For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.
Delight in God’s works
The Hebrew prophets and psalmists, when their minds were in the most exalted and inspired state, saw God in everything; in the mightiest and in the meanest movements of the universe, in all the events of history and in all the incidents of the individual experience. They were all and everywhere the works of God. To them the universe was no self-propelling machine, but a living organism of which God was the ever present soul.
1. Religious people are often afraid of science, and denounce it as an enemy to faith and piety. But what is science, and what is its aim? Its aim is to know and understand God’s work in nature. Why should such an aim be construed as antagonistic to religion or detrimental to piety? God has not sent us into the world blindfolded to the wonder and glory of His works, as if He did not mean us to unriddle the secrets of His workmanship.
2. Then there are rich poetic reasons for a closer communion with the Divine works of nature. God has endowed the meanest nature among us with the susceptibility of being pleased and delighted with the scenes of beauty and grandeur with which the world is filled. We were made for very sweet and pure enjoyments, and not only to grind in the mill of our daily work. This must have been partly what the psalmist meant (Psalms 92:4).
3. Then there is the religious motive to a more intimate acquaintance with the works of God. “How great are Thy works, and Thy thoughts are very deep!” The Divine thoughts are embodied and expressed in the Divine works. And if we wish to know God more perfectly, what ideas the Divine Being has been expressing in His creative acts--ideas of beauty, goodness, and power; to know something of the range of the infinite wisdom, and something of the sweep and compass of Almighty power, we must give ourselves with greater energy to the contemplation and study of His works. (C. Short, M.A.)
Divine workmanship
I. The work of the Lord.
1. Creation.
2. Providence.
3. Grace. The renovation of the heart of man, the removal of idolatry, the creation of the beauties of holiness, that is the work of God. And it is His chief work, His sublimest achievement.
II. Some reasons or grounds on which a contemplation of this work of grace is so eminently fitted to inspire the breasts of good men with sentiments of peculiar gladness.
1. Because it is a work of such beneficial character and tendency. Wherever you see a sinner converted from the error of his ways, you see the firstfruits of a most glorious state, the scene of a mighty harvest.
2. Because it contains the richest impress of the hand of its Author.
3. Because it is a work so surprising and unexpected. “Eye hath not seen,” etc.
4. On account of its permanency. This work shall advance and triumph, till there shall be unbelief nowhere, faith everywhere; hatred nowhere, love everywhere; confusion nowhere, order everywhere; darkness nowhere, light everywhere; Satan nowhere on earth, Christ everywhere.
5. Because of its necessary connection with still higher operations. The work is too much for one world to hold. When it has filled one world it will rush over into another, and fill the recesses of eternity when earth is a cinder and time a story. (W. Beaumont, D.D.)
The Christian made glad
I. An interesting subject. It is the work of God--
1. To redeem the soul (John 3:16; Psalms 89:19; Romans 8:3; Romans 5:6-8).
2. To regenerate the soul (Eph 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:13; 1 Peter 1:23).
3. To receive the soul to favours and privileges lost by sin (Ephesians 2:11-13).
4. To comfort the soul (Isaiah 40:1-2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalms 119:50; Romans 15:4; Acts 9:31).
5. To protect and save His people to the end (Romans 8:31).
6. To glorify the soul (John 14:2-3; John 17:24).
II. An interesting statement: “Thou hast made me glad through Thy works.” This gladness is--
1. Divine (Psalms 40:1-3).
2. The gladness of experience (Psalms 4:7).
3. Social joy (Malachi 3:16).
4. The gladness of faith and hope (Romans 15:4; Hebrews 6:16-19; Titus 1:2; Titus 2:13).
III. A judicious resolution: “I will triumph in the work of Thy hands.” This implies--
1. Grateful acknowledgment of Divine obligation (1 Peter 1:3).
2. Intimate acquaintance and rapturous satisfaction with the works of God’s hands (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14).
3. Expectation of an ultimate and complete triumph.
4. A determination to proclaim the works of God’s hands to others. (Helps for the Pulpit.)