The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 390

psalm is his patience and long-suffering gentleness with his most trying and wilful people. Ps. cv. treated Israel chiefly as the pnssive recipient of Divine favour. Pa. c,i._ portrays Israel as continually set in opposition to Jehovah; faithful only when Rffi1cterl, Rnd succoured only to Rpostatize again. Eight illustrative instances are given. I. GOODNESS IN THE LIGHT OF MAN'S RELATION TO GoD. In that light goodness is 'rightness; it is accordance with an authoritative standard. A good man is a good creature who is right with his Creator, a good servant who is obedient to his master ~ good son who does the will of his father. This being man's goodness, and man'~ idea of goodness, he tries to transfer it to God, who then becomes the eternally right ~ne. The "Judge of all the earth does right." God is good in the sense of being nght, in the sense of willing that which is right, and in the sense of approving those who do the right. " Righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." II. GooDNESS IN THE LIGHT OF Goo's RELATIONS WITH MAN. In this psalm with man corporate. But the national relations do but illustrate the personal and individual. Here comes in a difficulty. God, the infinitely right One, dealing with creatures who ~,·e:e right in all purpose ~nd endeavour, would_ not need to show the special character- 1st1cs that are gathered mto the word "gracious." God had to deal with a nation that was wayward, wilful, and self-pleasing, with a stiff-necked generation, one that was troublesome as any spoiled child. Goodness in dealing with such a nation must show itself as patience, pitifulness, considerateness, gentleness, or, to sum up in one word, "gmciousness." Illustrate it as (1) goodness that can chastise; (2) that can limit chastisement; (3) that can restore, and givo fresh opportunity; (4) that cannot be wearied out; (5) that gives the fullest influence to all qualifying considerations; (6) that keeps on hoping for the best, and working for it. It may also be shown that the gracious goodness of God makes necessary judgments inflicted on some educational and moral forces for the warning and guiding of all.-R. T. Ver. 7.-The 'roots ef disobedience. It is not sufficient to say that the root of dis- obedience is "wilfulness." Fairly reading human nature, we can find other roots from which it springs. In the history of the people Israel we can see t.hat they did not always sin from sheer wilfulness. Sometimes they had really lost their faith-hold of Jehovah, and sometimes the burdens and trials of the way brought them into condi- tions of despondency; and unbelief and despondenoy became roots of disobedience. It is usual to treat the conduct of the Israelites without giving due consideration to their difficult, perilous, perplexing, and wearisome circumstances. Rightly viewed, it would have been the supreme human marvel if they had not failed in obedience and trust. Think what a mighty host it was, yet how imperfectly organized. Think of the strain of their manifest peril at the Red Sea, and the exceeding toil and weariness of their climb up the wadies to Sinai. Think of the difficulty, in that arid region, of providing food and water for so many creatures. Think kindly of them, and though the sense of their sin is not lightened, considerateness for the sinners is nourished. The disobedience that roots in unbelief, or in despondency, puts men into the pitiful- 'less and mercy of their God. I. DISOBEDIENCE ROOTED IN UN1!ELIEF. Here a distinction is necessary. Here is an unbelief which is wilful, which a man chooses, and for which he seeks reasons, and this is wholly sinful, and needs humbling punishment. And there is an unbelief which is the natural human response to difficult and trying circumstances, which seem to force doubts upon us. All are liable to this kind of unbelief in sharing the trials of human life. But there is a Divine gentleness in the dealing with the disobedience which has its root in this unbelief. IL DISOBEDIENCE BOOTED IN DESPONDENCY. Thie reminds us how differently things affect different dispositions. Some are naturally despondent. They always see the dark sides, are ever ready to give up in despair. And this spirit often leads to failing obedience. Men have not spirit enough to do what they ought. But God "knoweth our frame."-R. T. Ver. 15.-Gratijying sinful wants creates sinful wants. "And he gav~ them their desire: and sent leanness withal into their soul" (Prayer-book Version). These people longed for food of a luxurious character; they asked for it, received what they PB, OVI, 1-48,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 435