the exercise of bis sovereignty. I confess I do not understand this. It appears to ma that undue and unwarrantable liberties are often used with the sovereignty of God, and that many things are laid to its account with which it is not chargeable. Wo speak of the Divine sovereignty. But sovereignty is not an arbitrary, caprioiou1 thing; it is a righteous and holy thing; and God must ever act in conformity with tl,e unalt~rable principles of his character. Believe it, there is no such mystery as some would make us think in those temporary desertions with which God sometimes visits his own people. The reason of them is to be found in themselves-in their 8infulness, in their unsteadfastness, in their unfaithfulness." II. Gon's HIDINGS ARE ALWAYS EXPRESSIONS OF DIVINE WISDOM. They are special modes of dealing, arranged in precise adaptation to particular persons, at particular times, and under particular circumstances. Co:nfort lies in clearly seeing that God'~ hidings are not common an<l usual dealings, and therefore if God deals thus with us, it must be in wise and gracious adaptation just to us. III. Gon's HIDINGS ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS ANSWERS TO us. This may be effectively illustrated by our Lord's treatment of the Syro-phcenician woman. He began his answer by seeming indifference, and even seeming refusal, which drew forth her noble intensity.-R. T.
Vers. 1-18.-.Light in the darkness. This is the darkest, saddest psalm of all the Psalms. L A PICTURE OF THE MOST DESPAIRING MISERY. Scarcely possible to think that such unalleviated misery ever existed. 1. Utter physical and mental weakness and prostration. (Ver. 6.) As good as dead. 2. Utterly forsaken of all his friends. (Vcrs. 8, 18.) An<l God had put them from him. 3. Cast off from God, by reason of his wrath. (Vcrs. 7, 14, 15, 16.) He is abandoned utterly both of God and man; i.e. he thought so. But no one really is. 4. This misery had been nearly lifewng. (Ver. 13.) II. RESOLUTE PBAYEB 18 THE LAST RESOURCE OF THE PBOFOUlrDLY MISERABLE. 1. His prayer was persistent. (Vers. 1, 13.) Day and night, morning and evening. 2. He makes the greatness of his aifiictwn an argument for being heard. (Vers. 2, 3.) 3. He prays to know the "why" of God's wrath towards him. (Ver. 14.) The affliction is a mystery the reason of which he would have made clear. He makes no confession of sin as explaining the terrors of God from which he is suffering. III. 80:ME GLEAMS OF FAITH AND HOPE BREAKING THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF HIS DESPAm. 1. God is the God of his salvation. (Ver. 1.) Notwithstanding all he says of his abandonment. 2. God is worthy of praise for his loving-kindness and faithfulness. (Vera. 10, 11.) He could still believe in these. 3. He prays for the righteo'll,Sness of God to be manifested to him. (Yer. 12.) He cannot help uttering these deep-grounded faiths that made him still cling to God in the most despairing moments. None can abandon themselves to utter despair who have seen God in Christ as the Father.-S.
EXPOSITION. PSALM LXXXIX. calamities, and their speedy restoration to his favour (vers. 46-51) P AT first sight, a psalm of praise ; but, iu Ver. 52 is no part of the psalm, but the reality, one of expostulation and complaint. doxology which con.eludes the Book. The praises of God are sung in the opening Vere. 1-4 are introductory to the first 1100tion (vers. 1-37); they culminated in section (vers. 1-37). They strike the key- the Davidical covenant. But this covenant note, which is, flrst, praise of God's faith- h&s been "made rnid," annulled. The fulness generally (vers. 1, 2), and secondly, "Xisting state of things is directly contrary praise of him in respect of the Do.vidico.l w all its promises (vers. 38-45). How long covenant (vers. 3, 4). is this to continue? Does not God's faith- fulness require the deliverance of Israel Ver. 1.-I will sing of the meroies of the and of the Do.vidical house from their Lord for ever. "For ever" is the emphatio PB, LXXXIX, 1-62,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 239