Fourteenth Day.—Morning Prayer.

PSALM LXXI.

ARGUMENT.-The Psalmist, sorely distressed in his old age (see ver. 9, and 18) by the rebellion of Absalom, which was his great affliction at that period of life, ver. 1. prayeth for divine assistance; pleading, 2. God's righteousness, 3. and promise; 4. the iniquity of his persecutors; 5, 6. the mercies vouchsafed him from his birth; 7, 8. his being deserted and given up by man; 9. his old age; 10, 11. the taunts and insults of his adversaries: 12. he repeateth his request; 13. prophesieth the downfal of his enemies; declareth, 14. his hope, 15. his gratitude, 16. his faith; 17, 18. wisheth to be preserved, that he might show forth the power and glory of God, whose righteousness and marvellous acts, 19. he extolleth, and thence, 20, 21. promiseth himself a final redemption from all his troubles, and a restoration to honour and comfort; when, 22-24. he shall sing and speak the praises of the Lord.

1. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.

The promises of salvation are made to those who, renouncing all confidence in the world and themselves, trust' in God alone for it. For this reason the Psalmist so often begins his prayer with a declaration of his faith,' which is to the soul in affliction, what an anchor is to a ship in distress.

2. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

A second argument here used is the righteousness' of God, who cannot but be faithful and just to his own gracious word. By that word, he had engaged to establish the temporal throne of David, and the eternal throne of the Son of David. And,

by the same word, he has engaged to bring those who believe in him, through sufferings, to glory.

3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.

The protection of the Almighty, to which the troubled soul' resorts' by faith and prayer, is compared to that which a well-fortified castle, or town, affords to those within it in time of war. And the plea, upon which this petition is enforced, is in a manner the same with the former, namely, the declared purpose of God to be the Saviour of his servants: Thou hast given commandment to save me.'

4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel

man.

The divine assistance is implored by the Psalmist, thirdly, on the foot of the goodness of his cause, and the iniquity of his enemies. Such were Absalom, Ahithophel, &c. to David; Judas and the Jews to Christ; and such are the world, the flesh, and the devil to the Christian. Against them he is to pray and fight continually; ever remembering that wickedness is at least as dangerous when it tempts as when it persecutes; and can smile, as well as frown, a man dead.

5. For thou art my hope, O Lord God; thou art my trust from my youth. 6. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me

out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

Former mercies are urged, as a fifth motive, for

the divine goodness to continue those mercies. The watchful care of heaven over us, at an age when we are able to take no care of ourselves, deserves consideration. The love of Jesus, shown in passing through a state of childhood for us, deserves a still more deep and devout consideration.

7. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

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David, banished from his kingdom, was regarded as a wonder,' or a prodigy of wretchedness; Christ, in his state of humiliation upon earth, was a sign,' everywhere spoken against,' as Simeon foretold he would be; Luke ii. 34. The Christian, who lives by faith, who quits possession for reversion, and who chooses to suffer with his Saviour here, that he may reign with him hereafter, appears to the men of the world as a monster of folly and enthusiasm. God is the strong refuge' of all such.

But

8. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy honour, all the day.

Whatever men say or think of him, the royal prophet desires still to strengthen, and to delight himself in doing the will, singing the praises, and setting forth the glory of God. Such likewise was thy desire, O blessed Jesus! in the days of thy flesh. Ever grant that it may be ours.

9. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

David, mindful of the noble actions which, through God's assistance, he had achieved in his youth, beseeches him not to desert his servant, when persecuted by a rebellious son, in his old age. The

weakness and temptations peculiar to that time of life, render this a petition necessary for us all to make, before we are overtaken by it. The church findeth but too much occasion to make the same, now that she is sunk in years; when faith languisheth, charity waxeth cold, and the infirmities of a spiritual old age are coming fast upon her.

10. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul, take counsel together, 11. Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him.

They who saw David ascending Mount Olivet in tears, when Absalom had driven him from Jerusalem, and they who beheld Jesus led forth out of the same Jerusalem, to be crucified on Mount Calvary, were tempted to regard both the one and the other as finally deserted by God. They who view the church, or any member thereof, under affliction and persecution, are too frequently tempted to think the same, and to act accordingly; though they are so plainly taught the contrary, by the restoration of the king of Israel, and the resurrection of the Son of God.

12. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste to help. 13. Let them, or, they shall be confounded and consumed that are against my soul; let them, or, they shall, be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

As the insolence of his persecutors increaseth, the distressed monarch crieth more earnestly unto God; and is so far from relinquishing his hope, that, in the midst of his sorrows, he foreseeth and foretelleth the final confusion of his enemies. The

Christian, who has faith in the promises, may do likewise, in the worst of times, and the worst of circumstances. For the day cometh when all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed, and ' death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire.' Rev. xx. 14.

14. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. 15. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day long: for I know not the numbers thereof.

As there is no end to the loving kindness of Jehovah, there should be none to our gratitude. The 'hope' of a Christian giveth songs in the night,' and enableth him to be thankful, even in the dark season of affliction. Paul and Silas not only prayed, but also 'sang praises to God, in a prison, at midnight.' Acts, xvi. 25.

16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

He who goeth to the battle against his spiritual enemies, should go, confiding not in his own 'strength,' but in that of the Lord God; not in his own righteousness,' but in that of his Redeemer. Such an one engageth with omnipotence on his side, and cannot but be victorious.

17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not: until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.