_Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous._ THE SPIRIT OF REJOICING: LIFE ADJUSTED TO THE WILL OF GOD “Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.” It is the vital condition of all spiritual rejoicing that we are right with God. Our life must be adjusted to His will, and the adjustment must be made on every si... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings._ A HARP OF TEN STRINGS Most of us, if we praise the Lord at all, play upon one string, or two, or three, when we ought to take a harp full chorded and with glad fingers sweep all the strings. Instead of being grateful for here and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord._ THANKSGIVING DAY I. His goodness to the irrational creation. Although nature is out of joint, yet even in its disruption I am surprised to find the almost universal happiness of the animal creation. On a summer day, when the air and the grass are mos... [ Continue Reading ]
_By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth._ THE BIBLICAL CONCEPTION OF NATURE For this, see the first chapter of Genesis. There are two opposite extremes into which our conceptions may fall. 1. We may immerse God in Nature, if we treat Nat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let all the earth fear the Lord._ THE NATURE AND INFLUENCE OF THE FEAR OF GOD I. what is the proper awe and fear which is due from man to God? Distinguish between a servile or superstitious, and a filial or religious fear. The former we are to avoid as a dishonour to God; the latter we are oblige... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought; He maketh the devices of the people of none effect._ PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCES FROM SLAVERY This psalm is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving upon the subject of God’s works of creation and providence; and the author seems in his enumeration... [ Continue Reading ]
_The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever._ THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD’S COUNSELS Let us make some remarks. I. upon the divine counsels generally. There are such, and they show-- 1. That God concerns Himself with our world. 2. They are of deliberation and wise purpose. Of the works of God in the m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord._ NATIONAL UPLIFTING This text holds in its grasp the secret of our own national prosperity and superiority among the nations of the world--if we have such--and its teaching, if departed from by this nation, will cause our present glory to depart like t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He fashioneth their hearts alike._ THE MORAL IDENTITY OF HUMAN HEARTS “He fashioneth their hearts alike.” All have certain instincts, passions, emotions with which conventional differences have nothing to do. “One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin.” I. God hath fashioned our hearts alike... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold! the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy._ THE EYE OF THE LORD “Behold!” It is a marked word in Scripture! Isaiah typifying the Christ that was to come, opens the glorious secret thus--“Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield._ WAITING FOR THE LORD I. the subject of the exercise--“our soul.” Not our souls, but “our soul.” Believers are said to be “of one soul.” Drops of water brought into contact will run into one. So with the souls of God’s people. II. the... [ Continue Reading ]