Ver. 13.-The coming Judge. Compare the idea of God's coming to judge with the basis-idea. of all this series of psalms, that God was beginning to reign, setting up again his kingdom among his restored people. Here the Judge is put poetically for the King, because deciding cases, magistracy, is the main feature of Ea.stern kingship. .Ahsalom enticed the people from their allegiance to David by a half-veiled promise of considerateness, if not favouritism, in the king's work of judging. The first thing recorded of Solomon is an act of skilful judgment. The association of this passage with a" day of jndgment" is purely a Christian association. God the Judge is simply God the active, present Ruler and King. But we may see the element of judging as punishing, in the verse, if we take the standpoint of the returned exiles; for any intenention of God for the salvation of hie people necessarily involves some judgment on those from whom they are delivered; and so the redeeming King is found to be also a Judge. Juet as the idea of God's" coming to judge" endangered the Rense of his actual presence and actual working as Ruler and Judge, so the idea of Christ's second coming may be so entertained as to spoil the living sense of his actual presence and abiding relations with his people. The idea of a continual appraisement of human action, of a Divine judgrnent, with adequate rewards and punishments, ns always going on, is coming more and more into Christian thonght, and is replacing the older idea of the delegation of everything to a final assize-day. Two things a.re indicated in this verse of the text, as characteristic of God's rule or judgment. I. IT 1s ETERNALLY RIGHT. "With righteousness shall he judge." Find the absolute standard of right, and all God's kingly ways will be found in precise accord- ance with it. II. IT IS ADAPTED TO CIRCUMSTANCES. "With equity shall he judge." Equity is righteousness applied to the individual as placed in particular circumstances.-R. T.
Vers. 1-13.-How and why Jehovah iB to be worshipped. I. WITH A NEW BONO. (Ver. 1.) Praise that shall celebrate the new revelation of hlmself, which he is about to make in·-e. new era of the world. Constantly new revelatic,n. II. BY CELEBRATING THE SAVING WORK WHICH Goo 18 DOlllO IN THE wonLD. (Ver. 2.) His coming to judge the people righteously, and thus to save them. Saving men every day. III. BY PUDLIBHING HIS CHARAOTER AND WORK THROUGH THE WHOLE E.AnTH. (Vere. 1, 3.) This is a strongly missionary psalm: "Among the heathen;" "Among all people," PI!. XCVII. 1-12.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 329
IV. BEOAUBE OF HIS EXCLUSIVE DEITY, (Ver~, 4, 5.) The idol-gods of the nations have no existence; an idol ie nothing. But Jehovah ie faithful and righteous and omnipotent. V. BECAUSE OF THE GLORY OF HIS CREATIVE WORK. (Ver. 5.) "But the Lord made the heavens." VI. BECAUSE OF HTB MANIFESTATIONS OF HIMSELF TO TRUE WORSHIPPERS. (Vers. 6-9.) He reveals his honour and majesty, shows them his beauty and strengtb. VII. HIS RICJHTEOU!l GOVERNMENT SECURES THE ORDER AND STEADFASTNESS OF THE WORLD. (Ver. 10.) Despotic kings and turbulent peoples seem to shake the world and tnnke it insecure-the moral world. VIII. THE TRUE WORSHIPPER FEELS THAT ALL NATURE IS IN SYMPATHY WITH HIS DEVOTION. (Vers. 11, 12.) 'fo him in his highest moods the heavens rejoice, and the earth is glad; the sea thundel'!I forth the praises of God, and the trees of the rorest clap their hands; for all see that God is coming forth to assume the supreme and U11iversal reign,-S,