The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 345

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-5.-God's goodness t? ourselves. The psalmist begins by addressina himself• he has before him his own personal experience during 11, long (or lengthening)°life, and he finds ample reason for full, heartfelt gratitude. Of the" benefits" he has rec~ived he gil'es- ' , I. A RECITAL OF THEJII. They include: 1. The Divine mercy when be bas sinned ~ver. 3). These sins have been (1) very many; (2) of various kinds, including not only sm11ller and greater wrong-doings, bnt the long catalogue of omissions-of submis- si(>n and senice unrendered; (3) they may have been aggravated and of a deep dye; (4) they mny have been committed in all the many relationships and through all the successive stages of human life. 2. Divine restoration. (Vers. 3, latter part and 4.) And this is inclusive of (1) restoration from daily weariness and exhaustion; (2)' recovery from ~he_ less serious ailments and evils to which every one is suhject; probably (3) bringing back from the grave when dangerous illness has brought ~ow. 3. All the loving-kindnesses which me.ke life beautiful and glad (ver, 4). The excellency of human love, the comforts of home life, the sacred joy of worship. 4. The continuance of Divine protection and replenishment to later life (ver. 5). God had satisfied hie prime (marginal reading, Revised Version) with good things- had so visited and renewed him in his manhood. that now, instead of a growing feebleness, he felt the vigour e.nd hopefulness of youth; perhaps he was far enough on the way to be said to be "still bringing forth fruit in old age." He calls on himself to cherish- II. A BEMEMBBANCE OF THEM. "Forget not,". etc. (ver. 2). Antecedently that seems impossible; certainly in the case of e.ny one claiming to be devout. Yet it is quite possible for us to be (1) so sensible of our own agency in securing onr 6omforts as to lose sight of the Divine action, and so to overlook them; or to be (2) so occupied. with present cares and pleasures, or with future claims, that we me.y bo regardless of them (~ee Deut. vi. 12; viii. 11-18). What the wise and good man will desire for himself is that he will constantly carry with him a deep sense of God's e.bo1J.ndi~ goodness to him through all his course. This will lead to- IIL FuLL-vorcEo AND FULL-HEARTED UTTEBANOE OF PBAIBE, (Vere, 1, 2.) God's praise is not to be rendered by an occasional and formal " returning of thanks" either at the table or in the church. It is to be a daily offering, and one the.t comes from the heart as well as from the lips. "All the.t is within us," the whole range of our faculties, is to combine to speak and to sing his praise. Gratitude to God for his a.biding and abounding goodness to us, both as citizens of this world and as his children, should be a very leadmg and powerful factor in our soul, making our character beautiful with spiritual worth, and our life resonant with holy song. Vers. 6--18.-.The confidence of God's chilr:lren. These strong, sustaining words call us to consider- I. To WHOM THE DIVINE ASSURANCES ABE GIVEN. It is clear that they are given to the servants of God. The thought runs through the whole passage (see vere. 11, 13, 18). Where this is not explicitly stated, it is to be understood (see particularly ver.12). Those me.y not claim the fulfilment of promises to whom they were not made. First enter the service of Christ, and then look '.!? ior e.11 the blessings assured to those who believe in him. IL THERE DIVINE ASSUDANOEB THEMSELVES. 1. The overthrow of evil, e.nd the consequent deliverance of the good (ver. 6). God "executes righteousness and judg- ment" in two ways-sometimes by a Divine intervention, when he overturns the designs of the wicked, and at the same time redeems hie people (e.g. the Jews from Pharaoh and from Haman and from 8anballat); more often by the constant outworking of those righteous laws which are always acting on behalf of rectitude against iniquity (see Ps. xxxiv. 15, 16). 2. Divine patience. (Ver. 2.) God is "slow to anger." It was said of e. noble modern ruler that, under great provocation, he was "slow to smite, and swift to spare." Of how many might the opposite be said? Our God is "slow to anger." His displeasure is awakened, bis condemnation uttered, only when it would be unrighteo\l.8nees to remain unmoved and silent. 3. Divine mercy. (Vere. 10-12.) P9, OIII, 1-22.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 385