The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 362

ments" or him whose right hand is full of righteousness; showing us that God's care for his Church is just as marked when he rebukes her for her sins as when he delivers her from her foes; and that both for bis faithful chastisement as for his mighty interposition, his loving-kindness is rehearsed in his temple with gratitude and song.1 And there is a holy pride in rehearsing the privileges of Zion as far outweighing those of the nations around-a pride, however, which refers all the honour and glory of Zion to God, and to God alonc. 2 Interestini!, however, as these historic allusions are to the student, the higher spiritual bearing of the psalm is far more interesting, and far more important, as it sets before us this theme-the privi1ege and hon(nJ.r of the Church of God. 9 We need not here argue the point that the Christian Church is the successor to the honours and privileges of the Jewish Church. A comparison of Exod. xix. 6 with 1 Pet. ii. 9 will show this. The Christian Church, in its largest sense, is made up of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. The organization of distinct and definite communities as Churches is a necessity for the time now prese □ t, but no such organi- zations include all believers; many believers, moreover, are in no such organization at all; only "the Lord knoweth them that are his; " and over all such his care is exercised : in their totality as including all regenerated souls, they make up the Church of God. Of this Church as a unity we have now to speak. I. Goo's DWELLING-PLACE IS IN BIB CHtrnCIL (Vers. 1, 2.) It is quite possible that, after what we have just said about the Church in its entirety and vastness, and about the impossibility of its being scanned by any human eye, that it may be said, "But if the Church is thus undefinable by us as to its limits, we cannot conceive of it as a dwelling-place." This we can easily understand. But the demur has, in reality, no force. For it is quite clear from the New Testament that e.s there is "the Church" in the highest spiritual sense, so there are local and organized Churches in the geo- graphical sense. Of this the epistles to the seven Churches of Asia are immediate and sufficient proof. And wherever a Church is faithful to its Lord, since whatever is true of the whole Church is true of any part of it, the believers in Jesus who belong to any local and faithful Church may apply to themselves that which Paul declared of the Ephesian converts when he wrote, "Ye also are builded together for a hu.bita- tion of God through the Spirit." Thus no Christian need hesitate to apply the words to the fellowship of believers to which he belongs; he may say," God is known in our palaces for a Refuge." This Church is a city of the great King. And the real presence of a living Saviour among u, is our honour, our joy, our life (Matt. xviii. 20; xxviii. 20). II. Goo HIMSELF IS THE REFUGE OF THE CHURCH, (Ver. 3.) It is the privilege of the individual believer, in all times of trial, sorrow, and care, to betake himself to his God and Saviour as to an unfailing Friend. But this privilege rises to sublimity when a whole company of believer~, encompassed with peril and threatened by foes from without, can all rush to their Saviour in faith and prayer, as to a Refuge from the gathering storm I III. Goo's LOVING-KINDNESS 1B THE THEME OF TIIE CHURCH. (Ver. 9.) How much fuller and sweeter is this theme for meditation now than of old I 'l'hen it was gained through prophets; now from him before whoso presence lawgiver and prophet retire, as stars are concealed in the brightness of the sun I How incomparably does Rom. viii. surpass aught in the Old Testament I And what was there in the olden time so tender as Luke xv.? Verily such a theme lifts the soul heavenward, tunes the lips to song, and speeds the feet to run the race set before us. IV. Goo's DELIVERANCES MARK THE IIISTOBY OF 'l'HE CHURCH. (Vers. 4-8.) The effect of this vivid description is pictorial. We can almost see the kiags eyeing Jerusalem with envy, plotting her capture, seized with panic and hurryin~ away as for very lire. The psalmist says that he had heard of such doliverances in times pnst, (}nd now had seen them. And any student of Church history who has been withal for fifty years a close observer of Church life, can say the s:ime. That God is the 1 Dr. Binnie, pp. 84, 85, and Rev. A. B. Fausset, pp. 205-208, ho.ve some deeply interesting remarks on this psalm nnd its historio roference, • Denn Pcrowne's remarks on the wide contrast between the Greeks ascribing the glory of their city to me.n, and the Hebrews o.soribing all glory to God, are very striking. • Soo Bishop Alexander's• Hampton Lectures,' lcct. v., on the images under wb.iah the Church is described in tho Pslllrns. 3i6 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. XIJVIII, 1.......14,