Vers. 40-46.-Man's mi,sery and Goa's compassion. "The design of the whole psalm is to awaken the people to a lively consciousness of the truth, that though there is much of sin in us, there is much more of grace in God;" that" where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Snggests- I. Goo LOVES ALL HIS CREATURES, BUT HATES TIIEm BINS. (Ver. 40.) That is, he makes us feel sensible that be is for eYer opposed to our evil conduct, and creates in us a terror of the consequences of our sins--the punishment they entail. II. PA.llT OF THE PlJNlSIIMENT OF SIN IS THAT WE ARE GIVEN OVER TO 1TB TYRA1'""KY. (Ver. 41.) Give ourselves over. This is a natural consequence, a Divine law of our constitution, and is a galling and terrible penalty of the habit of transgression. Our passions come thus to rule over us, instead of our ruling over them, Ill. WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO RESIST THIS TYRANNY, WE Fll:ID THAT OUR SLAVERY IS MORE OPPRESSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT. (Ver. 42.) Men often may make some effort to break off from evil ways, but discover that they are under a heavier bondage to their sins than they had supposed. This, too, is a part of the punishment of sin- its enfeebling, debilitating influence. IV. MEN WHOM Goo SEEMS TO HAVE DELIVERED FROM TllEIR SINS, AFTER A TIME RETURN TO THEIR FORMER INIQUITY. (Ver. 4_3.) They are then brought low, or impoverished, or weakened-lower than they were before, because now they begin to lose all hope cf recovery. House "swept and garnished" is prepared for the return of sevenfold powers of evil, thal rule more absolutely than ever. V. SucH HELPLESS lill.BERY EXCITES THE D1vam COMPABE!I0N. (Ver. 44.) "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." God pities tbose whom he cannot save-because of their unwillingness. "How often would I have gathered thee as a hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and ye would net ! " VL Goo DOES NOT REPENT TILL MEN REPENT. (Ver. 45.) God does not change bis laws to relieve the disobedient from suffering; but when they change from dis- obedience to obedience, the result is so great that God seems to them to have changed. To row against the current and to row with the cnJl'ent seems like rowing upon a uifferent river.-8. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
VOLUl\IE II. PSALM LVI. PSALM LXII. 'l'DEJfE PAGE TB'EllE PAGB 'fhe Expression and the Result of A Psalm of Testimony 20 Faith... 2 Waiting ... 21 The Experience of God's l\Iercy a Steadfastness 21 Ground for Hope 3 "Laid in the Balance" 21 Fear and Deliverance 4 Omnipotence 22 Vows 5 Danger and Safety 22 TI.Jc Struggle and Victory of Faith 5 PSALM LXllL PSALM LVIL An Invocation and a Vow 23 One of God's Rescues 7 Soul-thirst 25 " Mercy and Truth " 8 Sublimo Things ... 25 Expectation and Assurance of De- liverance 8 PSALM LXIV PSALM L VIII. "Bitter Words" ... 27 "Man's Inhumanity to Man" 28 Unjust Judges 10 Danger and Faith 2S A Bold Protest against Unrighteous Judges 11 PSALM LXV. PSALl\1 LIX. The Privilege and Duty of P rn.ycr 30 The Lessons of Harvest 32 Waiting upon God 13 Harvest Thanksgiving 32 Defeat and Victory 33 PSALM LX. Thanksgiving for Corn 33 Despondency and its Antidote_ lG Reasons for praising God 34 Assum.nce in Prayer 17 PSALM LXVI. PSALM LXI. Holy FMr o. Reasonable Element of The Power of Prayer in Troublo 18 True Spiritual Worship ... A Cry from the Wilderness lS Prayer hindered by Allowed Sin 37 ii INDEX.
TRJrnl< PA.OR PSALM LXXHI. God in History 87 TR'EM''II
The Best Evidence for Christ 88 Divine Guidance ... Worship ... 89 Strength in Weakness An Invitation to eta<ly Go,l's :llfar- The Grievous Conflict of the Flesh vellous Works towards Men 89 l\nd the Spirit, and the Glodous Vows fulfilled and Experiences re- Conquest of the Spirit 1Lt the Last 76 lated ... 40 Asaph's Trial and Delivere.noe 76 Narrow Escapes ... 77 PSALil LXVII. Mnch Ease, much Peril 77 The Doings of Ungodly Prosperity ... 78 "God be merciful," etc. 41 Supreme Delight in God ... 79 A Song of Salvation 41 The Failing Flesh and the Strengthen- Universal Joy 42 ing God 80 A ll:lis..••ionary Psalm 42 Drawing Near to God, a Gooil Thing 80 The Solution of a Great Problem 81 PSALM LXVIII. Joy in God 47 PSALM LXXIV. "A Plentiful Rnin" 48 God's Cause that of his People 84 The Ark and Christ 49 Hell's Carnival ... 86 Comfort for the Desolate 50 " We see not our Signs " 87 God's Love-gifts to his People 50 Summer Teachings SS The Ascension 51 Winter ... 89 Go<l's Gentleness ... 51 The Destructive Work of Man r1nd the The Entry of God into his Snnctnary Constructive Work of God 90 on Zion 52 PSALM LXXV. PSALM LXIX. The Essence, Certainty, and Precious- The Psn.lmist in Three A.spec1s 56 ness of Divine Revelation 92 Praise 57 The Undaunted One 92 Three Greatest Thing~ 57 The Uplifting God 93 Suffering and Prayer 58 Help laid on One that is Mighty 93 Joyful Hopes and Vows of Thanks- The Uplifted Horn and the Stiff Neck 94 giving for Salvation 58 The Lorcl's Cup for us 94 A Pious Ruler's Purposes and Con- PSALM LXX. fidences 95 59 The Divine Name and Nameg 96 "Help I" Reaeoniage from the Divine Activity 97 God's Set Time for Judgment 97 PSALM LXXL The Self-lifted Horn 98 Strong Confidence 61 Divine Promotions through Divine Godly Old Age ... 63 Providences 98 The Suffering Righteous Man in hie The Dregs for the Wicked... 99 Old Age 63 "The God of Jacob" 99 Persistent Hope and Increasing Praise 6-1 Horns cut off 100 The Righteous Judgmeut of God 101 PSALM LXXII. PSALM LXXVI. Messiah's Reign ... 66 The Glory of Christ's Kingdom 68 The Will of Men and the Will of God IOa Christ on the Throne 68 The Triumphs of God 103 The Effect of the Anger of a perfectly Great beco.use Known 104 RigbtcoUB King 69 The Fear of God... 104 INDEX.
TIIBUR PAGE TffEll'P: PA'",P: "The Wrnth of Man•• 105 The Responsibility of Hearers 11 () Ways of knowing God 105 Teaching by Parable 140 The Loao.Iization of God 105 Our Mission to the Coming Generation HJ: The Returning Conqueror; or, God The Bad Example of Ephraim HI glorified in his Triumph over Evil 106 God's Marvellous Doings 142 The Power of the Lord's Rebuke 107 Heart-tempting of God 143 The Divine Anger 107 God's Call to trust folly H3 With God Judgment is Salvation 108 The Grievous Sin of Insincerity 144 Man's Wrath bringing Prnise to God 108 The Grace of Divine Selections 145 Following up our Vows 109 The Divine Object of Revelation 145 A Psalm of Triumph 109 God's Tender Mercy 145