To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.

this gracious Lord he cried; he poured forth his sorrow; he craved for his help. Nor did he cry in vain. The Lord heard him from his holy hill, granted his request, and delivered his soul. Now, cannot the Lord do the same for you? Can he not hear, and help, and deliver you? Call upon him, and you will find. Pray to him, and you will see. You will not call nor pray in vain (v. 4).

What was the result of David's prayer? Peace, confidence, holy hope, and joyful assurance. He had peace. "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me" (v. 5). Having committed his cause to God, he calmly awaited the issue. He was not disappointed. He had peace. He could sleep at night in peace. He could rise in peace in the morning. He had confidence. Why should he fear? Had the Lord delivered him from these enemies? Could he not, and would he not, deliver him from others? What though ten thousands of the people set themselves against him round about? Shall he be afraid? Is not the Lord his shield? Is not the Lord his glory? Is not the Lord his deliverer? He has holy hope. The Lord will arise. His God will save him.

All his enemies shall be shamefully and effectually smitten. He has saved hitherto. He will save in time to come; yea, for ever and ever. He had also joyful assurance. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; his blessing is upon his people. This he knew; this he rejoiced in; this he was assured of; and this cheered his soul.

May not all these blessings be yours? Was David the only one, who could thus bless and praise the Lord? Have not thousands, and tens of thousands, known, and felt, and found the same? Go, then, and spread your case before the Lord. Go and

righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; 'have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

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THIS is a very sweet and beautiful psalm. David prays that God would hear him. reproves and instructs his enemies. shews where the happiness of man is only and truly to be found. Very important points are these, and full of instruction and truth for our peace and safety.

His prayer comes first. "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness." The great encouragement to prayer is, to know that we shall be heard when we pray. If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, we know that we have the petitions which we desired of him. (1 John v. 14, 15.) Take away this hope, and this assurance, and then what follows? What encouragement can there be to pray, if there be no certain prospect that you shall be heard when you pray? Lay down this as a great fundamental point. The

Lord will hear you, if you call upon him in the faith of his dear Son Jesus Christ. Hence he is called "the God of our righteousness." Not only the God of our justifying righteousness, and sanctifying righteousness; but the God of our supplication-righteousness; that is, the God that manifests his righteousness, or faithfulness, in the fulfilment of his word, whereby he has promised to hear and answer the prayers of his people. The Lord had heard David before; and he hoped he would hear him now. He had enlarged him when in distress on former occasions; and he hoped he would have mercy upon him now, and hear his prayer for further deliverance. Past mercies, though nothing to build upon, afford great encouragement in present distress. The Lord hath heard me before; the Lord will hear me now.

Having thus strengthened his soul in the Lord, he now turns and speaks to his enemies. He addresses them as the " sons of men" (v. 2). The sons of fallen, polluted men. What were they doing to attract his censure and rebuke? The God, in whom he gloried, they shamefully dishonoured and disobeyed. Instead of seeking the solid realities. of his favour and blessing, they loved vanity; the pleasures of sin, which are but for a moment; and the empty things of the world, which can never satisfy. Besides which, they sought after "leasing." Lying, vanity, and sin, were the only objects of their pursuit and delight. But how long did they mean to do so? Do men always intend to act in this manner? Would they wish to die in such a state as this? Ought they not rather to "stand in awe," and not sin and provoke God in the way they do? Would it not be well for them to commune a little with their own hearts, sometimes in their own chamber, and not unfrequently upon their own bed; and learn to cease from such a mad career, and seek the Lord in time? Surely it could be no enemy that gave them such advice as this. If they hearkened to his words, they would find that they came from a friend indeed (v. 2—4); and would greatly tend to promote their safety and peace.

But while he admonishes, he also instructs them. First, what would he have them to know? That the Lord hath set apart the

Every really godly The Lord hath set They are mine, saith

godly for himself; and that the Lord will hear them when they call upon him. Is not this a most blessed truth? man belongs to God. him apart for himself. the Lord of hosts. Secondly, what would he have them do? He would have them lay aside all their formal and hypocritical forms of godliness; and learn to worship, love, and serve the Lord in sincerity and truth. "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord" (v. 4, 5).

May it not be evidently seen on which side men stand in all these matters ? Do you belong to the many who say, Who will shew us any good? Or, do you belong to the few, who say, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us? If the former be your case, you look only for the corn, and wine, and oil. If they increase, you are satisfied. This is all you wish or desire. But if you are a child of God, you want the light of his countenance. You desire the gladness of his love and salvation to be put into your heart. If it be so with you, then you shall not be disappointed. Then shall you lay down in peace, and sleep in safety. Thus shall you rest on your bed. Thus, too, when you come to die, shall you sleep in the dust. And thus, in the last great day, shall you rise to glory; for the Lord will make you to dwell in safety.

PSALM V.

1 David prayeth, and professeth his study in prayer. 4 God favoureth not the wicked. 7 David, professing his faith, prayeth unto God to guide him, 10 to destroy his enemies, 11 and to preserve the godly.

To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. IVE ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

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2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9 For there is no 'faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they

have rebelled against thee.

11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because 10 thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou "compass him as with a shield.

It is evident that David must have been, about the time he wrote this psalm, much exposed to the treachery and enmity of his enemies. He prays the Lord to support him against all their designs; and he foretels their final end, and their tremendous doom. Let us seek to improve these things.

How much did this man of God delight in prayer! You can hardly take up any one of his psalms, but you trace the spirit of prayer and supplication. Does not this mark the man after God's own heart? Does not this prove the existence and the exercise of the grace of God in his soul? What made him pray? Sense of need, and desire for mercy. What made him pray to the Lord? Because he was his King and his God. He knew that he would hearken unto him; and, therefore, to him did he pray. And this prayer would be his first business, as well as his chief pleasure and delight. "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (v. 3). Morning prayer is a main thing in the Christian's life. He that neglects morning prayer, will have but little mind for evening supplication. Morning prayer de

notes morning wants; morning necessities; morning dangers and desires: and, therefore, we need morning blessings to meet and remove them. Morning blessings are the sweetest and best for all the day. Morning mercies will bring you grace and strength for all your need.

Two things are especially to be noted in this prayer. David asks God to give ear to his words, and also to consider his meditations (v. 1). Words ought to spring from thoughts. Words, without thoughts, are but empty, unmeaning sounds. The first thing to attend to is, the state of the mind. What do I want? Here I must think. Thought must revolve on my case. And when my case is thus revolved, I must express my thoughts before God. Sometimes this is done only in secret desires. This is called silent prayer. Sometimes those desires, springing from such thoughts, find utterance in expressions. When these words truly express the desires springing from those thoughts, the mind, the heart, and the lips, agree together. Then there goes up a stream of desire and expression before the mercy-seat, which the Lord delights to hear and answer to the glory of his blessed name.

The reason why David cultivated this frame of mind is given. God hath no pleasure in wickedness. The evil shall not dwell with him. The foolish shall not stand in his sight. He hates all the workers of iniquity. Those who delight in evil, and evil speaking, the Lord will destroy. The bloody and deceitful man will he abhor (v. 4-6).

Now, would you be delivered from their ways and their end? Come to his house; learn his will; trust in the multitude of his mercy; and worship in his fear. Pray him to lead you in the paths of righteousness; and to make his way plain before your face. The more deceitful or wicked your enemies the more do you seek his favour in which alone there is life. While you look forward to their destruction, unless they repent and believe the gospel, you may rejoice and trust in him. When they shall weep and howl in their misery, you will be exceedingly glad. And why? Because the Lord preserves all them that put their trust in him; because the

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Lord will bless the righteous; because he will compass them about with his favour as with a shield. Hence their safety, happiness, peace, joy, and security. Hence they are safe in time, and will be safe to all eternity. Are not these blessings great? Is not the true Christian a really happy man? Shall they err, whom the Lord leads? or shall they miss the mark, for whom the Lord makes their way straight? Putting their trust in him, may they not rejoice? and, being defended by him, may they not always shout for joy? Oh, then, what a mercy is the blessing of the Lord! What a privilege is his favour! May that blessing and favour be ours, in the faith of Christ, both now and for ever!

3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; 'all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

• Or, upon the eighth: See 1 Chron. xv. 21. (1) Or, every night.

† Ps. xii. title.

THIS is one of the psalms which are called penitential. They bear this name, because of the deep and sorrowful expressions of sin contained therein. There are several psalms

of this character contained in this book, and this is the first. We must examine these penitential confessions, and see how far our own experience coincides with what they express. Although the particulars may not be the same; yet we must have somewhat of the same spirit; otherwise we can have but little evidence, in this respect, that we belong to the people of God: for they all deeply feel, and humbly confess their sins before him.

Here is, first, a painful apprehension. He is afraid the Lord may rebuke him in his anger, and chasten him in his displeasure; and he prays that he may not do so. He deprecates that anger; and trembles at the thought of that displeasure. What caused these painful apprehensions? Deep sense of sin; deep sense of unworthiness; deep consciousness of his utter desert of divine wrath; deep convictions of the utter impossibility of his being able to endure that wrath should it fall upon him, or to escape its effects by any effort or deserving of his own. In the case here described, there is nothing slight. It is all deep and real.

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Here is, also, an earnest prayer. mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed" (v. 2). This prayer exactly accords with the painful apprehension felt. It is earnest, fervent, importunate. He wants mercy; he is weak. He wants healing; his soul is vexed. Even the bones of his body partake of the anguish of his mind. People who know but little of deep convictions of sin, cannot be much acquainted with the experience which accompanies them. They can know but little of those earnest cries and groanings which the penitent soul pours forth for mercy and deliverance. But all the people of God, more or less, are baptised in these waters, and pass through these deeps, before they are brought into the land of the living, and taste of the glorious liberty of his children.

Note the particulars of this prayer. "But thou, O Lord, how long?" (v. 3.) He can hardly tell what he would have. Tears, cries, signs, and groans, choke his utterance. The meaning seems to be, as if it were expressed thus. "But thou;" what wilt thou

do with me? Wilt thou spurn me from thy presence? "O Lord;" art thou not the hope of my soul? "How long" will it be ere thou pity and bless me? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake (v. 2-4). Thus, beginning under a great conflict in utterance, he goes on, word by word, till his whole heart bursts out in one fervent cry for mercy and deliverance.

Why was he so earnest in these supplications? Observe the nature of his plea, and you will see. Could there be any remembrance of the Lord's goodness in death? Can the grave give him thanks? Was he not weary with his groaning. All the night long did he not make his bed to swim with tears? Was not his bed soaked with those trickling streams? Was not his eye consumed by his grief; and become old and dim because of his deep distress? Can you wonder, then, why he thus cried unto the Lord; and sought relief and comfort for his sorrowful soul in this earnest and solemn manner?

See how his hope springs up, and how his confidence revives. His enemies were loud

in their cries against him. Probaby, some of them were outward enemies. Doubtless, others were inward enemies. Whatever they were, unbelief, fear, terror, took hold upon his mind, and tried to cast him down. But, what is the issue of this struggle? Grace conquers. Grace enables him to shake them off. Grace strengthens him to cast them aside. "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer” (v. 8, 9). Thus, though heaviness may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning. Hath such ever been the case with you? See how the Lord heard and delivered you then. Is such the case with you still? See how the Lord will hear and deliver you now. May such be your case in time to come? Pray, hope, and wait; and you shall see the salvation of the Lord. Then you, too, will be able to say, "The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer" (v. 8, 9).

2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is 'none to deliver. 3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy :)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.