The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 261

'l"ery p11inful; tbe roots of our life seemed so to cling to our old st11te. But by one means and another we (iavc been ,~ransplanted. ''. If any man be in Obrist Jesus, he is a new crCllturc; old th1m:s havP, etc. 3. And it was done for us, not by ourselves. \Ve ~ere "born, not of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh, but of the will of God." Unless Chri~t saves us, we shall never be saved. We owe our all to the grace of God. 4. The roots 1,a.ve taken hold qf the soil. (C. H. Spurgeon.) We often make use of the expression tbat a man has taken root in a place, meaning that be bas settled down 1here, and ha.s found pleasure and good in his surroundings, and is at home there. So these people, these planted ones, find their home in the house of God. 6. And tl,ey Efay there. They are no mere birds of passage, but they dwell in the secret place of the Most High, love the habit11tion of God's house, their soul's home is there. In bod_\" they must often be absent, but in spirit never. II. THE PROSPERITY PROMISED THEM. 'l'hey "shall flourish in the courts of our God." 1. As a fact they do. What great saint ever set light store by the sanctuary of God? 2. And it is certai,, they will. There is the promise of God. 'l'here is the soul-nurture which the sacred services of the sanctuary supply. '£here is the shelter and retreat from the hostile forces of the world outside. There is the ever-wa.tchful eye of the husbandman. God ca.res for the trees pla.nted there. He wa.tches over them night nnd day. III. Tm: PERMANENCE OF ALL Tms. "They bring forth fruit in old age" (see homily on this clause). IV. THE PROOF HEREBY GIVEN OF THE CHARACTER oF Goo. 1. They show "that the Lord is ttpr?°ght." 'l'hey do tbis, for they, being righteous themselves, prove that he who made 1hem so is righteous. We judge by deeds. Righteous souls are God's deeds. 2. And they show his love also; for he does not cast them off in the time of their olrl age, as most men do their servants; but be puts yet more honour on them. V. THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF THE PSALMIST. "He is my Rock," etc. It is as if be would say, "I know all this is true, for he is my Rock, and there is," etc. It is good to proclaim the truth of God, but he does it the more powerfully who can bea.r testimony from his own experience. Tben, are we willing to be pla.nted in the house of our God? Go and tell him so, and it shall be done unto you.-S. C. Ver. 14.-" Fruit in old age." This is one of the blessed promises of God to his faithrnl people. Consider- !. WHAT Tms FRUIT IS. 1. Much knowledge of God's ways. What are many years granted to man for, but tha.t he may attain to this knowledge and the practical wi~dom thence ensuing? 2. Sanctity of character. The long discipline of life should have trained his spirit to this, and confirmed him in the ways of God. 8. Patience, Old age should "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." 4. Heavenly mindednt{i8, They cannot but know how soon their hold on this world will be loosened; and hence it should be their endeavour to be ready for the better world of heaven; their conver• sation should be much in heaven. 5. Concern for th,rsalvation of others. '£heir exhor- tations and testimony will have power, and should not be withheld. God will be glorified and souls eternally blessed. Such is the fruit which old age should bring forth. II. THOUGH SUPERNATURAL, IT 18 NOT UNREASONABLE, 1. It is supernatural. Old age is not the natural sea~on for fruit. In the tree we do not look for it. The palm tree is a rare exception. Nor in men. The outwa.rd man pP-rishes. Decay of nature sets in. (See for beautiful description of old age, Eccles. xii. 1-7.) The mental facul- ties and force become feeble. The courage and fearlessness of former days lapse into the caution and timidity of old age. Only of God's people can it be said- " Time, that doth all things else decay, Still makes them flourish strong and fair." 2. But though fruit in old age be supernatural, it may be reasonably looked for. From tbe nature of religion, the Divine life in the soul must grow, if it lives at all. Where there is spiritual life there must be growth, From the force of holy habit, which en&bles the righteous to be righteous still, and the holy to be holy still. From the subsidence of the bodily passions, and so the absence of strong tempt~tion, and from the special aid of the Spirit of God according to his sure promise, PS, XOII, 1-16.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 289