For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; rather, for the Lord is righteous; he loveth righteousness (see the Revised Version); literally, righteousnesses; i.e. good and righteous deeds. His countenance doth behold the upright. So the LXX; the Vulgate, Hengstenberg, Bishop Horsley, and ethers; but the bulk of modern commentators prefer to render, "The upright will behold his countenance." Either translation yields a good sense.
HOMILETICS
The question of fear and the answer of faith.
"If the foundations," etc. The Bible is God's gift to a world such as its pages describe. Not a world of sinless holiness and painless peace, but a world of sin, sorrow, strife. A book for pilgrims, toilers, warriors, mourners, sinners. The "sword of the Spirit," forged in the fire of affliction, tempered in tears. Light in darkness; songs in the night-time; manna in the wilderness; water from the flinty rock; an anchor for the tempest-tossed soul. It leads us along the path beaten by the feet of scores of generations; across ancient bottle-fields; shows us the monuments of heroes and conquerors; and fills our daily life with the echoes of the mighty past. Whether or no this psalm belongs to some particular occasion in David's life—a question of no practical moment—it reflects the stormy experience he and many another saint have had oftentimes to face; and it does this for all time. In these verses we have
(1) the question of fear; and
(2) the answer of faith.
I. THE QUESTION OF FEAR. "If … what shall the righteous do?" The foundations, namely, of society; the pillars or supports of public order, peace, prosperity. These main pillars are four: authority, justice, policy, wealth. If these are shaken, the fabric totters. If they utterly fail, anarchy or tyranny ensues. When war threatens or assails, a weak distrusted government, an unrighteous cause, incapacity, an empty treasury, are more dangerous than any foreign foe. And though there were profound peace as regarded other nations, a nation afflicted with these four evils, one in which these main pillars break, would be on the verge of ruin. Yet underneath all these lies a deeper foundation—national character (Proverbs 14:34). The particular form in which public life rested on religion has never been possible for any other nation than Israel. None other has had a covenant like that of Sinai—an inspired code of laws; a perfect identity of Church and state. The relations of Church and state differ in different lands; are matter of controversy. This does not change the fact that public as much as private life—that of the nation no less than of the individual—is healthful, safe, prosperous, truly free, only as it conforms to God's law: is just, truthful, temperate, pure, peaceable, benevolent.
II. THE ANSWER OF FAITH. God reigns; God rules.
1. "In his temple," q.d; "in heaven." "His throne"—his supreme omnipotent dominion—is the reign, not of arbitrary power or mere mechanical law, but of holiness; perfect righteousness, wisdom, love. Therefore it is the "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:6).
2. "His eyes behold," etc. In all this wild confusion, as it seems, nothing is overlooked; nothing unjudged or uncontrolled. God rules as well as reigns. Never for a moment is his hand off the helm (Romans 8:28; Psalms 76:10). Example: The beneficial results of the Babylonish captivity, in which the ruin of the nation had appeared total and final.
PRACTICAL LESSONS (especially in times of political strife and danger).
1. Courage. "How say ye," etc.? it is no part of a Christian's duty to flee, either in terror or disgust, from public duty. Public service—as citizen, official, or ruler—progresses under the great Christian law of love to our neighbour (comp. Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:10). Who should be fearless and faithful, if not he who seeks in all to glorify God, and knows that all earthly as well as heavenly power is in Christ's hands (Matthew 28:18)?
2. Prayer. Prayer for our country is a great Christian duty.
HOMILIES BY C. CLEMANCE