The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 3

HOMILETICS. Vers. 4 10, 11.-Tne expression and the result of faith, "In GoJ I will praise hie word," et~. This is not a vain repetition or a mere poetic burden. Tho meaning is enlarged and strenathened. In ver. 4 that Divine name ia used which speaks of the Almighty Creator,~. God." In ver. 10 this !B repeated, ~~t that person,,al na~e is a<ldcd which speaks of God's covenant and faithfulness, ' m the Lord (equivalent to "JeL.ovah "). Again, in ver. 4 the psalmist speaks of man in hie weakness-" flesh;" PI, LVI, 1-18,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 3 -------------------------- - - - - - ---· but in vcr, 11-" what man can do "-man in his utmost etr,Jngth ie defied to hurt one of God'e refugees. Hero ie (1) the expression of faith; (2) the re,mlt of faith. I. 'fm: EXPREBBION OF FAITH, "In God will I r,rnise his word." The word of God ie everywhore in Scripture tho special object of faith, for thid reason-that it is by hie word, viz. his commands and hie promise~, that God enters into mO'T'al relations with us, nnd enables us to enter into euch relations to him. Hence room not for mere voguo faith, euch ae we might have in the Creator of f.he universe, th(l Almighty Ruler, tho Author of our being; but direct ptrsonal trust, accepting and grasping God'e word, The name "Jehovah" warrants thi~ faith. 'l'he word of promise is chiefly meant. Thie faith is in contrast to all the causes and circumstances of fear and peril ( vere. 1, 2). II. THE RESULT OF FAITH. "I will not fear." As love caets out the slavieh fear of God-the fear which would drive or keep us fmm him (I ,John iv. 18)-so faith casts out the fear of man. Let the arrows fly like hail; behind "the ~hield of faith" (Eph, vi. 16) we are safe, not only from what "flesh and blood" can do, but from our spiritual foes (Eph. vi. 12). Illnstr:i.te from such p0ss:iges as Gen. xvi. 1; John vi. 20. Courage, therefore, is a duty. 'l'be courage of self-reliance belongs only to the etrong, but the conra"'e of reliance on God is within reach of the weake8t. Man of the world, canst thou look the future in the face and say, "I will not fear"? : Ver. 13.-Tlie experience of God's mercy a grou,ndfor hope. "Thou hast delivered," et(:. (Authorized Versi9n). 'fhe Revisers have filled up the ellipsis in the Hebrew1 "Haet thou not delivered?" instead of "Wilt thou not deliver?" The Hebrew bas simply" not," with e. word expressing a question. It is one of many cases where the instructed English ree.cler may judge for himself, as well ns the Hebrew scholar. Cer- tainly the .Authorized Version givee a much more full and harmonious sense, and e.ccorde with the analogy of ver. 8-prayer founded on experience, following praise. Thus therefore we will take it-the experience of God's redeeming mercy a ground for hor,e, and a plea in prayer. , HEBE 18 THANKFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENTB OF Gon's GREAT GOODNESS. The title, though no part of the psalm, gives (as in other cases) an ancient Jewish tradition as to the special danger from which David bad been delivered (see 1 Sam. xxi. 10-xxii. 1). David had ce.rried a dangerous trophy with him to the court of Gath-the sword of Goliath. The Philistine chiefs were prompt to point out who this fugitive was. A word from .Achish would have e.venged the giant's death. But "the king's heart is in the band of the Lord" (Prov. xxi. 1). David was soon breathing the free air of the desert, and looked back with n shudder of horror, but with an overwhelming sense of tbe.nkfulness (ver. 8). Some of us can take up these words in their literal sense. You remember when the icy breath of death seemed to chill your blood; the gate of death seemed just ready to roll back on its noiseless hin~es, nml shut behind you. But God locked it fast. 'l'he good Shepherd led you through the dark valley, out into the sunshine. You are the living, to praise him. Others have no such special experience. But what is life but a seriee of escapes ? What is health but the perpetual warding off of dce.th; se.fety, but hourly deliverance? "Strange that a harp of tbouse.nd strings Should keep iu tune so long I " The unfailing, unsleeping care of God's Fatherly providence does not strike and amaze ue e.s do miracles; but it is no less wonderful (Lam. iii. 22, 23). Every real Christie.n can read in these words a deeper and higher meaning. Deliverance from the death that parts soul and body is but n reprieve-perhaps brief. Death remains to be faced; and behind death, all that makes it indeed terrible. But to the believer in Christ the character of death is wholly changed. The outside show remains; dust must return to dust; the earthly tabernacle must be taken down. But the sting, the terror, the power, of death are gone. Christ has "abolished death" (2 Tim. i. 10) for every one who can say," Christ liveth in me." The coming of the last enemy shall be as though an executioner, axe on shoulder, entered the cell of a condemned prisoner. The e.xe is lifted-it falls, but only on the chain. The dark visitor takes the prisuner by tbo hand, o.nd leads him into air and sunlight; an<l, lo! he llrops hi~ mask and jailor's  THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. LVl, 1-13,