Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD: your blessing is on your people. Selah. I. THE MEANING OF THIS SENTIMENT. The words carry a general confession of the influence of Divine Providence upon every event, and in particular with respect to salvation, or deliverance from impending danger. The words imply three things. 1. All confidence in man stands opposed to the sentiment. It is not opposed to the use of means, but to an excessive reliance on second causes of any kind. Success in any attempt is to be ultimately attributed to God. 2. The Psalmist had in view the omnipotence of Providence. God has not only the direction and government of means and second causes, but is Himself superior to all means. Salvation signifies a great and distinguished deliverance. 3. The sentiment has respect to the mercy and goodness of God, or His readiness to hear the cry of the oppressed and send deliverance to His people. Power and wisdom alone give an imperfect display of the Divine character. II. DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN DEALING WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In conclusion, some practical improvement of the subject. 1. It is our duty to give praise to God for the present happy and promising state of public affairs. 2. We should testify our gratitude to God by living in His fear, and by a conversation such as becometh the gospel. 3. And by usefulness in our several stations. Let us guard against using our liberty as a cloak for licentiousness, and thus poisoning the blessing after we have attained it. (T. Witherspoon, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. |
    |