The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 188

Jcbovr1b, Lord, is added, which declares him to be the God of I1rael. But such nam9 indicates thr1t he will not be heedless of his people's prayer. And he has apoken of old time. '!'heir records are full of the story of his interpositions in their times of need. And it is what we should expect, the need of his speaking being so great. Revelation, incarnation, atonement, the work of the Holy Ghost, are all antecedently probable; man, God's offspring, needing them so terribly. 2. That we can hear. This is man's distinction; he is a spiritual being, and can receive messages from God, who is a Spirit; he does perpetually receive and respond to them: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said," etc. 3. That what God speaks is what man need.~ to hear. Man has heard enough of what his own sinful heart bas to say, and of what bis fellow-men say, in their doctrines, imaginations, counsels, and a miserable hubbub and confusion their discordant utterances make; but the psalmist resolves to come away from all this, and hear God. It is our wisdom as well as bis. II. WHAT HE SPEAKS. "Peace unto his people." 1. Peac;i with himsel,f. They have quarrelled with him, rebelled again and again, but now when they turn to him bis word shall be of peace. 2. And amongst themselves. "He stilleth . . . the tumult of the people: " the nations shall learn war no more. 3. And in their own hearts. "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirits," etc. (Rom. viii.; Luke vii. 48). None can over-estimate the worth of this peace, and none need be without it. III. How DOES GoD SPEAK? 1. Authoritatively. "He speaks, and it is done." 2. By his Spirit. 3. Through the Holy Scriptures, and by the voice of his providence and the response of our conscience and reason. IV. THE CONDITION ON WHICH HE SPEAKS. "Let them not turn again," etc. 1. It is implied that they have now turnedfrom their folly. Note that name for sin; some- times it is called by far literner names. But is it not "folly" ? All these prayers and vows show that there has been repentance. 2. Let them not t1<rn again. There is no need that any should. And we never shall if we abide in Christ.-S. C. Ver. 9.-The saints' salvation, the lanil:s glory. They who fear God may be sure that he will come and save them, not alone for their own sake, but also for the sake of the land in which they dwell. The salvation of any sinner is for the blessing of very many. God has respect to others outside ourselves when he saves any one of us. The glory of the whole nation is furthered thereb.Y; the blessing of the Church is the blesRing of the land. For in such land there dwells- !. SPIRITUAL GLORY. How God is worshipped, loved, praised; how mightily his Spirit works in men's hearts, when he comes in saving power I II. MoRAL GLORY. The work of God in men's souls ever" makes for righteousness." Vice, profanity, and all ungodliness are abashed, and slink away when the power of God ill made known. III. NATIONAL GLORY. For" righteousness exalteth a nation:" when once has such a nation perished? IV. S.ANOTUABY GLORY, 'l'o the Jew, the temple of the Lord was his glory. "The joy of the whole earth ls Mount Zion." And what are all our sanctuaries and services if in them God's salvation is not seen? V. HARVEST GLORY. (Cf. Ps. lxvii., "Then shall the earth yield," ete.) There is close connection between inward character and outward condition.-S. C. Ver. 10.-Our foes become our friends. H is difficult, indeed impossible, to say what was the actual thought of the writer when he penned the words of our text; for they are true in several ways. He represents mercy and truth as going in different directions, and with opposite intent, but they meet, and are brought into harmony as though at variance before. And it is the same with righteousness and peace; there seemed no common course of action open to them; they must be opposed; but, lo! they embrace, and all discord ceases between them. Now, where is such union of opposites to be seen ? And we answer- !. IN GoD. In tho wisdom of God when devising our salvation. Christ is the Wisdom of God, because in him, whilst mercy has full scope, nevertheless, the Law is magnified and made honournble. There was no compromise, no tampering with the holy Law of God, although God did so love the world as to save it (John iii. 16). Love reign~,  208 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. LU.XV, 1-13,