The man on whom God's just judgment descends.
"Lo, this is the man," etc. The destruction of a human being, however depraved, the loss of a soul, however guilty, is matter, not of triumph, but of lamentation. God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner. But the overthrow of tyranny and injustice, the just punishment of high-handed crime, the downfall of God-defying and man-despising pride, is matter of satisfaction and thanksgiving. "There is such a thing as a righteous hatred, a righteous scorn. There is such a thing as a shout of righteous joy at the downfall of the tyrant and the oppressor; at the triumph of righteousness and truth over wrong and falsehood" (Perowne). See this expressed in the poems of Byron and Southey on the downfall of Napoleon. This is the spirit of this psalm—not revenge or cruelty, but triumph in the vindication of righteousness. Here are three principal features in the portrait of the man on whom God's just judgment descends. Proud unbelief; covetous worldliness; obstinate, perverse impenitence.
I. PROUD UNBELIEF. "Made not God his strength." This is a far deadlier sin than people are apt to think. It is practical denial of our dependence on him "whose our breath is;" "in whom we live, and move, and have our being." It is the cutting off, as far as thought, affection, will, and conscience are concerned, of the tree from its root, the stream from its fountain. The Bible always regards unbelief as springing from man's moral nature; a defect of the heart. In our day it is looked at as intellectual; scientific; created into a philosophy under the name of agnosticism. The universe is supposed to be a riddle without a key; human spirits, orphans; human life, a wandering without an aim, a guide, a hope, a home. How is it that any feeling heart or thoughtful mind can accept this dark creed, and not be bowed down in constant sorrow by the horror and desolate misery of it?
II. COVETOUS WORLDLINESS. "Trusted in the abundance of his riches." The unbeliever here described is not a speculative agnostic, but one who does "not like to retain God in his knowledge" (Romans 1:28); because his whole heart is taken up with selfish greed (1 John 2:15).
III. OBSTINATE IMPENITENCE. "Strengthened himself in his wickedness." Makes his own will his law; turns a deaf car to reproof, warning, Divine truth, mercy, love. What must be the end? What can it be? Do not let us deceive ourselves. The warnings of Christ's gospel are as faithful as its promises (Hebrews 10:26, etc.; 2 Peter 3:9). The cross itself, the hope and refuge of repentant sinners, is God's chief witness against sin; and warning of the guilt, folly, danger, of persevering in unbelief, worldliness, and impenitence.