Ver. 9.-These words may be taken as symbolizing Gocl's love-gifts eo his people. What be did to Israel in the wilderness, be will do to his Church to the end of the world. He is the great Sender, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and ever- more the thought of bis love e.wakene gratitude and praise. His gifts are charac- terized by- L SWEETh"EBS. They are sweet in themselves as the "rain," but they are sweeter still as sent from God. Tbty have the impress of his hand. They are the tokens of bis love (Acts xiv. 17; Deut. xxxii. 2). II. CoPIOUBNESB. Rain may be slight, partial, or temporary. Here it is "plentiful." It is like that which came on Carmel at the prophet's call-" abundance of rain " (1 Kings xviii. 41). It is a "rain of gifts "-large, generous, widespread, meeting the needs of all, reaching to the furthest part of the dry and parched land. III. TIMELINESS. God does nothing in an arbitrary way. It is when his people are " weary" that he visits them with "times of refreshing." They are "weary 11 from toil, or conflict, or suffering, or long and anxious waiting; and their hearts are like the "parched ground'' crying for " rain." God bears. When " rain " is most needed it is best appreciated. God promises " to pour water on the thirsty " (Isa. xli v. 3). IV. REFRESHMENT. "Confirm." This implies renewal of strength, invigoration of faith and hope and love. A1J the "rain" quickens and calls forth the life in the earth, so that the gtl\88 flourisbeth and the corn ripens, so it is with God's people when he visits them with the outpouring of the Spirit. It is as if Pentecost were como e.gain. Let us pray and wait. Let us turn new vigour to right use. " All to1Tents in summer, half dried in their channeLi, Suddenly rise though the sky is still clou<llcss, For rain has been falling far off at their fountain,: 1'8. l,XVIII, 1-35,] 'l'HE IlOOK OF PSALMS. 51
Bo hearts that are fninting grow full to o'erlhwin", 0 And they thnt behold it marvel anrl koow not That God at their fountains fe.r oft' he.a been raining." (Longfellow.) W.F. Ver. 18,-Consider tl1e Ascension in three aspects. I. As A FA0T. "Thou hast ascended." What was shown in figure is now fulfilled. What was a faith is now a fact (Acts i. 2-9; Eph. iv. 7). While there is much that is strange, there is nothing that is incredible. The marvellous thing was not Christ's nscent, but his descent. Believe in the Incarnation,,and all beside, down to the glorious ascent from Olivet, becomes not only credible, but natural. II. As A POWEn. Christ ascended as a conqueror. His entrance into heaven was a triumph. His power is seen not only in victory over his enemies, but in blessings to his friends. Power over matter is great, but power over mind is greater. Christ's power is moral and beneficent. The work he did on earlh was the earnest of the work he carries on in heaven. His" gifts" are not only kingly, but they are bestowed in the most kingly manner. "The rebellious" are not excluded. There is mercy for the greatest sinner, as there is grace to the uttermost for all the saints. Christ's "gifts" are not only precious, but permanent. As long as there is need on earth there will be supply from heaven (Hcb. iv. 14-16). III. As A PROPHECY. Christ was the first, but not the last, to ascend. He bas "opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers." His ascent is the pledge of his people's ascent. "Where should the living members be but with their living Head?" His ascent is the sure prophecy of his second coming, and of the everlasting glory of his kingdom (Acts i. 11; Col. iii. 4; llcb. ix. 28). "In his blessed life we see the path, and in his death the price, and in his great ascent the proof supreme of immortality."-W. F. Ver. 19.-God's gentleness. "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bcareth our burden n (Revised Version), I. HERE 1s A SWEET PICTURE OF Gon. It is sometimes said that the God of the Old Testament is a God stern and implacable, more to be feared than to be loved. This is to err. The picture here is very different. It is tender and winniog. We see the Lor<l here stooping down in love, to help the weak, to relieve the weary, to bring deliverance to the oppressed. This is in accordance with his character. Thus he has dealt with bis people, with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and countless others, in the time of their need. The thought of what God. is and bas done excites endless gratitude. Daily mercy calls forth daily praise. "Blessed be the Lord." II. HERE IS A BRIGHT FOBEGLEAM OF THE GLORY OF CHB.IST. It may be said that we have the gospel preached here in a figure. Take this word as a test, and Christ's life is the comment. See how he came down to us. See how he bore the burden of our sins and weaknesses. See how gently he dealt with his first disciples, and so gave token of the way he would deal with his disciples to the end of the world. His love never failelh. From day to day, with unwearied patience and mercy, he bears our burden. Hear bis voice ringing sweetly through the ages, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." What Christ does for us we should endeavour to do, so far as lieth in us, for others. We should help one another (Gal. vi. 1, 2). III. HERE 18 A DEAUTIFUL REPRESENTATION o~· THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. What we cannot do for ourselves, Christ will do for us. We are not alone, Christ is with us. We are not called to face the trials and to bear the burdens of life in our own strength; Christ is our Burden-bearer. Our sins, which wc>uld have crushed us down to hell, he has already borne, and the lesser burdens, also too heavy for us, he will bear for us. He may not take them off us, but if not, he will enable us to carry them. He will make his grace sufficient for us. Every day brings to us its burden, and every day we need anew the help of Christ. Though we can do nothing without him, we c11,n do all things through his strength. Thus our path is onward. We go from strength to strength. Nearer and nearer comes the time when we shl\11 lay our burdens down for ever, auu enter into the rest of Ood.-W. F. 62 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. LXIX, 1-36,