The contents. farther back to the quiet night when the strains of Psa. viii. ascended to the ear of Jehovah, (see ver. 3); but he does not fail also to lead him forward to a future day, when earth shall witness its millennial scenes, among which not the least wonderful and refreshing shall be Israel in all the restored plenty of his last times, with the favour of Jehovah over all. In all this, David was the type of Christ. Jehovah's grace to man is the theme of verses 1, 2; that expression, “My goodness," "DIT, may be understood as if declaring that all the kindness or mercy that is in God is made over to his own people; q. d., all in thee that is kind is my property. Man's unworthiness and littleness are the theme of verses 3, 4-the contrast to the preceding verse. The Hebrew of verse 4, "man is a vapour," reads suggestively an 07, calling the disappointment of the first family on earth; q. d., all come of Adam are as sure to disappoint, and to be disappointed, in the fond hopes cherished concerning them, as Abel, so short-lived, and untimely in his end. God's strength laid hold upon by his own against fors is the theme of verses 5-8. The God of Sinai is remembered in verse 5; and the ease with which he can overwhelm his foes is expressed, verse 6, "Lighten with lightning," and forthwith they are scattered, (àorgatov dorgan.-Sept.). The "right hand (άστραψεν of falsehood," verse 8, expresses the violation of solemn oaths and engagements, in ratifying which the right hand was lifted up to heaven, (Gen. xiv. 22). Hence Tholuck renders it, "Their oaths are perjuries." With majesty and might, with lightning and fire like this, shall the Lord appear, when he arises at last to the final conflict. Praise and prayer, in prospect of victory, form the matter of verses 9-11. And here "The New Song" is mentioned, which “New Song" is ever sung by one whose eye is on that vail which was rent-looking either at the Saviour going in with the sacrifice, or coming out the second time to bless. The happy scene to be witnessed, when these desires are responded to, is the subject of verse 12, to the end. Do all this for us, in answer to our prayer, so that, as a consequence of this deliverance, “Our sons may be as plants (of the palm-tree, says the Targum), Our daughters like corner-columns, Polished like a palace. Others take this last clause to contain an allusion to the costly stones so carefully prepared for the building of the Temple: "hewn for the building of the Temple." These are the choice of men! each one full of life and beauty, walking before the Lord. "Our granaries full, supplying one kind of food after another; like Egypt in Joseph's days. It is a scene of plenty, as if the curse were lifted off the soil. "Our flocks increased to thousands, Increased to thousands in our fields.” (nigan, Job v. 10.) Here are the pastures peopled with their appropriate tenants, "No breach" in the tribes, like Judges xxi. 15; or in individuals, like "No going forth" to war. "No cry" like that in Isa. xxiv. 11, over disasters. Happy days when these scenes are realised! Happy people who shall enjoy them. Men shall in that day exclaim with Balaam, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob!”—or rather, all shall then unite in tracing the blessing to its fountain-head, "Blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah." Every member of Christ may take up this Psalm in behalf The speaker of his own country and people-yea, in behalf of our common humanity, praying for the day when all earth shall enjoy these blessings, by enjoying Jehovah as their God. It is a prospect that awaits the world when Christ returns; and our expectation of such happiness in reserve for our world is kept alive by a song like this, A prayerful song of David, and David's Lord, anticipating the prosperity which Jehovah brings to his own. Alphabetic structure. PSALM CXLV. David's Psalm of praise. 1 I WILL extol thee, my God, O King! and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. And the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. THE well-known 45th Psalm sang of the King in his beauty this 145th is a hymn of praise concerning the reign of Jehovah, and his kingdom. It is a Davidic and an alphabetic Psalm. In regard to its alphabetic structure, it has one peculiarity, viz., the "nun" is omitted; the reason of which may be, that (as we have seen in some other Psalms of this structure) by means of that, or some other such omission, we might be kept from putting stress on the mere form of the composition. a It is peculiar, also, in its title; indeed, quite unique-" Of The title. David; praise." The word is . Some render this " n hymn;" others, such as Hengstenberg, “a praise-song," differing in this from the 7, the "prayer-song." It is prayer turned into praise. Patrick remarks, that the term seemed so peculiar and excellent that it was given from this Psalm to the whole book, which is entitled by the Jews, the book of Bythner has this note on the word" So called because it is throughout nothing but the celebration of God; so that the ancient Jews used to say, that the man was already enjoying the felicity of the age to come who daily recited it three times with the mouth and heart." We are getting now beyond the region of former themes; all in the remaining Psalms is praise, praise; and this title is an appropriate introduction to the closing group of praise-psalms. Nor is its burden less appropriate; for, being a song of the kingdom, it ushers us into the region of eternal praise. It is a song for all saints. But we may say also, What a song in the lips of Christ for the Father's ear! What a song to soothe his own soul, when still man of sorrows!" For the kingdom made manifest, so The speaker. prospect is presented here of the that all see the glory of the Lord. It is a Psalm that gathers The theme. up much of the excellency of former Psalms; and so truly is the style of royalty and the manner of a kingdom in it, that we find, in after days, the writer of the Book of Esther using expressions regarding the king and kingdom of Media and Persia, that bear a striking resemblance to the terms employed by the Psalmist-only the one speaks of an earthly, and the other of the heavenly throne. 1. The harp extols Jehovah for what He is, in verses 1-3, The plan. "My God, O King !"-rather, "My God, who art THE KING." It is much more emphatic than Psa. v. 3, "My God, and my King" here he is sung of as the only King. We are reminded at once of Psa. xlv. 2, "My words concern the King." Of this God and King the Psalmist sings, that he is unlike all idols. He is self-existent, and infinite, and so the greatness of any of his perfections cannot be told. He is eternal and unchangeable; for he must be celebrated" For ever and ever." And all this he is in his very being or essence, for he is “Jehovah.” All he does is so wisely done, that for all he is to be praised. And his deeds display such power! Righteous too, is He, and yet abounding in love, kindness, and grace. Yes, let me bless (77) thy name for ever and ever,” (comp. 1 Pet. i. 3, &c.). Every day will I bless thee (comp. Psa. xix. 2); Yes, let me praise (-q. d., let me Hallelujah) thy name for T ever and ever!" Great is Jehovah; and (4) worthy to be praised !” (ver. 1-3.) How many terms of adoration and honour! Praise, praise, is on his lips; the harp-strings will utter nothing but praise; for "of his greatness there is no searching out," (comp. Job v. 9). 2. The harp extols the deeds that shew Jehovah's name, in verses 4-6, or what He is. "Generation to generation shall commend his works. Yea, they shall declare his mighty acts." (Ver. 4.) Compare Psa. xix. 2, " day unto day" uttering the Lord's praise in creation. But here it is both creation-works and redemption-wonders that are shewn ; for 2 cannot fail to remind us of the acts of Him who overthrew Israel's foes, and of Him whose name is 22, "Mighty One" (Psa. xlv. 3), and “Mighty God,” (Isa. ix. 6). His mighty acts, in establishing his kingdom on earth upon the ruins of Antichrist's dominion, shall form part of the theme. And that is the time when, in a special sense, the next clause shall be understood, though it may apply in some degree to his creation-works: "Of the majesty of glory (which is), thy beauty, And of the chronicles of thy wondrous acts, let me speak." (Ver. 5.) O how his beauty shall burst forth when the King appears with his many crowns! And if Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, amid gorgeous splendour, suggested to his people to cry, “A god, not a man!" what shall creation feel at this sight? The Lord's |