The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 347

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. . Y~rs._1-5.-A pattern of :praise. T~is psalm is all praise; there is no supplica- tion 111 1t. It bas helped myriads to praise God, and the secret of such help is that the psalmist was himself filled with the spirit of praise, and it is the blessed contagion of that :,pirit that helps us to-day as in the days of old. And it is a pattern of all true praise. It is so in these ways. I. IN ITS OBJECT. 1. It is pra.i.se of the Lord. All is addressed to him, and is for • him. 2. ..tlnd in his holiness. "Bless bis holy Name." What a happy fact this reveals as to the psalmist and all who sincerely adopt his words I We can bless God for his beneficence and mercy aud goodness, but only a holy soul can bless him for his holiness. Snch soul delights not merely in the kind acts of God, but in the pure and perfect character of God. II. ITS METHODS. It shows us how we should praise the Lord. 1. Personally. "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul ! " It is not a work to be banded over to any choir or any people wbatsoeTer. It is to be our own personal work. 2. Spiritual. It is to be the soul's work. Poetic speech, eloquent phrase, beautiful music, skilled song,-nll count for nothing if the soul be not in the work, 3. Whole-hearted. " All that is within me." lntellect, memory, imagination, affection, will, all the energies of our spiritual nature, should be engaged. 4. With set purpose. See bow he c~ls on himself, stirs himself up to this holy work, repeats bis exhortation and protests against that one chief cause--forgetfulness-of our failure to render praise. "Forget not any of hie benefits." This is bow we should praise the Lord. III. ITs REASON. He tells wherefore we should bless the Lord. 1. For forgiveness. This our first .:iecessity; all else avails not without that (cf. Mark ii. 5). 2. For the healing of the soul. It would be but a poor salvation if soul-healing did not follow forgiveness, for without the latter we should soon be back to our sins again (2 Pet. ii, 22). Therefore we need this healing of the soul. And it is promised (see Ezek. xxxvL 25). 3. For penalty in this life averted. He "redeemeth thy life from destruction." God does not redeem our life from all the consequences of our sin (Ps. xci.x. 8), but from the worst he does. The forgiven man may have to suffer much iu consequence of bis past sins, but it is as nothing compared with what be would have bad to suffer had. be not been forgiven. The comfort of God's Spirit, power to witness for Christ, victory over sin, hope bright hope of life eternal,-all these are his; his life is redeemed from destruction. 4. For, next, God cro1JJ11eth with loving-kindness. See a.11 this illU5trated in the story of the prodigal son-forgiven, healed, redeemed, crowned, the ring, the robe, the shoes, the feast, were for him; and what answers to them yet is the crowning told of here. 5. For satisfaction with good. This also awaits us: would we but trust God more, we should know it for ourselves. '!'hey who walk with God, abide in Christ, know what it is. Let us not rest until we know it for ourselves. 6. For youth of soul renewed. (See homily on this subject.) The outward man may, will, decay, Lut tbe inward man shall be renewed day by day. IV. Irs RESULTS. What a history it would be if we could only trace out what this psalm has doue for God's saints iu all ages! What spiritual victories it has won I what strength it !,as imparted! what holy joy I Christian, sing this psalm more heartily, so that many poor los:t ones, hearing its sweet evangel, may turn and with you bless tho Lord.-S. C. • PB, OIII, 1-22.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 887