For the fallen and the falling.
How different are the ways of him whose everlasting kingdom and enduring dominion are told of in the previous verse, from the ways of the world and of hard and selfish men! Vae victis! is the world's verdict, and the facts of life too often confirm it; but the Lord, he is the Savior of the unsuccessful, the Speaker of heart-cheering words to the crushed ones in life's stern conflict, and the Performer for them of corresponding deeds.
I. CONSIDER THE TWO CLASSES OF PERSONS HERE SPOKEN OF.
1. Them that fall. How many of these there are in the secular struggle! The fight for mere life is not seldom so severe that many are beaten down, and unless men have some upholder, some strong support and prop, there would be no hope for any of them. And in the social struggle: there is the perpetual effort to advance in position; but there are many who are not only utterly unable to raise themselves to a higher social grade, but are unable even to maintain the position in which they now are; they are on the verge of a precipice, and they are in constant peril of falling over and down. And in the intellectual struggle: how the eager scholar strives, but the contests seem to get harder every day, and the overtaxed brain too often threatens to give way altogether! And there is the physical struggle: the conditions of life are often so destructive to health that they render full vigor of body an unattainable thing, or, if at first preserved, inevitably and speedily lost, and then what can a man do? And, above all, there is the spiritual struggle, to keep the garment of the soul unspotted, and the heart pure, and the will steadfast and true to God. Ah, how difficult is all this! How often we are compelled to confess, "My feet had well-nigh slipped"! How many are there of these fallen or falling ones!
2. And then, there are "those that be bowed down." They do not fall, but it is with bent form and weary feet and burdened spirit that they stagger on as they best can. How frequent are the cries and complaints of such bowed-down ones heard in these Psalms (see Psalms 42:1-11; etc.)!
II. SEE WHAT THE LORD DOES FOR THEM.
1. He upholdeth the falling ones. Illustration: the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-59.; Luke 7:37, etc.). He does this by, as in these cases, gracious words; or through human ministries of sympathy and help; or by the kindly ordering of his providence; or, and yet more, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit shedding abroad in our hearts the love of God.
2. He raiseth up them that are bowed down. (Luke 13:16.) The world says that the weakest must go to the wall; but the Lord's thoughts concerning them are far otherwise. And so, also, have been and are his deeds. The saints on earth and in heaven attest this.
III. WHEREFORE GOD THUS DEALS WITH THEM. Because God is love. So he wins trophies of his grace; and his most devoted servants, and successful workers; and thus he encourages all men to trust in him.
IV. IN WHAT WAY SHOULD WE RESPOND? By rendering heartfelt praise; by imitating his example; by turning to and trusting him for ourselves; by making known his grace.—S.C.