---

Among the various methods of giving glory to God, it is none of the least considerable to celebrate the acts and the reward of His saints. Whilst He is acknowledged for the author of their virtue and their happiness, there will be no danger of declining by this means to superstition and idolatry; the Creator's power and goodness will be observed resplendent in His creatures, but not the creature worshipped instead of the Creator. So thought the holy penman of this psalm, who undertakes to set forth the praises of the Lord, by declaring the blessings of the man that delights in His commandments.

I. THE AMIABLE NATURE OF A BENEFICENT AND BOUNTEOUS DISPOSITION.

1. The general notion and exercise of this virtue. "He hath given to the poor." It appears to he a principle of nature, that all who have ability, whether of purse, of body, or of mind, are bound to consider the necessities of other people, and spare some decent proportion of their own superfluities, to supply them in such manner as their respective exigencies call for help. The voice of nature, in this as well as other matters, is confirmed by the unerring precepts of revealed religion (1 Timothy 6:17, 18; Acts 20:35; Ephesians 4:28).

2. Its great extent and diffusive quality. "He hath dispersed," says the psalmist, or (in the old translation) "He hath dispersed abroad," not confined himself to one or two such acts of charity, but repeated them with frequency, and spread them with discretion. As the husbandman takes care that his ground be first duly prepared for the improvement of his seed, and throws it not away on rocks or uncultivated deserts; so the liberal man should he careful to bestow his bounty where it may turn to use and benefit, and spread abroad with greatest profit and advantage to mankind.

3. Its duration and influence on future times. "His righteousness endureth for ever," i.e. it shall always be had in remembrance before God (as is intimated of the alms of Cornelius), and receive such a reward from Him, as will demonstrate that his substance has not been wasted or thrown away, but discreetly improved to his own greatest advantage. This will be often seen in the increase of temporal blessings to him and his posterity (vers. 2, 3; 2 Corinthians 9:8). And if this temporal increase do not always follow, yet the psalmist adds that "unto the righteous there ariseth light in the darkness," such inward peace and tranquillity of mind as must more than counterbalance all the outward evil of adversity.

II. THE HAPPINESS OR REWARD ANNEXED TO SUCH BENEFICENCE. "His horn shall be exalted with honour." It is said of godliness, or the practice of religion in general, that it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. But more particularly is that part of godliness, namely bounty to the poor, encouraged to trust in the care and goodness of Providence, even for temporal prosperity (Proverbs 11:24). Our Saviour represents it as the test of that reckoning He shall make with us at the last day, whether we have duly ministered to the various wants of His afflicted members, which He will esteem as done unto Himself. And therefore St. Paul has pertinently urged it as the ground why rich men should be ready to distribute, and willing to communicate, that so they may lay up in store for themselves a good foundation (or charter) against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Then shall their horn truly be exalted with the highest honour. Not that the bare act of giving alms can ever entitle us to such a reward! But when it is given, as it is here considered, from a religious principle, it will then be accompanied with other Christian virtues, all springing from the same root of faith and obedience, which is the very condition of our laying hold on the Gospel promises, and entering into endless felicity. This is to receive honour from God, that durable, substantial honour which should chiefly be regarded.

(W. Berriman, D.D.)

---

---

KJV: He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

WEB: He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.