26 Help me, O Lord my God:

O save me according to Thy mercy :

27 That they may know that it is Thy hand; That Thou, Lord, hast done it.

28 Let them curse, but bless Thou;

When they arise, let them be ashamed;
But let Thy servant rejoice.

29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame,
And let them cover themselves

with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

(IV. Praise.)

30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise Him among the multitude. 31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.

REFLECTIONS.

1. Absalom, Ahithophel, and Judas Iscariot are now the characters that demand our attention. If David and our blessed Lord were thus tried, experiencing the falsehood, the hatred, the opposition, the ingratitude of men, let us not account it strange if we experience something of the same sort. In such circumstances it will be our wisdom to look to God in for support.

prayer

2. This prophecy, for as such we view it, was fulfilled in the miserable end of the three offenders whose names we have mentioned. This part of the Psalm, therefore, is not to be regarded as an expression of private feeling, but a prophetical delineation of the awful consequences of ungodliness and sin. How much misery

do we, by our sins, not only bring upon ourselves, but also entail on our descendants!

3. Whatever we suffer, and however we may be distressed, the Psalmist is an example to be imitated; but more especially He of whom the Psalmist was a type. Of Him it is said, that he "committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously."

4. Patient waiting upon God in prayer will soon lead to praise. The power, goodness, and righteousness of God will be made manifest. Shame and confusion will be the portion of the wicked; but the righteous and devout, however tried for a season, shall rejoice in safety, honour, and happiness.

PRAYER.

In all our trials, O Lord, from the cruel conduct of wicked men, may we commit our cause to Thee. Inspire our souls with a hatred of sin. Be Thou our comforter and supporter in all our troubles: preserve us from all our enemies: and may we greatly praise Thee for all Thy goodness to us, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Advocate. Amen.

DAY 23.]

PSALM CX.

MORNING PRAYER.

Prophetical. Author, David. St. Matt. xxii. 44. Heb. v. and vii. (I. Christ's kingdom.)

1 The Lord said unto my Lord,

Sit Thou at my right hand,

Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength

out of Zion:

Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy

power,

In the beauties of holiness

from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.

(II. Priesthood.)

4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent,

Thou art a priest for ever
After the order of Melchizedek.

(III. Conquests.)

5 The Lord at Thy right hand

Shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen,

He shall fill the places with the dead bodies;
He shall wound the heads over many countries.

(IV. Sufferings and resurrection.)

7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: Therefore shall He lift up the head.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The Lord Jesus Christ is our King. He is exalted at the right hand of His Father. His word, with the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit, is the rod of His strength, by which He subdues men, and rules over them. His people are willing and prompt in the day of His power to submit to His authority, and to maintain His cause.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Priest. We have an Intercessor above, an Advocate with the Father. He has offered the one great sacrifice; He lives to render it effectual; exercising an eternal and unchangeable priesthood.

His

3. The Lord Jesus Christ is a Conqueror. Gospel has prevailed, and shall prevail. If the great of this world set themselves in opposition to Him and to His word, they imagine a vain thing.

4. The last verse is obscure. It may refer to the sufferings and consequent exaltation of our blessed Lord; and Heb. xii. 2. will be a proper comment upon it. It may mean, that He shall always advance in the conflict against His enemies, until He is Conqueror over all of them.

PRAYER.

O blessed Saviour, enlighten us by Thy word, subdue us by Thy grace, and make us to be of the number of Thy willing people, who obey Thee as their King and trust in Thee as their Priest. Send forth, we beseech Thee, Thy word out of Zion, and let Thy victorious power be known throughout the whole world. Amen.

PSALM CXI.

Displaying the divine perfections, as Psalm viii.

(I. Praise.)

1 Praise ye the Lord.

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,

In the assemby of the upright, and in the congre

gation.

(II. The works of God.)

2 The works of the Lord are great,

Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 3 His work is honourable and glorious:

And His righteousness endureth for ever. 4 He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered:

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

(III. His mercies to the Church.)

5 He hath given meat unto them that fear Him: He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

6 He hath showed His people the power of His works,

That He may give them the heritage of the heathen.

(IV. Equity and stability of His counsels.) 7 The works of His hand are verity and judgment; All His commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever,

And are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption unto His people:

He hath commanded His covenant for ever:
Holy and reverend is His Name.

(V. True wisdom.)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : A good understanding have all they

that do His commandments:

His praise endureth for ever.