23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; And let Thy wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom Thou hast smitten; And they talk to the grief of those whom Thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: And let them not come unto Thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. (VII. His prayer for Himself.) 29 But I am poor and sorrowful : Let Thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. (VIII. The Church praises God.) 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox Or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. (IX. A gracious assurance.) 32 The humble shall see this, and be glad; And your heart shall live that seek God. 33 For the Lord heareth the poor, And despiseth not His prisoners. (X. Praise.) 34 Let the heaven and earth praise Him, The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. (XI. Prosperity of the Church foretold.) 35 For God will save Zion, And will build the cities of Judah : That they may dwell there, and have it in possession. 36 The seed also of His servants shall inherit it: And they that love His Name shall dwell therein. REFLECTIONS. 1. Bitter were the sufferings of our blessed Lord: severe also at times are the sufferings of His Church, and of each of its members. Our Redeemer prayed to His Father; and thus He is an Example to His Church and to each of His true followers. 2. The Redeemer prayed for His Church; that His people might "not be offended in Him." The Christian will in like manner pray that, whatever be his distress or reproach, the pious may not be removed from their stedfastness by reason of any misconduct of his. 3. Such treatment our Lord met with, when He "came to His own, and His own received Him not." We must not account it strange if the world hate us, mock us, and persecute us. 4. Did our blessed Saviour thus pray to His Father? Truly He has here taught us how to pray; what blessings to ask, and how to urge our requests. Happy are they who abound in such supplications at the throne of grace! 5. Here we see our Saviour in the last stage of His sufferings. And shall we not love Him who under went such sorrow and anguish in redeeming a lost world? 6. In these awful verses we see the punishment of the unbelieving Jews: and in their punishment we see the destruction that awaits the impenitent and unbelieving of every age and nation. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" 7. Did our blessed Lord thus feel and pray in the day of His humiliation? Thus too shall we feel and pray, if we belong to Him. 8-11. There was joy set before our blessed Redeemer; His sufferings were followed by exaltation and triumph. And thus the whole Church and every faithful member of it may praise the name of God; yea, all creation may join in the song of praise: for the Redeemer shall " see of the travail of His soul;" the Church shall prosper; and from generation to generation there shall be a people who shall therein magnify God their Saviour with thanksgiving. PRAYER. O blessed and glorious God, we praise and magnify Thee for Thy wonderful love in giving Thine only Son to undergo sufferings and death for our salvation. Grant that we may know Him, believe in Him, love Him, and follow Him; that, suffering with Him, we may be glorified together. May it please Thee thus to bless us and Thy whole Church, that we may praise and magnify Thee for ever, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Advocate. Amen. PSALM LXX. Prayer, as Psalm iv. See Psalm xl. 13—17. A Psalm of David. (I. Prayer.) 1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned backward for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. 4 Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; And let such as love Thy salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified." 5 But I am poor and needy; Make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying. REFLECTIONS. It is well for us to feel our weakness and poverty; to see that our help is not in ourselves; for then we shall look to God, and earnestly pray to Him for help and deliverance. In our prayers for ourselves we shall also pray for the prosperity and happiness of the godly, that they may be able to say, "Let God be magnified." PRAYER. O Lord our God, in all our troubles may we call upon Thee in earnest prayer. Preserve and prosper, we beseech Thee, Thy faithful people: and may we be of the number of those who seek Thee, who love Thy salvation, and who always say, "The Lord be magnified" for all His goodness to us; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. DAY 14.] PSALM LXXI. MORNING PRAYER. Prayer, as Psalm iii. Probably written by David in old age: occasion not known. (I. Prayer.) 1 In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: Incline Thine ear unto me, and save me, 3 Be Thou my strong habitation, Whereunto I may continually resort: 4 Deliver me, O my God, Out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man, (II. Past mercies recollected.) 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: |