Psalms 71:16 - Homiletics

Strong confidence.

"I will go," etc. Since these words were written, almost everything in the world capable of change has changed. Empires, nations, languages, religions, have died, and new ones grown up in their stead. The centre of civilization has moved westward. Discovery and invention have so revolutionized man's relation to his surroundings, that he seems to live in a new world. The form of revealed religion has undergone a no less marvellous change. The priesthood, sacrifices, sanctuary, laws, which seemed to a pious Israelite an integral part of true religion, have waxed old and vanished away. But "the Word of the Lord abideth forever." Faith, hope, love, based on God's promises, are the same in all ages—in Watts or Wesley, Calvin or Luther, Paul or John, as in David and Isaiah. Across that wide gulf of time which has swallowed so much deemed imperishable, we join hands with this ancient saint, and feel that he is our brother. His experience holds the mirror to our own. The Spirit who inspired him is promised to us also. Let us take note of his resolve, his humility, his confidence.

I. THE PSALMIST 'S FIXED RESOLVE AND PURPOSE . "I will go." He speaks as one who knows. The Revisers give a different sense. But they render the same Hebrew word (which commonly means "come") "go" in Genesis 37:30 ; Numbers 32:6 ; Jonah 1:3 . And the word for "strength" (plural in Hebrew) is so rendered, and cannot be otherwise rendered, in Psalms 90:10 . The vigorous Authorized Version is much the more apt and intelligible. Whither he is bound, and what he needs for the journey. Some lives can hardly be likened to either a journey or a race. No fixed purpose rules them; no high aim inspires; no goal shines in view. They veer and drift with the changing current of fashion and circumstance. There is something very noble and admirable in fixed indomitable purpose, even when it does not rest on the highest motives. We admire the courage of the great Roman, who said to the trembling pilots in view of the tempest, "It is not necessary for me to live, but it is necessary for me to go" (Plutarch's 'Life of Pompey the Great'). But we find a grander courage in St. Paul ( Acts 21:13 ). Or in Luther, after two hours spent in intense prayer, "If there were as many devils in Worms as tiles on the house tops, I would go." The one is the firmness of human will, defying circumstances to bend it. The other, of human weakness taking hold on almighty strength.

II. Therefore note secondly, THE PSALMIST 'S HUMILITY . He is not vaunting his own strength, or trusting to it. "In the strength of the Lord God. " All strength is God's. He nerves the arm that is raised against his law; kindles the light of reason in the mind that denies him. Let but a tiny clot of blood press on a thread of nerve, and the strongest arm will be paralyzed, the keenest brain unconscious. Hence Scripture strongly condemns the worship of human power and greatness ( Isaiah 2:22 ). A view to which men are always prone. A great blemish on the writings of one of our most powerful writers, Thomas Carlyle. It is wonderful how much people pardon in a conqueror! Such judgment is false. "God resisteth the proud." Illust.: Nebuchadnezzar ( Daniel 4:30 , Daniel 4:31 , etc.). Humility is true wisdom; since it is simply acknowledging what is fact.

III. THE PSALMIST 'S CONFIDENCE . "I will go," etc. A confidence resting in blind presumption, "I will go, come what may, hinder who dare!" is mere self-delusion. On the other hand, mere sense of weakness, "I cannot go!" is miserable, fatal to all success. Faith solves the paradox of combining the humblest sense of weakness with the boldest courage, most strenuous effort, most assured hope ( 1 John 5:4 , 1 John 5:5 ; John 15:4 , John 15:5 ; 2 Corinthians 12:9 ). Nothing but this courage of humility, this confidence of faith, can warrant, in any sane mind, a fearless outlook, even as concerns earthly life. For the strongest is not strong all round; and the strain may come at the one weak point. To climb the mountain is one thing; to breathe the rare air at the top is another. The dash which carries the soldier against the enemies' ranks will not sustain him through the dark, cold hours of the sentinel's lone watch. The athlete may fail at the desk. The man whom no labour could over task, whose resource, quickness, energy, promptly met every emergency in action, may helplessly break down in adversity. The man whom adversity could neither break nor bend may lose self-control in prosperity, and make shipwreck in a smooth sea. Yet more is this true of The spiritual life. Illust.: Peter ( John 14:1-31 :37, 38; John 18:10 , John 18:17 , John 18:25 , John 18:27 ). Have we the right to exercise this confidence anew? We cannot over trust God ( Philippians 4:13 ). Suppose a farmer has lowlying meadows along the course of a river, which he can irrigate at will. It is no presumption in him to say, "My land can never suffer drought"— if he opens the sluices. Prayer opens the sluices which let the full river of God's grace, wisdom, strength, peace, flow into the soul. How can you bear to face the unknown possibilities, or the certainties, of the future without this "strength of the Lord God"? What may happen any minute? "No use," you say, "to think of that" No; I know it is no use: does that make things better? How can you help thinking of it, unless you can take hold of God ' s strength and be at peace with him