_Lord, I cry unto Thee._ AN INVOCATION FOR THE TRULY DESIRABLE IN HUMAN LIFE: - I. Divine attention to human aspirations (verses 1, 2). 1. For immediate attention. 2. For favourable attention. II. A complete guardianship from wrong in life (verses 3, 4). 1. He prays against Wrong in words. Who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my prayer be. .. as incense._ THE INCENSE OF PRAYER Throughout the Old Testament you find side by side these two trends of thought--a scrupulous carefulness for the observance of all the requirements of ritual worship, and a clear-eyed recognition that it was all external and symbolical and p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips._ THE REGULATION OF THE TONGUE I. Importance of the subject. The use of speech is seldom considered morally. Unless on some very particular occasions, people imagine that it is perfectly optional with them what they speak and how they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the righteous. .. reprove me._ THE REPROOF OF THE RIGHTEOUS I. The character of one who is qualified to give reproof. 1. One whose life is habitually consistent with his profession. 2. One who is influenced by proper motives. (1) Aversion to sin. (2) Love to those whom he reproves. (3) C... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth._ THE SCATTERED BONES AND THE UPLIFTED LOOK The text presents in a very vivid way an aspect of death most familiar, but most striking, and it also expresses the thoughts and the earnest prayer that rise in a soul at such a sight. You have walked in an o... [ Continue Reading ]