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Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all Thy work,

And talk of Thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wonders:

Thou hast declared Thy strength among the people.

15 Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters saw Thee, O God,

The waters saw Thee; they were afraid:
The depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;

Thine arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of Thy thunder was in the heaven: The lightnings lightened the world:

The earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea,

And Thy path in the great waters,
And Thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou leddest Thy people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

REFLECTIONS.

1. We may here observe three things: First, a case of great distress, which is most distinctly and emphatically described. Secondly, the remembrance of God, and earnest supplication to Him. Thirdly, the acceptance of the prayer; "He gave ear unto me." Our thoughts of God, as if He were against us, may at some

seasons trouble us: but still our prayer must be made to Him; nor will it be made in vain.

2. We have here a description at large of the conflict between faith and distrust. We have the language of distrust in ver. 7-9. And we see in ver. 5, 6, and in ver. 10-12, how faith meets the case; how it puts the soul on serious consideration, and especially leads it to the examination of God's wonderful and gracious dealings in times past. In the remainder of the Psalm, ver. 13-20, we have a beautiful specimen of the manner in which the believing soul contemplates the ways of God with His Church and people. The soul may be brought into great distress; into darkness and despondency; and we may reason against ourselves. But we should consider that "this is our infirmity." He who rightly reflects on the past will not be overwhelmed by the present. If faith be called into proper exercise, we shall soon rest in the delightful conclusion, that all the ways of God are in holiness. The Israelites were tried, but they were redeemed; and they were led through the wilderness to Canaan. They were as a flock, protected by an almighty arm; always under the care and guidance of the good Shepherd. And, in like manner, the whole Church, and each member of it, is protected, guided, and provided for, by the Shepherd of Israel: and it is in the sure persuasion of this fact, that every distressed soul ought to find the purest comfort, and, instead of yielding to despondency and infirmity, to wait patiently on God, and rejoice in the consolations of faith and hope.

PRAYER.

O blessed and gracious God, in all the sorrows and trials of this mortal life, grant that we may put our whole trust in Thee, and call upon Thee in earnest prayer. Suffer not our infirmity and despondency to prevail; but may we consider Thy works and ways in former times with a true faith, and thus obtain repose and comfort. May we always remember that, though we are in the wilderness, we are under the guidance and protection of Him who is the good Shepherd. Grant this, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

DAY 15.]

PSALM LXXVIII.

EVENING PRAYER.

Historical. It contains an account of God's dealings with His people from the Exodus to the days of David.

(I. Exhortation to learn and teach God's will.)

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of

my

2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.

mouth.

4 We will not hide them from their children, Showing to the generation to come

The praises of the Lord, and His strength, And His wonderful works that He hath done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,

And appointed a law in Israel,

Which He commanded our fathers,

That they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, Even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them

to their children :

7 That they might set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation;

A generation that set not their heart aright,
And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

(II. God's wrath against sinners.)

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows,

Turned back in the day of battle. 10 They kept not the covenant of God,

And refused to walk in His law;

11 And forgat His works,

And His wonders that He had showed them.

12 Marvellous things did He

in the sight of their fathers,

In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea,

and caused them to pass through;

And He made the waters to stand as a heap.

14 In the day-time also He led them with a cloud,

And all the night with a light of fire. 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness,

And gave them drink as out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 And they sinned yet more against Him, By provoking the Most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart

By asking meat for their lust.

19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

20 Behold, He smote the rock,

That the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed;
Can He give bread also?

Can He provide flesh for His people?
21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth;
So a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also came up against Israel.
22 Because they believed not in God,
And trusted not in His salvation:

23 Though He had commanded the clouds from above, And opened the doors of heaven,

24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, And had given them of the corn of heaven.

25 Man did eat angels' food:

He sent them meat to the full.

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: And by His power He brought in the south wind.

27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust,

And feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28 And He let it fall in the midst of their camp,

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