(PSALM CXXXIX.)

In the concluding book of the Psalms (107-150) we find the general characteristics of the book of Deuteronomy, to which it corresponds. There is retrospect, reiteration, and then a looking forward. The result of this is praise. It is good to know that such is the effect of a contemplation of all God's ways, whether past or to come, and that even our own follies have been but the occasion of fresh manifestation of Himself. So will it be at the end. All the path behind us, strewed as it is with wrecks of our unbelief, will speak of a love which never for one moment failed, of a purpose of grace which never faltered.

In the midst of these Psalms of experience we find this one, which seems in a special way adapted to God's people individually, in all dispensations. While it doubtless gives us the thoughts of the believer in the remnant times of Israel's trouble, there is but little that does not equally apply to us in this day of grace. It is heart-history, and the hearts of God's people have always been the same.

There seem to be four general divisions in the Psalm. We have, first, God's omniscience; secondly, His omnipresence; thirdly, His power manifested even when hidden from the eyes of men; and lastly, the testing and separating effect of this knowledge of God.

He begins with a general statement of God's knowledge:"Thou hast searched me and known me"; and then applies this knowledge to all his ways-my down-sitting and uprising, my thought, my path, my repose, my ways, my words. All, all is known to God. How solemn is the thought! He knows me better than I know myself; and no secret desire, no hasty word, nothing connected with me escapes His holy eye. Ah, it is with such a God we have to do. If we are to deal with Him, it is on the basis of truth. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

But while this should hush us and solemnize our hearts, does it not give us a view of His grace? He knows us altogether, and yet has not turned from us; He knows us, and yet would bring us to know Himself. We stand detected in His presence, and yet attracted. Like the woman of Samaria, He has shown us all that ever we did, but shown us Himself as well. The light is perfect, but it reveals a God of perfect grace, as well as ourselves, so we need not shrink from it.

Did we so desire, where could we flee from His presence? He has beset us behind and before, and laid His hand upon us. He is in heaven; we meet Him also in the grave. Beyond the sea, in the midst of the thick darkness, we are still with God. Nor is this said in the restlessness of one who desires to get away from Him. It is rather the confidence of one who knows that wherever he may be he has God with him to lead and guide. Blessed fact! We cannot get away from God. Where would we be if we could? And yet, alas, is it not true that the heart sometimes shrinks from this Holy Presence? Do we wish to leave that Presence a moment, to enjoy a pleasure, to indulge a thought we would not wish Him to see ? Surely it would be vain to desire such a thing, but the flesh cannot glory in His presence:if we wish that to act, we must forget we are there.

And this omniscience, this intimate knowledge and presence, has been with us from the beginning. When our imperfect members were being secretly formed, curiously wrought, embroidered, as another has said, all was under His care and superintendence. Surely we can praise Him:we were formed for His praise.

And so the Psalmist goes on to dwell upon these wondrous thoughts of God,- their preciousness. But how great is their number! Where can we begin, and where leave off ? We who have the fuller revelation of God in Christ may well say, "If I should count them they are more in number than the sand." Ah, in presence of this fullness why should our hearts crave more ? Well may we repeat for ourselves the desire of the apostle for us:"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with [unto, Gk.] all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:)

But there is the earth-side to this truth, and a most practical one. The wicked are to be judged:'' Depart from me, therefore, ye bloody men." Nay, so powerful is the effect upon him of God's presence that he counts as his enemies-he abhors-God's enemies. The soul that is at home in the presence of God will not look with indifference upon sin or sinners. True, grace has taught us to pity the lost, and declare to them the grace and love of God. We are not to hate them, but their sins. There is, indeed, a "perfect" hatred, an abhorrence of men who are the deliberate enemies of God. Would we knew more of it! – a holy abhorrence of avowed evil. In days like these, when the boundaries between the Church and the world have been well-nigh obliterated, we need to awake afresh to the seriousness and importance of separation unto God from the present evil world.

The Psalmist had begun with God's knowledge of him. This was beyond his control; he could not escape it if he would. It would seem as though dwelling upon these precious things on the one hand, and upon the evil by which he was surrounded on the other, had led him further. He asks now that God search him. He not merely submits to that from which he cannot flee,-he desires it. He cannot search his own heart:it is too dark and deceitful. He puts it in God's hands:" Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any way of grief [Heb.] in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ah, beloved brethren, our ways – our wills – are but, in the end, ways of grief; and yet how we cling to them. Shall we shrink from making this prayer our own? – from putting our hearts into the hands of One who already knows them and us completely, but who would love to see this proof of our confidence in Himself. Need we fear ? Need we be ashamed? When did we ever meet with rebuff or reproaches from Him ? How has He revealed Himself to us ? In Christ. We are called into the light,- a light that detects all, but the blood is there before us, and we cannot fear.

Do our hearts long to know more of conscious abiding in the presence of God ? May it be the desire of the writer and reader of these lines. Amen!