God's revelation of himself to man.
The reason for so sudden a transition in the theme of this psalm does not clearly appear. It is, indeed, possible that portions of two may be pieced together; but we have no proof of that. The remark of Calvin is very striking, "After having spoken of the great depravity of men, the prophet, afraid lest he should be infected by it, or be carried away by the example of the wicked, as by a flood, quits the subject, and recovers himself by reflecting on a different theme." £ Whether this be precisely the correct account of the matter or no, certain it is that too prolonged a gaze into the desperate wickedness of man would unnerve us and would generate a spirit of misanthropic distrust. For our own balance of mind, and peace and rest, we must turn our gaze away from the haunts of sin to the abode of perfect righteousness and halcyon calm. And, thank God, we can do it. And if we turn the glass of the Word upward instead of downward, we shall find more to inspire with rapture than we have seen to create dismay. But neither the one description nor the other can be accounted for by the ordinary laws of the human mind. The psychology of the natural man will not serve us here. Only a "man whose eyes are open" could have written either the first or the second part of this psalm. And we here see the working, not of psychology, but of pneumatology—of the pneumatology of the spiritual man when receiving and transmitting a revelation from God and of him. What the Apostle Peter says of prophecy generally may be applied to this psalm: it "came not of old time by the will of man." David spake as he was "moved by the Holy Ghost." Having, then, spied into the abyss of depravity by the glass of the Word, let us peer into the boundless heights of glory by looking through the same glass when turned upward. Let us study—
I. THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD IN THEIR SUBLIME AND PEERLESS GLORY. (Psalms 36:5, et seq.) We have put before us the sphere in which the Divine Being dwells—"in the heavens;" "unto the clouds." The heavens, in the highest sense, are regarded as the dwelling-place of God; and, to the same intent, the word translated "clouds." £ Since God is everywhere present, we must not confine his presence (in our thinking thereof) to one spot rather than another (Psalms 139:7-12). Yet we are permitted to think of "heaven" as being a region where he specially manifests his glory—" Our Father, which art in heaven;" "The Son of man' "came down from heaven" (cf. Ezekiel 1:26-28; Isaiah 6:1-4; John 17:5). High, high above this troublous scene of unrest and sin there is a throne of glory, there is a seat of power, there is a realm of unruffled, everlasting calm (Psalms 97:1). But here we have revealed to us him who is on the throne, and the glorious attributes which mark his infinite Being.
1. "Mercy," "goodness;" benignitas, misericordia. God has a heart. "He that formed the ear, doth he not hear? He that formed the eye, doth he not see? He that formed the heart, doeth he not feel?" Yea, verily. God is a Being of infinite tenderness, compassion, and love.
2. "Truth;" i.e. "faithfulness;" fides, veritas. "Hath he said, and shall he not do it?" "Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
"Firm as a rock his truth remains
To guard his promises"
Not one thing hath failed or snail fail of all that the Lord hath spoken.
3. Righteousness." (Psalms 36:6.) "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains." £ Justitia. It is because the righteousness of God is so firm and unmovable that we can repose in him the most entire and absolute confidence. Even love, divorced from righteousness, would fail to win our hearts. The work of Christ commands our homage, love, and rest, because therein love and righteousness are seen in sublimest concord. Note: How intense the relief to turn our eyes away from this scene of sin and corruption to him "whose dominion extendeth over all" in righteousness, mercy, and truth!
II. THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD IN THEIR BEARING UPON US.
1. Perfect administration. (Psalms 36:6.) "Thy judgments are a great deep;" £ a profound abyss (cf. Psalms 77:19). They often present a depth of mystery which we have no plummet to sound. But they are judgments for all that; i.e. right-settings—they are never at fault. And never is there any flaw in the Divine administration on this globe (Psalms 97:2).
2. Loving-kindness. The same word as is rendered "mercy' (Authorized Version) in Psalms 36:5. But the translators saw the meaning of "mercy" per se becoming "loving-kindness" towards us. Blot only has the sun light, but we feel the warmth of his rays. Even so the tender mercy of God discloses itself to us in innumerable acts of kindness and love.
3. Protection. (Psalms 36:7.) "The shadow of thy wings" (cf. Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:9-12; Ruth 2:12; Psalms 17:8; Psalms 91:4; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 63:7; Psalms 61:4). Perhaps the most wonderful of God's attributes is that patience with men, whereby he restrains the power that could crush, and puts it forth so gently as to guard. Had we not been sheltered by an invisible guardianship, we had been crushed ere now a thousand times over. Note, also, that the figure of "wings," etc; indicates a marvellous tenderness of love.
4. Supply. (Psalms 36:8.) "The fatness of thine house "—the rich provisions of Divine love which are so largely enjoyed in the fellowship of worship in the courts of the Lord. "The river of thy pleasures;" literally, "of thine Eden." Is there here an allusion to the river which flowed peacefully through the garden of Eden when sin had not as yet tainted its bowers? Or is this phrase a declension that of the pure joy which is in the heart of God he gives those to partake who are in communion with him? If so, hire is a wonderful anticipation of the truth, "My peace I give unto you."
5. Life. (Psalms 36:9.) "The fountain of life." Here is a sublime expression of the doctrine which in modern phraseology is called "the origin of force"—a sublime expression thereof, however, on its moral and spiritual side. Such a phrase as this may well have been borne in mind by the Apostle John, £ when he says of the Son of God, "In him was life."
6. Light. (Verse 9.) "In thy light shall we see light." In how many senses this is true, and how richly it is true in every sense, it would require many homilies to show. We can but hint. Without God we can see no light anywhere. We have no basis for thought, no account to give of existence. Without the light from God to illumine our souls, we cannot see the glory of his love in creation. Without the enlightening and regenerating power of his Spirit, we cannot see the kingdom of Cod. But with God above, around, within, in what a blaze of light and glory may we live! £ Note: What amazing bliss is ours, even now, when the fulness of God is made over to us in Christ through his Word and Spirit! Perfect judgment, loving-kindness, guardianship living food, life, light! What more can we have?
III. THE DIVINE PERFECTIONS AS LAID HOLD OF BY BELIEVING MEN. When our God reveals himself thus to us as our God, it is but fitting anti right that our hearts should respond to such revelation. A response we find here. It is fivefold.
1. Here is an exhilarating sense of being in the possession of a precious treasure. (Verse 7.) "How excellent," etc. rather, "How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God!" Indeed, it is. Precious beyond thousands of gold and silver; yea," better than life" (Psalms 63:3; Psalms 43:4). God is our "exceeding Joy" Often and often may we muse with ever-increasing delight on the exhaustless stores of love which are ours in the heart of the infinite and eternal God (cf. Deuteronomy 33:26, Deuteronomy 33:27).
2. Here is a sense of safety and repose in fleeing for refuge to God. (Verse 7.) "Put their trust;" literally, "flee for refuge" (cf. Psalms 91:2). How intense the repose when we make God our Refuge! From the plots of men, from the strife of tongues, from perils of every kind, we can hide in God—blessed and safe in his almighty keeping.
3. Here is a sense of satisfaction in the abundance of a Divine supply. God's love is as meat and drink to us (of. John 6:1-71.). When all the fulness of God is made over to us in Christ, we are indeed well supplied. We often want more of Christ; we never want more than Christ.
4. The trust and love of the heart express themselves in prayer.
5. Already, in the anticipation of faith, we sing praise for delivering grace. (Verse 12.) "There are the workers of iniquity fallen." "There!"—emphatic. There they are! I look on far ahead, and know that I shall triumph in redeeming love, and that I shall yet see those that plotted my ruin brought to nought, as Israel saw their foes dead on the seashore (Exodus 14:30, Exodus 14:31; Psalms 46:6; Psalms 37:34-38; see Romans 64:7-10)..(For the application of all this in its highest and grandest form, see Romans 8:34-39.) Let us trust God, brothers, while danger is nigh, and we shalt shout in triumph when life's storms are over.—C.