REFLECTIONS. 1. We see our duty to praise the Lord in His house; to sing praises unto His Name. We see reasons for performing it: the Lord is good; the work itself is pleasant; and we are God's chosen people. 2. We have here further reasons for praise: God is great, the Maker and Ruler of all things, whose might and majesty shine forth in all His works. 3. The same subject is continued: God is to be praised for His wonderful and gracious dealings with His Church. He destroyed or subdued its enemies; and has given it prosperity, or comforted it in its distress. And He is through all ages the same righteous and gracious God, maintaining His own cause in an evil world. 4. What a melancholy proof do we see in idolatry of the corrupting and debasing power of sin; blinding the understanding and utterly overturning reason; so that we can only compare the idolater to his idol; both of them blind and dead. 5. Oh with what joy and gratitude should we all, as Christians, consider our blessings! Jehovah is our God let ministers and people alike unite to bless Him; to declare His goodness and celebrate His praise. PRAYER. O great and glorious God, we know Thee in Thy works and counsels: Thou art God, and none else; fill our souls with deep reverence for Thee; and whilst we think of Thy glory and greatness, of Thy goodness and mercy, may we bless Thee and live as Thy faithful servants, to Thy honour and praise, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. DAY 28.] PSALM CXXXVI. EVENING PRAYER. Thanksgiving, as Psalm xlviii. Very similar to the preceding Psalm. (I. Praise.) 1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: (II. For Creation.) 4 To Him who alone doeth great wonders: For His mercy endureth for ever. 5 To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: For His mercy endureth for ever. 6 To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters: For His mercy endureth for ever. 7 To Him that made great lights: For His mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: For His mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night : For His mercy endureth for ever. (III. For God's providence and grace.) 10 To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born: For His mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: For His mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and a stretched-out arm : For His mercy endureth for ever. 13 To Him which divided the Red Sea : For His mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: For His mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: For His mercy endureth for ever. 16 To Him which led His people through the wilderness: For His mercy endureth for ever. 17 To Him which smote great kings: 18 And slew famous kings: For His mercy endureth for ever: 19 Sihon king of the Amorites: For His mercy endureth for ever: 20 And Og the king of Bashan : For His mercy endureth for ever: 21 And gave their land for a heritage: For His mercy endureth for ever: 22 Even a heritage unto Israel his servant: For His mercy endureth for ever. 23 Who remembered us in our low estate : For His mercy endureth for ever: 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies : For His mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh : For His mercy endureth for ever: 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: REFLECTIONS. 1. God is good: King of kings and Lord of lords; and His mercy endureth for ever. What less, then, can we do than magnify Him with thanksgiving? 2. God is great in His works: His wonders in creation, in the sky above us, in the earth and waters around us, and in the luminaries of day and night, bespeak the power and wisdom of Him whose mercy endureth for ever. 3. God is wonderful in His dealings with His Church. With what joy and gratitude could the devout Israelite review the history of his nation; God's wonderful works in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and in Canaan; and celebrate His power, goodness, and mercy! We have the same subjects to contemplate, and subjects also of a still higher order. With what peculiar earnestness can the Christian Church, and every faithful member of it, repeat the concluding verses of this Psalm? 4. All thanks, all praise, be ascribed to Him who is supreme and omnipotent, good and gracious; and whose mercy is everlasting. PRAYER. Help us, O Lord, to meditate on Thy works and ways with devout and thankful hearts. May we trust in Thy mercy, keep ourselves in the love of Thee, and look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life. Amen. PSALM CXXXVII. Prayer, as Psalm xliv. Written after the Captivity. (I. The sorrow of Israel at Babylon.) 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps Upon the willows in the midst thereof. (II. Insolence of their masters.) 3 For there they that carried us away captive Required of us a song; And they that wasted us Required of us mirth, Saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song In a strange land? (III. Their affliction for Jerusalem.) 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not nemember thee, Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; Above my chief joy. |