Ver. IB.-Gocl's grace owr best safeg'IJ,<1,rd. "So will not we go back from taee." This assurance implies that the people, in whose name the psalmist speaks, bad fully learned the lesson which God designed to teach them by the withdrawal, which was chastisement, and involved bitter distress and humiliation. They had turned to God, and God had turned, in mercy and in restoring grace, to them. The issue of bitter experience was, that the people desired to be steadfast servants of God henceforth. Compare the psalmist's personal exclamation, " Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now will I keep thy word." But there is a yet deeper sign of their return to right- mindedness. They do not merely make a promise, '' So will not we go back from thee; " they acknowledge that they neea Divine help in the endeavour to keep their promise. They go on to say," Quicken us, and we will call upon thy Name." That is the supreme lesson which the discipline and the chastisement of life are to teach us -our entire dependence on the Divine grace and upholding. L THE PROMISE MADE BY THE DISCIPLINED, A promise of steadfastness. The disciples of Christ went back, and walked no more with him, because his higher, spiritual truth was beyond their reach; ancl, as they could not apprehend it, they were offended by it. But these Israelites had wavered in their allegiance to Jehovah, because they wanted to" follow the devices and desires of their own hearts." So the result uf their discipline was tbat most-eopefully humiliating thing, the abating of seif-c<mjidence. They felt their need of GoJ, their dependence on God, and made their resulves that henceforth they would cleave closely to him. So far good. Resolves are good ; but everything depends on the spirit in which they are made. Trust in the resolve BOOn ends in worse failure. lL THE HOPE OF KEEPING THEm PllOM[SE, WIIICH THE DISOIPLINED MIGHT OHERIBH. The hope that God's grace would be their inspiration and support. They pray, "Quicken us," which not only means, "Give us life," but," Renew to us life;" "Ever keep up the energizing, the vitalizing, and the controlling." Life expresses exactly that which we nee-\, to change barren resolve into constant, active, and holy endeavollt. We need never fear "going Lack," if God will graciously quicken us. That grace is our sure defence from our weak selves.-R. T.
Vere. 1-19.-God's redemption. "It is not a bringing back out of exile that is here prayed for, for the people are still on the soil of their own country; but in their prcS<:nt feebleness they are no longer like themselves, but etand in need of Divine PB, J,XXXI. 1-16.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 167
intervention, the shining forth of the hidden countenance of God, in order a.gain to attain IL condition that is in harmony with the promises." Suggests- !. GoD HAB MADE A GLORIOUS REDEMPTION POSSIBLE FOR us. (Ver. 8.) Has transplanted us from the darkness and slavery of Egypt into a. glorious land of promise. I(. BY 'l'HE ADUBE OF OUR PRIVILEGE WE MAY BRING OURSELVES INTO GREAT FEEDLENESS AND MISERY. 1. God may seem not to answer OUT prayers. (Ver. 4.) 2. And to leave us to unavailing remorse. (Ver. 5.) 3. Appetite and passion may destroy us by their ravages. (Ver. 13.) III. Goo IS STILL NEAR TO HELP ALL WHO EARNESTLY DESIRE RESTORATION. 1. Be goes before us as he went before the Israelites in the wilderness. (Ver. 1.) .A.s a Shepherd. 2. He has also the power to help us. Dwells between the cherubim, the symbol of his earthly power; and is Lord of hosts-symbol of his heavenly power. 3. When we can see our duty and privilege in the light of Gorl's f=, we shall repent and return. (Ver. 3.) That is, we must see them iD the very strongest light before we shall repent.-S.