The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 128

wrou~ht during those dread forty days, by repeated and terrible temptation, to make his miHsion ineffectual and to bnffie its design. But our Lord, as we all know, gained si;1:nnl victory, as we also through him may gain like victory. III. How, THEREFORE, Goo REGARDS THEM. 1. The bow was a trusted weapon. "I will not trust in my bow," said the psalmist (xliv. 6), implying how usual was the trust men had in it. Tho sword and the bow are constantly coupled together in Scripture as the two chief weapons of the soldier on which he was to rely. And so God trusts his servants, commits the treasures of his grace to them, entrusts them to guard and keep the Houis Christ died to redeem. 2. And hence a favourite weapon. Vaviil commanded that the children of Judah should be taught the use of the bow, because it was his beloved Jonathan's favourite weapon. And it is not too much to say that the chosen means whereby God accomplishes his victories in his spiritual kiugdom is through his faithful servants. Not to angels, not t0 the might, learning, or wisdom of this world, has God given this great charge. But to those who may be, and often are, weak and despised in the eyes of the world, but God makes them mighty. IV. BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO ABE DECEITFUL. In the bow itself, it is owing to fault in material or structure. In those whom the bow represents, it is because they are spiritually weak and untrue. The Prophet Hosea (viii.) uses this same figure, and shows how applicable it was to the people of his day. And there are such now. V. 'l'HE RESULTS OF sucH DECEIT ARE ALL SAD. God is dishonoured; the faithful Church is reviled; the enemy triumphs; the bow itself is cast away. Vl How THIS MAY BE PilEVENTED. By abiding in Christ, who is our Life, onr Strength, our All.-S. 0. Ver. 59.-God turned against his people. I. THIS AN AWFUL POSSIBILITY. We have an instance here told of. And the history ot nations, Churches, individuals, furnish many more. II. BuT GREATLY DISBELIEVED. The devil will do bis bad best to make men not believe it. 'l'herefore uses: 1. False theology, wresting the Scriptures. There were people in St. John's day (see 1 John i.) who said they had no sin. Some trnsted in their Abrahamic descent; others did not believe in sin at all, they counted it to be but infirmity; others talked of the imputed righteousness of Obrist, and affirmed that whatever sin they might commit, they, being in Christ, were guiltless; others, as t~ay, believed that God was too merciful to condemn any one. 2. 'l'he deceitfulness of sin. 3. 'l'he ill example of others. III. MucH NEEDING, THEREFORE, TO BE INSISTED ON. Slight views of sin lie at the root of well-nigh all departures from God, but such views are impossible when it is seen to what they lead. IV. BuT NEVER TO BE FEARED BY THOSE WHO WILL LIVE IN Tll.E LOVE OF GoD. -S.C. Vers. 67-72.-God's chosen ones. These verses show that they whom God chooses are- I. OFTEN NOT FOUND AMONGST THE GREAT. (Ver. 67.) Ephraim was the lordly tribe, the aristocracy of Israel. They hnd a long roll-call of illustrious names. But God" refused the tabernacle of Joseph" (cf. 1 Cor. i.). II. BuT, NEVERTHELESS, THEY MAY BE. (Ver. 68.) For the tribe of Judah was but little less exalted than Ephraim. God puts no ban upon any rank, or people, or tribe. How stern are the utterances of our Lord about the rich I And yet there have been many saints of God who have been rich. III. ARE FOUND GENERALLY AMONGST THE LOWLY. (Vers. 70, 71.) "Blessed are ye poor," said our Lord. From amongst them the pioneers of tbe kingdom of God have nearly all come-" unlearned and ignorant men," poor, but rich in faith. IV. AND WHERE NO APPARENT FITNESS EXISTS for the work that has to be done. David, a rustic shepherd lad, and yet, etc. (ver. 71). V. BuT GoD's CHOICE 1s ALWAYS JUSTIFIED. (Ver. 72.) Of what gre:\t servant of God could it have been foretold that he would be what he came to be?  140 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. LXXVIII, 1-72.