRIVES US TO OUR REFUGE, IT FULFILS ITS MISSION. The curse becomes a blessing, and sorrow bears fruit in joy. In fair weather the ships pass gaily by the harbour of refuge; in the storm they make for it. It is easy to stand at the helm with a fair breeze and smooth sea. Easy to stand sentry in time of peace. Easy to trust God with a well-spread table and home bright with blooming faces. fo the tempest; in war, when the bullet sings through the dark night, and the blast is freezing to the bone; or by the bed of sick, perhaps dying child,-not so easy I But then it is that God's help is "found" by those who trust him (Gee. xxii. 14; John vi. 18-20). Remark : 1. This is the testimony of experience. God is found to be such a Help and Refuge. All the conclusions of science do not rest on a broader basis of induction, a surer witness of experitnce, than the faith of God's Church. 2. Trouble is not 1iecessarily a means of grace or blessing; has no natural power to drive or lead men to God. We must hear God's voice in it; feel hie hand; be led by hie Spirit (2 Cor. xii. 8-10). Sad, indeed, if our troubles be wasted,-all misery and no blessing I