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I. The GRAND RESOLVE of a good man — to serve God (vers. 1, 2).

1. Entirely. "I will praise Thee with my whole heart." Unless the Almighty is thus served He is never served at all.

2. Courageously. "Before the gods," etc. No shame, no timidity, but exulting courage.

3. Intelligently. He is infinitely good and true.

II. The NOBLE TESTIMONY of a good man (ver. 3). What good man who has ever prayed could not furnish similar testimony?

III. The SANGUINE HOPE of a good man (vers. 4, 5).

1. This hope implies a very desirable object. To have all the kings of the earth praising God, what patriotic, philanthropic, and religious ends could be more desirable?

2. This hope implies a reasonable expectation. Would it not be natural to expect that when kings heard of God, the words of His mouth, they would worship and serve Him? We have here —

IV. The THEOLOGICAL BELIEF of a good man (ver. 6).

1. No creature is too humble for the Divine regard. He is not so taken up with the vast as to ignore the minute, so sublimely exalted as not to condescend to the meanest.

2. No creature is too vile to escape His notice. "The proud He knoweth afar off."

V. The SUBLIME CONFIDENCE of a good man (ver. 7).

1. The universal law of human life. What is that? Progress, walking. Implying —

(1) A constant change of position.

(2) A constant approximation to destiny, every step leading nearer to the end. Life is a constant walk. No pause. A rapid walk. "Swifter than a post." An irretraceable walk.

2. The saddening probabilities of human life. "In the midst of trouble." The path is not through flowery meads and under azure skies, but rugged, tempestuous, perilous.

3. The grand support of human life. "Thou wilt revive me." The support is all-sufficient, the only effective and ever available.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: {A Psalm of David.} I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

WEB: I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.