Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your goodness; and your paths drop fatness. I. EVERY YEAR IS CROWNED WITH GOD'S GOODNESS. 1. The annual revolutions of the heavenly bodies, and the benefit we receive by their light and influences, in the several seasons of the year. 2. The annual fruits and products of the earth, grass for the cattle, and herbs for the service of men, with these the earth is every year enriched for use; as well as beautified and adorned for show. The harvest is the crown of every year, and the great influence of God's goodness to an evil and unthankful world. II. SOME YEARS ARE, IN A SPECIAL MANNER, CROWNED WITH THE GOODNESS OF GOD MORE THAN OTHER YEARS. 1. God and His providence must be owned in all the blessings of the year. Whatever has been or is our honour, our joy, our hope, comes from God's hand, and He must have the praise of it. 2. The goodness of God must in a particular manner be acknowledged, as that in which all our springs are, and from which all our streams flow. 3. These blessings which flow from the goodness of God have crowned this year; He in them has crowned it. That word shall lead us into the detail of those favours, which we are this day to take notice of, with thankfulness, to the glory of God. A crown signifies three things, and each will be of use to us. (1) It dignifies and adorns. (2) It surrounds and encloses. And — (3) It finishes and completes.And accordingly this year has been dignified, surrounded, and finished with the blessings of God's goodness. III. APPLICATION. 1. Has God thus crowned the year? Let us cast all the crowns of it at His feet, by our humble, grateful acknowledgments of His infinite wisdom, power, and mercy. What we have the joy of, let God have the praise of. 2. Has God thus crowned the year? Let not us then profane our crown, nor lay our honour in the dust, by our unworthy walking. Let the goodness of God lead us to repentance, and engage us all to reform our lives and families, to be more watchful against sin, and to abound more in the service of God, and in everything that is virtuous and praiseworthy. 3. Let God's goodness to us engage, and increase, our goodness to one another: it is justly expected, that they who obtain mercy should show mercy, and so reflect the rays of the Divine goodness upon all about them; being herein followers of God as dear children; followers of Him that is good, in His goodness. ( M. Henry.). Parallel Verses KJV: Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.WEB: You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance. |
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