The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 246

Ver. 2.-" My God." These words come as a climax to all that profession of faith which the former part of the verse contains. It is good to say of the Lord, "He is my Refuge "-to have gone to him, and found in him deliverance from all the guilt and condemnation due to our sin, which otherwise would have overwhelmed us. But it is better to have him as "our Fortress," so that, strong in his strength, we may fight successfully the great battle against all the might of the wicked one. But it is best of all, because a yet higher attainment, to be able to say of God, "He is my God," as the psalmist does here. All that is contained in the former declarations is included in this, and much besides. Blessed, indeed, is he who can say of the Lord, "He is my God." We all know what a charm belongs to that which we can call our own. Even a child ddigbts in any gift far more if it can call what is given its very own. And it is the same with men. Possession enhances preciousness, and causes what is our own to be clung to with a tenacity that would be wanting were it not "our own." We know the poet's challenge to our patriotic pride when speaking of" my own, my native land." And the man who will delight in God and cleave to him at all times is he who most of all is able to say of him, "He is my God." I. Let us EXPLAIN THE MEil'ING of such saying. 1. It does 12ot mean that any man can have a monopoly of God so as to exclude all others. It is so with many of our earthly possessions, but not at all so in our possession of God. On the contrary, he who says of the Lord, "He is my God," is generally one who has learnt to say this by the blessed influence of some other who himself bas been able to say it. And be is always one who desires that all others should be able to say it likewise. 2. But it means thai, he has such comcious possession of and delight in God that he could not have more were God his God only, and not the God of any one else. As with the eye, it could not enjoy more of the light of the sun even if no otber eye !ejoiced in its light. The joy of the light is not lessened, but greatly increased by, yea, 1s largely dependent on, others enjoying it also. II. OBSERVE so.ME OF THOSE WHO HA VE ·sAID THIS. 1. Jacob. At Bethel he had been made to feel his deep need of God, and hence he vows th:i-t_if God would br!ng him back in peace, "then God shall be my God," etc. And th1a 1s the deep longmg of every convinced soul. 2. Miriam and Israel at the Red Sea, They sang," He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation," etc. They knew of his redemption, and in the joy of it claimed God 88 "mv God." It is the spontaneous utterance of the redeemed souL 3. Nehemi,ah, and ma;i,y others, who thus continually speak of God. They show how God is the abiding Trust of the believer. 4. Our Lord on tlie cross cried1 "My God my God" etc. l And in him we learn how this precious truth is the solid rock on which in ti~es of extremest distress, the soul rests itself. 6. .And it is the seal of salvaJ,ion'. In the Apocalypse we read amongst the promises" to him that overcometh," there shall be written on him '' the name of my God," as if the fact that be had so regarded and rejoiced in God were, as it is, the sure token of his belonging to the city of God. Thus from the dawn of the Divine life in man to its consummation in glory, the people of God have ever said of the Lord, "He is my God." III. WHAT 1s INVOLVED m suca SAYING. 1. The man feels it; he has the witness rs. xoI. 1-16.J 'rHE BOOK OF PSALMS. 273