Homilist Psalm 63:3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. This utterance is somewhat extraordinary, for — 1. What is lovingkindness without life? Had we no existence, though lovingkindness flooded the universe, it would he nothing to us. Life is necessary to discern and appreciate lovingkindness. 2. What would life be without lovingkindness? A desert unrelieved by a single blade, a midnight without a ray. Certainly "lovingkindness is better than life " in such a state. In truth the language implies that life in itself, life even apart from lovingkindness, is a good thing. To be is better than not to be. In many respects the text has a meaning. I. Lovingkindness is INDEPENDENT of life. Had no creature existed, had the Eternal existed alone, without one solitary existence in any part of immensity, lovingkindness would have been as full and complete as now. It would have been the life and consciousness of the Infinite. "God is love." II. Lovingkindness is the CAUSE of life. The universe is a tree rooted in the river of love, ever growing, ever green, ever fruitful. From love it sprang, by love it grows. As clouds to the ocean, so is all life to lovingkindness, they rise from its boundless billows and break into their fathomless depths again. III. Lovingkindness is the REDEMPTION of life. Lovingkindness expressed, embodied, and administered by Christ redeems the fallen race. What lovingkindness there is here, "God so loved the world," etc. "He that spared not His only son," etc. IV. Lovingkindness is the HEAVEN of life. It is the beauty of every leaf, the fragrance of every flower, the brightness of every star, the life of every breeze, the music of every sound, the charm of every scene, the flavour of every fruit in Paradise. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.WEB: Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. |
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