Because of all thy judgments, Lord, 165 Great peace have they who love thy law: offence they shall have none. 166 I hop'd for thy salvation, Lord, and thy commands have done. 167 My soul thy testimonies pure On them my heart is set, and them 168 Thy testimonies and thy laws, For all my works and ways each one TAU. Part 22d. Here, (1) David's prayers for access to God, and for instruc tion, deliverance, help, and recovery, from God; ver. 169. 170. 173. 175. 176. (2) Hearty professions of his regard to God's word, and to the salvation therein contained; ver. 169–176. (3) His humble confession of his wandering from God, and desire to be brought back; ver. 176. 169 O let my earnest pray'r and cry Give understanding unto me, 170 Let my request before thee come: 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou 173 Let thy strong hand make help to me: thy precepts are my choice. 174 I long'd for thy salvation, Lord, and in thy law rejoice. 175 O let my soul live, and it shall And let thy judgments gracious 176 I like a lost sheep went astray, We Why this psalm and the fourteen following are called Songe of Degrees, we do not certainly know. It is plain, some of them are suited to secret worship, some to the family, and others to the public assembly. This Psalm, from its affinity to the 528, is supposed to refer to Doeg the Edomite; 1 Sam. xxii. have, [1] The Psalmist's prayer to God for deliverance from the ruinous influence of malicious and false accusations; ver. 1, 2. [2] His denunciation of the just, fearful, and lasting judgments of God against his malicious accusers; ver. 3. 4. [3] His complaints of his quarrelsome and vexatious neighbours; ver. 5—7. Never dare, my soul, to utter falsehood or even truth in a malicious manner. Never dare to rush upon the fierce and last. ing indignation of the Almighty. Never chuse to make this world thy country, where sin and troubles so abound. But ye blessed abodes of peace and purity, when shall I come to you! When shall I leave my evil neighbours, and come to God, to God, my EXCEEDING JOY! N my distress to God I cry'd, IN and he gave ear to me. 2 From lying lips, and guileful tongue? O Lord, my soul set free. 3 What shall be giv'n thee? or what shall be done to thee, false tongue? 4 Ev'n burning coals of juniper, sharp arrows of the strong. 5 Wo's me, that I in Mesheck am a sojourner so long; That I in tabernacles dwell to Kedar that belong! 6 My soul with him that hateth peace PSALM CXXI. A Song of Degrees. Here, [1] in the firm faith of being heard, David supplicates divine help and protection; ver. 1, 2. [2] He comforts himself and others with the assurance of God's infallible direction and protection; 3-8. While I sing, let all my confidence be on the Lord. Let my soul truly wait for him, from whom cometh all my necessary and expected blessings. On him be all my burdens, all my wants, all my cares. I To the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come mine aid; 2 My safety cometh from the Lord, who heav'n and earth hath made. 3 Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will he slumber that thee keeps. 4 Behold, he that keeps Israel, he slumbers not, nor sleeps. 5 The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade on thy right hand doth stay. 6 The moon by night thee shall not smite, The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall 8 Henceforth thy going out and in PSALM CXXII. A Song of Degrees of David. This Psalm appears to have been composed for the use of the Hebrews at their three solemn feasts; Lev. xxiii. We have in it, [1] Expressions of great joy in going up to Jerusalem; ver 1, 2, [2] High commendations of the beauty, order, sanctity, and honour of Jerusalem; ver. 3-5. [3] The duty and happiness of such as are really concerned for the welfare of Jerusalem, the church of God; ver. 6-9. While I sing, let me remember the gospel church, bewail her disorders, supplicate for her welfare, and set my heart on the Jerusalem which is above, and into which nothing can enter that defileth or disturbs. O when shall my feet stand there! When shall I see my JESUS, on his great white throne, and sit with him in his glory. Joy'd when to the house of God, 2 Jerusalem, within thy gates 3 Jerus'lem as a city is compactly built together: 4 Unto that place the tribes go up, the tribes of God go thither. To Isr'els testimony, there to God's name thanks to pay. 5 For thrones of judgment, ev'n the thrones of David's house, there stay. 6 Pray that Jerusalem may have Let them that love thee, and thy peace, Therefore I wish that peace may still And ever may thy palaces prosperity retain. 8 Now, for my friends and brethren's sakes, Peace be in thee, I'll say; 9 And for the house of God, our Lord, I'll seek thy good alway. PSALM CXXIII. A Song of Degrees. This Psalm relates to the distressed situation of the church; and contains, [1] Earnest longings for, and believing expectations of merciful deliverances from God; ver. 1, 2. [2] An improvement of great distress, as a plea for speedy and remarkable relief; ver, 3. 4. While I sing this, let me, in the full assurance of faith, cry to God, for the mercies which my own soul, my family, and the church and nation wherewith I am connected, so much need. Nor let me accept of a denial of my believing requests. THOU, that dwellest in the heav'ns, 2 Behold, as servants' eyes do look As hand-maid's eyes her mistress' hand, Upon the Lord our God, until to us he mercy send. 3 O Lord to us be gracious, 4 Our soul is fill'd with scorn of those PSALM CXXIV. A Song of Degrees of David. This Psalm is highly applicable to every remarkable deli verance which God works for his church, especially to the great redemption wrought for his people by Christ. In it, [1] David magnifies the danger they were in; ver. 1-5. [2] Ascribes, the glory of their deliverance to God; 1, 2, 6, 7. [3] Improves the deliverance as an encouragement to trust in God; ver. 8. Let me behold JEHOVAH as a present help in trouble. Let my waiting eyes be towards him, who, notwithstanding all the combined power and policy of hell and earth, is able and ready to pull my feet out of the net. AD not the Lord been on our side, H may Israel now say; |