PSALM LXXX.

To the chief Musician, upon SHOSHANNIM EDUTH. A Psalm of ASAPH.

This Psalm relates to the distressed condition of the Hebrew church and nation, perhaps during the Syrian, Assyrian, or Chaldean invasions; 2 Kings xii. xiii. xv. xvii. xviii. xix. xxiv. xxv. Here are, (1) Earnest supplications for God's special presence and favour; ver. 1 -3, 7, 19. (2) Mournful complaints of the lasting appearances of God's anger; of the overflowings of their grief; of abuse and derision by their neighbours; and of the unhinging of their constitution, which God himself had fixed, when he brought them out of Egypt; ver. 4

-13. (3) Further supplications, that God would consider and pity his vineyard, their church and nation; assist their king, his vine-dresser; and convert them to, and quicken them in, his service; ver. 14-19.

While I sing, let me be affected with the distresses of God's church. Let me pant for the fullest manifestations of his glory, and the blessings of his presence. Let me insist, that his spirit may glorify Jesus Christ, the great Man of his right hand, in taking what is his, and shewing it unto me.

H

EAR, Isr'el's shepherd! like a flock thou that dost Joseph guide; Shine forth, O thou that dost between the cherubims abide.

2 In Ephraim's and Benjamin's, and in Manasseh's sight,

O come for our salvation;

stir up thy strength and might. 3 Turn us again, O Lord our God, and upon us vouchsafe

To make thy countenance to shine, and so we shall be safe.

4 O Lord of hosts, almighty God, how long shall kindled be

Thy wrath against the prayer made by thine own folk to thee?

5 Thou tears of sorrow giv'st to them instead of bread to eat :

Yea, tears instead of drink thou giv'st to them in measure great. 6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours round about: Our enemies among themselves at us do laugh and flout.

7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and upon us vouchsafe

To make thy countenance to shine,
and so we shall be safe..

8 A vine from Egypt brought thou hast,
by thine out-stretched hand:
And thou the heathen out didst cast,.
to plant it in their land.

9 Before it thou a room didst make,
where it might grow and stand;
Thou causedst it deep root to take,
and it did fill the land..

10 The mountains vail'd were with it shade as with a covering;

Like goodly cedars were the boughs.
which out from it did spring.

14. Upon the one hand, to the sea

her boughs she did out send; On th' other side, unto the flood, her branches did extend.

12 Why hast thou then thus broken down,. and ta'en her hedge away?

So that all passengers do pluck
and make of her a prey.

13 The boar who from the forest comes,
doth waste it at his pleasure;

The wild beast of the field also
devours it out of measure.

14 O God of hosts we thee beseech,
return thou unto thine :

Look down from heav'n in love, behold
and visit this thy vine;

45 This vineyard which thine own right hand hath planted us among,

And that same branch, which for thyself thou hast made to be strong. 16 Burnt up it is with flaming fire, it also is cut down : They utterly are perished, when as thy face doth frown.

17 O let thy hand be still upon
the Man of thy right hand,
The son of man whom for thyself
thou madest strong to stand.
18 So henceforth we will not go back,
nor turn from thee at all:

O do thou quicken us, and we
upon thy name will call.

19 Turn us again, Lord God of hosts,
and upon us vouchsafe
To make thy countenance to shine,
and so we shall be safe.

PSALM LXXXI.

To the chief Musician upon GITTITH. A Psalm of

ASAPH.

This Psalm was probably composed for the feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month; Lev

xxiii. 24. Here are, (1) Solemn exhortations to praise God for what he is to his people; and for what he hath done for them; ver. 1-7. (2) Instructions concerning God's new covenant grant of himself and his benefits to men; their ungrateful refusal thereof; and the misery they incur, and happiness they lose thereby; ver. 8-16. While I sing, let my soul consider what God is to, hath done for, and given to MEN-to ME: and let all my inward powers stedfastly believe his declarations, and eagerly embrace his offers. Let my heart be filled with grief, that ever I refused to hear my own gracious God speaking from heaven, and offering to me all the unsearchable riches of Christ.

S

ING loud to God our strength: with joy to Jacob's God do sing.

2 Take up a psalm, the pleasant harp, timbrel and psalt'ry bring.

3 Blow trumpets at new moon, what day our feast appointed is:

4 For charge to Isr'el and a law
of Jacob's God was this.

5 To Joseph this a testimony
he made, when Egypt land

He travell❜d through, where speech I heard
I did not understand.

6 His shoulder I from burdens took,
his hands from pots did free.

7 Thou didst in trouble on me call,
and I deliver'd thee:

In secret place of thundering
I thee did answer make;
And at the streams of Meribah
of thee a proof did take.

8 0 thou my people, give an ear,
I'll testify to thee:

To thee, O Isr'el, if thou wilt
but harken unto me.

9 In midst of thee there shall not be
any strange god at all;
Nor unto any god unknown

thou bowing down shalt fall.
10 I am the Lord thy God, which did
from Egypt land thee guide:
I'll fill thy mouth abundantly,
do thou it open wide.

11 But yet my people to my voice would not attentive be:

And ev❜n my chosen Israel
he would have none of me.
12 So to the lust of their own hearts
I them delivered :

And then in counsels of their own
they vainly wandered.

13 0 that my people had me heard,
Isr'el my ways had chose!

14 I had their en'mies soon subdu'd :my hand turn'd on their foes.

15 The haters of the Lord to him

submission should have feign'd:

But as for them, their time should have for evermore remain❜d.

16 He should have also fed them with
the finest of the wheat :

Of honey from the rock, thy fill
I should have made thee eat.

PSALM LXXXII.

A Psalm of ASAPH.

This Psalm was probably penned for the direction and warning of the Jewish courts of judicature. It represents, (1) The dignity of magistrates, and their depen