Ver. 5.-Thegoodnessof God. The word" good" is used as the one supremely suitable for God. But we are not left to our own guidance to find out what is included in the term. We are told that God's goodness is made up of two things: (1) his mercy; (2) his truth. "Goodness is a very comprehensive quality. It is love, kindness, benevolence, that which leads you to wish well and to do good to those around you; and the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, because it is so full of bis works and ways, which are the fruits and manifestations or his goodness." I. THE GOODNESS OF Goo AS MERCY, He is gracious, kind, pitiful. Mercy is the grace of our dealing with those who are weaker than we are; and with those who have wronged us. It has in it the idea of" dealing otherwise with us than according to our stern deserts." 'l'ake this as chief point, and illustrate from God's gracious ways with his people Israel. Make this provido for a careful reading of our own life-histories, so as to discern the Divine mercies in them. II. 'rHE GOODNESS OF GoD AS TRUTH. Here bis faithful promise-keeping. .And it is noticed that there is this steadfast sameness of God to all generations. He always has been, and he always will be, " the faithful Promiser." "Hatb he said, and shall he not do it?" Deal with this point in the same way. Find proofs of the Divine faithfulness in the story of ancient Israel; and make what is found illustrate the faith- fulness and truth or the Divine dealings with us. For practical applications, show: 1. "The goodness or God ought to be one or the strongest barriers that can be raised up against sin. 2. The goodness of God should 'lead us to repentance.' 3. The goodness of God should lead us to do good to others. 4. The goodness of Gou to us in this world should inspire us with confidence in bis goociness to us in the world to come.'' The goodness of God may be thought of as the infinite fountain; the mercy of God is the ever freshly flowing stream; and the eternal truth and righteousness is the ocean out to which God's mercy flows.-R. 'l'.
Vers. 1-5.-Worship. I. THE 0A.LL TO THE WORSHIP OF GoD. 1. It is to be the worship of ;'oyful song. (Vera. 1, 2.) Not the worship or silent thought, but of glad utterance. True fear and joy not incompatible. 2. It is to be universal worship. (Ver.1.) ".All ye lands," or" .All the earth "-Gentiles as well as Jews. 3. It is to be the worship of thankful gratitude. (Ver. 4.) In remembrance of all the Divine benefits and mercies received. No mention of confession of sin, or petition for hlessing. II. THE GROUNDS OR REASONS OF THE CALL TO WORSHIP. 1. He is the only true God as distv11guished from the gods of the heathen. (Ver. 3.) "Be ye sure that Jehovah be i& God.'' 2. He hathmade us, and therefore we are his property. (Ver. 3.) " It is he that bath made us, and we are his.'' And we cannot yet fully understand what use he is going to make of us. 3. He is our Guide and Sustainer, our Shepherd. (Ver. 3.) "We are bis people, and the sheep of his pasture." We are dear to him as the sheep are to the shepherd. He is the good Shepherd pre-eminently. This is alsr sr:0 THE BOOK OF PSALMS, [ra, or. 1-8.
tbe rre~minent chl\racter of Christ. 4. His goodness and mercy are everlasting, (Ver. 5.) Not only enduring e.nd constant, but vnbounded by e.ny limits. 6. He fa{fils hi:i 11romise,s from generati-On to generation. (Ver, 6.) "His truth" here means his faithfulness-the fulfilment of the word or promise the.t he has spoken.-S.