The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 299

word. H Leo.ches tho.t the seed of joy is: (1) Scattered abroad. And BO it is for G,,d's people; they find it everywhere, and often in mo8t unlikely places. As Paul and Sila1 in their dungeon at Philippi. (2) For a time out of sight. 'fhe seed, when sowo, is Bo. See this in our coal-beds. Light is sown there, Let there be the application of a dne a.mount of heat, o.nd the light will flash forth that was sown by the sun Ion" a"eB a"o. And in like manner, lho grace of God has stored up joy and gladness in pl~ce; wh;re you would never have looked for them. Light is sown in them, and, though now out of sight, will in due time break forth (Ps. ex.xvi. 5). Then (3) certainly not lost. Sometimes it seems as if our light had gone from us for ever. But it is not so; the losses, bereavements, trials of all kinds which darkened our life, they are but the furrows of the field into which the seed has been cast, and by which it is for the time buried, But as the farmer does not count bis seed sown as seed lost, but quito otherwise, so should our thought be. (4) But is in the care and ,keeping of God. (5) Will come back multiplied. (6) Aud glori6ed (cf. 1 Cor. xv. 42-44). We are wont to speak of "God's acre," the old and beautiful name for our churchyards, and they are full of sown light. Ilut all our life is a field thus sown. And there are maoy harvests, the resurrection morn chief of them all. Yet other fields are the Holy Scriptures, God's providence, the Holy Spirit's work. Light is sown for the righteous in all these. But the question will arise- n. Is IT ALL TRUE? And we reply : 1. The order of nature seems to affirm it. How often has the righteous career been trampled upon and apparently destroyed, but it has sprung up again! 2. The Scriptures assert it unhesitatingly, and furnish per- petual proof, that the light of the righteous is never lost, but only sown preparatory to a blessed harvest. 3. And our heart's deepest convictions confirm it. ",Ve could not live without this faith. III. WHAT THEN? 1. The instincts of our nature are not mocked. We were made for the light, for blessedness, and the righteous shall realize it. 2. What a terri'ble thing that any should be self-excluded-as the ungodly are-from the number of those for whom this word is spoken! 3. Be patient when some of your light is taken from you. It is wanted for seed. 4. Yield your heart, to Ghrist, that by his blessed Spirit he may make them righteous. 5. Look on to the harvest.-S. C. Ver. 11.-The seed of light. (Another outline.) The text leads us to consider- I. WHENCE WHAT LIGHT OF GLADNESS AND JOY WE HAVE HAS COME. The seed was sown : 1. .At the Creation. 2. In God's plan of providence. 3. In the gift of Ohrist. 4. In the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the Scriptures, and in our own soul. II. WHERE WRAT OF LIGHT WE HAVE LOST IB GONE. 1. Into God's keeping. 2. .As seed. 3. For increase and glory. III. WHITHER WE MUST LOOK FOR WHAT WE WOULD HAVE COME BACK. 1. In the way of submission to God's will. (1 Pet. v. 6.) 2. To the Holy Spirit's work in our souls. 3. To the unfolding of God's providence. 4. In the endeavour to help ana comfort othei·s. 5, To the .resurrection morn, and the heavenly home.-S. C. Ver. 12.-Giving thanks/or God's holiness. The psalm tells of the Lord coming in majesty and righteousness to judge the world. And here a.t the end of the psalm the writer remembers this judgment and the holiness which characterized it, and bids a.11 righteous men rejoice. I. WE ARE COMMANDED TO Do THIS-to" give thanks a.t the remembrance of his holiness." 1. "His holiness." It means not a.lone his righteous deeds, but yet more bis righteous character; not alone for what he does, but for what he is in himself. He cannot be tempted of evil, cannot be moved away from perfect righteousness. God is holy in all his ways. 2. We are to give thanks for this. We are ready to give thanks for God's providential lllve and for hi8 redeeming grace; but for his holiness we commonly ,::herish reverence BJad awe rather than joyful praise. TLis is wrong, and we are bidden here rejoice and give thanks. 3. A.id this whenever we remember his holiness. We do so in retrospect, looking back upon the righteous acts of the Lord. And we do so in prospect, anticipating the time when his will shall be done on earth as in heaven. We are to stay ourselves on the faith that he cometh to judge the earth, and that he shall judge the people righteously.  336 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PI!, XCVII, 1-12,