The pathway of the Christian, as of Israel, may be viewed from three standpoints. An illustration of this is found in Ps. 105, 106, 107. The first views them as the objects of sovereign grace, purpose and counsel; the gracious ways of God are its theme. Sixty-one times "He" and "His" occur as the Psalmist celebrates "His deeds," "His wondrous works," and calls upon "His chosen to make known His acts," and "sing His praises."

This psalm reminds us of Ephesians. Here, as there, we see the blessed God moving and acting in the grace of His heart and the might of His hand.

"His every act pure blessing is."

It is His covenant He remembers. Canaan was His gift. He suffered none to touch His people; kings were reproved for their sake. It was no afterthought as to Joseph; he was the sent one; before the famine raged he had provided for the need and distress.

He was the type of another and greater Joseph. Ere sin, or man existed, God had His resource in the "man of opportunity." Man's sin culminated, when by wicked hands they crucified and slew the sent One; but by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, the occasion was turned into the means whereby man's need was fully met. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Christ exalted became the dispenser of God's store-house of mercy, love and grace.

It was God who increased the people, and made them stronger than their enemies. Aaron was His choice, and Moses was sent to give effect to His promise. Fear fell upon Egypt, the people marched out in triumph. Silver and gold-figures of righteousness and redemption-were theirs. Strength and rejoicing were theirs, there was not a feeble person among them. Bread from heaven satisfied them; water gushed from the smitten rock. A river of refreshment followed them. He brought forth His chosen with gladness. He gave them the lands of the heathen; they inherited what they had not toiled for. All that the love of His heart had purposed, the power of His arm carried out.

That same power and love is for His saints to-day. Christ's death has expressed His love, Christ's resurrection His power. In that act power culminated. Satan, man, and even saints, would have kept Him in the stronghold of death; witness the Roman guard of soldiers; the seal, with the death-penalty if broken, the mighty stone on the grave's mouth; the hosts of hell marshaled in dread array! Christ held in death meant the defeat of all God's purposes; Christ raised, the defeat of all Satan's wiles. God had to cross the thoughts of His people who embalmed Christ, defeat the devil, and set death's power aside; but

"When He makes bare His arm
Who shall His work withstand."

Let us now read Ps. 106. As we do so we must remember Scripture views saints as set in responsibility here, as well as in security in Christ.

In order to understand the ways of God we must hold the balances of the sanctuary with sovereign grace in one scale, and responsible beings in the other.

Some Christians dwell exclusively on the sovereignty of God; others are occupied wholly with the responsibility of man:both are found in Scripture; they are not conflicting, but parallel truths; one tells us what man is; the other what God is.

Ps. 106 contains the words "they" and "them" forty-six times. It is one long story of unbelief, sin and failure. The first charge against them is, "They understood not Thy wonders"; "They remembered not the multitude of Thy mercies."

The disciples in Mk. 8 resembled them; both memory and understanding were at fault. In the Lord's questions we discover how a reasoning mind and a perverted understanding, forgetfulness of God's mercies and a hardened heart, are all bound up together. Alas! Is not this often true of us? When we are in a difficulty, we are apt to forget the way God brought us through the last!

Verse 12 says, "Then believed they His words; they sang His praise." This was a good start, but it was on the Red Sea banks, and is the only bit of praise until the very end. What a picture of many a saint! Faith awakens praise, but this faith must be maintained; we are not only to start in faith, but we are to live by faith; it must be kept up if the soul is to be in vigor, either for worship or service.

Alas, Israel soon forgot God's works; they waited not for His counsel; lust followed, then leanness of soul, envy, and false worship. Why? "They forgot God their Saviour." Unbelief as to the inheritance caused them to despise God's rest, murmurs filled their lips, lower and lower still they traveled in their downward course; at length they went right into the world, with its lusts, false worship, and sacrifices to the dead; instead of overpowering the nations, they mingled among the heathen and learned their works; at length they murdered their offspring to sacrifice to devils! Could declension go further? Instead of possessing the lands of the heathen, they got under the power of the heathen. Are saints one whit less capable of this now? In the earliest and palmiest days of Christianity we find an Ananias and Sapphira; at Corinth they were guilty of things not even named among the heathen; are there not backsliders to-day who witness how far a man may depart from God who does not keep near God? Let us take warning; these things are written for our admonition.

Did God give them up because they gave Him up? Let verse 44 answer:"He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry." Should this fall into the hands of a poor backslider, let him take courage; let him turn to God as they did. They said "Save us"! This was the heartbroken utterance of a wandering saint. Look at the gracious response in verse 45, "He remembered for them His covenant." "For them," His poor, erring, wandering saints. He will do the same for you; His compassions fail not.

Restored now, they "give thanks," and triumph in praise; so will you, if truly self-judged, and restored in spirit. It is when the world creeps into a saint's heart, praise leaves it.

The psalm ends with, " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! " a blessed finish to a sad journey! Why was Ps. 106 written? "For our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come" (i Cor. 10:11). Why was Ps. 105 written? "That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Rom. 15:4). It tells us God has a storehouse of mercy and grace. No saint can go on without drawing from this divine provision. Even a Paul had to say,'' Having obtained mercy, I continued to this day."

Let us follow his example, ever appropriating, if we would not merely start well and end well, but to go on well. How many a saint starts with praise, drifts into the world, and only wakes up on his death bed! The only worship recorded of Jacob is at the end. What of you, my reader ? May we hold fast grace, so that we may through all the journey serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. As we read Ps. 105, we say, "That is God;" as we read Ps. 106, we say,"That is man." God will surely carry out His purpose ; how do we answer to our responsibility ?

In Ps. 105, the people are seen in the vision of the Almighty; neither iniquity nor perversity is laid to their charge. Ps. 106 recounts the same journey, but their every step is marked by sin. Reading the one psalm we should infer there was "no bad in them;" and reading the other, there was "no good in them." One is the charming account of sovereign grace; the other the sad story of man's failure.

Let us now turn to Ps. 107. Here Israel's responsible history is closed, their dangers over, their sorrows passed, their wilderness journey ended. This psalm commences the fifth and last book, and shows us a happy redeemed people, who have been guided, and are now gathered in a land from which Jehovah never withdraws His eyes. From a haven where no storms ever come they recall their journey and celebrate the goodness of God. They recall the darkness and shadow of death, the bands that had bound them, the gates of brass and bars of iron which had imprisoned them, the times they had been driven to their "wits' end." But all is over now, their troubles ended; no tears dim the eye, no racking pain wears the body; the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne leads them to living fountains; they lie down in green pastures; they sing the song of enjoyed, conscious redemption; they are the redeemed of the Lord.

At home in their land, faith changed to sight, they remember that redeeming love is the key to all their present blessings; they recall the pitying love of a Saviour God who had visited them in their low estate, ransomed them from the enemy, and planted them in their inheritance. The day of glory having now dawned, "guided and gathered," thanksgiving and praise occupy them.

Out of full hearts they invite the congregation of the people and the "assembly of the elders" to unite in exalting the Lord for His "goodness" and wonderful works to the children of men.

As we contemplate this redeemed company, with one heart and voice praising the Lord as they review the past, the last verse of this psalm reminds us that these things are written for our learning:"Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness (or goodness) of the Lord."

We also are on a stormy journey. Sickness and suffering, death and darkness on every hand. The soul melted because of trouble, down in the depths; often at wits' end through family sorrows, adverse circumstances, or church troubles. But this precious psalm is written for our comfort. We are to be among the "wise" to observe how God is ever for His people; how His goodness triumphs over all!

"When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He with His Church has always stood;
His loving kindness, oh how good!"

How variously we look at our journey now! We anticipate its difficulties, experience its sorrows, and are in heaviness through manifold temptations. All this often tends to cloud the vision of our souls. At such times let us remember that God is the God of all comfort; He is good and doeth good. We may therefore be encouraged to cry unto the Lord in "our trouble," for Israel's God is ours; and we may as surely count on His intervention for us as for them. He allowed them to draw near the "gates of death," they were almost overwhelmed "in the depths." "Gates of brass" shut them in, bars of iron "kept them captive," but when human efforts and hopes failed, then God's goodness shone out and He made a way of escape for them, just as He will for us.

Hear what Paul says when at "death's door:" "We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life; but God delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust He will yet deliver." He was "in the depths" troubled on every side ; without were fightings, within fears, nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted him. The "gates of brass " and "bars of iron " encompassed him; persecutions, afflictions at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what sorrows he endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered him. Nay, more, that Master whom he served, that Saviour who had redeemed him, remained faithful, stood by him, and strengthened him. Thus encouraged, Paul says, "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom:to whom be glory for ever and ever ! "

Here we see a man, just like ourselves, sensitive to the trials of the way, but so sustained by the goodness of God that in spirit he antedates the day when wilderness journeying will be over, and from a Roman dungeon cries, " Rejoice in the Lord al-way:and again I say, Rejoice." Paul's God is ours. How far the way will be remembered when we get to our city of habitation we may not know, but each recollection will only be a fresh incentive to celebrate the kindness and love of God our Saviour, who brought us safely to our desired haven. We shall then see that goodness did follow us all the days of our life, and that the most untoward events and the darkest dispensations of divine providence had goodness behind them.

How often on looking back we see that a poignant sorrow, a bitter trial, has been a real blessing in disguise, a fresh occasion for the display of God's "loving kindness." If that is so now, how much more in the light of that day! We shall then rejoice in the goodness which triumphed over everything. This will be one result of the judgment-seat of Christ. It precedes the day of the kingdom, and will show us how fully God has been for us, and how needful every trial and sorrow was, and behind all the storm-clouds were His loving kindnesses.

Nor will our earthly history close the story of goodness. The assembly will be gathered together, the entire company of the redeemed will unitedly in that day of glory celebrate the goodness of the Lord and His wonderful works to the children of men. Praise shall fill every heart and break forth from every lip. Among the varied families who will then swell the loud song, one is singled out as especially the object of "loving kindness." Eph. 2:7 tells us that the exceeding riches of God's grace will be displayed in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. The Church, above all others, is the vessel of glory in which the goodness of God will be displayed, the excellencies of our God, who is good and doeth good.

" How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end ! "

H. N.