IlOl\lILETICS. Vera. 1, 2.-" God be merciful," etc. No wonder this beautiful little psalm has been enshrined so prominently in the worship of the Christian Church. Its most remarkable character is its worlcl-wicle breadth of sympathy, hope, and prayer. It is like 11, beam from the unrisen sun of Christianity. The more one studies the intense narrow national sentiment of the Jews, the more plain is it that strains like these could be inspired only by the Spirit of God. The psalm is Hebrew of the Hebrews- sung probably for ages in the temple. Yet its aspirations can be fulfilled only by the gospel and kingdom of Christ. I. THE MEANING OF TUIS PBAYER. "That thy way may be known"-" thy saving health.'' 1. God's way is: (1) The revelation he has made of himself in his dealings with mankind. In its widest sense this inclurles his universal providence (Acts xiv. 17; Prov. viii. 22; Isa. Iv. 8, 9). (2) The revealed path of man's duty (Ps. xxv. 9; Matt. xxii. 16). (3) The way of salvation; of returo, reconciliation, access to God (Acts xviii. 26; John xiv. 6). 2. God's "saving health" is salvation (simply another translation of the same Hebrew word). Not simply "the way of sal- vation "-the knowledge of the gospel, and provision for our salvation; but actual experience of deliverance from sin, pardon, peace with God, strength for holiness. Salvation, in the Scriptures, means both safety and health. Illust.: Matt. viii. 25; Luke xvi ii. 42; vii. 50. II. 'l'HE SCOPE OF THIS PRAYER. "On earth;" "among all nations." St. Paul says that the gospel was preached beforehand to Abraham, in the promise that in his offspring all nations should be blessed. We are apt to take too narrow a view both of the gospel and of salvation. We think and speak of "saving souls." That is the beginning; for there is no reconciliation to God but by personal repentance, faith, turuing to God. But nations have their life; their collective action, righteousness, guilt, growth, decay, prosperity, ruin. Knowledge of God's truth, and obedience to God's law, are the conditions of national welfare. We have a message to "all nations" as well as to "every creature.'' We are to labour as well as pray, that God's will may be "done on earth, as it is in heaven."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-This is a song of salvation. It teaches that- I. SALVATION 1s FROM Goo. Hence God's mercy is specially invoked. It is as God causes his face to shine upon us in Christ Jesus (2 ()or. iv. 6) that his "way" is made known, and his "salvation" enjoyed (vers. 1, 2). II. SALVATION IS TilE HIGHEST BLESSING FOR MAN. When the high priest blessed the people, he spoke for God (Numb. vi. 22-27). Salvation is "saving health." M11,n is corrupt. There is no" soundness" in him. I3ut God brings healing. Salva- tion is to be restored to health in body and soul and spirit (1 Thcss. v. 23). III. SALVA'l'ION IS IMPARTED TIIROUGH HUMAN AGENCY. God works by means. He uses man to help man. "Tile Law Wl\i given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John i. 17; cf. Rom. v. 12-15). When we believe on Christ, we may say, with Simeon," Mine eyes have seen thy salvation" (Luke ii. 30). And what Christ has won for us he would havo us make known to others. All Christians are m1ss1onaries, "God does with us as we with torches do." Every lamp that is lighted is lighted in order to shine. We are to receive and reflect the light (1 Thess. i. 6-8; Matt. v. 16). IV. SALVATION IB DESTINED TO SPREAD AMONG ALL NATIONS. It was not limited to Israel. 'l'here is no exclusiveness in the gospel. There is no bra.nd of reprobation 12 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [Pe. LXVlll, 1-35,
on Rny man'8 brow. The salv11tion of Christ is for all people-the Jow first, but nlso for all men. "The loaves of the tree nre for the he111ing of the nations" (Rev. xxii. 2). This we have seen in pa.rt, 1md greater fulfilments arc near. Paul could say (Rom. xv. 19), "From Jerusalem, and round a.bout unto lllyricnm, I have fully preached the ~ospel of Christ," But how great bas been the advance since then I Nations th:1t Pnul never knew have heard the joyful sound, and the most distant isles of the sea have been blessed in Christ. Y. SALVATION WII,L ULTIMATELY FILL THE EARTH WITII JOY AND PEAOE, Harvest is the .!~me of joy.. The great harvest-home of the world is coming (Isa, ii. 2, 3; Zeph. 111. 9; Zech. x.iv. lG).-W. F.
Yer. 4.-Universal /oy. "Let the nations be glad." I. Goo IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD REOOGNIZES THE EXIS'fENCE OF SEPARATE NATIOXS. I I. GoD IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD ADAPTS HIS METHODS TO THE NECEB- SITmR OF NATIONS. (Amos ix. 7.) III. GoD IN THE GOVERNMENT OF TIIE WORLD WORKS THROUGHOUT FOR THE HIGHEST oooD OF NATIONS. His object is to bring all men everywhere to serve him: He would have them, through the power of Christ, be enlightened, sanctified, and blessed. It is true of nations as of individuals, "The nation that will not serve him shall perish" (Isa. Ix. 12). It is as nations forget God that they decline and fall. It is as nations become penetr:i.ted and ruled by Divine truth that they become truly free and strong and prosperous.-W. F.
Vers. 1-7.-A missionary psal,m. The psalmist prays "that the favour of God towards the chosen people may become visible, in order that, by its splendour, it may lead the heathen to the hope of sharing in it." The salvation of the heathen is here felt to depend upon the following conditions:- 1. THE SALVATION OF THOSE WHO CLAW TO BE HIS CHURCH. (Vers. 1, 2.) If it is God's " way" to save any, he must be able and willing to save all. And if his fe.ce shone upon them, his "saving health" would be made manifest to all peoples. This is the force of the prayer here used. 11 THE KNOWLEDGE OF Goo's BIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD, (Ver. 4.) 1. God, as the experience of Israel sl,ows, governs men upon righteous principles. The psalm was most probably written after the Exile-a terrible part of their history, which taught them how God punishes sin. 2. God is leading the world forward upon a Divine =rse. (Ver. 4.) He "governs" or leads the nations as a shepherd leads his flock. To this truth the Hebrews bore emphatic testimony. III. GoD's BOUl.'TY TO THE EABTH 18 BIS BOUNTY TOWARDS MAN. (Ver. 6.) "The earth yields her increase· God our God, blesses us." But the harvest is only a single, though a splendid, insta~ce ~f God's goodness towards men; ~e blesses them in a thousand ways, which, when considered, are adapted deeply to impress the heathen mind.-S.