Ver. 18.-77ze blesseanes., of covenant-keepers. Prayer-book Version, "Even upon such as keep his covenant." A distinctly Israelite point of view. If this be regarded as o. psalm of the returned Exiles, the reference is a striking one. J ndgment had fallen upon the nation because it had forsaken the national covenant. The restoration was a resuming of the old covenant-relations. And therefore the supreme anxiety of the Exiles would concern "keeping this new, this restored covenant." It may be observed thaL the Lor<l's gracious dealings are always to be thought of as strictly conditional. "The blessings of the covenant are no inalienable right. Children's children can only inherit its blessings by cleaving to it." I. COVENANT-KEEPERS REMEMBER THEIR PLEDGE. It may have been taken by themselves. It may have been taken in their names by their fathers. It may be freshly taken after a time of lapse. It is a ground of obligation. It is a source of inspiration. It ~hould be kept ever in mind. Illustrate by the oath of loyalty taken by the servants of a king; or by the pled~e taken in marriage; or by covenants entered into by those who unite in a common undertaking. See the value of special seasons- sacramental seasons-when covouant-pledges are forcibly brought to mind. There is o. new covenant in Christ Jesm. It is to that covenant we are pledged; and that covenant we do well to keep in mind. (Somo useful covenant-remioders may be indicated.) n. CovENANT-KEEPEilS AIM AT OBEDIENCE. Sentiment, however good, cannot &uffice them. Feelings, as mere feelings, cannot honour God. True covenant-keepers try to "remember God's commandments," his requirements under the covenant, with the distinct and full intention to do them, and not merely know what they a.re, or 396 TBE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. 0111. 1-22.
feel that they are wise and good. The Lord Jesus searchingly said, 11 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye ilo them I " REVIEW. 1. Set forth what the Lord's covenant waa for Israel, and is for us. 2. Point out bow the responsibilities of the covenant may be kept ever before our minds and hearts. 3. Impress that the only acceptable keeping of the covcnaut ls the con- ~tant, loving, hearty obedience of all its requiremcnts.-R. T.
Vers.1-5.-Gratitude forunbo'lllltded mercies. I. TnE SOUL URGENTLY SUMMONED TO PRAISE Gon FOR HIS GOODNESS. Inward pl aise, not the praise of the lips is here called for-spiritual, not bodily worship. ' II. TBE WHOLE INWARD MAN IS TO REOOIJNT TO ITSELF THE MED0IES OF GOD. 1. Every power he has--memory, heart, and reason-is to assist in recognizing the Divine benefits he bas received. 2. Our temptation and danger are to forget. And we are to resist and conquer forgetfulness and ingratitude. Especially apt to forget the mercies: l. That we receive in common with others. 2. The mercies that are uninterrupted by constraint. 3. Mercies of a spiritual nature. III. A THANKFUL SURVEY OF TB~ FATHERLY MERCIES OF GoD. "The poet calls upon his soul to arise to praiseful gratitude for God's justifying, redeeming, and renew- ing grace." 1. The forgiveness of all his sins. 2. Recovery from bodily sickness and infirmity. Sin, the sickness of the soul; disease, the sickness of the body ; and God is the Physician of both. 3. Deliveran~ from threatened death. The pit-a name of Hades-the abode of the departed. 4. Loving-kindness and tender mercies make him rich and royal. Like a king, they crown him. 5. No real want of the soul is left unsatisfied. "Shall not want any good thing;" "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." 6. His strength is thus constantly renewed. ([sa. xl. 31.) "They that wait upon the Lord," etc.-S. Ver. 13.-Thepity of the Lord. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." In the Old Testament revelation of God there are bursts and flashes of light in startling contrast to the ordinary conceptions of him under that dispensation. There are grand conceptions of his power, omniscience, wisdom, and providence prevailing; but sometimes there are the tenderer conceptions of his good- ness and mercy, as in the Psalms and prophets. L THE REASONS OF GoD's PITY. Pity is sympathy for persons on account of weak- ness, suffering, or calamity. God feels pity for us: 1. On account of our weakness. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." We are poor and insig- nificant compared with the spiritual and mighty angels. We are allied to the dust in one important part of our nature. And we are but children in the germ and infancy of our being. How weak we are in the body to contend against the mighty forces of nature, to encounter accirlent, to endure suffering! How weak in mind I how ignorant I bow feeble in the power of our conviction~ ! how poor in the power of our will I 2. He pities us for our sins and mi~tal,es. In bow many ways do we go wrong, not of set purpose, but unwittingly; or from the force of education and outward circumstances I We sin through ignoran~. And we sin with knowledge. And God pities the sinner while he pua.isbes. If he did not pity, he would not punish. Punishment is love seeking to recover the sinful child. God's anger is nothing but love chastising. 3. He pities us in 01111' sufferings. He would not be a Father if he did not. Some of our sufferings·are sent by him-such as we could not avoid. _"But he dot_h not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men." Many of our suffermgs are self-incurred-such as we might have avoided. But he, nevertheless, pities us then. II. THE NATURE OF Gon's PITY. That of a father. 1. .A father's pify is helpful. A neighbour's pity or a friend's is not always helpful; they aro either unwilling or unable to relieve and help us. But a father will do all in his power to help his child. And has not God helped us in our low estate by coming to us in the Person of his Son ? He bas not sat and looked on and done nothing. 2. It is bount-iful. Infinite in di..Bposition to help, and in resources for our relief. "Exceeding abundantly." God said to the Jews, "What more could I have done for my vineyard?" And surely, in view of the gospel, he might say the s3m~ to us. O □ ly one thing to limit his help- his help is to enable us to help ourselves. What we can do for ourselves that he PS, OIV, 1-36.] THE BOOK OB' PSALMS. 307
leaves to us. His aim is to make us strong and great. 3. His pity is enduring. Hum11n pity is soon exhausted, "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlastin~ to everlasting." It has borne with ee,ch of us very long, and will continue to the end.-S.