Psa 65 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-5 All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ. Our sins prevail against us; we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our own: yet, as for our transgressions, of thine own free mercy, and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing, we shall not come into condemnation for them. Observe what it is to come into communion with God in order to blessedness. It is to converse with him as one we love and value; it is to apply ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our dwelling-place. Observe how we come into communion with God; only by God's free choice. There is abundance of goodness in God's house, and what is satisfying to the soul; there is enough for all, enough for each: it is always ready; and all without money and without price. By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or can find this happiness.

‏ Psalms 65

* God is to be praised in the kingdom of grace. (1-5) In the

kingdom of providence. (6-13)1-5 All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from

Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable

through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to

express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a

mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come

unto him by faith in Jesus Christ. Our sins prevail against us;

we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our

own: yet, as for our transgressions, of thine own free mercy,

and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing, we

shall not come into condemnation for them. Observe what it is to

come into communion with God in order to blessedness. It is to

converse with him as one we love and value; it is to apply

ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our

dwelling-place. Observe how we come into communion with God;

only by God's free choice. There is abundance of goodness in

God's house, and what is satisfying to the soul; there is enough

for all, enough for each: it is always ready; and all without

money and without price. By faith and prayer we may keep up

communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we

are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the

Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or

can find this happiness. 6-13 That Almighty strength which sets fast the mountains,

upholds the believer. That word which stills the stormy ocean,

and speaks it into a calm, can silence our enemies. How contrary

soever light and darkness are to each other, it is hard to say

which is most welcome. Does the watchman wait for the morning?

so does the labourer earnestly desire the shades of evening.

Some understand it of the morning and evening sacrifices. We are

to look upon daily worship, both alone and with our families, to

be the most needful of our daily occupations, the most

delightful of our daily comforts. How much the fruitfulness of

this lower part of the creation depends upon the influence of

the upper, is easy to observe; every good and perfect gift is

from above. He who enriches the earth, which is filled with

man's sins, by his abundant and varied bounty, can neither want

power nor will to feed the souls of his people. Temporal mercies

to us unworthy creatures, shadow forth more important blessings.

The rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the pouring forth of

the influences of the Holy Spirit, that river of God, full of

the waters of life and salvation, render the hard, barren,

worthless hearts of sinners fruitful in every good work, and

change the face of nations more than the sun and rain change the

face of nature. Wherever the Lord passes, by his preached

gospel, attended by his Holy Spirit, his paths drop fatness, and

numbers are taught to rejoice in and praise him. They will

descend upon the pastures of the wilderness, all the earth shall

hear and embrace the gospel, and bring forth abundantly the

fruits of righteousness which are, through Jesus Christ, to the

glory of the Father. Manifold and marvellous, O Lord, are thy

works, whether of nature or of grace; surely in loving-kindness

hast thou made them all