Ver. 12.-The angel,s' charge of little things. To whom is this promise addressed? Not to any and everybody indiscriminately, but only to those who dwell "in the secret place of," etc. (ver. 1). Therefore it was e3pecially applicable to our Lord. Some have concluded, that, as this verse was made use of by Satan when he tempted our Lord, the psalm is to be limited in its application to him only. But this is an error. Satan quoted it; but, as he always does when he quotes Scripture-a not uncommon custom of his-he alters it; he left out the qualifying clause, "in all thy ways." It is not in any ways that we can have the angels' care, but only in those that are right. The promise is for all God's people, as they go about their own proper and appointed ways. Next, let us ask, what is the meaning of the text? Our word "dash" is not a true rendering; the Hebrew word used is generally rendered as in John xi., where our Lord speaks of a man not stumbling if he walks by day, but as sure to do so if he walks at night in the dark. It means that then he would be likely to strike against some stone in the way, and so be tripped up. There is no idea of violence in the word. When Satan used it, he meant to suggest to our Lord that if the promise was that he should not even stumble over a stone, how much more might he be sure of protection were he to cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple! The word, therefore, points to a very small and ordinary matter-the being kept from fallng over a stone, as a mother would hold up her child from such mishap. Now, the text teaches us- L ANGELS CONCERN THEMSELVES ABOUT SUCH LITTLE THINGS AS THESE. This is very wonderful For think of who and what the angels are; how great, glorious, holy, blessed ; how high and august the office they fill, and the employments in which they engage. A.nd then think of their stooping to such work as this-the preventing of a man stumbling against a stone. We know they concern themselves about the salvation of the soul, for that is a great matter; the soul so precious, that Christ was content to die to redeem it. But that our feet may not even come in hurtful contact with a stone-surely that seems beneath and unworthy of them. But this same truth is told of in many other Scriptures; cf. "The very hairs of your ·head are all numbered;" "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father," etc. There- fore it is true the holy angels have charge over the minute details of our lives, as well as over great events. The Lord's loving providence reaches down to all these little things, of which our life is mainly made up. How blessed this truth is I All our life cared for by the Lord I II. BUT WHAT IS LITTLE IN ITSELF MAY NOT BE BO IN ITB CONSEQUENCES. How mighty are little things i~ the results that often flow from them I Fo! the bo~y, a sliaht stumble may have lifelong consequences. For the soul, men fall little by little, not by great crimes, but by a series of little sins. And so, too, for the rise of the soul. We do not leap into heaven; but we "grow in grace"-ever slight increase and advance. III. OuB BEAL DIFFICULTIES ABE IN CONNECTION WITH THEM. Otherwise angels would not be put in charge over us. Many can keep from great. sins who allow themselves in little ones. "Take me the little foxes," etc. We either think we c1n manage the little affaire of life, or we iieilect them, PB, IOI, 1-16.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 277
IV. OUR STRENGTH AGAINST BOTH LITTLE AND GREAT PERILS 18 IN CHRIST. (AJapted from the late Canon Melville.)-S, C.
Vere. 14-16.- -The beloved of the Lord. The marks and tokens of these are set forth here. I. THEY HAVE BET THEIR LOVE UPON THE LORD. Their hearts have turned to him, away from sin, and now are "set," firmly fixed, upon him. Numbers of people feel a passing affection for Christ; their hearts burn within them for a while; but tbe fire soon dies down and out. But these have set their love, not their mere thought or approval, upon him. II. 'fHEY HAVE KNOWN BIB NAME. This is a higher degree. Their love has led to their keeping near to him, and to constant intercourse with him; and so now they have come to know him, as we say we know a dear and honoured friend, whom we have tested and tried and never found wanting. So these have come to know God; and, of course, they are "set on high." Such knowledge lifts the soul above the cares and trials, the temptations and sorrows, of life. As the small birds, whom the hawk seeks to prey upon, avoid their foe by keeping high above him, so do these, the Lord's beloved, live above where the sins, snares, and sorrows of this world can do them harm. III. THEY PRAY EFFE0TUALLY, "He shall call upon me, and I will answer." The life of prayer, the walk with God, ever characterizes these people. Aud they have power in prayer-their prayers are answered. This cannot be said of all or most prayers, of which, so often, nothing seems to come. But it is otherwise here. IV. IN THEIR TROUBLES THE LORD IS WITH THEM. "I will be with them," etc. They will have trouble. They are God's jewels; but as the jewel needs to be put 011 the lapidary's wheel and ground ere it will reveal its brilliancy and worth, so do God's jewels. Therefore trouble cannot be escaped. But bearing it alone may be, and is, by these people. See Paul and Silas in the dungeon at Philippi, and the experience of all the saints in all the ages all along. V, AND BE0AUBE THEY ARE THE LORD'S BELOVED, THERE 0OMES TO THEM: 1. Dtli11erance. How could it be otherwise? deliverance real, though not always visible to our eye. 2. Honour. See the golden cross on the top of St. Paul's Cathedral: how that tells of what this nation thinks of the Crucified One I .All the nations praise him. 3. Eternal life. Long life indeed I 4. Satisfaction. "Thou, 0 Chri,t, art all I want." 5. The vision of the salvation of God. For himself; for those dear to him; for the world.-S. C.
Ver. 15.-The response of God to his people. I. WHAT THIS RESPONSE IS. 1. That God will answer prayer. But on this, note: (1) That it is not the prayer of every man, but only of those who have set their love upon God, and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. (2) That to them prayer is answered, but often in ways other than they have expected. God will always give to them what is best; but that may be far different from what they have thought. 2. He will be with them in trouble. God is always with us; but in our trouble he is more especially with us. This is shown sometimes by his providential help, or by his grace sustaining us. 3. He wilt deliver and honour. See this in such histories as that of Joseph. II. WHAT FOLLOWS FROM IT. That to the man of God the following things are impossible: 1. Disappointment; because God will answer. 2. Loneliness ; for God is ever with him, and especially in trouble. 3. Disgrace; for how can that be to those whom he honours? 4. Defeat; for God will deliver.-S. C.