Ver. 37.-The grievous sin of insincerity. "For their heart was not right with him ; " Prayer-book Version, "not whole with him; " Perowne, "not steadfast with him." An accusation is brought against God's people by Hosea to this effect, "Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty." Some are said to have" feared the Lord, and served other gods." But it is a more searching view of insincerity, or double- mindedness, if we see that a man may keep up bis open and outward relations with God, and all the time be really serving himself, "following the devices and desires of his own heart." This is the kind of insincerity to which, in subtle ways, we are all exposed; and it is a supreme offence in the sight of God, who wants act and motive, doing and feeling, to match. Our Lord Jesus Christ represented the feeling of God in his stem words concerning the insincere, the hypocrite. 'l'o the wicked he was ever tender and gracious ; but to the wicked who cloaked his wickedness, to the man who came hiding with fawning words his malicious purpose, the Lord Jesus was most severe. The point of insincerity that comes out in connection with t_he text, is the ,;how of reformation that men will make in order just to get out of their calamities. " When he slew them, then they inquired after him; " but there was no serious purpose in theic inquiries. "Yea, they turned again, and sought God." They clid but "flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongue." I. !N'SINCERITY IS OFFENSIVE Il!T THE SIGHT OF Goo. The infinitely True One loves truth. The infinitely Pure One loves sincerity. Insincerity never deceives him, who " searcheth the heart and trieth the reins," and "needeth not that any should testify of man, for he knows what is in man." 'l'he clothes of a man should genuinely express the man. Much more should the words of a man, and the ways of a man, express the man. II. INSINCERITY IS AN ANXIETY IN THE MIND OF Goo. Because it is the most effective hindrance to his work in men's souls. The man puts a false front on, to prevent God's dealing with him as he is. Because it reveals a depraved condition. And because cherished insincerity exercises a most debasing influence on character. A man cannot become noble who keeps up a sham. The inevitable result is the formation of a habit of mind and thought which makes a serious and truthful life impossible.-R. T. PB, LXXVIII. 1-72.] Till~ IlOOK OF PSALMS. 145
Ver. 70.-The grace of Divine selections. "He chose David also his servant, e.nd took him from the shcepfolds." The selection of David may be viewed from two sides. It we.a an a.et of Divine grace toward David himself; and an act of Divine grace in providing such a king for the people. I. DIVINE GRA0E TOWAP.D DAVID HIMSELF. A careful study of David's early life brings ~t the fact that he was, in some sense, the despised one of the family. He was evidently much younger than his brothers; probably the child of another mother, who was brought into the family under somewhat peculiar circumstances. While all the brothers went to the war, David was kept at home. When J~sse called all his sons before Samuel, he left David out, as if he hardly came into the family reckoning. It was, then, the despised one, who had been sent to the sheepfolds with the women, who was selected by God for the highest place in the new state. God constantly makes the "poor of this world to confound the wise." But not arbitrarily. Only because he seeks to fit men to places, on the ground of their endowments and character and fitness for their positions. There is "no respect of persons with God." David was selected as the fitting man. II. DIVINE GRACE PROVIDING BUCH A KING FOR THE PEOPLE. He was selected on the Divine judgmcnt as to what was best for the people. Compare Sad, selected as meetin"' the people's idea of what was best for them. Kingsley says, "I look on David ~s an all-but ideal king, educated for his office by an all-but ideal training. Among the dumb animals he learnt experience which he afterwards put into practice among human b~ings. The shepherd of the sheep became the shepherd of men. He who had slain the lion and the bear became the champion of his native land. He who followed the ewes great with young fed God's oppressed and weary people with a faithful and true heart, till he raised them into a great and strong nation. So both sides of the true kingly character, the masculine and the feminine, are brought out in David." It may be pointed out that, in David, were qualities of kingship which would have made him a blessing to any nation, in any age. And it may further be shown that, in him, there were characteristic abilities, which made him specially the man for his time. Lead on to show that the one thing which made David's reign a supreme blessing to the people was his personal and governmental loyalty to the theocratic idea. He never failed through any disloye.lty to his Over-lord, Jehovah.-R. T. Vera. 3-8.-The Divine object of revelation. In this paragraph we have stated the object which God had appointed Israel to fulfil-to receive his Law and truth, that they might transmit them to posterity, and that they and their posterity might be brought to a living trust in God, and obedience to his will. Suggests- !. Goo HAS MADE THE FULLEST REVELATION OF HIMSELF AND ms WILL TO MAN- KIND IN JESUS CHRIST, 1. He has gloriously re'IJealed his character in Christ: his love. Christ showed the nature of God to be love by his own character and by his teaching. 2. By him also he made the most perfect re'IJelation of his Law. The old Law was interpreted by Christ, and received its most spiritual meaning and its widest sweep and application, Love is the only fulfilment of the Law-love to God e.nd love to man. !I. THAT THIS REVELATION IS ADAPTED TO WORK OUT THE SALVATION OF HEN. 1. By awakening trust or faith in God. (Ver. 7.) That is the natural effect of the revelation he has made. 2. By producing obedience to his will. (Ver. 7.) 3. By awakening a reciprocal love. (Ver. 4.) This celebrates "the praise of God, and his might, and his wonderful works that he has done." III. THAT THIS REVELATION WAS GIVEN THAT IT MIGHT BE PROPAGATED. To all that are living now, and to all coming generations. 1. By the public ministry. By preaching, by books, and by living example. 2. By the instruction of our children. In the family and in schools. The power of character as a teacher.-S. Vere. 82-39.-God's tender mercy. This passage describes the conduct of the rebellious and lustful Isre.elites in the wilderness, and sets forth three thiags-God's chastisement of their sin ; their superficial repentance ; God's pitiful compassion. I. Goo's 0HABTIBEMENT OF BIN. (Vera. 33, 34.) "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth PSALl\l:8-lL L THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, LXXIX. 1-13,