A duty, a privilege, a purpose.
"I will bless," etc. A Christian man, burdened and oppressed with many troubles, was seeking relief in prayer. But even prayer was difficult, Suddenly these words came into his mind, "I will bless the Lord at all times." "At all times?" he thought; "then now." He began to think of his reasons for blessing God, and as the scale in which he weighed God's mercies grew heavy, the scale in which he weighed his trials grew light by comparison. His sorrowful prayer was turned into thanksgiving; and he rose up strengthened and comforted. These words express a duty, a privilege, a purpose.
I. A DUTY—of perpetual obligation. God's mercies are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23), nay, every moment. Some signal instance may be the Moses' rod to make the stream of thankfulness gush forth, as, according to the title, was the case with this psalm. But as the clock is silently marking time every moment, and not only when it strikes the hour, so the silent sense of God's goodness should never die out of the Christian's heart, though there are special times for his lips to utter praise. Every breath, every heart-beat, is a new gift of life (Acts 17:28; Psalms 107:1, Psalms 107:8).
II. A PRIVILEGE—of the noblest kind. If it is true that every duty brings reward in some sense with it, this is eminently true here.
1. God accepts our praise, as glorifying him (Psalms 50:23).
2. Praise hallows our enjoyments (Deuteronomy 7:11, Deuteronomy 7:12); and brings sunshine into our darkest seasons (Acts 16:25).
3. It is the noblest employment, that in which we rise nearest to heaven. Not seeking, as in prayer, from God, but striving to render somewhat to him, we lay our hearts open for his best blessings.
II. A thoughtful, wise, and holy PURPOSE. The fulfilment of this duty and exercise of this privilege are not to be left to transient impulse or to rare occasions. "I will … at all times." There are set occasions when "praise is comely" And there are sunny seasons, when God puts "a new song" in our mouth. But the text points to the habitual culture of a thankful spirit.
CONCLUSION.
1. Forget not God's mercies. Review them.
2. Place over against them thy unworthiness.
3. Let the heart be often lifted up in thankfulness, when the lips are silent and the hands and eyes busy with the world.
"At all times;" "for his mercy endureth for ever."