There is great moral value in learning prophetic truths in or through the. Psalms, because they are not there treated as mere doctrines, but are handled and felt there by the varied passions of the soul. Thus, Paul teaches us that "blindness in part is happened to Israel," or that "the branches were broken off" (Rom. 11:2525For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25) and 19). This is a proposition to be understood and believed. But the same truth is conveyed in the Psalms (65:3) in the words, "Iniquities prevail against me"-not, however, as a mere doctrine, as it is given to us in the style of the epistles, but as that which was, as it were, breaking the heart of a poor Jew when he thought of it. So, "All Israel shall be saved," is another teaching or doctrine of the Apostle Paul. But it is conveyed in the same psalm in this style "our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away"—not, therefore, simply as a proposition, but as the exulting anticipation of the same poor brokenhearted Israelite.
And thus it is that there is a moral value in learning truths through the Psalms. For there is a tendency in us to apprehend truth as an object or a proposition by the mind, and then just to talk about it. But in the Psalms, truth is delivered in company with the passions of the soul. The Psalms are, if I may so speak, THE HEART of the divine volume. They lie in the midst of the body, and there the pulses are felt; there the blood emanates and returns; there the affections of the renewed man find their seat and exercise. And it is safe to be there at times, yea, and to use other scriptures according to the manner learned and practiced there.