The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 363

perpetual Deliverer of his Church is the story of the past and the testimony of the present. Nor may we forget the double kind of deliverance: (1) from foes without; (2) from mischief within. If the view given above of ver. 7 is correct, the verse suggests that the Church owes quite as much to God's chastening love in correcting her for her sins, as to his rescuing power in spoiling her foes. 'l'hat he will do this is part of the covenant (Ps. lxxxix. 28-33). V. 'fHE HONOUR OF GoD's NAME IS HIS OWN PLEDGE TO THE CHURCH. (Vers. 10, 11.) In the attribute of God's righteousness is the Church's repose and glory. Through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, faithfulness, justice, righteousnes~, can be the snpports of sinful men. This is the supreme wonder of redeeming grace. Think of it I Sinful people rejoicing that God's l'ight hand is full of righteousness I VI. Goo's GRACIOUS RELATIONS ARE THE GUARANTEE OF THE PERPETUITY OF THE CnUI1cH. (Vers. 12-14.) We omit the italic "it" in ver.13 (Authorized Version), and translate the first word in ver. 14 "that." The psalmist incites to a study of Zion's towers, bulwarks, palaces, privileges, that it may be declared to the generation following, that "this God is our God for ever and ever." And when we study the reclemption in Christ which has founded the Church, the spiritual power which is building up the Church, the watchful providence which has for eighteen centuries guarded the Church, the story which we have to hand down to the coming generation is the same, but told with vaster emphasis, surer faith, and more rapturous joy. "This God is our God for ever and ever; be will be our Guide above deatb,1 and beyond it!" "Happy is the people that is in such a case I yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord I "-C. Vers. 1-14.-The Ohurch and her Head. This psalm may teach us something of- I. THE GLORY OF THE CHURCH. The outward is the symbol of the inward. The glory of the Church is not material, but moral. Mind is of all things the greatest. One soul is infinitely more precious than the richest domains. Think of some great man-Newt.on, Bacon, or Shakespeare. If all the wealth in that one mind could be yours, would you not choose it rather than the grandest of earthly inheritances? And how rich is the Church in mind I "The glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs," are here; and here also are thousauds and tens of thoUBands whose names have been unknown on earth, but are written in heaven. The Church, like Jerusalem, is set on high, but her beauty is not in" situation," bnt in character; her" elevation" is not in outward advantages, but in Dearness to God. She has the "righteousness which exalteth." 1. The glory of the Church is not limited, but universal. Jerusalem was for a single people, but the Church is for all nations and kindreds and tongues. 'l'he light that dwells in her is to shine forth to all lands. The moral power that centres in her is to radiate its gracious influences to the ends of the earth. Jerusalem had her daughters-in the towns and villages of Judah; but the Church's daughters are to be found in every laud under the sun. 2. The glory of the Church is not transitory, but eternal. It is not like the passing shows of earthly kings; nor is it short-lived and disappointing, like the glory of Jerusalem. It 'derives its being from God, and will endure while God enduret,h. Love and goodness can never die. Much of the glory of the Church is as yet bidden. There were mysteries in the days of Paul, and there are mysteries still. But the liO'ht will shine more and more to the perfect day. The past-" what we have beard," the present-" what we have seen," alike bear witness, and combine to raise our hopes of the coming glory. II. Tm: GREATNESS OF THE CHuacn's HEAD. "Great." (Ver. 1.) The measure of tLe glory of the Church is the greatness of the Church's Head. 'l'be certainty of the glory of the Church in all its transcendent developmentM, is to be found in the greatness of the Church's Head (Epb. i. 17-23). 1. In the might of his power. His enemies shall lick the dust (vers. 4-8). Sooner or later, either wi:h the j,?Y of. lo!.e or the torments of fear the confession must be made-that "be 18 Lord (Phil. 11. 10, 11). 2. In the swe:tnf.sB of his loving-kindness. (Ver. 9.) There is a fitness of pl_ace ("temple") and a fitness of method ("wait"). As we keep o?r. ears ~pen, truth will come to us. As we bend our minds m cager thought upon D1vme thmgs, more 1 See the various critics on the words in ver. 14, n,c-',v, i'B, XLJX, 1-20.] '.l'RE BOOK OF PSALMS. 377