The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 85

Christ," etc. 6. Faithful teslimrmy. (Ver. 4,) Against the wicked. For God (ver. 7). Concerning wrath to come (ver. 8), 6. Delight in God. (Ver, 9.) 7. Open siding with the right against the wrong (ver. 10). III. THE 0REAT EXEMPLAR AND GIVER OF THIS BPIBIT-the Lord Jesus Christ.-S. C. Ver.1.-The uplifting God. Such is the theme of this psalm. This we gather from the frequent repetition of the word "uplift." Like the repeated clear strokes of a bell, it reverberates through the psalm. In ver. 4 the wicked are bidden "lift not up the horn," as doth the fierce bull that, in the pride of his might, tosses hiB horns defiantly against all comers. Let them not boast themselves in their fancied strength. And ver. 6 repeats this warning, and ver. 6 tells them that" uplifting"-" promotion," our Authorized Version reads it, but it is the same word all through-is neither from the east, nor the west, nor south, but-so ver. 7 tells them-God is the Judge ; he pulteth down one and "lifts up" another,-again the same word. And then once more in ver. 10 God declares that the strength, " the horns," of the righteous shall be lifted up. Thus over and over again this emphatic word and key-note of the psalm is heard. And this gracious dealing of God with his people is the ground of the earnest thanksgiving with which the psalm opens; and it is the "Name" of God which it asserts to be so "near," and which his wondrous works declare. As in Ps. cxxi., God's gracious keeping of his people is the theme, and hence the word "keep" is repeated all through the psalm. We do not know for certain when, or by whom, or on what occasion, this psalm was written. It is like the song of Hannah echoed in the Magnificat of the mother of our Lord. Or it may celebrate one or all of David's many deliverances-how God had "uplifted him" out of all his troubles, and hence his vow of righteousness which in ver. 2 and repeatedly, he declares. Or it may celebrate the "uplifting" of Judah and Hezekiah from the peril of Sennacherib. We do not know, nor does it matter. Severed as it is for us from all special circumstances, we are the better able to make application of it according to our individual nee<l. Now, in the text we note- I. lTs EXUBERANT THANKSGIVING, The writer's heart was full. 1. He repeats his thanksgiving. It is as if he felt himself unable to tell out all his gratitude; as if he had said," Yea, Lord, unto thee do we give thanks; yea, we do." 2. And it arises from many hearts, not one alone, It is "we," not" L" 3. And it reveals the character of the grace received, That it had been such as was greatly and consciously needed; and could come from no other source (ver. 6); and it ha<l been great indeed (Luke vii. 47); and both unexpected and undeserved. II. THE ABUNDANT REASON FOB IT. "For that thy Name is near." 1. What are we to understand by" tl,y Name" 1 It means that which the name suggests. Names call up in our minds that which we know and feel of those to whom they belong. The Name of God suggests, therefore, to any man his idea of God--one thing to one man, another to another. 'fo the writer of this psalm it is evident what thought of God his Name suggested. God was to him the God who lifts his people up from all their distresses. 2. Wnat he says of this Name. It is" near." He meant, near in time, in locality,-o.t hand and not afar off, to his consciousness; he realized this nearness of God. 3. .And we can still asse1t the Name. How often and how greatly, and for how many, God has uplifted their sou ls !-from the burden of guilty fear, of sin's oppression, of earthly care, of death's terror, and of nll forms of Satan's rage. ln all such times of trouble God bas been near to his people, and has lifted them up far above and away from all their fear. III. ITs PERSUASIVE PLEA. Surely testimony such as is here given is a plea unanswerable that we all should put our trust in the uplifting God, and turn to him in every trouble, and abide in him always. For us, too, there is the further argument of God's grace in Christ, nnd the infinite love revealed in him. May we hearken and obeyl-S. C. Ver. 3.-Help laid on One that ia mighty. Our text and this whole psalm show clearly enough that- I. Suoa HELP WAS NEEDED. 1. Society, order, law, seemed all on the point of dissolution. A condition of affairs is contemplated in which everything seemed rushing  94 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. LXXV, 1-10,