Psalms 40:5-12

Psalms 40:5

So then there are two series of things which cannot be numbered God's mercies and man's sin.

I. If we keep these two things close together in cur contemplations, they suggest for us very forcibly the greatest mystery in the universe, and throw a little light upon it. The difficulty of difficulties, the one insoluble problem, is, Given a good and perfect God, where does sorrow come from? and where is there any pain? Must it not be that the innumerable sum of God's mercies has not to have subtracted from it, but added to it, the sum, which also at intervals appears to us innumerable, of our sorrows and our burdens? "All things work together for good;" and God's innumerable mercies include the whole sum-total of our sorrows.

II. Notice how the blending of these two thoughts together heightens the impression of each. God's mercies never seem so fair, so wonderful, as when they are looked at in conjunction with man's sin. Man's sin never seems so foul and hideous as when it is looked at close against God's mercies.

III. The keeping of these two thoughts together should lead us all to conscious penitence.

IV. Looking at these two numberless series together will bring into the deepest penitence a joyful confidence.

A. Maclaren, Christian Commonwealth,July 16th, 1885.