HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-8.-Four features of true piety. The psalmist bas before him the fashion- ing of his future life; he records his purpose of heart as he cherishes it before God. Applying bis words, not to his own royal estate with its peculiar obligations, but to the ordinary conditions of human life, we have four features of all genuine piety. I. A FULL, INTELLIGENT GllATITUDE. '' I will sing of mercy and of judgment [righteousness]" (ver. 1). We are to cultivate and express(" I will sin.g ") thankfulness for all that God does for us-for his mercy and for bis judgment. 1. For every kind of mercy; for all forms of kindness and benefaction-creation, preservation, provision; for forgiveness and reception into his kingdom; for long-continued patience with us through the years of an immature and imperfect Christian life; tor the promised inheritance he offers us, which is immeasurably beyond onr desert. 2. For all his ways of righteousness; for the justice he has done to us in bringing our integrity into the light, and establishing us in the confidence and favour of our brethren; in honour- ing our industry and fidelity; also for the righteousness he bas shown in overturning the designs, or in bumbling the pretences, or in overthrowing the institutions, of the guilty; and even for his righteousness as shown in his chastening of ourselves, purging us of our folly and error and impurity. Perhaps at first we can go no further than silently submit to this last form of Divine judgment; but" afterwards," when "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" has been gathered (Heh. xii. 11), we can open our lips and "sing." II. A DEVOUT SENSE OF DEPENDENCE ON GoD. "Oh when wilt thou come unto me?., (ver. 2). It is significant that the psalmist interjects this petition between two utterances of bis purpose. It is as if he said, "I will do the thing that is right and wise; but I know I cannot accomplish anything without thy helpful, thine effectuat- ing power." He felt as Moses did when he said," If thy presence go not with us," etc. (Exod. xx.xiii. 15). It is a deep sense of our dependence which is the essence of our devotion. If we have not this, prayer is an act of mere formal obedience; if we have it in our heart, prayer is the certain, spiritual, and acceptable outcome. In the prospect of the future, in the conduct of our life, in the prosecution of all Christian work, it is essential that we hold fast, and that we appropriately express, this con- sciousness of our need of the presence and the power of God. IIL A FIXED PURPOSE OF INTEGRITY. It is vain indeed to ~ing and pray, if we do not intend to depart from all iniquity (see Ps. lxvi.18). But if the purpose uf our heart is toward God and righteousness, we may be sure that the faintest cry is beard. The psalmist here resolves to act uprightly; he will walk within his house with a perfect heart-he will "show piety at home;" he will discharge his kingly duties with all conscientiousness; be will uphold and honour the faithful (see ver. 6); he will remove the wicked from place and power (see vers. 4, 5, 7, 8); he will spa.re no one, he will spare nothing, that he may build up "the city of the Lord" (ver. 8). True piety will manifest itself in these three directions: 1. It will be seen at home, in all purity, guardianship on the one hand or obedience on the other, kindness, patience, uosc\tistl- ness, forgiveness. 2. It will be exercised in the daily occupotion, and show itself in fidelity, honesty, truthfulness, thoroughness, equity, considerateness. 3. It will shin~, with clear and steady light, in the sanctuary, revealing itself in constancy of worship, activity in service, heartiness in co-operation. lV. SACRED 81!:LF-REBPB0T. The psalmist was resolved that nothing wicked should 862 THE IlOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. 01, 1-8.
:: cleave to him;" _he ":?uld not have it "_before _his eyes" (ver. 3); he would destro:, all. the wicked (ver. 8)1 so that ~either_ his own preseuce nor his country Bhould 1:'e d1~hon_oured or ~ontam1nated. Piety will have a supreme concern for its mm purity; 1t will guard its heart most carefully against every one and everything !hat would hurt or would defile; it will extirpate the thoughts which stain the soul• it will burn the books which pollute the mind; it will not allow anything which i~ unholy and unworthy of a Christian disciple to enter the sanctuary of the soul; it will know_how_ to,,be merciless to the ilesb, that it may be true to the spirit (Matt. v. 29, 30); it will keep the heart beyond all keepiug," knowing that" out of it are the i.sues of life."