PSALM CIV. 1-24. GOD THE CREATOR AND PRESERVER.

THIS noble Hymn of Praise and Adoration leads our thoughts to God as the Creator and Preserver of all. We have seen His condescension, stooping to care for and to exalt man: but even that is not all, for there is not a living creature that does not receive its due share of his Divine Providence. From the height of Heaven to the nest of a bird—from Angels down to the conies-all are created and upheld by Him. Heaven and Earth alike are full of his riches,— Note his CREATING and PRESERVING power, as seen,

I. In the HEAVENS AND EARTH,

II. In the ANIMAL CREATION.

III. In the ANGELIC HOST.

IV. In MAN.

I. In the HEAVENS and EARTH are alike displays of Divine power and goodness. The light of heaven (the nearest of all visible things to the nature of a spirit), is a type of God himself, see verse 2, and 1 John i. 5; 1 Tim. vi. 16. As the curtain of a tent or pavilion, verse 3, the heavens are spread out, to shelter the earth from the dazzling brightness of the celestial world, and to shield its inhabitants from harm. The Divine Architect is represented, verse 3, as building the upper por tion of this mighty fabric in the waters that are above the firmament, as He founded the earth upon the seas below the firmament: making his progress through his creation, in a royal chariot formed of the clouds which hide his glory, and causing the winds of heaven to fulfil his will. Thus of old was Sinai shrouded with clouds when He gave the law, Exod. xix. 16; and so was Tabor covered when the Gospel was proclaimed, Matt. xvii. 5. In the earth beneath also, we see the Creator's power, verse 5, in that He sustains it in its appointed course till it shall be dissolved, although He has hung it upon nothing, Job. xxvi. 7, and preserves it from the inroads of the sea, verses 6-9. Although at first covered by the waters, yet were they, by the word of God, Gen. i. 9, dispersed high and low, and kept within appointed bounds. And they are employed by God, in his preserving care, to sustain and refresh the earth and its inhabitants, verse 10.

II. In the ANIMAL CREATION this providence is constantly exercised. The operations of the laws of nature are all-wisely adapted for the convenience and necessity of the creation. The water-springs running among the hills, refresh the thirsty beasts of the field, and fertilize the ground, causing luxuriant foliage to arise to afford shelter to the birds of heaven, and grass to grow for the cattle, verse 10-14. Thus the wild asses of the sandy desert can quench their thirst, and thus the choristers of the air are filled with causes of thankful praise; for God their Creator provides for them, as well as for the defenceless animals, places of shelter and safety, verses 17, 18; while the beasts of prey, under cover of the darkness, are enabled to obtain their food," from God," by the ordering of his providence, verses 21, 22. III. Even THE ANGELIC HOST are employed as God's messengers to this lower world, verse 4; and from the reference to this verse in Heb. i. 7, we see that the highest order of intelligent beings in the world above, is ready to fulfil God's will on earth, and thus to teach a lesson of obedience to the sons of men.

IV. In MAN God has shown the greatest tokens of his power and mercy. For as He created the world for his habitation, and the creatures in it for his use, so all things are ordered for his enjoyment. The fruitful earth is sustained that it may produce corn and wine and oil, for man's use, verses 14, 15. And thus, while we learn to place our humble dependence upon God, we are comforted by the certainty of his support. God constantly provides for our need, and preserves us in life: how do we repay Him for all his goodness?

PSALM CXIX. 1-16.-PRAYERS FOR TEACHING.

THESE portions of Scripture, like all the rest of the Psalm from which they are taken, bring before us the Scriptures of God as "the means of grace," and describe, in varied images, the varied beauties and uses of the Sacred Book. We cannot insist too strongly on the claims of the Bible to the reverent affection and implicit obedience of the believer; it is to them "spirit and life."

But how shall we be able to grasp its deep Truths? Only by DIVINE TEACHING, which we are here led to seek.

Note I. THE DANGERS THAT BESET US.

II. THE TEACHING PROMISED.

III. THE RESULT OF THAT TEACHING.

I. THE DANGERS THAT BESET US are manifold. The Psalmist points to the blessedness of those who are "undefiled," whose ways are "cleansed" from iniquity, verses 1,9; and of those who are guarded in their course so as to avoid sin, verses 3, 11, and prays against covetousness in his desires, and looking on vanity, verses 36, 37, as dangers to the soul to which all are especially liable. How hard it is to keep unspotted from the world, James i. 27, and to keep a conscience void cf offence! And how needful that we should not only avoid temptation in its most obvious attacks, but strengthen ourselves against the more subtle forms in which it diverts us from the narrow way of holiness. The love of the world, of its pleasures, honours and gains, infects the heart more deeply than we are able at first to detect, or afterwards to resist, James iv. 4; 1 John ii. 16.

II. But THE TEACHING PROMISED will keep us safe. "The law of the Lord," verse 1, is the only sure guide; it is a wall on the right hand and on the left, keeping us in the strait and narrow way. It is not only knowledge of the law of God, but love of it, that we must seek :-"the whole heart," verse 2, must be given to it: its precepts must be kept "diligently," so that there may be no halting between two opinions, or a divided service between God and the world, verse 4; and the study of God's judgments, under Divine teaching, is a constant exercise for the devout soul, for it is the test and touchstone by which we may direct every step we take aright, and assure ourselves that we do not wander from the way of holiness, verse 10. Those who are taught of God out of his Word, verse 12, are so full of delight, that they cannot but speak of its sacred truths, and make them the daily subject of their thoughts, verses 13-16. Thus do we gain understanding in that heavenly truth which is not to be comprehended by the natural mind, and being rooted and grounded in the faith, remain fixed and stablished to the end, verse 33-40. But let us always remember that when the Word of God is our lesson, the Spirit of God must be our Master.

III. THE RESULT OF THAT TEACHING is the constant theme of the Psalmist's thanksgiving. They who make the will of God the rule of all their actions are "blessed" and happf, verses 1, 2; and though indeed there will frequently be the sad consciousness of short-comings and of departure from the right way, verse 5, yet the confidence in God which prayer and knowledge of his Word afford, will always comfort and sustain them, verse 8. It produces joys greater than earth can give, verse 14, and therefore the Word of God is never forgotten by his true servants, verses 15, 16, but on the contrary, they are ever "longing," verse 40, after more knowledge, clearer revelation of divine truth, and larger comprehension of the promises both of present grace and future glory, which are contained in it.

None teacheth like God, Job. xxxvi. 22; therefore let us seek His guidance in studying his word, Deut. xvii. 19.

PSALM CXIX. 97-112. LoVE FOR THE SCRIPTURES.

IN these further extracts, we see some of the RESULTS of the Divine Teaching sought for the Psalmist had learned to love the Sacred Volume, and prize it far above earthly wealth and worldly wisdom. And he has thus furnished the Christian of all times with both a test of his state (in examining himself as to his being able to share in these feelings), and with words to express the deepest feelings of the heart that has learnt to love the Word as he did.

Note I. THE USE AND VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

II. THE LOVE WE OWE TO THE BOOK.

I. THE USE AND VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES. The Psalmist ascribes to his acquaintance with God's law his superior knowledge compared with that of his enemies, and the possession of a wisdom greater than that of his teachers or of the ancients, verse 97-100. Thus the Word of God proved to be triumphant over error, even in the direct temptation of our Lord by Satan, Matt. iv.: in the mouths of the Apostles it was irresistible, Luke xxi. 15: and it is still all-powerful in probing the human heart, Heb. iv. 12. Knowing that the Scriptures were given by inspiration, 2 Tim. iii. 16, that they might enlighten and convert the soul, Ps. xix. 7, 8; instruct and comfort, Rom. xv. 4, as well as warn and guide us, 1 Cor. x. 11, we ought to be very careful to see that we use them aright, James i. 21-25; searching them, John v. 39; and treasuring them in our thoughts and hearts, Deut. xi. 18, 19. We only know God as He reveals himself to us in his Word; or ourselves in our original perfection and present corruption as He shows us our real nature. The Bible shows us the immortality of the soul, and reveals the world to come: but above all, it tells us how we may escape the penalties of sin and death, and how we may attain to everlasting life.

II. THE LOVE WE OWE TO THE BOOK should be equal to the value of it. God speaks to us in the Bible in love and mercy: ought it not to be dear to us? In it He offers us pardon and peace, a Saviour and a Sanctifier: ought we not to reverence it? By its precepts we shall be judged, and our final destiny for ever fixed according as we have followed or rejected its guidance and warnings: ought we not to read it with holy awe? We see in the verses of this Lesson, how inexpressible was the Psalmist's love for the Law of God, verse 97, so that not from a sense of duty, but as a source of enjoyment, he made it the subject of daily meditation. By day it was his "light," verse 105; Ps. xxiii. 3; Prov. vi. 23, it showed him his errors, and led him back to the right path; by night it was the "lamp" directing him to safety and to peace; and in the season of affliction it was his comfort, the messenger of peace to his conscience, verse 107-110, and the way of deliverance from danger, Ps. xvii. 4. No wonder that the Word of God was as honey to his lips, verse 103, and that no pleasure of sense was comparable to it. It is not only present enjoyment that the Scriptures afford to the child of God, but the promises they contain are 'an heritage for ever," verse 111, for they reveal that eternal blessedness which is in reserve for the faithful followers of the Saviour, and which could not be made known to them in any other way, 1 Cor. ii. 9. Thus "great peace have they which love Thy law,” verse 165, for they are raised above the power of evil, are strengthened with courage in the midst of danger, and are able to look beyond present sorrow to the blessed hope of future glory.

Let us pray to God, in the spirit of this Psalm, to enlighten our minds, to teach us his law, to incline our hearts to obey Him, to take us under his care, and guide us always by his Providence and his Holy Spirit.

THIS Psalm is the outpouring of a loving heart towards the Sanctuary of God— the House where He had expressly promised his visible presence (in the Shechinah);—and it has supplied God's people in all times and places with a Hymn of adoration for Him whose presence is sought and felt in the Sanctuary. It is supposed to have been sung by the Jews on their journey to Jerusalem, to keep some Feast (see verse 7, margin); but that short journey is but typical of the pilgrimage of life to the new Jerusalem, the Scriptures being God's chosen channel for helping the believer to hold out to the end, in hope of Everlasting Life.

Note I. THE SPIRITUAL NEED.

II. THE PROMISED GRACE.

III. THE APPOINTED MEANS.

I. THE SPIRITUAL NEED of communion with God is shown by the Psalmist in describing his own condition when deprived of it. His soul fainted when kept from the courts of the Lord, verse 2, and he desired to share the happiness of the birds who built their nests in the neighbourhood of the sanctuary, and to find a resting place at the altar of God, verse 3. Without the strength which this converse with God in His sanctuary affords, the child of God would find the world, a "valley of Baca," or weeping, verse 6; but as it is continually cheered by the presence of God, they find refreshing "rain" and "grace" filling their souls, and they are able to pursue their way, so as eventually to reach the heavenly Zion, verse 7.

II. It is THE PROMISED GRACE that sustains them on the way, verse 11-12. We should walk in darkness if it were not that God is our "C sun; " we should be overcome with evil and dangers on all sides, if He were not our "shield" verse 9—11. The promised "grace" assures us of God's good will and favour towards us, and of His readiness to help us in all our difficulties on the path heavenward; while the knowledge that grace given is but glory begun,-the one the bud the other the flower,—satisfies us that what our Heavenly Father begins he will complete, and that therefore "no good thing" will be withheld from us, verse 12.

III. But THE APPOINTED MEANS must be followed to attain this blessed trust and confidence in God. And while we have already seen how the soul is nourished by the word of God, so here we are taught to seek further for growth in grace through the public services of His house. It is the appointed place for prayer, where God has promised to meet his people, Isa. lvi. 7; and where the Anointed one, verse 9, is present among his followers, Matt. xviii. 20. There we are taught to fear the Lord, and the knowledge of His will, Deut. xxxi. 12, 13; we openly confess our sins in the presence of His people, 1. Kings viii. 33, and offer to Him the sacrifice of praise, Ps. xxxv. 18. And while, therefore, when we approach the sanctuary where prayer is wont to be made, we need to keep our feet, and tread reverently, Eccles. v. 1; there is yet so much pleasure in time thus spent in drawing near to God, that " a day in His courts is better than a thousand," verse 10; and a penitent in the porch of the Lord's house is happier than a sinner on a throne. Let us then trust in Him who thus gives us, in His earthly temples, a foretaste of that joy which will be our constant portion in the Heavenly Temple, and shows us in the assemblies of pious men here, a type of the gatherings of the redeemed in glory.

May our Lessons on the Psalms have produced in us a more earnest desire for communion with God our Father in private and public, and for that holiness without which no one can see His Face!

Correspondence.

EXPLANATION OF MATT. V. 29.

To the Editors of the "Church of England Sunday School Quarterly Magazine."