53. Open Praise and Public Confession.

I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship towards Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy loving kindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. - Psalm 138:1-3.

DAV1D was vexed with rival gods, as we are with rival gospels. Nothing is more trying to the soul of a true man than to be surrounded with vile counterfeits, and to hear these cried up, and the truth treated with contempt.

How will David act under the trial? For so should we act. Our text informs us. He will:

I. SING WITH WHOLE-HEARTED PRAISE. "I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee."

1. His song would openly show his contempt of the false gods: he would sing whether they were there or no. They were such nothings that he would not change his note for them.

2. It would evince his strong faith in the true God. To the teeth of the adversary he glorified Jehovah. His enthusiastic wholehearted song was better than denunciation or argument.

3. It would declare his joyful zeal for God: he sang to show the strong emotion of his soul. Others might be pleased in Baal; he greatly rejoiced in Jehovah.

4. It would shield him from evil from those about him; for holy song keeps off the enemy. Praise is a potent disinfectant. If called to behold evil, let us purify the air with the incense of praise.

II. WORSHIP BY THE DESPISED RULE. "I will worship toward thy holy temple."

1. Quietly ignoring all will-worship, he would follow the rule of the Lord, and the custom of the saints.

2. Looking to the Person of Christ, which was typified by the Temple. There is no singing like that which is directed towards the Lord Jesus, as now living to present it to the Father.

3. Trusting in the one finished Sacrifice, looking to the one Great Expiation, we shall praise aright.

4. Realizing God himself; for it is to God he speaks, "towards thy holy temple.'' Music which is meant for the ear of God is music indeed.

III. PRAISE THE QUESTIONED ATTRIBUTES. "I will praise thy name for thy loving kindness, and for thy truth."

1. Loving kindness in its universality.

· Loving kindness in its specialty.

precious to true penitents.

· Concerning the grace of God, let us cling close to the doctrine and spirit of the gospel all the more because the spirit of the age is opposed to them.

· Historic accuracy of Scripture.

· Absolute certainty of the gospel.

· Assured truthfulness of the promise

· Complete accuracy of prophecy.

It is ours in these evil days to hold to the infallible inspiration of the Word, and to affirm it in unmistakable terms. No wonder that men rush off to find an infallible church in Popery, or rely upon their own infallible reason, when once they doubt the plenary inspiration of the Bible.

IV. REVERENCE THE HONORED WORD. "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

God has magnified His sure word of testimony beyond all such revelations as we receive through creation and providence, though these declare God's name. The Gospel word is:

1. More clear. Words are better understood than nature's hieroglyphs.

2. More sure. The Spirit Himself sealing it.

3. More sovereign. Effectually blessing believers.

4. More complete. The whole of God is seen in Christ.

5. More lasting. Creation must pass away; the Word endures for ever.

6. More glorifying to God. Especially in the great Atonement.

V. PROVE IT BY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. "In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me;' etc.

He had used his knowledge of God derived from the Word:

1. By offering prayer. "I cried." What do men know of the bud, and grace of God and the virtue of His Word if they have never prayed?

2. By narrating the answer. "Thou answeredst me," etc. We are God's witnesses, and should with readiness, care, frequency, and courage testify what we have seen and known.

3. By exhibiting the strength of soul which was gained by prayer. This is good witness-bearing.

Show by patience, courage, joy, and holiness what the Lord has done for your soul.

· Our Lord is above all others.

· Our joy in Him surpasses all other joy.

· Therefore will we delight in Him and extol Him beyond measure.