Homilist Psalm 57:1-11 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me: for my soul trusts in you: yes, in the shadow of your wings will I make my refuge… I. A BLESSED RELIGIOUS EXERCISE. 1. Praying. "Be merciful unto me," etc. An epitome of all true prayer. Mercy is what we need; to remove our sense of guilt, to break our moral chains, to clear our spiritual vision, to quicken and harmoniously develop all the powers of our higher nature. 2. Trusting. "My soul trusteth in Thee." This implies — (1) A knowledge of the trustworthiness of God. (2) A supreme love for the excellency of God. 3. Resolving. "Yea, in the shadow," etc. God is the natural Protector of souls. 4. Hoping (ver. 3). All godly souls are in a waiting attitude. II. A WRETCHED SOCIAL CONDITION. Among savage, crafty and deadly enemies (vers. 4, 6). That men should feel thus to their fellow-men argues two things. 1. That morally they are in an abnormal condition. 2. That sin is essentially malignant. Sin, when it enters the soul, scorches all benevolent sympathy. Sin never fails to make its subject a tormenting devil. III. A HAPPY MORAL STATE. Moral fixation, or godly decision of soul, "My heart is fixed." In our unregenerate state the heart is unsettled, divided, distracted, and herein is its misery. This fixation originates — 1. High happiness. "I will sing and give praise. Awake, psaltery and harp," etc. 2. High worship. "I will praise Thee, O Lord," etc. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.} Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. |
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