_O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: because His mercy endureth for ever._ THE PERPETUITY OF DIVINE MERCY This is a subject for-- I. Joyous gratitude. “O give thanks,”_ etc._ Why should the perpetuity of Divine mercy inspire such fervent gratitude? 1. Because all men that now live requi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord. .. set me in a large place._ GOD THE DELIVERER AND DEFENDER OF HIS PEOPLE I. The deliverer (verse 5). 1. The deliverance seems to have consisted in raising him from a circumscribed to an expansive position. 2. The Almighty is constantly delivering men in this way, lifting them from th... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man._ CONFIDENCE IN. GOD I. As justified by experience. “It is better,” says Matthew Henry, “more wise, more comfortable, and more safe, there is more reason for it, and it will speed better, to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence... [ Continue Reading ]
_They compassed me about like bees._ LIKE BEES I know the bees can compass one about right well; but, as a rule, they compass about those who threaten to attack their home and to take away their little treasure. Let us think about a few things connected with the bee’s life. 1. Bees build their ow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall: but the Lord helped me._ CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE Christian experience is the richest product of grace, and it ought to be laid at the feet of the Well-beloved from whom it comes, and to whom it belongs. What God hath done for one of His people is an in... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation._ GOD AND MAN I. How God should be realized by every man. What should He be to every many 1. He should be his strength. All the strength we have, physical, intellectual, and moral is from God; nay, more, is God’s. Conscious dependence... [ Continue Reading ]
_The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous._ THE JOY OF HOLY HOUSEHOLDS A believer in Christ is not long without finding joy. He is in the land which floweth with milk and honey, and he will get a sip of sweetness very soon. Like Nicodemus, he comes to Jesus in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly._ MIGHTY TO SAVE I. The triumphs of the Lord Jesus. He did not come as a man of war, for He is the prince of peace; He came not here with shield and buckler, but He came with a body fitted to suffer, and with a hear... [ Continue Reading ]
_I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord._ THE POWER OF RECOVERY This buoyant and hopeful language is obviously in place on Easter Day. The psalm which contains it was sung for the first time either at laying the foundation-stone of the new temple, or at its dedication: and it... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord hath chastened me sore: but He hath not given me over unto death._ THE AFFLICTIONS OF GOD’S PEOPLE I. The condition. 1. The Author of it. Affliction comes not out of the dust; God is the Inflicter of all evils and crosses upon us. (1) Look up to the Lord in every affliction and labour... [ Continue Reading ]
_Open to me the gates, of righteousness._ THE REALM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS I. A felt obstruction to it. Open to me the gates of righteousness. ‘The gates of righteousness are closed to us--closed not by God, but closed by ourselves--closed by ignorance, prejudice, sensuality, worldliness, unbelief, prid... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will praise Thee for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation._ A BLESSED CONSCIOUSNESS, A MARVELLOUS PROVIDENCE, A JOYOUS DAY I. A blessed consciousness (verse 21). 1. A grateful assurance of answered prayer. “Thou hast heard me.” To know that God has heard me is, of all knowledge, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner._ CHRIST, THE HEAD STONE OF THE CORNER The ode seems to have been sung in a solemn procession to the temple; and by the Levitical band in responsive chorus. The stone, styled the “head of the corner,” was not placed on the... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes._ THE LORD’S DOING The following appear to me to be evident marks, or strong indications of an immediate work of Divine Providence. 1. When great and notable events are brought about by causes apparently inadequate to produce them,--by means... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it._ THE DAY OF DAYS The day of days in the life of Christ was the day of His resurrection; and to the early Christians Easter Day was the queen of festivals. Easter should provoke a joy in Christian hearts, greater than any... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity._ THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH I. The voice of the Church in relation to all. Here is the voice of prayer (verse 25). 1. It is a prayer for immediate salvation. “Save now, we beseech Thee, O Lord.” The great want of mankind... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord._ CHRIST RECEIVED WITH GREAT JOY The words are an acclamation of the people, declaring and setting forth the welcome of Christ to all believing souls; their joy and rejoicing conceived upon the coming of Christ among them; their gratulation and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_God is the Lord, which hath showed us light._ THE LIGHT FROM GOD I propose to consider how the words of my text may be used in an improper manner, and how, as I think, we may use them aright. 1. If in saying “God is the Lord who hath showed us light” we imply that we in any way have authority to... [ Continue Reading ]