May 30

"Remember me, O Lord! with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; Oh! visit me with thy salvation."—Psalm evi. 4.

WHILE multitudes of the human race disregard the claims of religion, there are those who have another and a nobler spirit, that bids them seek superior bliss, and bend their course towards heaven's unfading joys. Such individuals can unite in the comprehensive prayer of the psalmist, which we are now to consider. Three things are here implied.

AN INTEREST IN THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD. "Remember me, O Lord!" This is a suitable petition at all times; in life with its solicitudes, and in death with its solemnities. We should pray that God would

Remember our wants and enrich us. Sin has impoverished us — by it we have lost all our possessions, and are reduced to the lowest extremity — but God can supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Remember our weakness and strengthen us. We are insufficient of ourselves either to engage in duty, or to encounter difficulty. Oh to be remembered by Him, who alone can impart unto us that strength we require!

Remember our sorrows and comfort us. In this life there are alternate joys and sorrows, the bright beams of hope mingled with the dark shades of despair; and, if the consciousness of the remembrance of an earthly friend affords such relief to the mind, what is the comfort associated with the persuasion that we have a heavenly Friend, who knoweth our frame, and remembereth that we are but dust?

A PARTICIPATION IN THE FAVOR OF GOD. Observe

The characters alluded to. "Thy people." God has a people that are peculiarly his. They are so by distinguishing mercy, as they are chosen in Christ, from before the foundation of the world. They are so by renewing grace; thus they bear the image of the Father, are justified by the righteousness of the Son, and sanctified by the influences of the Spirit. They are so by voluntary consent, as they have given themselves to him.

The blessing implored. It is the Divine favor. There is a peculiar favor God shows to his people — all he does for them is through free and unmerited grace. What David here desires, includes every thing essential to our present welfare and future bliss.

THE ENJOYMENT OF THE SALVATION OF GOD. "Oh! visit me with thy salvation." This may refer to temporal deliverances or spiritual comforts. God does this

By the interposition of his providence. Thus he saves and rescues us from innumerable dangers to which we are exposed, and continues us in being.

By the displays of his grace. How delightful are the visits which God pays to the soul! He never comes empty-handed, but with an abundance of good things. He visits us with discoveries of this salvation, and thus we see its fulness; with the experience of this salvation, and thus we feel its power; with the blessings of this salvation, and thus we enjoy its richness; with the earnest of its full consummation, and thus we long for eternal glory, where we shall be saved to sin no more.