Psalms 104–106

Psalm civ. takes up creation in the same way. The last verse shows the judgment which clears the world of evil, and His sovereign power is owned. But the Spirit is able to bring in the goodness into the midst of all it Bees. But it does nut go beyond a fallen creation.

Psalm CV. reviews the special dealings with Israel in past times. The present deliverance by judgment is also found here, but it is looked at as His faithfulness to His promise and grace. Here what is present manifestation of goodness, awakes the memory of all God’s past ways. This is what He is, what He always was.

The following psalm takes the other side of the picture, and shows man’s ways — that, in all the interventions of <Jod in goodness, man, after the first gladness at being delivered, turned back to his own evil and unfaithful ways. Still His car Mas ever open, He remembered His promise, repented according to the multitude of His mercies, so as to bring, finally, praise and thanksgiving to His name. The former gave what God was in His own ways, this His being finally above the evil in accomplishing mercy and promise when men had shown what they were. God good in Himself, <Jod good in the midst of evil, but not as allowing the evil, but as making Himself known by His own ways of mercy. And He being thus known by the heart, the heart passes through present circumstances according to this knowledge of Him. But to do this consistently and constantly, supposes the heart not only to know hut to be with Him. This closes the fourth hook.