the testimony of hie servant. 'He bath set his love upon me; he knoweth my name; he calleth upon me.' These are the marks of a true servant of God.'' It has been noticed that the words, "I will," are repeated six times in the last three verses of this psalm: "I will deliver;" "I will set him on high;" "I will answer;" "I will be with him in trouble;"" With long life I will satisfy him;" "I will show him my salvation." I. THE POBBIDILITIES OF OUR FEELING TOWARD GoP. We may feel towar<l. God all we can feel towards our fellow-men-faith, admiration, devotion, etc. We may eveu go so far as to" set our love upon him "-make him to be our chosen one, our specially loved one. What we do to help ourselves, in the effort to "set our love" on our fellow-men, we may do to help in setting our love on God. Such things as (1) cherish the thought of them; (2) seek their company; (3) try in every way to please them. II. THE RESPONSE Goo MAKES TO MEN'S RIGHT FEELING TOWARDS HIM. This response is found indicated in the assurances of this passage. 1. He gives to them an answering affection. 2. He guards them with an ever-watchful defence. 3. He a.cco01- plishes for them mighty deliverances. 4. He grants them gracious exaltations. The Divine favour comes on men because: 1. They make him their choice. 2. Because they seek intimacy with him (implied in" knowing his Na.me"). 3. Because they are ever ma.king signs of their dependence on him. The signs being their daily and their special prayers.-R. T. Vers. 15, 16.-God's presence in time of trouble. "I will be with him in trouble." Illustrate by presence of a friend in the time of sickness and distress. That f1iend may be unable to help, a.nd yet the best of help comes from that friendly presence. If God is with us in trouble, we a.re sure he ca.n help and deliver. If he does not, it can only be because he is doing kinder things for us, by letting the trouble stay. The strain of feeling alone in time of trouble ma.y be illustrated by a lonely walk through a. strange and dangerous country. "Have you ever walked on, mile after mile, until it grew very dark, and there were no stars overhead, and no friendly voice or guide anywhere; and, as you grew very tired and faint a.nd footsore, did it not seem as if the wa.y became more rough and stony a.t every step? You ca.n remember each time you stumbled in the weary darkness against a stone, how the pa.in seemed to ~hoot hotly through every nerve; a.nd the lack of light, a.nd the uncertainty lest ea.eh step migb t bear you over the precipice,-all this unnerved you. But how different if a. loved friend had been with you I and especially if it so happened that he knew the road and the country well I" God's presence is the summum bonum. All we can need is included and involved in it. He really need not tell us what he will do for us; it is enough if he will be there. And so the Lord Jesus wrapped up everything for his disciples in this one assurance, "Lo, 1 a.m with you all the days." I. GoD's PRESENCE WITH us MEANS THE BEST POSSIBLE LIMITATION OF OUR TROUBLE. II. Goo's PRESENCE WITH us MEANS ABUNDANT COMFORTING UNDER OUR TROUBLE. III. GoD'S PRESENOE WITH US MEANS TilE FULFILMENT OF THE MISSIO:S- OF OUR TROUBLE. IV. Goo's PRESENCE WITH us ASSURES OF A "HAPPY ISSUE OUT OF ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS," God with us in trouble iB the fact; but everything for us depends on our sensible realization of the fa.ct.-R. T.
Vers. 9, 10, 11.-The security oj the saints. I. THE DwELLING·PLACE OF THE GOOD MAN-GOD, In such an abode we find: 1. Shelter, protection. (John xiv. 23.) 2. Nutriment. 3. Rest. 4. Companionship. II. THE BU'ETY OF THIS ABODE. 1. Omnipotent love encompasses him. 2. The power of the good man to convert all tliings to his welfare. "All things are yours." III. 'rHE GUARDS AND SERVANTS OF THE GOOD MAN. The angels 1ue God's mes- sengers a.nd ministers. 1. God employs innumerable invisible ministries to serve us. An••els 0 1md unseen powers "that walk the earth both whon w13 wake and when we slee p." 2. Innumerable visible ministries. "More servants wait on man than he'll tllke notice of" (see George Herbert's poem).-S. 282 TEE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, XCll, 1-lG.
Vers. 14, 15.-The reward of trust in God. "Deoause he bath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him : I will set him on high, because he hnth known my Name. He shall call upon me, 11.nd I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him." I. WHAT ARE THE QUAl,ITIES THAT Gon VALUES MOST IN CHARACTER? I. The know- ledge of his Name ; i.e. of his nature 11.nd character, now revealed to us more fully than then, in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. 2. The setting our love upon him. Because he is what he is, and becau~o our love is the surest ple,lge of obedience to his will. 3. DepM1de11ce ttpon God. Expressed by the habit of prayer-calling upon him. II. IN WHAT WAY Gon HONOURS A1'"'D REWARDS THOSE QUALITIES. 1. He will deliver him in trouble. By giving him strength superior to all his trials. We cannot escape troublt1, but we can conquer it by the aid of the Spirit of God. 2. He will erro,lt him to the possession of hi,qh honours. Give him a position of great security-high above all danger. And of great influence and usefulness. This is high honour, 3. He will answer his prayers. In the only ways in which a supremely good and wise Being will answer the prayers of the erring and sinful-by giving them what they need, and not always wha.t they ask for.-S.