The goodness of God.
There are very few psalms where so much is crowded into a very small compass as in this. The writer in a very few strokes brings out those features in the character of God which make him to be the One who is worthy of our deepest reverence, of our fullest confidence, of our most grateful praise. We have—
I. HIS LOVING-KINDNESS. (Psalms 138:2.)
II. HIS FAITHFULNESS. (Psalms 138:2.) The psalmist gives thanks for "thy truth," and goes on to say that God has done that for him which more than fulfils his word of promise (see Joshua 23:14). It is not only in the ordering of our outward life, but in his dealing with us in the gospel of his Son, that "God is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9). It is "he that is true" who speaks to us from heaven (see Revelation 3:7), and summons us to his service and to his friendship. It is the unvarying testimony of Christian men, as their course closes, that their Divine Lord has been faithful to them, working in them and doing for them all that he had promised to them.
III. THE CONDITIONS OF HIS FELLOWSHIP. (Psalms 138:6.) There is nothing more explicitly revealed, both in Old Testament and New, than this doctrine of humility. Throughout Scripture, pride is presented to us as the insuperable obstacle blocking the way to the favor of God: humbleness of heart is held before us as the very gateway of his kingdom. We can see the reason why it should be so.
1. It is the truth. When we take a high view of ourselves, we see ourselves in a false light; when a lowly view, we see ourselves as we are.
2. It is the one way to the admission of Divine wisdom. The haughty heart will not listen when God speaks; the humble heart is open and receptive.
3. It is the necessary condition of receiving Jesus Christ as our Divine Savior. He came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." It was the complacent Pharisee who stood aloof from him, and who rejected his doctrine; it was the consciously unworthy who "drew nigh unto him for to hear him" (Luke 15:1), and who "went into the kingdom" before the self-righteous and the respectable. Hence we find our Lord beginning his public teaching with the Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3); hence we have his word, "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted "(Matthew 23:12; and see Matthew 18:3).
4. To be lowly minded is to be like our Lord himself (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:7-9).
IV. HIS SUSTAINING AND REVIVING GRACE. (Psalms 138:3-7.) In the day of our trouble we "cry unto the Lord." It is an instinct of our religious nature (see Psalms 107:1-43.). It is the natural refuge of the devout (Psalms 46:1). It is in accordance with the Divine desire (Psalms 50:15). His promise (and his performance) is to sustain our spirit, to "strengthen us with strength in our soul." We think that we cannot possibly endure the weight of the afflictions that press upon us; but he makes us to know "the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe;" he "revives us," he renews our hope, our confidence, our courage; he "girds us with all-sufficient grace" for the task we have to undertake, for the suffering we are called to bear. The "morning of joy" which is promised us may be a long way off; many dark hours may have to pass before that will dawn; but during the night of sorrow he will "give us songs," he will sustain our spirit, he will make us to glory in infirmity," because "Christ's own power rests upon us." There is a more signal proof of his Divine power and goodness than that which, perhaps, in human weakness, we prefer, viz.—
V. HIS DELIVERING GRACE. (Psalms 138:7, latter part.) For God does sometimes, and indeed often, interpose on behalf of his children. His "right hand," the right hand of his power and of his righteousness, is laid, not then and there on our souls to revive, but on the enemy to subdue him, or on the tangled events to undo them, on the reduced circumstances to raise and restore them. One touch of that wise, strong hand—the touch of a link in the chain far out of sight—and the trouble is over. It is right for us to ask this of God, whatever be the trial through which we are passing; but we must ask reverently, and in the spirit of obedience, quite ready to find that he will not take away the cross, but give us strength to bear it.
VI. THE CONTINUOUSNESS AND COMPLETENESS OF HIS WORK WITHIN US. (Psalms 138:8.)
1. We are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:5). It is he that hath made us what we are "in Christ Jesus." It is his Spirit that has "renewed us in the spirit of our mind." Our repentance, our faith, our peace and rest of heart, our hope of heaven, our interest in the work of God, our readiness or eagerness to serve in the vineyard of Christ,—all this is, we gratefully own, the work of God within us.
2. We may count on its continuance. God will not forsake the work of his own hands. If he "pronounces good" the objects in nature, which are the product of his skill and power, how much more will he be pleased with the cleansed heart, with the renewed will, with the obedient spirit of his own child! He will not leave that to be lost on the waste; he will not abandon that to the mercy of wind and wave. We may and must ask his continued care of us, his guardianship and guidance and replenishment; but, thus asking for it, we may count confidently upon it.
3. We may look with a firm hope to the completion of his work in us; he will "perfect that which concerneth us." His interest in us, his kindness toward us, will not lessen as we live our life in him and before him. As we grow into his image, and as we do his work more faithfully and effectively, his love will not lessen nor his grace slacken. This will "endure forever." It will follow us all the way, until we are "perfected in Christ;" until we are "meet for the Master's use" in a higher and larger sphere. For that post in his heavenly kingdom which he will have ready for us we may feel sure that he is fitting us, not only by abounding privilege and wise discipline, but by gracious influences from his Holy Spirit.
The goodness of God has large issues.
1. Its effect on the enlightened mind is whole-hearted praise (Psalms 138:1, Psalms 138:2). A deep sense of all that God is to us, and of all that we are to him, fills our heart and constrains us to fervent and to public devotion. Whatever is meant particularly by the words, "before the gods," we may be sure that the psalmist intended to speak of public worship. He would not be satisfied with a thankful and loving spirit, good and right as that was; he would proclaim to all his sense of the loving-kindness and the faithfulness of Jehovah. Full and fearless expression is one part of sacred duty.
2. Its effect on those who stand without is correspondingly great. "The Lord hath done great things for them," said the Babylonian witnesses (Psalms 126:2). If we will so submit ourselves to Divine influences that our lives bear the mark and impress of God's hand, there will be excited in the minds of those outside the Church of Christ a wondering admiration of the power of the gospel, and they, too, will join in praising God!
HOMILIES BY S. CONWAY