Bible Commentaries

Psalm 92:12, when the boat sank. With difficulty we saved our lives, but the Psalm 86:13, "for great is Thy mercy towards me: and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest grave". I thought immediately of the word of St. Ambrose, that "those who listen to, or read, the Psalm aright may find as if. they had been indited expressly for themselves"."

References.—XCII:2.—Spurgeon, Morning by Morning, p227. Ibid. Sermons, vol. xix. No1138. XCII:6.—W. L. Alexander, Sermons, p191. XCII:10.—M. O. Evans, Christian World Pulpit, 1891 , p322. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xix. No1122.

The Palm-tree

Psalm 92:12

There is a singular Rabbinical tradition that the92Psalm was composed and sung by Adam in Paradise to celebrate God's power in creation. "For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands" (v4). More in accordance with its actual history is the fact that this Psalm was sung in the temple services every Sabbath morning at the time of the offering of the first lamb, when the wine was poured out as a drink-offering unto the Lord. It is still used in the Sabbatical services of the synagogue: and so this92Psalm has been interwoven with the religious history of the Jewish race for nearly three thousand years.

The great thought of the Psalmist is to express his joy in the clear conviction of God's righteous government of the world, manifested in the final overthrow of the wicked and the triumph of the righteous.

I have singled out the palm-tree as the subject of my sermon because I believe there is not in the Word of God a more striking type of the Christian life. I believe, with Basil, that Nature, as the handmaid of Jeremiah 10:5). The affections of a righteous man are set on things above, and not on things below. They are ever moving heavenward, where Christ is. He is ever desiring more intimate communion with Jesus, ever breathing after heavenly joys, ever seeking a greater conformity to his Master, till he comes, "in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Psalm 92:12

There are three typical ideas illustrated in the realm of plant life.

I. The palm is what is known as an Endogen, or inside grower, that Psalm 92:12

You will at once see by looking at this text that it is an exceedingly precious promise The condition of the promise is that of righteousness. I. The righteous man is the man who is in right relation with God, who has been made right, who has been properly adjusted to the law and the plan of Divine government for his life. Man in Adam lost his righteousness, and hence the work of God from that sad day until this good hour has been to bring man back into proper relationship and fellowship with God, and in order that that might be done it was necessary there should be atonement. The whole race of mankind has been redeemed and made righteous in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. But even this is conditional. It is here provided in the atonement of Jesus Christ, but no man ever shares that which is provided in this marvellous atonement until he comes, submitting by an act of his faith, and appropriates the merits of this atonement. To share the blessings of this promise there must be adjustment made between the soul and God. The soul must look up and receive by faith the atoning merit of the grace of Jesus Christ.

II. Now David is taking a simple everyday illustration, and with it he is attempting to teach the most profound and the most blessed truth. First of all, it is said of the palm-tree that it is the only tree that has its growth from the heart out. The righteous is a man whose growth shall be from within out. It is at the heart that the Spirit of God aims His first work, and from the heart to the head and to the feet and to the hands goes the Spirit of God, ramifying every avenue of our being in the likeness of Christ.

III. Then, again, let me say that the righteous shall grow like the palm-tree in that the palm-tree will not mix with any other tree. You cannot graft a palm-tree, you cannot graft anything to a palm-tree; the moment you begin a grafting process with the palm-tree it dies. The righteous man shall be a man that can live in any community and not find himself taken up with the conduct of the community in which he lives, provided that community is unrighteous.

IV. It is said by travellers in Eastern countries that as they pass through the desert regions the sight of the palm-tree, which tells of water near by, is greeted with great joy. So it is with the righteous man who is in right relationship with God, spiritually and bodily—that man is a sign of joy. He is a great comfort to this sorrowing world. Wherever a, righteous man is found, a man in right relationship with God and right relationship with his fellow-men, he has got a reputation, and his reputation is like an oasis in the great desert world of need; and so it is with the Church.

—Len. G. Broughton, The Homiletic Review, 1908 , vol. LVI. p466.

References.—XCII:13.—J. M. Neale, Sermons Preached in Sackville College Chapel, vol. iv. p24. XCII:13-15.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxiii. No1365. XCII.—International Critical Commentary, vol. ii. p283. XCIII:5.—A. Watson, Sermons for Sundays, Festivals, and Feasts (2Series), vol. iii. p9. XCIII.—International Critical Commentary, vol. ii. p296. XC1V:9.—J. Keble, Sermons for Septuagesima to Ash Wednesday, p65.

The Primal Consciousness