I think we shall have further light thrown on the wide signification of the opening words of the Psalm, if we refer to Numbers x. 35, 36. I cannot but think that these very similar expressions point onwards to the time when the Lord should arise and come to engage in a conflict whose end was to be victory; when in the end He should return to the many thousands' of His people and reign over them for ever.

Verse 1. God shall arise, and His enemies shall be scattered.' Does not this sound at first somewhat contradictory? Is it what we should expect from the coming of Him, of whose coming it is written, that 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son?' Again, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son, to be the propitiation for our sins.' His coming was the fruit of the everlasting love, not only of the Father, but of the Son Himself; who became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' Now, is the scattering of enemies the first thing we should expect to be joined to the coming of the beloved and loving Son of God? It is, beloved. If we look back to Eden where our first parents sinned and fell, bringing ruin and desolation into the world, we see, on the one hand, God Himself 'walking in the garden in the cool of the day;' and, on the other, the dark and evil spirit, whose temptation has brought about all this sin and misery. But it is then and there that we hear for the first time the promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. He, whose glorious work had been ruined by the malice of Satan, was to bruise Satan's head, so that he should not triumph in the end. This was the great conflict which He had to fight; this was the end and object which He set before Him when He came into the world. It was to deliver the people that had fallen away from Him, to conquer Satan and win back for Himself His own rightful kingdom

amongst men. This is the meaning of the prediction that 'His enemies shall be scattered:' when He should come into the world to redeem from among the sons of men a people for Himself, His first act would be to 'destroy the works of the devil.' So we find it in our Lord's early history. No sooner had He come and entered on His work of benevolence and love, than He is led by the Spirit to encounter the enemy in the lonely wilderness. There was begun the conflict which was continued during His whole life on earth. When the end was near, in an hour when men would have said He was weakest, He exclaims, "The Prince of this world is judged.' He was even then anticipating the putting of Death and Hell and Satan under His feet for ever. He, the gentle loving One,‘the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;' He who came to His own, and His own received Him not:' He saw even then, the victory before Him. By the holiness of His obedience, and by His sufferings on the cross of Calvary, He conquered Satan, and delivered His people. Yes, 'God shall arise, and His enemies shall be scattered.' It is Satan, His great enemy, he who gained an entrance into the garden of Eden, and seduced our first parents, bringing death into the world, and all our misery and woe it is he and his angels and all who cleave to him who are the enemies' that shall be scattered' and 'driven away as smoke,' and who shall melt as wax before the fire.'

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'But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.' When these judgments begin to fall upon Satan and his angels, it will be a time of rejoicing with the righteous. For shall He not reign until all His enemies are put under His feet? This rejoicing of the righteous reminds us of that night when the shepherds heard from the Angel, Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city

of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.' That was the first note of triumph, as it was also the commencement of the conflict, when the shepherds had been to Bethlehem and seen the Babe, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.' So the wise men of the East, when they saw the star,' His star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.' Also, the aged Simeon who had so long waited for the consolation of Israel, it is written of him, that when he saw the child, he exclaimed, Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.' The evil ones fled before Him, who was so holy, just, and good; but the righteous rejoiced in His presence. 'Righteous' they are, not in themselves, but because covered with His righteousness, fully and entirely, so that they can look up to Him with confidence, and gaze upon the throne of God which they do with wonder and adoration, casting their crowns at the feet of Him who sitteth thereupon, and who liveth for ever and ever.

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'Sing unto God, sing praises to His name: extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His name JAH, and rejoice before Him.' 'Jah,' or Jehovah, of which it is an abbreviation. This is to present God before us in His character of deliverer of His people. The name, Jehovah, means the Self-existent One, and is first claimed by God in connection with the redemption of His people from Egypt. See Exod. vi. 3, 4. 'Extol Him that rideth upon the heavens.' The literal rendering of the sentence is this, Cast up (a highway) for the One riding through the deserts, by His name JAH, and exult before Him.' Our Redeemer is represented as marching as a conqueror and mighty king; and the cry goes forth, Cast up, prepare a highway, and rejoice before Him! Before Him, who, while He was God, yet took upon Him our nature and became Immanuel, 'God with us!' Let us, beloved

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friends, be jealous for the whole truth contained in the name Immanuel, God with us.' Let us not think that He came merely to be an example. An example He was truly; but He was fitted to be so through His great victory over sin and death. In His great conflict He was ' alone, and of the people there was none with Him.' In His own Almighty strength, He fought the fight, and gained the victory.

Beloved, how should our hearts overflow with thankfulness to Him for what He has gained for us, and that in the conflict which we have to fight with sin and Satan there can be no uncertainty, inasmuch as He, our Captain, has gained the victory! And though we see not yet all things put under Him, the day is coming when the last enemy shall be put under His feet, and when He shall take unto Himself His great power and reign! Well may the Christian rejoice as he cries, 'For the Lord hath triumphed gloriously.' Ah! but you say, Troubles are coming, and it is not so easy then to rejoice. Beloved, let them come; they come not alone. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.' Tears there must be and sorrows on this side Jordan, but we can be sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing.' In weakness, in sadness, in spiritual declension; in the midst of all look unto Jesus and you cannot but rejoice. Remember, God has said, 'Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it,' and none ever trusted in Him and were ashamed. Let your joy be always in Him, and then there is no fear of its proving a false joy. Here is a test for you, beloved: Is your joy greatest and brightest when you are in the very presence of Jesus, on your knees before Him? Then, be of good courage; for though your faith be at other times faint and weak, it is Jesus who is your strength, your riches, your all! Take Him for your joy and peace at all times, and then amid the manifold changes of the world, shall the joy of the Lord be your strength.

PSALM LXVIII. 5-6.

THE GOD OF LOVE.

'A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.

'God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.'

In our remarks upon the first four verses of this Psalm we pronounced it to be throughout a prediction of Messiah. As we proceed further, we shall see brought out very strikingly some of the leading features of Messiah's kingdom. In the first four verses Messiah is set forth as a conqueror. God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered.' It is the battle fought and the victory won. Of the people there was none with Him in the fight. Alone He fought, by His own power He conquered.

Beloved, when we remember that it was not for Himself but for us that He fought and gained the victory, we think we should like to know more about Him, of His person, His character, His work. When you tell me of One who came into the world to do a great and mighty work for me, and who did it; of One who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many;' of One especially, who gained the victory for me over sin and death. When you tell me of such a One, the story must at least excite within me strong feelings of gratitude towards Him, and I am stirred with desire to know all that may be known of that blessed Being. The blessing of salvation, unspeakable in itself, is still further enhanced by the holiness and loveliness of the Being who offers it. The soul of man craves to know of this, and something of this is what we have given us in the verses before us to-day. Whatever of fear or dread may be aroused within us by the description of verse 1 is allayed when we read of Him, 'A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is