These words are the more remarkable as occurring in a psalm which sounds like a storm, or, to change the figure, they are like the calm sunset of a most tempestuous day.
I. You know what peace is, do you? Few common terms are less understood. Silence is not peace, nor is indifference, nor is insensibility, nor is the quiescence which comes of selfish fear of consequences. There cannot be peace where there cannot be passion. Peace must be understood as a composite term as an affirmative, not as a negative, condition. Where there is true peace there is of necessity a right relation of forces, nothing preponderant, nothing, conflicting; everything has its due. In the case of the heart there must be life; towards God there must be intelligence, devotion, constancy; towards man there must be justice, modesty, honour.
II. The text indicates specialty of character. A particular class is spoken of, not a world, but a section "His people." In one sense all people are His; in another sense all people may be His. But the text comprehends all who have exercised repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, all who are sealed by the Holy Ghost, and who direct their walk by the guidance of the Comforter and Sanctifier of redeemed men. In so far as we come under this designation we are inheritors of the blessing of peace.
III. Such a promise should make the Church calm and hopeful under the most distressing circumstances. Two things are clear: out of God there is no peace; in God there is perfect peace. The good man meets every day with a hopeful spirit, and will meet his last day with the most hopeful spirit of all.
Parker, Pulpit Analyst,vol. ii., p. 121.
I. "The Lord will give strength unto His people." This implies (1) that He will enable them to come to Him at first, that the sincere desire, the Godward turning of the soul, the almost hopeless glance of penitence toward the far-off heaven, shall receive encouragement, and help, and promise; (2) the communication of the gift of power to be true witnesses and good soldiers of the truth.
II. "The Lord will bless His people with peace." This implies (1) conscious reconciliation with God; (2) the hush and harmony of the once discordant spirit.
W. M. Punshon, Sermons,p. 219.
References: Psalms 29:11. H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit,No. 1755; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 96. Psalms 29 A. Maclaren, Life of David,p. 31; P. Thomson, Expositor,2nd series, vol. i., p. 162.