The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 127

I. MAN OAN LIMIT GoD, 1. But this may be 9.uestioned. It should eeem impossible when we think of tbe greatness and power or God, of his uninl!'sal sway, of his infinite wisdom, of the hurt and harm that must come of such conduct. All such considera- tions seem to render impossible the limiting of God. 2. But undoubtedly man can do this. For else he would be a mere machinr, not a man; he would have no more ,·olition than a tree or a bird. If he is to be able to say "Yes" to God he must be able also to S&)' "No." And he can and does. Scripture asserts it-see this whole psalm. God stood ready to bless, hut Israel '\\rould have none of his counsel, and set at nouaht all his reproof. Reason asserts it, for it steadily affirms that we are free, and can ~ill and choose as we please. Experience asserts it. Concernina nations Churches, indi- , iduab, has not God again and again said, as Jesus did whe~ he wept over Jerusalem "How often would I have gathered thee . . . but ye would not I"? We read how i~ some places Christ could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief. II. AND MEN DO THIS STILL. 1. Very often in their prayers and desires. They insis_t too much upon definite blessings being given. They ask some temporal blessing -:-r~m, or health, _or ~he sparing of life, or it may be a spiritual blessing; but they hrnlL God to defimte t1mE:, manner, and means. And such prayers come to nothing, for they have asked amiss. And then men make a mock at prayer. We need to remember our Lonl's words in Gethsemane, "Father, not my will, but," etc. 2. Yet more do we limit God in our tlwughi,s. (See vers. 19, 20.) And all anxious care and foreboding is really a limiting of God. Hence Christ so forbade it (see Matt. vi.). How Jacob limited God when he cried, "All these things are against me"! We shall get help against this by heeding Paul's counsel (Phil iv.), "Be carelul for nothing, but," e1c. But if foreboding care is guilty of this, yet more is despair, whether for ourselves or for others. 3. But most ef all, and worst, our sins limit God. The Church at Laodicea kept the Lord outside her door. And how often we stand in our children's way, when God would bless them, by our worldliness and unbelief I We will not let God bless us or them. God would, but we would not. May the Lord pardon us every one, and save us from this sin 1-S. C, Ver. 57.-" ..4. deceitful bow." Note- L WHAT GoD REQUIRES IN ms BERVil'TS. 1. That they should be as a bow. That is a weapon, and for him. Christians are to be aggressive, a power in the hands of God against the world, the flesh, and the devil. 2. That they should be powerful. In the case of the bow, that depended on the elasticity of the wood, or the temper of the steel, of which the bow was made, also on the skill shown in its constrnction. Fault in either so much lessened the value of the bow. And God would have us a power in his hands; he can use weak things, but he would have us strong for himself. 3. True. The bow made of the right material and in right manner would send the arrow straight to the mark and up to the mark, so that it would not fall short or swerve aside. But how many of us, in serving God, are guilty of this I We fall short, are not thorough, or are by one cause or another turned aside. 4. And that their strength should abide. It was said of Joseph, "His bow abode in strength." As a good bow would retain its tenacity and elasticity, so that it could be permanently relied upon. Here is the real test of our fidelity; it is not so much our having strength-at the beginning we all have this more or less-but it is the keeping it, the standing the year-in-and-year-out strain. 'l'his is what God desires in us. • ll. "WHAT BY HIS GRACE THEY VERY OFTEN ARE. 1. The bow was a very ejfectiVIJ weapon. Hence no army was sent forth without a large body of trained archers.. ~ts silent, swift, distant, deadly effect made it a weapon not only very valued, but md1s- pensable. Alld God has such servants. Was not Peter one such, and Paul, and many other of less distinguished name--men who so wrought for God as to render service of most effectual kind? Aud there are such still, men and women too, so endued with power by God that their presence and ministry are the signal at once for great victories to be won for God. 2. And it was therefore reckoned as very formidable, a force not to be trifled with by any foe. And because faithful ministers of God are such weapons for God, therefore it is that Satan strives with all hi.ii power to disarm them or to render their ministry of none effect. He knew full well what destruction the Lord J esiJs would bring upon his dominion, and therefore, immediately after his baptism, ho PS, LXXVlll, 1-72.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 139