Psalm 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with you, and a sojourner… I. THE PSALMIST'S EXPERIENCE INCLUDES A DEEP AND HABITUAL SENSE OF THE TRANSITORY AND UNSATISFYING NATURE OF ALL EARTHLY THINGS. II. To BE A STRANGER WITH GOD, AND A SOJOURNER, INCLUDES REALIZING ANTICIPATIONS OF ANOTHER AND ENDURING WORLD. III. THE PSALMIST'S EXPERIENCE COMPREHENDS AN EARNEST AND ASSIDUOUS CULTIVATION OF ALL CHRISTIAN GRACES AND VIRTUES. The character of a stranger and a sojourner is made up of many bright lineaments of excellence, harmoniously blended as are rays of different hues in the solar orb. Certain features of his experience may, at first view, appear to be hardly consistent with others; as, for example, undaunted firmness with a meek and lowly spirit; the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove; inflexible opposition to all sin, with profound compassion towards all sinners. IV. To BE A STRANGER WITH GOD, AND A SOJOURNER, INCLUDES A FAITHFUL IMPROVEMENT OF THE ORDINANCES OF GRACE AND THE DISPENSATIONS OF PROVIDENCE. (J, Smyth, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. |
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