HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-11.-0ne of God's rescues. The Bible is full of records of deliverances, not only deliverances of nations, but rescues of individuals. These things are" written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of tbe Scriptures might have hope" (Rom. xv. 4). We have in this psalm the story of one of God's rescues. We see- I. RESCUE SORELY N.6EDED. The enemies of the soul are represented as strong, crafty, and merciless. They are savage as "lions." They use guile and deceit, and "hunt every man his brother with a net" (Micah vii. 2). Though they wound bo<ly and soul, this is not enough, Blood is what they want. If they had their will, they woul<l cast the Joseph of their hate into tho "pit," caring not if he perish miserably. In this world of sin and sorrow and temptation, we are always in danger; but there are tim'es when peril comes closer, and "calamities" crowd on every side, leaving no way of escape. Happy are we if, in our bel plessness and fear, we "flee for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us " I II, RESCUE EA.RNESTLY BOUGHT. (Vers. 1--3.) Here is a difference between the ungodly and the godly. The ungodly seeks deliverance by his own devices; the godly seeks deliverance from God. He cries for rescue, not in his own way, but in the way that accol'ds with God's character and will. When it comes, it must be in the line of "mercy and truth." What God was, he is. What God has done is earnest of what God will do. What God undertakes, he will carry out. Man promises more than he performs. God performs more than he promises. The nearer we get to God, the more clearly we see things in God's light. Our faith gains force and our hopes grow stronger. If dangers press, we cry with the mc,re urgency for help. God is" abl~ to do for WI exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. iii. 20). III. RESCUE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED. (Vers. 7-11.) Religion is for the whole of life, but there are times when special serl'ices are proper. Deliverances wrought for us by God are not to be kept secret, but to be orenly acknowledged. Our gratitude should be sincere, hearty, and demonstrative. Like the woman of Capernaum, who was healed of the issue of blood, we should yield to the i::entle solicitings of love, and declare unto our Lord, before all the people, what be has done for us. Like the Samaritan cured of his leprosy, though alone, we should come with a full heart to God, and to give thanks for his goodness and wonderful works (Luke viii. 47; xvii. 18). How inspiring and comforting it is to read of the great deliverances which God wrought for David and the prophets, and for the saints of every land and tongue I When we remembtr these things, our hearts burn within us; for this God is our God, this Saviour is our Saviour. Nay, moro; in thought of what God is anu has done, we rise to the sight of the thini::s not yet seen, nnd to the vision of the latter day whrn the kingdom shall not be limited to Israel, but the glory of the Lord shall fill th@ whole carth.--W. F 8 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. LVlII. 1-11,
Ver. 3.-" lifercy and tmth." I. MAP.K Gon's OHARACTER. When God proclaimed his N amc to Moses, he put " mercy " in the forefront: " The Lord God merciful ; " but "truth" had also its place, for it is added," abundant in truth" (Exod. xxxiv. '6). Tho same order is observed in the Psalms. Thus it is said (Ps. lxxxvi. 16), "Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (cf. Ps. lxxxix. 2). II. SHINE FORTH IN GoD's JUDGMENTS. What God does shows what he is. His works express his character. " Mercy and truth " are, so to speak, the rails on which hisjudgments travel (P~s. XX'I". 10; ciii. 17). III. CHARACTERIZE GoD's DEALINGS WITH HIS PEOPLE. They need "mercy," and unto the Lord "belongeth mercy" (Ps. !xii. 12). They need "truth," and God is "the God of truth" (Ps. xxxi. 5). In the salvation which God has ,vrought, both are blended in beautiful harmony (Ps. lu:xv. 10). .As has been quaintly said, "Mercy and trnth are but the transverse arms of the cross of Christ. Righteousness and pea.ea are but its upper and lower limbs. The one springs out of the earth, the other has looked down from heaven, and they have kissed each other, in token of God's love and of bis reconciliation with the sons of men." IV. FoUNDATION OF HOPE To THE CHILDREN OF MEN. Mercy and truth are the two outspread wings of God. Under them there is sure shelter and peace (Pss. :xxxvi. 7; lxi. 1-4). Here there is hope for the sinner (Pss. xxxiii. 18, 22; lxxviii. 7; clxvii. lI). Here there is comfort for the troubled in heart (Ps. lvii. 3-10). Here there is inspiration for all who a.re minded to serve God (Pss. lxix. 13; xcviii. 3; cxv. 1). Here there is earnest and foreshadowing of the everlasting rest (Pss. l.x.i. 7; lxiii. 7; cx:uviii. 8).-W. F.
Vers.1-lL-.Expectation and assurance of deliveranre. In many respects tpis psalm is very like the previous one. May be regarded under two general aspects. .A~ expressing- I. THE PSALMIST'S EXPECTATION OF DELIVERANCE FROM DANGER. (Vers. 1-6.) Founded: 1. Dpon his trust in God's tender protection. (Ver. 1; Deut. xxii. 11, 12.) This faith in the tender love of God " has no parallel in heathen literature." 2. God rould not fail to perform or compl,ete the work he had begun/or him. (Ver. 2.) "He who ha.th begun a good work in you," etc. God does not abandon his own work. 3. Goa's retributive fustice must give the victory to the righteous. (Vers. 3, 4, 6.) The designs of wicked men recoil in the end upon themselves, and ensure their own destruction. This is true, in the long run, of God's providence. IL THE JOYFUL, INWARD ASSUBANCE OF DELIVERANCE. (Vers. 7-'-12.) 1. His heart is steadfast with fearless confidence in God. (Ver. 7.) The psalm records the gradual progress of his mind towards the highest rejoicing in the Divine deliverance. 2. He calls upon himself to celebrate the praise of God in the highest strains. (Ver. 8.) "His glory," equivalent to "his soul.'' He will wake the dawn with his earnest., fervent songs. 3. He will make his praises to sound forth among the heathen. (Ver. 9.) Kot only among his own people. 4. He calls upon heaven to unite with earth in praising the glory of God. (Ver. 12.) His triumph in God over his enemies has now reached ils culminating point.-S.