_Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble._ THE PSALMIST’S AFFLICTION The central mass of this psalm describes the singer as suffering from two evils: sickness and treacherous friends. This situation naturally leads up to the prayer and confidence of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness._ SICKNESS No one who has not felt the pains of sickness can fully appreciate the blessing of health. The lassitude and sufferings of sickness are hard to bear; and yet it is a wholesome disciplin... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said, Lord be merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee._ AN EXCELLENT PRAYER I. He confesses that he is a sinner. The law brings the conviction of sin, but the greatest sin of all is unbelief. II. He counts sin the disease of the soul--“heal my soul.” Sin affects the soul a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it._ AN UNSYMPATHETIC VISITOR The picture drawn by the poet is a very common one. He has unfortunately sent for a man who does not understand his ease. The man is full of words; h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me._ THE EVIL OF CHRIST’S FRIENDS LIFTING UP THEIR HEEL AGAINST HIM The psalmist doth in the text show the cope-stone laid on the maltreatment with which he met in the world by his particula... [ Continue Reading ]
_By this I know that Thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me._ PRESENT FAVOUR AND BOUNDLESS HOPE The last words of the psalm are sunny with the assurance of present favour and with boundless hope. The man is still lying on his sick-bed, ringed by whispering foes. There is no... [ Continue Reading ]