Job 41. 1, &c. Ps. 136. 25: 147.9. Luke 12. 24. Acts 17. 25. Job 34. 14, 15. Ezek. 37. 9. Gen. 1. 31. 1 Pet. 5. 10, 11. Ex. 19. 1 Hab. 3. 10. Ps. 63.4: 145. 1, 2. Ps. 19. 14, 15. than, whom thou hast made [formed] to take his pastime therein. 27 These wait all upon thee, that thou mayst give them meat in due season. 28 When thou givest it them they gather it; and, when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good: 29 When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust. 30 When thou lettest thy breath [spirit] go forth, they shall be made, and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 31 The glorious majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. 32 The earth shall tremble at the look of him: if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke. 33 I will sing unto the Lord, as long as I live: I will praise my God, while I have my being; 34 And so shall my words please him; my joy shall be in the Lord. 27 These. Every created being that has been mentioned from the beginning of the Psalm. Psalm cxLv. 15, 16. 29 When thou hidest, &c.. Shouldst thou withdraw thy protection, nor any longer afford them their necessary nourishment, they would pine away with hunger and soon perish. 30 When thou lettest, &c. As often as thou sendest forth that breath of life (Gen. vii. 21, 22), accustomed to be bestowed by thee even upon the irrational part of creation, new animals are produced, which increase and multiply, in turn renewing the existence of their species, and replenishing the earth. 31 The glorious majesty, &c. The glory and majesty of Jehovah, as displayed in the first formation of the world, and of the fulness thereof, will continue to be manifested by the uninterrupted succession of his manifold and marvellous works; and, as at first, he pronounced with delight "every thing that he had made" to be "very good," so will he equally rejoice for ever, whilst he beholds them severally accomplishing the appointed end of their being. 32 The earth, &c. His angry look, however, would cause this earth, "the work of his hands," and "all flesh, in the which is the breath of life," to shake with fear, and would instantly set the trees on the mountains in a blaze. There may be an especial allusion to earthquakes and volcanoes. 34 My words. The Psalmist means his song in commemoration of 35 As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end. Praise thou the Lord, O my soul; praise the Lord. THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY. Morning Prayer. PSALM CV. Prov. 2. 21, 22. 'As it is quite certain, that the former part of this Psalm came from David (see 1 Chron. xvi. 8, &c), and was composed on the occasion of his placing the ark of God on mount Sion, it seems probable, that he was the author also of the latter portion, although the sacred historian has omitted to hand it down to us. The whole Psalm comprises a rehearsal of the divine mercies to the Israelitish nation, from the days of Abraham to their settlement in the promised land, and was manifestly written, that the memory of what God had done for them, might excite in their breasts warm feelings of love and veneration towards so beneficent a Being. Both the present and the following Psalm bear a strong resemblance to the seventy-eighth, as in other respects, so also because the order of the historic narrative is not duly preserved. GIVE thanks unto the Lord, and call Isai. 12. 4. the people, what things he hath done. 20 let your songs be of him, and praise Deut. 6.6, &c. him; and let your talking be of all his wondrous works. 3 Rejoice in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the Lord. 4 Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore. Luke 24. 13, &c. Luke 11. 9, 10. Gal. 6. 14. Amos 5. 4, &c. Zeph. 2. 3. the wonders of creation, which he had just piously resolved always to chant forth joyfully to the honor of God, that he might conciliate his favor by the fervor of his gratitude, and by the sincerity of his de votion. 35 As for sinners, &c. The "sinners" and "the ungodly" are they, of whom it may be literally said, that "they regard not in their mind the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands" (Psalm xxviii. 6), so as to give him praise and glory for them. 1 Call upon, &c. "Praise him in his name Jah." Psalm LXviii. 4. See on Psalm v. 12. -The people. The surrounding heathen nations. 4 Seek the Lord, &c. Be earnest and constant in attending upon the public worship of Jehovah in this tent, wherein is placed the ark, Ps. 77. 11, 12. 5 Remember the marvellous works that he 1 Cor. 11. 24, &c. hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of Matt. 3. 8, 9. Josh. 24. 15, &c. hil. 2. 9, &c. Deut. 7. 9. Luke 1. 72, &c. Deut. 34. 4. Gen. 28. 13: 32. 28. Ps. 136. 21, 22. Deut. 26. 5. Gen. 23. 4: 34. 30. Gen. 12. 17: 20.3. Zech. 2. 3. 1 John 2. 27. his mouth, 60 ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the world. 8 He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise, that he made [commanded] to a thousand generations; 9 Even the covenant that he made with Abraham, and the oath that he sware unto Isaac ; 10 And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting testament [covenant]; 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; 12 When there were yet but a few of them [but a few men in number], and they strangers in the land. 13 What time as they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong, but reproved even kings for their sakes; 15 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and 'do my prophets no harm. the "visible sign" of his gracious desire to afford to his people, powerful aid and protection. 2 Chron. vi. 41. 5 The judgments, &c. The denunciations of severe vengeance against their enemies, which he not only pronounced but executed. The whole verse seems to contain a general reference to the history of God's dealings with the Israelites. 7 His judgments, &c. Though he reigns, (see Psalm ii. 10 on "to judge,") and exercises dominion over all the nations upon earth, he nevertheless vouchsafes to regard us as his peculiar people. 10 For a law. As a decree, which should remain unchanged and unchangeable. 11 Unto thee, &c. It is here apparently implied, (as was, in reality, the case,) that the words of the covenant were addressed by God to each of the three patriarchs taken singly. Gen. xiii. 15: xxviJ3: xxviii. 13.- -The lot, &c. That portion of land, which will fall to your descendants by lot, and thus become, as it were, your own inheritance. Josh. xiii. 7: xiv. 2. 13 What time, &c. This alludes to the wanderings of the patriarchs among the petty kingdoms of Canaan, together with their journeyings also into Egypt and Mesopotamia. 15 Mine anointed. The patriarchs were the Lord's anointed, be 16 Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the | Gen. 41. 54. land, and destroyed all the provision of bread. Ezek. 4. 16. 17 But he had sent a man before them, even Gen. 37. 28: Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant; 18 Whose feet they hurt in the stocks [with fetters]: the iron entered into his soul: 19 Until the time came, that his cause was known, the word of the Lord tried him. 45. 5. Ps. 107. 10. Job 23. 10. cause of his choice of them, of his grace bestowed on them, and of their spiritual consecration to his service; though, so far as we can learn, they were not externally anointed with oil. David very naturally adapts the constant custom of his own days (see on Psalm ii. 2), and one, too, which had only been introduced with Moses, to times long anterior even to that celebrated legislator.- -My prophets. Abraham is expressly styled a prophet, Gen. xx. 7; and not only Isaac, when old, but also Jacob, on his death-bed, predicted the fate of their respective descendants. Gen. xxvii. 28, &c: XLix. 1, &c. Nevertheless, this epithet, equally with "anointed," may doubtless be properly applied to any individual, as well to him, who was a type and ancestor of the Messiah, as to him, who, holding direct communication with Jehovah, was, therefore, employed to teach his brethren the divine will. Exod. vii. 1, 2. 1 Kings xviii. 22. Luke vii. 28, 39. 16 He called, &c. Famine is here represented as a servant, ready to come and go at God's command; for calamities, whether public or private, are the ministers of His righteous will. 2 Kings viii. 1. Psalm Lvii. 4. -And destroyed, &c. So that the earth yielded no kind of grain, which could be used as bread for the support of human life. Isai. iii. 1. To connect this verse with the next, the following sentence may be understood-which affliction caused the sons of Jacob, in obedience to their father's wishes, to leave the land of Canaan, and to go down into Egypt for the purpose of buying corn. 18 Whose feet, &c. Though, Gen. xxxix. 20; xL. 15, we have no express mention of stocks or fetters, as regards Joseph, it by no means follows, that he was not put in them; since it would be unreasonable to expect, that the Holy Spirit should have caused the sacred writers to relate every circumstance, however minute, connected with the persons and events, which constituted the subjects of their history. See on Psalm cvi. 30.- -The iron, &c. The pain arising from "the stocks, or fetters," was extremely galling to him. But, perhaps, David wished to describe the iron itself, as eating into his very flesh. See on Psalm vii. 2. 19 Until the time, &c. Up to that period, when, by interpreting the dreams, not only of Pharaoh's servants, but the extraordinary one of Pharaoh himself, he had shewn both what kind of a man he was, and that the direct influence of the Holy Spirit rested on him, Joseph continued in prison, according to the word or decree of Jehovah, in order that misfortune might fully develop the excellency of his character, as the heat of the fire makes known the goodness of silver. Gen. xxxix. 21, &c. Psalm Lxvi. 9. Gen. 41. 14. Gen. 41. 40. Isai. 19. 11, 12. Gen. 46. 6. Ex. 1.7. Ex. 1. 10. Ex. 4. 10, &c. Isai. 63. 10, &c. Ex. 10. 22. Ex. 7. 20, 21. Ex. 8. 6, 9. Ex. 8. 17, 24. Ex. 9. 23, 24. Ex. 9. 25. 20 The king sent, and delivered [loosed] him: the prince of the people let him go free. 21. He made him lord also of his house, and ruler of all his substance; 22 That he might inform his princes after his will, and teach his senators wisdom. 23 Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham. 24 And he increased his people exceedingly, and made them stronger than their enemies; 25 Whose heart turned so, that they hated his people, and dealt untruly [subtilly] with his servants. 26 Then sent he Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen ; 27 And these shewed his tokens among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and it was dark; and they were not obedient unto his word. 29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. 30 Their land brought forth frogs, yea, even in their kings' chambers. 31 He spake the word; and there came all manner of flies, and lice in all their quarters. 32 He gave them hail-stones for rain, and flames of fire in their land. 33 He smote their vines also and fig-trees, and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts. 22 That he might, &c. For "to inform" see on Psalm xxxviii. 17. That he might issue such commands and directions, as he deemed right, even to the greatest of the Egyptian nobles. 23 The land of Ham. See on Psalm LXXxviii. 52. 24 And he increased, &c. Since the whole Psalm is dedicated to the celebration of the divine benevolence and loving-kindness, there is now placed before us a fresh scene of tribulation and affliction, which occasioned repeated mercies and a new deliverance. 25 Turned so, that. In the earliest editions of the Psalter the stop is placed after "turned," where the original requires it to be. See on Psalm Lxii. 9. 28 He sent darkness, &c. The Psalmist designs, not merely to express the fact, that the things of nature did not disobey the heavenly command, but also to point out the quickness, with which the command itself was executed. Jehovah no sooner ordered the darkness to arise and cover the earth, than it became dark. Gen. i. 3. Ps. cxix. 130. 31 All manner of flies. Every species of winged insect, such as gnats, mosquitoes, &c.—In all their quarters. Throughout the whole extent of the country, even to its very borders. Ver. 33. 33 Their vines-fig-trees. See on Psalm LXXviii. 48. |