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recalled to court, by the recommendation of the queen, and was made the "third ruler in the kingdom," (a dignity far below what he had formerly enjoyed,) after he had interpreted the mysterious handwriting upon the wall. Daniel v, 10–29. Compare chapter ii, 46-49. Under these circumstances, it cannot be matter of surprise that the Hebrew exiles should suffer reproach and oppression, and that they should feel that the gloomy night of their captivity hung heavily upon them.

Many Psalms were written during their captivity, and they all breathe the spirit of confession; of acknowledgment of the justice of God in their present calamities; of a keen sensi bility of the ignominy which they are now suffering; of inextinguishable love of country; of pathetic lamentations over the fall of their nation, their city, and, above all, their temple; of longings for Zion; of solemn anathemas upon their oppressors; of grateful remembrance of the former providences of God toward their nation; and of a germ of hope yet living within their breasts, of one day being recalled from exile to their native country, and to the covenant blessings of their

ancestors.

The following Psalms seem to have been written while the exiles felt the full weight of their calamity and reproach, their enemies being prosperous, and they themselves seeing no immediate prospect of release. We may, with more probability, therefore, date them in the reigns of Evil-Merodach and Belshazzar.

Psalm xxxvii is ascribed to David in the title; but its didactic character, its want of that lively inspiration and originality which are so commonly characteristic of the earlier poetry, its theme, its tone and spirit, seem to point us to the times of the captivity for its origin, to which I have assigned it upon competent authority. It is an admirable model of a didactic Psalm, and seems intended to sustain the faith and awaken the hopes of the captives during, their long and gloomy exilement, and while their oppressors seemed to flourish and prosper, by exhibiting to them the unerring rewards of Providence toward the righteous and the wicked. Instead of supposing this Psalm to be the "Davidic root" from which sprang many of the proverbs of Solomon, as Dr. Hengstenberg suggests, I would prefer to consider it an amplification,

by a later hand, of many of the sentiments contained in the book of Proverbs. For similar reasons Psalm xxxvi is also assigned to the same period. Read Jeremiah, chapters xiii, XXV, xxix and 1.

PSALM XIV.

DURING THE CAPTIVITY, BEFORE THE JEWS WERE ANIMATED WITH AN IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF EMANCIPATION.

The Psalmist describeth the corruption of the men of the age, 1-3; their oppression of God's people, 4; their awakened fears through natural conscience, 5; their contempt of the worshippers of Jehovah, 6; he prayeth for the salvation of Israel, 7. To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. [But see Psalms of David in the General Introduction to this work, section "Authors of Psalms."]

1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.

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2 The LORD looked down from heaven

Upon the children of men,

To see if there were any that did understand,
And seek God.

3 They are all gone aside,

1

They are all together become 'filthy;

There is none that doeth good-no, not one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?

Who eat up my people as they eat bread,

And call not upon the LORD.

2

5 There were they in great fear,

For God is in the generation of the righteous. 6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, Because the LORD is his refuge.

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d See Job 15. 14, 16.
Rom. 3. 10-12.

1 Heb, stinking.

Heb. they feared a fear.
Psalm 53. 5.

e Psalm 9. 9. and

142. 5.

7'O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people,

Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Heb. who will give, &c. See Rom. 11. 26.

f Job. 42. 10. Psa. 126. 1.

PSALM LXXVII.

DURING THE CAPTIVITY, BEFORE THE JEWS WERE ANIMATED WITH AN IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF EMANCIPATION.

The dejection and trouble of the Psalmist on account of the rejection of God's people, 1-9; the victory he obtained by consideration of God's great and gracious works, 10-20.

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 I cried unto God with my voice,

Even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto

me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD: My 'sore ran in the night, and ceased not: My soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled:

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah! 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking:

I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart;

And my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the LORD cast off forever?
And will he be favourable no more?

1 Heb. hand.

a Deut. 32. 7. Psa. 143. 5. Isa. 51. 9.

8 Is his mercy clean gone forever?

Doth his promise fail 'for evermore?

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious?

10

Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah! And I said, "This is mine infirmity:

But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.

11 I will remember the works of the LORD:

Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work,

13

And talk of thy doings."

Thy way, O God! is in the sanctuary: Who is so great a God as our God!

14 Thou art the God that doest wonders;

Thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah!

16 The waters saw thee, O God!

The waters saw thee-they were afraid:
The depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds 'poured out water:
The skies sent out a sound:

Thine farrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: The lightnings lightened the world:

The earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea,

And thy path in the great waters,
And thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

b Rom. 9. 6.

Heb. to generation and
generation.
Exod. 15. 11.

d Exod. 6. 6. Deut. 9. 29.

e Exod. 14. 21. Jos. 8.
15, 16. Psa. 114. 3.
Hab. 8. 8, &c.
Heb. were poured
forth with water.

f 2 Sam. 22. 15. Hab. 8.11.

g Exod. 14. 28.

h Exod. 13. 21. and 14. 19.

Isa. 63. 11, 12.
Hosea 12. 13.

PSALM XLIX.

DURING THE CAPTIVITY, BEFORE THE JEWS WERE ANIMATED WITH AN IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF EMANCIPATION.

An earnest persuasion to build the hopes of the present life and of future happiness, not on worldly power and wealth, but on God, 1-15; the vanity of all worldly prosperity, 16-20.

T To the chief Musician. A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all ye people!

Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;

2 Both low and high,

Rich and poor, together!

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom,

And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable,

5

I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil,

When the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6 They that trust in their wealth,

And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him,

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8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious,

And it ceaseth forever,)

9 That he should still live forever,

10

And not see corruption.

For he seeth that wise men die,

Likewise the fool and the brutish person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.

a Psa. 78. 2. Mat. 13. 85.

c Mat. 16. 26.

b Job 81. 24, 25. Psa. 52. 7. Mal. 10. 24. 1 Tim. 6. 17.

d Eccl. 2. 16.

e Prov. 11. 4 Eccl. 2. 18, 21.

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