Ver. 8.-27ie olive an emblem of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. "I am like a green olive tree," etc. In Ps. xcii. the righteous are compared to two of the noblest trees-the queenly palm and the imperial cedar. In P~. i. to an evergreen tree that loves to grow by flowing waters-the orange or citron, crowned at once with silver blossom and golden fruit. Here a less majestic tree is chosen, yet oue which plays a great part in Scripture-the olive, whose golden oil, from its ordinary plentiful use in food and in light, and from its rare sacredness in the anointing of kings, priests, and prophets, is the constant emblem of the grnces and gifts of the Holy Spirit. I. The lesson common to all these similitudes-palm, cerlo.r, citron, olive; and what our Lord adds, the vine and its branches, is this: EACH CmusTIAN LIFE MUST HA VE ITS OWN ROOT, AND SHOULD EXHIBIT A DEAUTY AND A FRUITFULNESS O~' ITS OWN. The image is in strong contrast with the picture of the ungodly mo.n (ver. 7; cf. Ps. xxxvii. 35; John xv. 6). "I "-for my part, whatever others rno.y think or say, desire, or do-I choose my part here, in Christ : "rooted nnd grounded in [hisJ love." "Green," q.d. flourishing; full of life o.nd beauty; and no less of fruit-a flourishing olive tree. II. Nevertheless, THE HOME OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS IN THE CHURCH OF GoD, OF WHICH THE ANCIENT TEMPLE WAS THE SHADOW. (Eph. ii. 20-22; 1 Cor. iii. 16.) Trees could not grow, of course, in the temple, strictly so called; but in the o.mple spaco of the "Court of the Gentiles" (" the mountain of the house"), olive berries were likely t.o be dropped and take root.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-9.-.A betrayer. The" mighty man" might have been Doeg or some othor who had gained notoriety as a betrayer. I. THE ODIOUSNESS OF HIS CHARACTER. It is marked by deceitfulness. Craft and lying are the tools of the betrayer. He cannot get on without them, nod ho wnxcs expert in their use. He may pretend friendship, but malice is in bis heart.. Evon if ho speaks truth, it is not in love, but in ho.te. "Whispering tongues co.n poison truth.'' Bent on mischief, he does not think of consequences. If he co.o injure the man he hates, he cares not though the innocent also should suffer. When he comes by a secrot, which may be turned to advantage, he is clo.ted. His paltry soul swells witbii: him, he grows hig with the idea of his own importance. Life and death o.re in the power of his tongue. And when his miserable schemes succeed, be boasts as if he had done o. brave thing; as if he were the hero of the hour. II. T1rn TERRIDLENESS OF ms DOOM. There was a time when Doeg seemed to 1ucceed. 'l'hen ho may have blessed his sow, e.nd the men of Saul's court, no doubt, 410 1HE nootr. or PSALMS. [rs. r,u. 1-9.
praised him, while he was doing good, ns they thought, to himself, and was nbla to do good to tbtlm. Ilut. changes came. His real character waR unmMkcd. The fearful results of his treachery were brought to light, and then he must have becomo the object of detestation to all right-thinking men. It is thus that reputations built on sand fall in the day of trial. The judgrucnt of yesterday may be reversed to-day. 'l'he men who stand_ high to-day may be co,·ered with scorn and infamy to-morrow. God is long- suffermg. He even bears long-, and strangely, with the wicked. Ilut their day is ?oming. 'l'bc jndgmcnt described in the psalm is terrible in its completeness. Image 1s acl,led to imag<'. The metaphors rise in intensity and force. There is not only d(fcat, as of a house beaten down, but there is expulsion, as from a home made ,lesolate; and m~re, there is extinction, as of a family rooted out of the land (ver. 5). The over- tbro .. 1s com1•lete, and all this is by the hand of God, indicating that all deceit and malice and evil-doing are contrary to the Divine order, and doomed in the end to ruin. There is a conscience in society, and, as it is rightly quickened and enlightened, it says "Amen" to God's righteous judgments. III. Tim MORAL LEssoxs oF ms LIFE. There is much here deserving close study. Learn: 1. '1.7ie justice of God. He is ever on the side of trut.h. His jndgments are nll righteous. 2. Thefolly ef sfo. (Ver. 7.) 3. The blessedness of the righteous. '!'his lesson is heigbtened by contrast. How different the tree overthrown, and tom up by the roots, and the "olive tree" standing beautiful and secure in " the house of God" I How markedly and utterly separate, the evil-doer judged and put to shame, and the gcdly man trusting, praising, waiting, rejoicing in the sunshine of God's love, and the hope of bis mercy for ever and ever! - W. F
Vers. S, 9.-Here we have the testimony of a saint, confirmed as "good" by all t!,e sair,ts. I. THE CRARACTEB OF THE SAINTS. "I am like a green olive tree." 'l'he olive was remarkable for life, beauty, and usefulnes~. Habakknk speaks of the '' labours of the olive" (Hnb. iii. 17); Jeremiah, of its" goo,lly fruit" (Jer. xi. 16); and Hosea, of its" beauty" (Hos. xiv. 6). It was therefore a fitting symbol of God's people (Rom. :xi. 16), who are adorned with the beauty of holiness, and bear fruit to the praise of God. IT. 'l'HE OCCUPATIONS OF THE SAINTS. 1. Tlie _first thing nnmed is trusting. "I trust in the mercy of God." The wisdom, the power, the faithfulness, of God all command our trust; but "mercy," what is most needed and al ways needed, is here singled out. The next thing is: 2. Praising. "I will praise thee for ever." Looking to the past, the present, and the future, countless rea~ons rise up for praise. 'What God bas clone is proof and promise of what be will do. 3. "Waiting'' is the last thing meutioned. "I will wait on thy Name." God's N'ame is himself, in all that he is and says and does. 'l'be more clearly and fully we know God's Name, the more will our hearts go forth to him in love aud hope. Waiting upon him ever brings refreshment, and invigorates our souls for uew endeavour. III. Trrn DOME OF TEE f;ATNTB. "The house of God." So it is here. So it will be hereafter. 'l'he saints arc happy in their being, secure in their possessions, joyous in their prospects. There arc ever light, an<l sweetness, and holy companionships, and delightful ern1,loyments, where they dwell. He.11·en is their eternal home."-W. F.