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I. A CRY FOR JUSTICE (vers. 1-7). Things in the mind of David. —

1. A sense of truthfulness. He was conscious that there was no discrepancy between his speech and his spirit. The man, unless he feels that he is sincere, will never dare to appeal to heaven for justice. Virtuous sincerity requires that there should be not only an exact correspondence between the speech and spirit, but also between the spirit and eternal realities.

2. A desire for the Divine verdict. "Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence." The human soul everywhere holds that there is justice at the head of the universe, and that it will sooner or later vindicate the right.

3. A consciousness of a Divine searching. "Thou hast proved mine heart." A man may be deeply conscious of his imperfection before God, analyst conscious of his innocence of the charges brought against him by man.

4. A determination to be blameless in his speech. "I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." What he means is, I will utter nothing wrong concerning mine enemies, nothing that can justify their harsh and cruel conduct.

5. An assurance of Divine protection. He was protected from ruin. Protected by God. And protected in connection with his own agency. God's agency in connection with man's deliverance neither supersedes the necessity nor interferes with the freedom of human effort.

6. A dread of falling from rectitude. "Hold up my goings in Thy paths". This means — I am right as far as mine enemies are concerned at present. I am conscious of no wrong. I am anxious to retain my blamelessness. To retain my blamelessness I need Divine help.

7. A confidence that God will attend to his prayer. The meaning is — I have invoked Thee heretofore, and do so still, because I know that Thou wilt hear.

II. HERE IS A CRY FOR MERCY. "Show Thy marvellous loving kindness." A prayer for protection from enemies. Note the character in which he appeals to God for protection. He appeals to Him as a mighty Saviour. The manner in which he desired protection. The enemies from whom he sought protection. The cry for mercy is as deep and universal as that for justice.

III. HERE IS A CRY FOR PERFECTION. Three facts deduce from the words.

1. That the death of a good man is an awaking from sleep. There is much spiritual torpor and spiritual dreaming even in the best.

2. In this awaking at death there will be the complete assimilation of the soul to God.

3. In this assimilation will consist the everlasting satisfaction of our nature. There is no satisfaction without this. The spiritual powers will not work harmoniously under the dominion of any other disposition. The conscience will frown upon any other state of mind. The Great One will not bless with His friendship any other state of mind in His creatures. Likeness to God is likeness to His controlling disposition. His controlling disposition is disinterested love, and this is that well which springs up to everlasting life.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: {A Prayer of David.} Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

WEB: Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.