The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 185

but perhaps feeble, declining, thl'6Btened with extinction, This must be God's work, 'by the power of his Spirit. "Wilt thou not revive us? " All life, natural and spiritual, is from God and in God. At the back of all force is his power• at the bock of all caus~tion,_ his will; at the bac~ of al~ law, his wisdom (Pas. xxxiii'. 6; civ. 30). But there 1s this wonderful and glorious difference between tbo realm or natural and of sp!ritual life-in the _outward materi~l ~orld we hav~ to deal with laws; the power :wo~kmg un?er and behmd those laws_ is rnscrutably h1dde!1· But in spiritual life it 1s Just Gods powe1· we have to deal with; the laws accordmg to which it is put forth are ~ostly be):o_nd our ken. In the natural world there is ample range for prayer; bu~ m the spmtual we are shut up to prayer. We are to pray for daily broad, for which we must work, as well as for forgiveness of sin, for which we cannot work, But_ with this difference-the ungodly hushandman will reap his harvest, if he works for 1t, though he does not pray; but pardon, and the grace of God's Spirit, will not be• gi,·en to those who do not ask (Luke xi. 13; Jas. i. 5; 1 John i. 9). II. How WILL THIS QITTCKENED LIFE SHOW ITRELF? In: 1. Lowlier humility. Deeper consciousness of sin, need, weakness. 'l'hat Church, of all the seven addressed in the Apocalypse, which sa.id, "I am rich, and have need of nothing," was the very one that was in the very jaws of death (Rev. iii. 17). We put this note of revival first, because our Lord puts it first in describing the character and blessedness of his true disciples (Matt. ,. 3-5). The first token of revived life in a frozen limb is intense pain ; the flesh that is past feeling is past cure (see Eph. iv. 19; Prov. xxvi. 12). 2. Increased spirit of prayer. More urgent habitual sense of need of prayer. Disposition to more frequent prayer (however brief). Perhaps at first no increased freedom and delight, but ratber depressing sense of the weakness, coldness, unworthiness of our prayers. More earnestness, especially in prayer for others. Stronger faith in God's promises (not in our own prayers). Perseverance and patience. Out of all this must come, sooner or later, both ddight and power in prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit with our spirit, bringing our desires into harmony with God's will, and helping our infirmities. 3. Growing love of God's truth,. 'l'he Bible will be dearer to us, fuller of light and help. Christ's word will abide in ns (Col. i. 9-11). 4. Deeper, more inspiring, wntrolling -views of the love of God in Christ. (Eph. iii. 16-19.) IIL RESULTS OF BEVIV AL. "That thy people," etc. 'l'he psalmist was thinking of God's chosen nation, Israel. That is no hindrance to our application of both prayer and promise. Tbe conditions and forms of national life and of Church life are wholly different from what they were then; never can be the same. But principles abide. Righteousness still exalts a nation. "Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord I" A dead or lukewarm Church cannot be njoyful Church; nor a lukewarm worldly Christian a joyful Christian. Suppose all English men, women, children, to become true, earnest, loving disciples of our Lord Jesus," filled with the Spirit;" the whole face of society and national life would be changed, because its heart would be changed (Acts viii. 8). Meanwhile, revival, with all its fruits, either in tbe Church or in the nation, must begin in the hearts and homes of Ch1istians. Then the joy of the Lord will be our strength. All turns (remember) on this word, "thou." With God is life's fountain. In him our bodies live: how much more our spirits! (John xv. 5; Phil. ii. 13). Ver. 8.-The purpose of God's gracious chastenings. "He will speak peace, , • but let them not turn again to folly." The spirit of this psalm is compounded of _penitence and praise, humility and hope; inspireu by great troubles and great deliverances. This verse expresses what we may call the moral, the very heart of the psalm; the golden link between the thanksgivings blended with confessions of vers. _1-:-7, and the splendid promises of vers. 9.:.....13. The lesson is twofo~d-first, tha~ em lB fo!ly, 1 most of all in God's people; and secondly, that Gods grac10ue purpose in chastemng is to keep us from slidin~ back into sin, turning again to folly. I. SIN 1s FOLLY. Q.d. it is a.ct-ing in disregard of known consequences. The Hebrew word here translated "folly" also means "hope" or "confidence "-the blind confidence of one wbo knows that "the end of these things is death," yet listens to the tempter who says, "Ye shall not surely-die;" that" the wagef! of sin is death," but counts on their not being pa id. He sins in spite of warning, reason, experience; hoping he DlllY seize "the pleasures of sin for a season," and yet escape its eternal con- PB, LXXXV, 1-13,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 205