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ps9.2
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1993-03-19
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EXPOSITION.
Gladness and joy are the appropriate spirit in which to
praise the goodness of the Lord. Birds extol the Creator in notes
of overflowing joy, the cattle low forth his praise with tumult
of happiness, and the fish leap up in his worship with excess of
delight. Moloch may be worshipped with shrieks of pain, and
Juggernaut may be honoured by dying groans and inhuman yells, but
he whose name is Love is best pleased with the holy mirth, and
sanctified gladness of his people. Daily rejoicing is an ornament
to the Christian character, and a suitable robe for God's
choristers to wear. God loveth a _cheerful_ giver, whether it be
the gold of his purse or the gold of his mouth which he presents
upon his altar. _I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most
High_. Songs are the fitting expressions of inward thankfulness,
and it were well if we indulged ourselves and honoured our Lord
with more of them. Mr. B. P. Power has well said, "The sailors
give a cheery cry as they weigh anchor, the ploughman whistles in
the morning as he drives his team; the milkmaid sings her rustic
song as she sets about her early task; when soldiers are leaving
friends behind them, they do not march out to the tune of the
Dead March in 'Saul,' but to the quick notes of some lively air.
A praising spirit would do for us all that their songs and music
do for them; and if only we could determine to praise the Lord,
we should surmount many a difficulty which our low spirits never
would have been equal to, and we should do double the work which
can be done if the heart be languid in its beating, if we be
crushed and trodden down in soul. As the evil spirit in Saul
yielded in the olden time to the influence of the harp of the son
of Jesse, so would the spirit of melancholy often take flight
from us, if only we would take up the song of praise."
HINTS TO PREACHERS.
Verse 2.--Sacred song: its connection with holy gladness.
The duty, excellence, and grounds of holy cheerfulness.