The name of the Book of Psalms means praise in Hebrew. Had we more of the secrets of wisdom to see each psalm in its proper light, we might find each to be praise. It is a great secret to put things as God puts them. That which, viewed in one aspect, might be as a firebrand to the conscience, in another would be blessed light. Many of the Psalms begin with the word " blessed." It may be said of many of them, as of the beatitudes in Matt. 5, that if they are used as the probe of our soul, there will be anguish; but if we see that they express what CHRIST is, there will be blessing. Thus, " Blessed are the merciful:" if we see Jesus in this, I find just what I need, as a poor, ruined prodigal.
It is well to remark that these are called Asher psalms in the Hebrew-the name of one of Jacob's sons. The mother was so thoroughly delighted with her child, that she named him " Asher"-saying, " Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed."
These " Asher" psalms are of three distinct kinds-turning, as it were, on three distinct pivots. First, in Psa. 1 There is not the slightest allowance made for any evil. Secondly, in Psa. 32 it is the blessing of the poor sinner, who has not one shred of righteousness of his own. Thirdly, as in Psa. 119, we have the blessedness of the person, whose sins having been pardoned, he, as grafted into Christ, knows what it is to walk in His ways.
It is easy to see how entirely distinct are these grounds. In the first, it is one who can claim a right to his reward. But who can say it? None of us, doubtless, would take such ground; but still there may be the thought of getting better. But in this 1St Psalm it is Christ: not what He says of Himself, but what God says of Him. Here is the delight of God in that perfect One, that God-man, who never did anything amiss; so that He has given all things into His hands, and set Him upon His throne.
Though we may not be in danger of taking the ground of this first blessing, I do think there is danger of the saints confounding the second and third species of " blessedness," i.e., the blessedness of the poor prodigal, utterly lost and freely saved by Christ, with that of Him who has the joy of the Spirit in the sense of obedience.