Till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: Scatter Thou the people that delight in war. 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt:

Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. (VIII. Praise.)

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord;

33 To Him which rideth upon the heavens
of heavens, which were of old;

Lo, He sendeth out His voice,
and that a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God:
His excellency is over Israel,

And His strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places: The God of Israel is He

That giveth strength and power unto His people.
Blessed be God.

REFLECTIONS.

1, 2. Those who reject the divine mercy cannot escape the divine displeasure. Our blessed Lord is almighty to save; and He is also almighty to destroy. But all those who submit to Him, have abundant reason to rejoice; for He will be their Comforter and Deliverer.

3. The history of the Church affords us the fullest proof of God's power and lovingkindness. The deliverance from Egypt; the giving of the law; the ordinances of the Church; and the victories and prosperity given to the Israelites; were subjects that engaged the

attention of the pious Jews. We Christians look to a greater deliverance; to a better covenant; to spiritual victories and prosperity.

4. We look not to the mountains of the world, but to "the mountain of the Lord;" to the Church of the living God. We contemplate, as its ever-living Head, our ascended Lord, who has "led captivity captive," and "received gifts for men." In Him we glory, as the God of our salvation, in whose hands are life and death.

5. Did God punish Pharaoh and the enemies of Israel? Let the enemies of Christ and of His Church consider their ways, before their impiety issues in their final destruction.

6. Joy, order, and unanimity prevailed in the Jewish Church; and God was her strength and stability. Oh that these things abounded in the Christian Church! Strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us."

66

7. David looked to the prosperity and enlargement of his kingdom: and thus, too, we ought to pray for the prosperity and extension of the Messiah's kingdom. Hasten the time, O Lord, when all men of all nations shall lift up their hands and voices to Thee in adoration and praise!

8. The power and goodness of God in redemption should fill our hearts with gratitude and joy, and our lips with songs of praise. We contemplate His majesty and strength, His voice of thunder and His arm of

power; and we are filled with reverence and awe. We contemplate His love and mercy, His goodness to His people; and we are filled with delight and joy.

PRAYER.

O great and glorious God, may we always meditate with devout minds and grateful hearts on Thy wonderful dealings towards the children of men, especially in our redemption through Jesus Christ. Grant that we may so believe in our ascended Lord as to be made partakers of that salvation which is in Him. May joy and order and concord abound in Thy Church; and may all nations be brought into the true fold; to the glory of Thy Name; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DAY 13.]

PSALM LXIX.

EVENING PRAYER.

Prayer, as Psalm xiii. David wrote this Psalm, probably, during the rebellion of Absalom. Viewed literally, it is the prayer of a dejected sufferer: but it must be regarded as having an especial reference to our blessed Lord.

(I. Messiah's sufferings.)

1 Save me, O God:

For the waters are come in unto my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters,

where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 They that hate me without a cause

Are more than the hairs of my

They that would destroy me,

head:

Being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: Then I restored that which I took not away. 5 O God, Thou knowest my foolishness;

And

my sins are not hid from Thee.

(II. His prayer for His people.)

6 Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts,

Be ashamed for my sake:

Let not those that seek Thee

Be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. 7 Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face.

(III. His treatment from the Jews.)

8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren,
And an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of Thy house

hath eaten me up;

And the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me.

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting,

That was to my reproach.

11 I made sackcloth also my garment;
And I became a proverb to them.
12 They that sit in the gate speak against me;
And I was the song of the drunkards.

(IV. His prayer to His Father.)

13 But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time:

O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me,

In the truth of Thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire,
And let me not sink :

Let me be delivered from them that hate me,
And out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the waterflood overflow me,

Neither let the deep swallow me up,

And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 16 Hear me, O Lord; for Thy lovingkindness is good: Turn unto me according to the multitude

of Thy tender mercies.

17 And hide not Thy face from Thy servant;
For I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it :
Deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach,

and my shame, and my dishonour: Mine adversaries are all before Thee.

(V. His complaint: the crucifixion.) 20 Reproach hath broken my heart;

and I am full of heaviness:

And I looked for some to take pity,

but there was none;

And for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat;

And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

(VI. He foretells the ruin of the Jews.)

22 Let their table become a snare before them:

And that which should have been for their welfare,

let it become a trap.