Sometimes, by the way of the Lord, the observing of God's law, sometimes the course of God's providence is meant in Scripture, as here in this place. It is said to strengthen the upright, not only for that it fortifieth their hearts, but because it preserveth them by sundry means from destruction. The manner of the Lord's desiring with the wicked is quite contrary; for the Lord plagueth them and crosseth them for their iniquities, and in their evil doing, even throughout the whole course of their life, which is unfortunate and full of many miseries.--_Muffet._ The "_way_" Jehovah personally walks in (as, for example, His way of justice) "_is a fortress._" To Gabriel, for instance, it is the arch that shelters him for ever; to the poor saint it is a sworn certainty of defence; but to the wicked it is an eternal vengeance. The way of mercy--that is, in the cross of Christ--is life unto life to the saint, and death unto death to the rebellious sinner. Elihu pictures this in the outward creation (Job xxxvi. 31); "For by them" (that is, by the same elements of Nature) "judgeth He the people; He giveth meat in abundance." The same showers fertilise the earth, or tear to pieces with a deluge.--_Miller._ _MAIN HOMILETICS OF VERSE_ 30. THE EARTH THE POSSESSION OF THE RIGHTEOUS. +I. From their relation to God it is theirs now.+ The estate of an English nobleman is the portion of all his family to a certain extent. They all live upon it, and partake of its productions. But the eldest son has a special inheritance in it--it is the perpetual possession of the heir of the house, and it is therefore his in a sense in which it is not the property of his brothers and sisters. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" (Psa. xxiv. 1), and it is therefore the property of His children--of those who are His sons and heirs (Rom. viii. 17). All men enjoy to some extent the blessings of the earth, but _it belongs_ only to them whom Paul addresses when he says, "All things are yours, whether . . . the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come" (1 Cor. iii. 21, 22). +II. From their relation to God it shall be theirs in the future.+ The regenerated earth is to be the eternal abode of the righteous. The glorified body of the redeemed man will have enough of his present body to enable us to identify each other. Although we have not now the "body that shall be" (1 Cor. xv. 37), there will be such a relationship between the present and the future as shall make them the same individual man. So, although the earth is to be "a new earth" (2 Pet. iii. 13), there will be that about it which will enable the regenerated man to recognise his old home. And if in the new earth there is to dwell "righteousness," it is because it is to be the abode of righteous beings. On this subject see also Homiletics on chap. ii. 21, 22. _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._