Hints to Preachers

Verse 1.—We apply to God—I. As our Judge: “Judge me.” II. As our Advocate: “Plead my cause.” III. As our Deliverer: “O deliver me.”

Verse 1.—Popular opinion outweighed by divine approbation.

Verse 1.—How the Lord pleads the cause of his people.

Verse 1.—Deceit and injustice twin vipers; their origin, their character, their folly, their end.

Verses 1, 2, 4, 5.—Five mys: 1. My cause—“plead it.” 2. My strength—“thou art.” 3. My joy—God is. 4. My soul—“why disquieted.” 5. My God.

Verse 2.—“The God of my strength.” From whom it is derived, to whom it is dedicated, in whom it resides, by whom it shall be perfected.

Verse 2 (first clause).—1. From thee it comes. 2. By thee it is sustained. 3. To thee it is dedicated. 4. By thee it will be perfected. 5. By thee it will be rewarded. Verse 2 (second clause).—I. The nature of apparent forsaking. Painful, protracted, perplexing. II. The cause of it. Secret sin to be laid bare, past sin chastised, graces tried, faith ultimately strengthened, etc. III. The best conduct under it. Appeal to God, confess, submit, pray, trust, etc.

Verse 2 (last clause).—The two “whys.” The questions themselves; the spirit in which they may be asked. The answers which may be given.

Verse 3.—“O send out thy light and thy truth.” I. What is truth? II. How truth is to be diffused. III. Why it should be diffused. IV. Who must be the main agent of it.—Varied from Dr. Bogue. 1800.

Verse 3.—The blessings desired; the guidance sought; the end longed for.

Verse 3.—Under what influence we should resort to divine worship.

Verse 4.—I. The good man’s duty—expressed by going to God. II. His blessedness—expressed by rejoicing in God.—Samuel Lavington.

Verse 4 (first clause).—When? “Then.” Where? “Altar of God.” Who? “I.” Why? “My exceeding joy.”

Verse 4 (second clause).—It is God alone who can be an exceeding joy to his creatures.—W. Dunlop’s Sermons.

Verse 4.—The joy of joy. The soul of soul joy.

Verse 4.—The great object of public worship, its bliss, and the praise resulting from attaining it.

Verse 4.—I. The medium of joy, the altar of God, or God in Christ Jesus. II. The springs of joy, or the attributes of God—mercy, justice, power, holiness, as seen in the atonement. III. The value of joy, as comfort, strength, etc.

Verse 4.—“God my exceeding joy.” A most rich and precious title.

Verse 4 (last clause).—Possession, praise, resolution.

Verse 5.—Discouragement’s recovery.—R. Sibbes’s Sermons.

Verse 5.—“I shall yet praise him.” I, even I; shall sooner or later, most assuredly; “yet,” despite troubles, foes, devils; “praise” with gratitude, confidence, exultation; “him” above all other helpers, though now afflicting me.

Verse 5.—“Health of my countenance,” removing that which mars it—sin, shame, fear, care, sorrow, weakness, etc.

PSALM XLIV

TITLE.—To the Chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.—The title is similar to the forty-second, and although this is no proof that it is by the same author it makes it highly probable. No other writer should be sought for to father any of the Psalms when David will suffice, and therefore we are loth to ascribe this sacred song to any but the great Psalmist, yet as we hardly know any period of his life which it would fairly describe, we feel compelled to look elsewhere. Some Israelitish patriot fallen on evil times, sings in mingled faith and sorrow, his country’s ancient glory and her present griefs, her traditions of former favour and her experience of pressing ills. By Christians it can best be understood if put into the mouth of the church when persecution is peculiarly severe. The last verses remind us of Milton’s famous lines on the Massacre of the Protestants among the mountains of Piedmont.

The song before us is fitted for the voices of the saved by grace, the sons of Korah, and is to them and to all others full of teaching, hence the title Maschil.

DIVISION.—From 1-3, the Lord’s mighty works for Israel are rehearsed, and in remembrance of them faith in the Lord is expressed 4-8. Then the notes of complaint are heard 9-16, the fidelity of the people to their God is avowed, 17-22, and the Lord is entreated to interpose, 23-26.