Hints to Preachers

Whole Psalm.—The volume entitled “Christ on the Cross,” by Rev. J. Stevenson, has a sermon upon every verse. We give the headings, they are suggestive. Verse 1. The Cry. 2. The Complaint. 3. The Acknowledgment. 4-6. The Contrast. 6. The Reproach. 7. The Mockery. 8. The Taunt. 9, 10. The Appeal. 11. The Entreaty. 12, 13. The Assault. 14. The Faintness. 15. The Exhaustion. 16. The Piercing. 17. The Emaciation. 17. The Insulting Gaze. 18. The Partition of the Garments and Casting Lots. 19-21. The Importunity. 21. The Deliverance. 22. The Gratitude. 23. The Invitation. 24. The Testimony. 25. The Vow. 26. The Satisfaction of the Meek; the Seekers of the Lord praising Him; the Eternal Life. 27. The Conversion of the World. 28. The Enthronement. 29. The Author of the Faith. 30. The Seed. 31. The Everlasting Theme and Occupation. The Finish of the Faith.

Verse 1.—The Saviour’s dying cry.

Verse 2.—Unanswered prayer. Enquire the reasons for it; encourage our hope concerning it; urge to continuance in importunity.

Verse 3.—Whatever God may do, we must settle it in our minds that he is holy and to be praised.

Verse 4.—God’s faithfulness in past ages a plea for the present.

Verses 4, 5.—Ancient saints. I. Their life. “They trusted.” II. Their practice. “They cried.” III. Their experience. “Were not confounded.” IV. Their voice to us.

Verses 6-18.—Full of striking sentences upon our Lord’s sufferings.

Verse 11.—A saint’s troubles, his arguments in prayer.

Verse 20.—“My darling.” A man’s soul to be very dear to him.

Verse 21 (first clause).—“Lion’s mouth.” Men of cruelty. The devil. Sin. Death. Hell.

Verse 22.—Christ as a brother, a preacher, and a precentor.

Verse 22.—A sweet subject, a glorious preacher, a loving relationship, a heavenly exercise.

Verse 23.—A threefold duty, “praise him,” “glorify him;” “fear him;” towards one object, “the Lord;” for three characters, “ye that fear him, seed of Jacob, seed of Israel,” which are but one person.

Verse 23.—Glory to God the fruit of the tree on which Jesus died.

Verse 24.—A consoling fact in history attested by universal experience.

Verse 24 (first clause).—A common fear dispelled.

Verse 25.—Public praise. I. A delightful exercise—“praise.” II. A personal participation—“My praise.” III. A fitting object—“of thee.” IV. A special source—“from thee.” V. An appropriate place—“in the great congregation.”

Verse 25 (second clause).—Vows. What vows to make, when and how to make them, and the importance of paying them.

Verse 26.—Spiritual feasting. The guests, the food, the host, and the satisfaction.

Verse 26 (second clause).—Seekers who shall be singers. Who they are? What they shall do? When? and what is the reason for expecting that they shall?

Verse 27 (last clause).—Life everlasting. What lives? Source of life. Manner of life. Why for ever? What occupation? What comfort to be derived from it?

Verse 27.—Nature of true conversion, and extent of it under the reign of the Messiah.—Andrew Fuller.

Verse 27.—The universal triumph of Christianity certain.

Verse 27.—The order of conversion. See the Exposition.

Verse 28.—The empire of the Kings of kings as it is, and as it shall be.

Verse 29.—Grace for the rich, grace for the poor, but all lost without it.

Verse 29 (last clause).—A weighty text upon the vanity of self-confidence.

Verse 30.—The perpetuity of the church.

Verse 30 (last clause).—Church history, the marrow of all history.

Verse 31.—Future prospects for the church. I. Conversions certain. II. Preachers promised. III. Succeeding generations blest. IV. Gospel published. V. Christ exalted.