Those things which the Spirit of God enables a man to do, are in Scripture sometimes called sacrifices . "That we may offer, "we read, "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ." The apostle speaks of "receiving of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from the brethren at Philippi; an odour of a sweet smell; a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God." Php 4:18. So he says to the Hebrew church: "But to do good and to communicate (that is, to the wants of God's people), forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Heb 13:16. Well, then, these spiritual sacrifices which a man offers unto God are bound also to the horns of the altar. They are not well pleasing in the sight of God, except they are bound to the horns of the altar, so as to derive all their acceptance from the altar. Our prayers are only acceptable to God as they are offered through the cross of Jesus. Our praises and thanksgivings are only acceptable to God as they are connected with the cross of Christ, and ascend to the Father through the propitiation of his dear Son. The ordinances of God's house are only acceptable to God as spiritual sacrifices, when they are bound to the horns of the altar. Both the ordinances of the New Testament—baptism and the Lord's supper—have been bound by the hands of God himself to the horns of the altar; and no one either rightly went through the one, or rightly received the other, who had not been first spiritually bound by the same hand to the horns of the altar. Every act of liberality, every cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, every feeling of sympathy and affection, every kind word, every compassionate action, shown to a brother; all and each are only acceptable to God as they ascend to him through the mediation of his dear Son. And, therefore, every sacrifice of our own comfort, or of our own advantage, of our own time, or of our own money, for the profit of God's children, is only a spiritual and acceptable sacrifice so far as it is bound to the horns of the altar, linked on to the cross of Jesus, and deriving all its fragrance and odour from its connection with the incense there offered by the Lord of life and glory. J. C. Philpot.
Verse 27. How comfortable is the light! It is so comfortable that light and comfort are often put for the same thing: God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light, that is, the light of counsel what to do, and the light of comfort in what we do, or after all our sufferings. Light is not only a candle held to us, to do our work by, but it comforts and cheereth us in our work. Ec 11:7. Joseph Caryl.
Verse 27. Shewed us light: bind the sacrifice. Here is somewhat received; somewhat to be returned. God hath blessed us, and we must bless God. His grace, and our gratitude, are the two lines my discourse must run upon. They are met in my text; let them as happily meet in your hearts, and they shall not leave you till they bring you to heaven. Thomas Adams.
Verse 27. Bind the sacrifice with cords, etc. The sacrifice we are to offer to God, in gratitude for redeeming love, is ourselves, not to be slain upon the altar, but "living sacrifices" (Ro 12:1) to be bound to the altar; spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, in which our hearts must be fixed and engaged, as the sacrifice was bound "with cords to the horns of the altar." Matthew Henry.
Verse 27. Bind the sacrifice, etc. It is a saying among the Hebrews, that the beasts that were offered in sacrifice, they were the most struggling beasts of all the rest; such is the nature of us unthankful beasts, when we should love God again, we are readier to run away from him; we must be tied to the altar with cords, to draw from us love or fear. Abraham Wright.
Verse 27. With cords. This word is sometimes used for thick twisted cords , Jud 15:13; sometimes for thick branches of trees, used at some feasts, Eze 19:11 Le 23:40. Hereupon this sentence may two ways be read; bind the feast with thick branches , or, bind the sacrifice with cords ;both mean one thing, that men should keep the festivity with joy and thanks to God, as Israel did at their solemnities. Henry Ainsworth.
Verse 27. Even unto the horns of the altar. Before these words must be understood, lead it: for the victims were bound to rings fixed in the floor. "The horns" were architectural ornaments, a kind of capitals, made of iron or of brass, somewhat in the form of the curved horns of an animal, projecting from the four angles of the altar. The officiating priest, when he prayed, placed his hands on them, and sometimes sprinkled them with the blood of the sacrifice: compare Ex 30:3 Le 4:7,18. At the end of this verse the word saying must be supplied. Daniel Cresswell.
Verse 27. Unto the horns. That is, all the court over, until you come even to the horns of the altar, intending hereby many sacrifices or boughs. Henry Ainsworth.
Verse 28. God. The original for "God" gives force to this passage: Them art my "El" —The Mighty One; therefore will I praise thee: my "Eloah" —a varied form with substantially the same sense, "and I will extol thee"—lift thee high in glory and honour. Henry Cowles.
Verse 28. This "extolling the Lord" will accomplish one of the great ends of praise, viz., his exaltation. It is true that God both can and will exalt himself, but it is at once the duty and the privilege of his people to exalt him. His name should be borne up and magnified by them; the glory of that name is now, as it were, committed to them: what use are we making of the opportunity and the privilege? Philip Bennet Power.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
Verses 1-4.
1. The subject of songs "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good."
2. The chorus—"His mercy endureth for ever."
3. The choir—"Let Israel now say, "etc.; "Let the house of Aaron, "etc.; "Let them that fear the Lord, "etc.
4. The rehearsal—"Let them now say, "that they may be better prepared for universal praise hereafter.
Verse 5.
1. The season for prayer—"in distress."
2. The answer in season—"The Lord answered me."
3. The answer beyond the request—"And set me, "etc.
Verse 6.
1. When may a man know that God is on his side?
2. What confidence may that man enjoy who is assured of divine aid?
Verse 7.
1. The value of true friends.
2. The greater value of help from above.
Verses 8-9. Better. It is wiser, surer, morally more right, more ennobling, more happy in result.
Verse 10. Take a wide range and consider what has been done, should be done, and may be done "in the name of the Lord."
Verse 12.
1. Faith's innumerable annoyances.
2. Their speedy end.
3. Faith's complete victory.
Verse 13.
1. Our great antagonist.
2. His fierce attacks.
3. His evident object: "that I might fall."
4. His failure: "but the Lord helped me."
Verse 14.
1. Strength under affliction.
2. Song in hope of deliverance.
3. Salvation, or actual escape out of trial.
Verse 15. The joy of Christian households. It is joy in salvation: it is expressed,—"The voice": it abides: "the voice is ":it is joy in the protection and honour given by the Lord's right hand.
Verse 15-16.
1. True joy is peculiar to the righteous.
2. In their tabernacles: in their pilgrimage state.
3. For salvation: rejoicing and salvation go together.
4. From God: "the right hand, "etc.: three right hands; both the salvation and the joy are from the hand of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; the right hand of each doeth valiantly. G. R.
Verse 17.
1. Good men are often in special danger: Joseph in the pit; Moses in the ark of bulrushes; Job on the dunghill; David's narrow escapes from the hand of Saul; Paul let down in a basket; what a fruit basket was that! How much was suspended upon that cord! The salvation of how many!
2. Good men have often a presentiment of their recovery from special danger: "I shall not die, but live."
3. Good men have a special desire for the preservation of their lives: "live and declare the works of the Lord." G. R.
Verses 17, 19, 22. The victory of the risen Saviour and its far reaching consequences:
(1) Death is vanquished;
(2) the gates of righteousness are opened;
(3) the cornerstone of the church is laid.
— Deichert, in Lange's Commentary.
Verse 18.
1. The afflictions of the people of God are chastisements: "The Lord hath chastened me."
2. Those chastisements are often severe: hath chastened me sore.
3. The severity is limited: "it is not unto death." G. R.
Verse 19.
1. Access to God desired.
2. Humbly requested: "Open to me."
3. Boldly accepted: "I will go into them."
4. Gratefully enjoyed: "And praise the Lord."
Verse 22. In these words we may notice the following particulars.
1. The metaphorical view in which the church is here represented, namely, that of a house or building .
2. The character that our Immanuel bears with respect to this building; he is the stone in a way of eminence, without whom there can be no building, no house for God to dwell in among the children of men.
3. The character of the workmen employed in this spiritual structure; they are called builders.
4. A fatal error they are charged with in building the house of God; they refuse the stone of God's choosing; they do not allow him a place in his own house.
5. Notice the place that Christ should and shall have in this building, let the builders do their worst: he is made the head stone of the corner . The words immediately following declare how this is effected, and how the saints are affected with the news of his exaltation, notwithstanding the malice of hell and earth: "This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes." Ebenezer Erskine.
Verses 22-23.
1. The mystery stated. (a) That which is least esteemed by men as a means of salvation is most esteemed by God. (b) That which is most esteemed by God when made known is least esteemed by man.
2. The mystery explained. The way of salvation is the Lord's doing, therefore marvellous in our eyes.— G.R.
Verses 22-25.
1. Christ rejected.
2. Christ exalted.
3. His exaltation is due to God alone.
4. His exaltation commences a new era.
5. His exaltation suggests a new prayer.
—See Spurgeon's Sermon, no. 1,420.
Verse 24.
1. What is spoken of.
(a) The gospel day.
(b) The sabbath day.
2. What is said of it.
(a) It is given by God.
(b) To be joyfully received by man.— G.R.
Verse 25. What is church prosperity? Whence must it come? How can we obtain it?
Verse 25.
1. The object of the prayer.
(a) Salvation from sin.
(b) Prosperity in righteousness.
2. The earnestness of the prayer: "I beseech thee, I beseech thee".
3. The urgency of the prayer, "now—now"—now that the gates of righteousness are open, now that the foundation stone is laid, now that the gospel day has come—now, Lord! now!— G.R.
Verse 27. Bind the sacrifice, etc. Devotion is the mother, and she hath four daughters.
1. Constancy: "Bind the sacrifice."
2. Fervency: Bind it "with cords."
3. Wisdom: Bind it "to the altar."
4. Confidence: Even to the "horns" of the altar.
— Thomas Adams.
Verse 27. Bind the sacrifice with cords, etc.
1. What is the sacrifice? Our whole selves, every talent, all our time, property, position, mind, heart, temper, life to the last.
2. Why does it need binding? It is naturally restive. Long delay, temptations, wealth, rank, discouragement, scepticism, all tend to drive it from the altar.
3. To what is it bound? To the doctrine of atonement. To Jesus and his work. To Jesus and out work.
4. What are the cords? Our own vows. The need of souls. Our joy in the work. The great reward. The love of Christ working upon us by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 28.
1. The gladdest fact in all the world: "Thou art my God."
2. The fittest spirit in which to enjoy it: "Praise thee"
Verse 28.
1. The effect of Christ being sacrificed for us: "Thou art my God."
2. The effect of our being offered as an acceptable sacrifice to him: "I will praise thee, I will exalt thee." Or,
(a) The covenant blessing: "Thou art my God."
(b) The covenant obligation: "I will praise thee."— G.R.
Verse 29.
1. The beginning and the end of salvation is mercy.
2. The beginning and end of its requirements is thanksgiving.— G.R.
WORK UPON THE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH PSALM
In "The Works of John Boys," 1626, folio, pp. 861-870, there is an exposition of this psalm.