Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes. Sermons
I. CORRUPT CITY LIFE. (Vers. 10, 11.) 1. Corrupt in every part, on the walls and in the interior. Violence and strife reign unchecked universally. 2. Falsehood and deceit ruled in the market-place. (Ver. 11.) In the square, or market-place, near the gates, where was the general place of concourse, men cheated and deceived each other in their ordinary intercourse. II. PICTURE OF CORRUPT PRIVATE LIFE. The sanctities of friendship were openly violated and renounced. The offence was aggravated by two things. 1. That he who had become the psalmist's enemy had been a closely intimate friend. Love had turned to hate, because of the triumph of evil designs or passions, or of "the whispering tongues that can poison truth." 2. Their friendship had been consecrated by religious associations. (Ver. 14.) A depraved life can sweep out of the mind the tenderest memories and the most holy associations, human and Divine. III. THE PSALMIST PRAYS FOR GOD'S JUDGMENTS UPON THIS CORRUPT LIFE. The two forms of judgment which he imprecates are: 1. The judgment that fell upon the builders of Babel. (Ver. 9.) Discord among themselves and their counsels, so that they might destroy one another. 2. That they might go down to the grave alive. (Ver. 15.) Like Korah and his company, let them be carried away by death in the fulness of life and strength. The psalmist knew of none but violent means and temporal judgments by which such wickedness could be removed. - S.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. I. RELIGION WILL, IN A VERY HIGH DEGREE, MULTIPLY AND EXALT THE PRESENT PLEASURES OF FRIENDSHIP. The pleasure of sympathy, we know, always hears a direct proportion to the magnitude and intrinsic interest of the subject by which it is excited. It will be readily granted, that when the subjects of our contemplation possess intrinsic dignity, when our thoughts themselves are high and employed upon high things, we feel greater pleasure in their interchange, and mark with warmer satisfaction the sympathy of those whom we esteem. But for grandeur of extent and depth of interest united, where is the subject that will bear a moment's comparison with religion?II. The pleasure which we take in the sympathy of our friends on any subject will be affected, not only by its inherent dignity and importance, but also by THE RELATION WHICH IT BEARS TO OURSELVES PERSONALLY, by the individual interest, greater or less, which we have in it. Those circumstances and events in which we feel ourselves most immediately and deeply concerned; our prospects in life, for instance, our plans of usefulness or enjoyment, the fortunes and interests of our connections, the characters and conduct of our friends — these are the subjects which are reserved most carefully for the private ear of friendship, on which we look for corresponding emotions of sympathy with the greatest anxiety, and hail them with the most lively pleasure. "To have the same desires and the same aversions," has been said to constitute true friend. ship; to the perfection of which, therefore, it must be necessary, that these desires and aversions exist in corresponding strength, where the exciting causes are the same. The deeper the interest felt, and the more complete the sympathy, the greater will be the pleasure derived from it. But what is there of more essential importance to our happiness than religion? III. As the pleasures of religious sympathy are likely to be greater in proportion to the superior dignity and deeper interest of the exciting cause; so also will they be heightened by reflection on THE PURITY AND EXCELLENCE OF THE SOURCE FROM WHICH THEY SPRING. Combined pleasures heighten and improve each other. Do we receive gratification from a worthy object, from one which we know ought to excite it? The consideration of the worth of that object, and the moral approbation consequent thereon, increase the gratification. Sympathetic feelings of satisfaction and pleasure may be called forth very strongly by a trifling and unworthy cause; but when this is the case, such pleasure will unavoidably be diminished by reflection; it will not bear examination; it cannot stand the test of time. Not so the pleasures of religious sympathy; the sources of these are always high and exalted; the subjects of them ever worthy the contemplation of the immortal soul. (A. R. Beard.) II. RELIGION WILL HAVE POWER TO CONSOLE US WHEN OBLIGED TO WITNESS THE TEMPORAL SUFFERINGS OF THOSE WHOM WE LOVE. Who is there that does not grieve to trace the expression of pain or sorrow in the countenance of a friend, especially when he feels himself unable to remove the source from which it springs? A friend is cast down in the world, and we possess not the means of raising him; he is tortured by disease, to which we can bring no relief; these, indeed, are severe trials, yet religion will teach us how to bear and to improve them. It is from her we learn that the Father of our race doth "never willingly afflict or grieve His children " — that "He chastens them not for His own pleasure, but for their profit, that they may be made partakers of His holiness." These, surely, are consolatory words to him who is called to witness the sufferings of a friend; words that may serve at once to console his own mind, and to suggest to him the best topics of consolation. III. RELIGION WILL BRING CONSOLATION TO US, WHEN SUFFERING UNDER A PAINFUL SENSE OF THE MORAL IMPERFECTIONS OF OUR FRIENDS. She will carry our view forward to that blessed country where sin and sorrow shall be no more, where the great enemy shall cease from troubling, and the good man, freed from the assaults of temptation, shall be at rest. Then shall the good qualities of the virtuous friend shine forth with unclouded lustre, and the attachment formed on earth be continued in heaven, unalloyed by sorrow and undisturbed by sin. IV. EVEN TO HIM WHO MOURNS THE UTTER MORAL DEGRADATION AND CONSEQUENT ESTRANGEMENT OF A FRIEND, RELIGION WILL BRING SOME COMFORT. She will soothe him with the consciousness of having done everything to prevent a catastrophe so mournful. She will provide him with a sure refuge in that Friend who cannot become unworthy of him, and will not desert him. (A. R. Beard.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Alive, Death, Deceitfully, Desolations, Dwelling, Dwellings, Enemies, Evil, Finds, Grave, Graves, Hearts, Hell, Houses, Incite, Lodging, Midst, Nether-world, Quick, Seize, Sheol, Suddenly, Surprise, Terror, Underworld, Wickedness, WithinOutline 1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case9. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains 16. He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 55:15Library July 9. "Cast Thy Burden on the Lord" (Ps. Lv. 22). "Cast thy burden on the Lord" (Ps. lv. 22). Dear friends, sometimes we bring a burden to God, and we have such a groaning over it, and we seem to think God has a dreadful time, too, but in reality it does not burden Him at all. God says: It is a light thing for Me to do this for you. Your load, though heavy for you, is not heavy for Him. Christ carries the whole on one shoulder, not two shoulders. The government of the world is upon His shoulder. He is not struggling and groaning with it. His mighty … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Out of the Deep of Fear and Anxiety. The Arrest If Then to Sin, that Others May not Commit a Worse Sin... Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish. Concerning Persecution The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New. Covenant Duties. Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1120) to a Youth Named Fulk, who Afterwards was Archdeacon of Langres Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. 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