HOMILIES BY V.ARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-21.-Godly old aue, Solomon has said, "The beauty of old men is the grey head" (Prov. xx. 29), But he tells also of a nobler beauty, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Prov, xvi. 31). Old men are few, but godly old men are fewer still. Rarity signalizes the" beauty," and enhances the "glory." This psalm may well be called, "The Old Man's Psalm." W uuld that the portrait were more common! It is pleasant to look at in poetry; it is far more delightful to behold in f.,ct. In this portrait of a godly old man, wo may mark- I. II1s SUBLIME FAITII, "In thee, 0 Lord, do I put my trust" (vcr. 1). Here is the secret of his character. "Trust" gave strength to his heart, and unit_y and completeness to his life. In this he was in sympathy with others who had gone before (cf. Ps. xxxi. 1-3). II. His EARNEST rnA'l'Ens. The godly are ever given to prayer. It is their great resource. It is the never-failing means of obtaining mercy and grace. They learnt to call upon God at their mother's knee (cf. Ps. cxvi. 16; 2 Tim. i. 5), and all through life they have found the virtue and the blessedness of prayer. In old age the cry of the godly is, "I must pray more." III. His VARIED EXPERIENCES. Often, when looking back, there is dirnne~s, or many things have fallen out of sight, or there is a confusion in the perspective; but -events that ha,;e made a deep impression stand out clearly. Memory g0cs back to the time of youth, and traces life onward, with all the great changes, the dan~ers and adventures, the attempts and the achievements, the joys anti sorrows. There aro grateful recollections of kindneEs and help from many; but above all, there is praise to God for his goodness and wonderful works (vers. 5, 6; cf. Isa. xlvi 4). IV. Hrs SETTLED CONVICTIONS. Experience is a great teacher. The man who has seen many days bas learned much, and is able to bear witness as one that speaketh with authority (Job xxxii. 7; Lev, xix. 32; 2 Pet. i. 13). One thing that the godly old man testifies is tha.t God is worthy of trust; another thing is that the Word of God is not a cunningly devised fable, but truth; another thing is that religion is not a delusion, but a reality-the power of God unto salvation; another thing is that the most pleasant memories are of loyalty to God, and of good done to men, even to enemies, and that the saddest thoughts are of times when self prevailed over love and duty, and opportunities were lost from neglect and sloth. V. ll1s UNFALTERING IIESOLUTION, The old have their regrets. They have also their times of trial nnd weakness. In another place the psalmist says, "I have beeu young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken" (Ps. xxxvii. 25), and yet here he seems just for a moment to falter; but if be trembles at the thought of being a" castaway,'' as Paul also did (1 Cor. ix. 27), he renews his strength by prayer (vere. 17, 20). Then having gained courage, he pledges himself with fresh ardour to be true to God. Instead of wavering, be will press on. Instead of keeping sileRce, he will testify, by word l\nd deed, to the strength and power of God. 'fhis was beautifully seen in Polycarp, "Eighty and six years have 1 served him, and he never wronged me; and shall I forsake my God and my Saviour?" VI. His GLOIIIOUS PROSl'ECTS. For the old the end is near. They know that soon they must die, and have no more to do with anything under the sun. This seems a dismal condition. But for the godly there is not only hope in death, but the bright pruspect of a blessed immortality. "'l'he end of that man is peace," yea, more, far more, the future is glorious.-,v. F. Vers. 1-13.-The suffering righteous m'.ln in his old age. An introduction (vers. 1-3) borrowed from Pa, xxxi. The pmycr is shortly expressed in the fourth verse, ond is succeeded in vers, 6-8 by the basis on which it rests, and ufter that the THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. LXXII. 1-20.
prayer is expa1Hled in vers. 9-13. The second half of the psalm contains tho hope and the thanks of the writer. I. 'l'ITE PRAYER OF THE PSALMIST. 1. For delivemnce fi·om the powe1· of evil-doers. (Ver. 4.) "\Ve have nce,l to pray for delivernnce from the dangers that imperil the safety of the ~oul. 2. For special protection in his old age. (Ver. 9.) When hie IHlt.ural 8trcngth had begun io fail. This was the prayer for spiritual strength-that he might not be abandoned to physical infirmity, and so be unable to contend with his foes. 3. Fur immediate help and rescue. (Ver. 12.) "Make haste to help me." He wns in a pressing emergency, and needed instant delh·erance. "De not far from me." I-le prayed for the signs of God's presence with him. II. THE GROUNDS OF ms PRAYER. 1. God had been his llope and Oonfidencefrom infancy. (Vers. 5, 6.) .And he bad confidence that he might still lean upon God for help, and still ha'l'e cause to praise him. 2. The greatness of his sufferings. (Ver. 7, "I by the greatness of my sufferings drew upon myself the astonishment and wonder of man_l'.") Great suffering leads us to God with a cry to which he will always listen• for "Like as a father pitieth his children," etc. 3. He is a constant and devoted 1eorshippe-,· of God. (Ver. S, "My mouth is full of thy praise," etc.) God will not refuse help to those who serve him; if he gives help to any, he must help those who honour him. 4. He wants it to be proved to his enemies that God has not forsaken him. (Vers. 10, 11.) He is jealous of God's honour, aud wants it to be seen that God is unchangeable in his goodness as his Deliverer. Good men have always been con- lCrned that God's righteousness should be manifest and invincible.-S.