A STUDY IN THE PSALMS by Rev. Wm. P. Pearce.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1900

A STUDY IN THE PSALMS.

By Rev. Wm. P. Pearce.

REV. WM. P. PEARCE. (Golden, Ind.)

PSALM 117.

There are just as many books in the Bible as there are chapters in Isaiah—sixty-six; but there is no book which contains stronger appeals to human experience, and better fits every circumstance of life,—a book which is read more, sung more, memorized more,—than the Psalms, which consists of one hundred and fifty lyric poems. In this psalmody is a variety of themes, dealing with the practical, experimental, and doctrinal. It sings of the law and history. It glows with Messianic promise and prophecy. It denounces sin, aids to repentance, and points to a future life. The whole book is one rainbow of mercy, a mine of treasure, and a hive of the sweetest honey.

No doubt David sang some of the psalms to the accompaniment of the harp, and Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the prophets chanted them. With psalms, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah celebrated their victories. From them, the Maccabees drew courage in their struggles to achieve their country’s independence. Verse 12 of Psalm 118 was sung louder than the din of battle, as the Protestant army achieved their victory at Cortas. Psalm 58 gave the Huguenots their “Song of Battles.” Cromwell and his Invincibles, after the battle of Dunbar, sang Psalm 107. Luther called the forty-sixth his “Battle Hymn.” Daniel Webster listened to the reading of the twenty-third as he lay dying. The Scotch Presbyterians sing only psalms in their worship; and all lovers of the sacred Scriptures find great comfort in their inspired truths.

SHORTEST PSALM.

The one hundred and nineteenth is the longest psalm, the one hundred and seventeenth the shortest. Yea, more, it is the shortest chapter in the Bible; but, as Spurgeon said: “Though very little in its letter, it is exceedingly large in its spirit.” It takes in the whole world; for it says: “O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.” The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9, with ninety words, or four hundred and twenty-six letters. Psalm 117 contains but thirty-three words, or one hundred and thirty-three letters. But of so great importance was it that Paul, in his address to the Romans, refers to it when speaking of the dissemination of the gospel among the Gentiles and heathen: “Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.” Rom. 15:11.

MIDDLE CHAPTER.

Not only is Psalm 117 the shortest chapter, but it is also the middle chapter, of the Bible, and, doubtless because of its brevity and character, was used in the worship of the pious Hebrews in the same connection as we use the doxology. Regarding each psalm as a chapter, and each book which is too short to be divided, there are eleven hundred and eighty-nine chapters, this being the middle one, with five hundred and ninety-four on each side of it.

PRAISE.

Praise is the beginning and also the closing thought. In fact, the author repeats the words, “Praise ye the Lord,” a score of times in this book. Praise to God is as indicative of our love to him as is prayer. Prayer helps us to resist temptation, but praise says that we have gained a victory over it. Prayer precedes, but praise succeeds. Prayer helps us to take hold of God; but by praise God takes hold of us. How beautiful has Kempthorne written:— > “Praise the God of our salvation; > Hosts on high, his power proclaim; > Heaven and earth, and all creation, > Laud and magnify his name.”

But the praise of this chapter is specific rather than general. It is specific in its character: “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.” It is specific in its utterance: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” Ps. 115:1.

GOD’S KINDNESS.

The first thing in the analysis of this chapter is God’s kindness; or, in other words, his affectionate disposition toward the human race. The history of life is a history of kindnesses. But this kindness here mentioned is of no ordinary kind. There is a kind of kindness without the mercy. Kindness will assist the starving enemy; but merciful kindness will forgive him also.

During the Revolutionary War a Dunkard leader named Miller was grievously insulted by a man named Widman, who was afterward sentenced to be hanged as a British spy. Miller went to General Washington and begged for Widman’s life. The commander-in-chief replied: “I would like to release Widman, because he is your friend; but I can not, even for that consideration.” “Friend!” cried Miller, “why, he is my worst enemy, and therefore I want to save him.” That was merciful kindness, and such kindness won his pardon. How true of God with us! Were we not enemies? Had we not sinned against him in an awful manner? But— > “He saw me ruined in the fall, > Yet loved me, notwithstanding all; > He saved me from my lost estate; > His loving-kindness, O how great!”

HIS TRUTH.

The second thought in this analysis is his truth. This means the whole word of God intact. Here, in plain language, we have his revealed will by which we can learn to live and die. It matters little to me if some men declare that it contains errors; for I believe it to be as unerring as the “loadstone” that attracts the needle and makes it point to the north. I care little whether men declare it uninspired; for I see that it inspires others. It worries me not, if “higher critics” and agnostics oppose it; for, bless God, his truth can never be deposed. It “endureth forever;” and Christ added to this when he said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35.

RESOLUTION.

This being the case, let us all form this resolution, “I will walk in thy truth.” Ps. 86:11. To walk in the truth is to walk with God as Enoch walked, and as the two disciples walked with Jesus on the way to Emmaus. Let us lift up our voices and say:— > “Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine > My life and death attend; > Thy presence through my journey shine, > And crown my journey’s end.”