189) PSALM LXXIV. Maschil of Asaph. This Psalm relates to the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, or to some similar disaster. In it we have, (1) the church's bitter complaints of God's displeasure; of the outrage of their enemies; and of the apparent hopelessness of their case; ver. 1-11. (2) Strong and heart-encouraging pleadings, with God, upon the account of his relation to them, and of the great things he had done for them, and that he was at once their God and the God of nature; that therefore he would remember to execute just vengeance upon his sworn enemies, and grant help and relief to his cove nant people; ver. 12—23. While I sing this, let me admire the sovereignty and holiness of God, in so severely correcting his own people. And let the broken the deserted condition of the church, in this land, deeply affect my heart, and excite my earnest prayers for her restoration. GOD, why hast thou cast us off? Against thy pasture-sheep why doth 2 O call to thy rememberance thy congregation, Which thou hast purchased of old.: The rod of thine inheritance, 3 To these long desolations thy feet lift, do not tarry : For all the ills thy foes have done within thy sanctuary, 4 Amidst thy congregations, thine enemies do roar : 5 A man was famous and was had According as he lifted up his axe thick trees upon. 6 But all at once with axes now, By casting down unto the ground They burnt up all the synagogues 9 Our signs we do not now behold; 10 How long, Lord, shall the enemy And shall the adversary thus always blaspheme thy name 11 Thy hand, ev'n thy right hand of might, why dost thou thus draw back ? O from thy bosom pluck it out, for our deliv'rance sake. 12 For certainly God is my king, ev'n from the times of old, Working in midst of all the earth 13 The sea, by thy great pow'r, to part asunder thou didst make: And thou the dragons' heads, O Lord, 14 The leviathans' heads thou brak'st in wilderness that live. 15 Thou clav'st the fountain and the flood, which did with streams abound : Thou dry'dst the mighty waters up, unto the very ground. 16 Thine only is the day, O Lord, And thou alone prepared hast 17 By thee the borders of the earth The summer and the winter both 18 That th' enemy reproached hath, And that the foolish people have 19 Unto the multitude do not 20 Unto thy cov'nant have respect : Full of the habitations 21 O Let not those that be oppress'd, Let those that poor and needy are 22 Do thou, O God, arise and plead 23 Do not forget the voice of those Of those the tumult ever grows PSALM LXXV, To the chief Musician, AL-TASCHITH. A Psalm or song of ASAPH. Here, (1) David returns thanks to God for advancing him to the throne of Israel, and resolves to act for the public welfare; ver. 1-3, 9, 10. (2) He rebukes the insolence of such as opposed his advancement, which sprung from the sovereign disposal of God, the judge of the world, and denounceth their destruction; ver. 4-8. While I sing, let me think of Jesus, whom God hath crowned with glory and honour, and of the infinite danger of opposing his government. And if he exalt me to the spiritual honours of his kingdom, let it be my care to glorify him, and to profit his people. O thee, O God, do we give thanks, Το Because thy wondrous works declare thy great name near to be. I purpose, when I shall receive That I shall judgment uprightly 3 Dissolved is the land, with all 6 And unto those that wicked are, 5 Lift not your horn on high, nor speak With stubborn neck. But know, That not from east, nor west, nor south, promotion doth flow.. 7 But God is judge; he puts down one, and sets another up. 8 For in the hand of God most high "Tis full of mixture, he pours forth, 9 But I for ever will declare, PSALM LXXVI. To the chief Musician, on NEGINOTH. APsalm or Song of ASAPH This Psalm is like to the 48th, and was penned on occasion of some remarkable victory; but whether in the days of David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, or Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xiv. xx. xxxii. is uncertain. We have in it, (1) encouraging congratulations of the church's happiness in having God so manifested in her, and so near unto her; and in having his power so employed in her behalf, to R |