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Psalms 25:8-14

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 25:8-14

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Here we may learn somehing as to

God's revelation to man.

I. That God's revelation MUST BE IN HARMONY WITH HIS CHARACTER. With God there can be no contradiction. What he does shows what he is. His words and his works agree. If we were created in the image of God, then we reasonably infer that, when God makes a special revelation to us, it will be in accord with our moral nature. This is what gives the gospel its preciousness and its power. "God was in Christ."

II. That God's revelation IS MADE TO THE SPIRITUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE. (, .) In this there is nothing arbitrary or strange. It must be so, from the very nature of things. As Coleridge sings—

"O lady, we receive but what we give,

And in our lives alone does nature live."

And a greater authority has said, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (). "To many among us neither heaven nor earth has any revelation till some personality touches ours with a peculiar influence, subduing them into receptiveness."

III. That God's revelation CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED IN ITS FULNESS BY THE OBEDIENT. (.) The question is asked, "Who is the man that feareth the Lord?" and this is as good as saying, "Find me such a man, and I will tell you how it will fare with him. God will reveal himself to him otherwise than he does to the world. Between them there is sympathy and sweet accord." God opens his mind to those who love him. He lets them into his secrets. They are in the way of light, and evermore, as they advance, the light shines on them more fully. The word of the psalmist is confirmed and completed in the teaching of our Lord (). This has been the experience of God's people in all ages. Abraham in his tent (), David with his flocks, Daniel in the king's palace, the apostle in the dungeon at Philippi,—all have felt alike that God reveals himself to those who truly serve him.—W.F.

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