NOTES ON PSALM XXV.

General remark. What is here said of David's natural enemies may be applied, without injury to the spirit of the original, to each one's spiritual enemies; also what is said of Israel or David's people, to one's own people or nation.

Verse 1. To lift up one's soul, means here, to lift up one's soul with longing desire.

Verse 5. God of my salvation, i. e. my preserving God. Verse 9. In judgment, i. e. in righteousness.

Verse 13. The earth, better the land, i. e. the promised land, the good which was constantly held out to the pious Israelites.

Verse 14. The secret of the LORD, means his intimate friendship or confidence.

Verse 15. The net, i. e. the plans of the wicked for his destruction.

Verse 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged, i. e.. they are removed or alleviated.

Inference from the whole psalm: a good man will feel his dependence on God, both in temporal and spiritual dangers.

QUESTIONS ON PSALM XXV.

1. What is the title of the twenty fifth psalm? 2. Will you please to repeat the psalm?

3. What is the general remark on this psalm?

4. What does the phrase, to lift up one's soul, in the first verse, mean?

5. What is the meaning of the phrase, God of my salvation, in the fifth verse?

6. What does the phrase, in judgment, in the ninth verse,

mean?

7. What is meant by inheriting the earth, in the thirteenth verse?

8. What does the phrase, the secret of the LORD, in the fourteenth verse, mean ?

9. What is meant by the net, in the fifteenth verse?

10. What is meant by the phrase, the troubles of my heart are enlarged, in the seventeenth verse?

11. What is the inference from the whole psalm ?

PSALM XXVI.

The psalmist appeals to God, with a consciousness of his integrity and confidence in God.

1. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity:

I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not

slide.

2. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;

Try my reins and my heart.

3. For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes:
And I have walked in thy truth.
4. I have not sat with vain persons,

Neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5. I have hated the congregation of evildoers;
And will not sit with the wicked.

6. I will wash mine hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

7. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works.

8. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, And the place where thine honor dwelleth.

9. Gather not my soul with sinners,

Nor my life with bloody men:

10. In whose hands is mischief,

And their right-hand is full of bribes.

11. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12. My foot standeth in an even place:

In the congregations will I bless the LORD.

NOTES ON PSALM XXVI.

General remark: the verbs in this psalm, whether in the past or future tense, all denote habitual conduct, and would have been better rendered in the present tense.

Verse 1. In mine integrity, i. e. with the integrity which is habitual to me..

Verse 3. Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, i. e. I am filled with gratitude for thy kindness.

Verse 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency, i. e. I keep my hands pure.-To compass the altar, means here, to offer sacrifices on the altar.

Verse 8. Sentiment: I am a diligent frequenter of thy house.

Verse 9. To gather means here to gather into the grave.

Verse 12. My foot standeth in an even place, i. e. I tread in the right path.-In the congregations, to wit, of the righteous.

Inference from the whole psalm: a righteous man, though sensible of much imperfection, may yet be unjustly accused by his enemies, and appeal to God for his inno

cency.

QUESTIONS ON PSALM XXVI.

1. What is the subject of the twenty sixth psalm? 2. Will you please to repeat the psalm?

3. What is the general remark on this psalm?

4. Will you explain the phrase, in mine integrity, in the first verse?

5. What is the meaning of the clause, thy loving kindness is before mine eyes, in the third verse?

6. What is the meaning of the clause, I will wash mine hands in innocency, in the sixth verse?

7. What is meant by compassing the altar, in the same

verse?

8. What is the sentiment of the eighth verse?

9. What is the meaning of to gather, in the ninth verse? 10. What is meant by the clause, my foot standeth in an even place, in the twelfth verse?

11. Of what persons were the congregations spoken of in the same verse composed?

12. What is the inference from the whole psalm?

PSALM XXXIII.

An exhortation to praise Jehovah, as just and good; as creator; as ruler among the nations; as omniscient; and as man's only dependence.

I. AS JUST AND GOOD.

1. Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: For praise is comely for the upright..

2. Praise the LORD with harp:'

Sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of

ten strings.

3. Sing unto him a new song;

Play skilfully with a loud noise.

4. For the word of the LORD is right;

And all his works are done in truth.

5. He loveth righteousness and judgment;

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

II. AS CREATOR..

6. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap : He layeth up the depth in store-houses.

8. Let all the earth fear the LORD:

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9. For he spake, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

III. AS RULER AMONG THE NATIONS.

10. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught:

He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,

The thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

IV. AS OMNISCIENT.

13. The LORD looketh from heaven;

He beholdeth all the sons of men.

14. From the place of his habitation he looketh Upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15. He fashioneth their hearts alike; He considereth all their works.

V. AS MAN'S ONLY DEPENDENCE.

16. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: A mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17. An horse is a vain thing for safety:

Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy;

19. To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine.