Psalm 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where your honor dwells. I. We have A PLEASANT OBJECT OF CONTEMPLATION — the loving kindness of the Lord. God has ever been manifesting this. In creation, especially in the creation of man. Other principles came afterwards into operation. God must be just as well as beneficent. Hence man, when he sinned, had to feel the effects of God's sore displeasure. But it is only when this is viewed in its connection with a dispensation of mercy, and as designed to lead us to repentance, that it can be regarded as manifesting His loving kindness. It is not merely forbearance — the patience which endures for a season the vessels of wrath, and which must at last give way to the growing vengeance provoked by their iniquities. It is the pitying tenderness with which our miseries and dangers are regarded, the redeeming love which would rescue us from them all, and receive and cherish us again as dear children, and delight in us at all times to do us good. Therefore consider — 1. What has been done to render the exercise of mercy consistent with justice. See this in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is it that arrests the attention and draws to itself the rapt admiration of the disciple whom Jesus loved? "Herein," he exclaims, "is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to he the propitiation for our sins." Did he overlook the other doings of God, in which He has shown His goodness to the children of men? No; but he felt that this transcends them all. In this he saw most clearly that God is love. 2. Think on the fruits of this loving kindness. Our mercies temporal and spiritual stretch on through all eternity. Notice also its spontaneous character, and its constancy. II. THE MANNER IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE BEFORE OUR EYES. 1. As the frequent subject of our thought. 2. As the sure ground of our hope. 3. As the motive of our praise. (James Henderson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.WEB: Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells. |
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