Psalm 76:8 You did cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, I. THE CONTENTS OF THE LORD'S CUP. "The wine is red; it is full of mixture;" that is, however fair the appearances of things may be, however splendid any state of happiness, or any situation of life may appear, there is always added to it a certain portion of evil. By evil, I mean only the usual misfortunes and afflictions of human life. These are what temper the cup of the Lord; and in this mixed state it is poured out to the inhabitants of the earth. Man being compounded of good and evil, all his labours partake of the mixture. Let him form what schemes he will; let him employ all his little prudence and foresight in bringing them to perfection, still we will find mixed with them in one shape or other, uncertainty, disappointment, and miscarriage. II. HOW THE UNGODLY MAN DRINKS IT. The text says, "He drinks the dregs." Now, the dregs of any liquor are the pernicious parts. It is fairly implied, therefore, that the ungodly man turns both the good and evil of life to his own destruction. III. HOW THE GODLY MAN DRINKS IT. As the ungodly man drinks the dregs, the finer parts of the liquor are, of course, the portion of the godly man. In the first place, he expects to find a degree of bitterness in his cup. He sees the propriety of it, and fully acknowledges the great usefulness of this mixture of good and evil. If the potion were perfectly palatable, he fears he might drink to excess. When it pleases Heaven to bless him; when his designs succeed; and his hopes dilate in some view of happiness before him, "Now is the time" (he suggests to himself) "when I must guard my heart with double care. Now is the time when insolence, and wantonness, and pride, the attendants of a prosperous hour, are most liable to corrupt me. Let prosperity soften my heart, instead of hardening it. Let me be humble, and mild, and condescending, and obliging to all. In the midst of my own enjoy. meats, let my heart expand. Let me feel the misery of others; and turn my plenty to the relief of their necessity." Again, when it pleases Heaven to mix some bitter ingredients in his cup, still he has the same sense of acting under the will of God. "Now," he cries, "is the time when I am to exorcise patience and resignation. Now my religion is put to the test. Shall I receive good at the hand of the Lord, and not receive evil? Gracious God! grant that I may improve my heart under this trial of my faith; and make my sufferings, through Jesus Christ, the means of purifying my affections. Let me for His sake bear a trifling part of what He bore for me; and lot me keep that great pattern of suffering resignation always before my eyes." Thus the godly man drinks of the Lord's cup, and his draught, whether sweet or bitter, is wholesome to him. (W. Gilpin.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,WEB: You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent, |
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