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David is labouring under the fear that he should be judged and condemned with the ungodly. He therefore urges reasons wherefore this should not be so. And this amongst the rest, that his thoughts were upon the loving kindness of God. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," We may form a better judgment of ourselves, probably, from the tenor of our thoughts than from any other evidence. If our thoughts all go downward, downward we ourselves are going. But if there be some breathings towards the heavenly, then may we have hope that we also are ascending towards the heavenly places and shall dwell in them hereafter. David could urge, besides the secret evidence of his devout thoughts, the public proof of his holy acts — "I have walked in Thy truth." The two must go together to become valid evidence. FRUITFUL SUBJECT. "Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes." It is exceedingly profitable for the Christian to have always some subject of thought upon his mind. When the mind does not receive holy matters to feed upon, as a rule it preys upon itself; like certain of our bodily organs which, if not supplied with nutritive matter, will soon begin to devour their own tissues. The mind when it eats into itself forms doubts, suspicions, complaints; and nine out of ten of the doubts and fears of God's people come from two things — walking at a distance from God, and want of spiritual nutriment for the soul. A powerful stream of holy contemplation will scour the thoughts and bear away the foul deposits of unholy thought. Now, David's theme here is a rightful subject for meditation. It is our bounden duty to think much upon God's loving kindness. And it is a good subject, and wide, and pleasing. Very plain too, and suitable and seasonable for us all.

II. A LIFE ORDERED BY A RIGHT RULE. "I have walked in Thy truth." He means, "I have tried to order my religion according to the truth God has revealed." Can we all say that? Do not most of us worship God in the way, and because it is the way, our forefathers did? We are of one mind with the old Saxon king who, when he was about to be baptized, stood with one leg in the water and inquired of the bishop, "Where do you, say my ancestors are gone? They knew nothing about your Christianity. All cast into hell," said the bishop. "Well, then," said this fine old Conservative, "I will go with them; I should not like to be parted from my kith and kin." Very much of this principle rules our country still. David means, next, that he had walked according to God's law. "I have walked in Thy truth." But —

III. SEE THE LINK WHICH BINDS THE TWO PARTS OF THE TEXT TOGETHER. The one has been the consequence of the other. Because I thought much of Thy love, therefore I walked in Thy truth. Our thoughts greatly influence our actions. You cannot send the mind up the chimney and expect it to come down white. Whatever road the thoughts traverse, all the faculties of manhood will go after them. But there are some men who separate these things. There are some men who think, or say they think, of God's loving kindness, but do not walk in God's truth. What do we say of men who make the doctrines of grace an excuse for licentiousness? Paul said, "Their damnation is just." Others there are who say they walk in God's truth, but His loving kindness is never before their eyes. They boast of their character, but they never think of God's grace. They are Pharisees; they know not what spirit they are of. Let us remember that when we get dull in the practical part of religion, the best way of revival is to think more of the loving kindness of God.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

WEB: Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.