Hints to Preachers

[All the suggestions under this Psalm, except those otherwise designated, are by our beloved friend, Rev. George Rogers, Tutor of The Pastor’s College.]

Verse 1.—I. What the church is to God. 1. His “city:” not a lawless rabble, but a well organised community. 2. A mountain of holiness, for the display of justifying righteousness, of sanctifying grace. II. What God is to the church. 1. Its inhabitant. It is his city, his mountain. There he is great. There was no room for the whole of God in Paradise, there is no room for him in his law, no room for him in the heaven of angels: in the church only is there room for all his perfections, for a triune Jehovah. Great everywhere, he is peculiarly great here. 2. The object of its praises. As he is greatest here, so are his praises, and through the universe on this account.

Verse 2.—I. Was the ancient Zion beautiful for situation? So is the New Testament church founded upon a rock, upon eternal purpose and grace. II. Was it the joy of the whole earth? So the New Testament church will become. III. Was it the special joy of the tribes of Israel that were almost entirely to the north of Jerusalem? So the church is to the saints. IV. Was it a royal as well as holy city? So is the church. “Yet have I set,” etc.

Verse 3.—I. God is a refuge in his church. The church is a city of refuge, but the refuge is not in its church, but its God. 1. For sinners from wrath. 2. For saints from trials and fears. II. God is there known as such, known to thousands, not known as such elsewhere. “They that know thy name,” etc.

Verses 4-7.—I. The opposition of worldly powers to the church. “The kings,” etc. II. The manner in which they are subdued—by their own fears; conscience has persecuted those who have persecuted the church of God. They who have seized the ark of God have been glad to return it with an offering. III. The completeness of their overthrow. As a fleet of ships of Tarshish, dispersed, broken and engulfed by the east wind.

Verse 8.—I. God has ever been to his people what he now is; the same “heard” as “seen.” II. He is now what he ever has been: the same “seen” as “heard.” III. He will ever be what he now is. “Will establish it for ever.”

Verse 9.—I. What are the lovingkindnesses of God? Pity to the wretched pardon to the penitent, help to the prayerful, comfort to the afflicted, etc. II. Where are they to be found? “In the midst of,” etc. 1. Here they are revealed. 2. Here they are dispensed. 3. Here they are sought. 4. Here they are enjoyed.

Verse 10.—As the name of God, so his praises are—I. Supreme. II. Unqualified. III. Universal. IV. Everlasting.

Verse 10.—“Thy right hand,” etc. I. The justice of omnipotence. II. Omnipotence controlled by justice. III. The omnipotence of justice.

Verse 11.—I. The subjects of his peoples’ joy. Not mercies merely, but judgments. II. Reasons: 1. Because they are holy—needful to the purity of moral government. 2. Just—needful to vindicate law. 3. Good—needful for the greatest amount of good.

Verse 12.—I. What is to be understood by the preservation and protection of the church? II. What is meant by searching into, and considering of, these causes and means of the church’s preservation? III. What are those causes and means of the church’s preservation, those towers and bulwarks which will not fail? IV. What reason is there why we should thus search into and consider these causes of the church’s preservation and protection? V. What is the testimony which we have to give concerning this matter to the ensuing generation?—John Owen’s Sermon.

Verse 14 (first clause).—This is the language of a proprietary in God: 1. Of an assured proprietary—“This God is our God.” 2. Of a permanent proprietary—“for ever and ever.” 3. Of an exulting proprietary.—W. Jay.

Verse 14.—I. The language of discrimination. This God. This God in Christ, in the church. II. The language of Faith—our God. III. Of Hope—“For ever and ever.” IV. Of Resignation—“He will be our guide,” etc.