Homilist Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your works; I muse on the work of your hands. : — I. AS A NECESSITY OF HUMAN NATURE. 1. By the laws of proximity, likeness, contrast, we are every day thrown back on the past, made in some measure to relive the hours that are gone. 2. This necessary action of memory shows — (1) The conscious unity of human life. However long we have to live, though for ever, from the beginning our life is one. (2) The wondrous frugality of life. Our spiritual life throws nothing away. Memory manages all with the most sparing economy. It gathers up every fragment, so that nothing is lost. (3) The growing importance of life. What a world lies behind the old man — nay, within him. (4) The inevitable retributiveness of life. II. AS A MORAL OBLIGATION OF HUMAN NATURE. "I remember the days of old." Every man should voluntarily and religiously do this with the past of his life. He should not allow the past to come up to him merely involuntarily, and thus become its victim. He should deal with it so as to make it serve the true interests of his spiritual being. He should make the past — 1. Promote evangelical sorrow within him. The memory of the past must sadden all souls. 2. Promote thanksgiving to God within him. What impressions will the past give man of God's forbearance — God's guidance — God's guardianship — God's ever-flowing goodness! 3. Promote an invincible purpose to improve. The memory of past disappointments should warn us against extravagant hopes. The memory of abused mercies should lead us to a greater appreciation of our present blessings. The memory of lost years should lead us to turn every hour of the present to a right spiritual account. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.WEB: I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands. |
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