and teacher; the bountiful giver of all the good that he enjoys and in the silent hours of the night he employs his mind in holy meditation, and obtains wisdom. Such is the blessedness that we should seek to enjoy. 4. A good man sets the Lord always before him; remembers His presence; trusts in Him; and therefore he shall not be moved. He rejoices: he goes down to the grave in hope: for knowing Him who is "the resurrection and the life," he looks with holy and happy assurance to a blessed immortality. How far the whole Psalm relates to our blessed Lord, it may be difficult to determine. But we have the highest authority for seeing Him in the last portion of it: for He, and no other, is the Holy One who did not see corruption. He looked "to the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." PRAYER. Enable us, O Lord, to trust in Thee; to abound in good works; to be truly humble; to keep far from the errors and corruptions of the wicked; and always to rejoice in Thy goodness to us. Make us thankful for all the blessings conferred upon us; and be Thou our portion, defender, and instructor. May we live in the faith, and die in the faith, of our Lord Jesus Christ: and, through the redemption which He wrought out for us, may we here walk in the path of life, and be finally exalted to that state where "in Thy presence is fulness of joy," and where "at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Grant this, we beseech Thee, for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. PSALM XVII. Prayer, as Psalm vii. David probably wrote this Psalm when Saul had carried his persecution to the highest pitch. (I. Prayer grounded on Integrity.) 1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. 2 Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence; Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 3 Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. (II. Prayer for divine protection.) 5 Hold up my goings in Thy paths, That my footsteps slip not. 6 I have called upon Thee, For Thou wilt hear me, O God: Incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 7 Shew me Thy marvellous lovingkindness, O Thou that savest, by Thy right hand, Them which put their trust in Thee, From those that rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; From my deadly enemies, who compass me about. 10 They are enclosed in their own fat: They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. (IV. Prayer for deliverance.) 13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is Thy sword: 14 From men which are Thy hand, O Lord, From men of the world, which have their portion And whose belly Thou fillest with Thy hid treasure: And leave the rest of their substance to their babes. (V. An act of faith.) 15 As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy like ness. REFLECTIONS. 1. In Psalm vii. 3-5, we see the conscience void of offence towards man: here we see the conscience void of offence towards God. Such is the sound and upright heart, producing integrity of conduct; integrity in words. Happy is the Christian who can thus look to God, and magnify Him for His grace. Happy is he who by God's word is kept from every evil way. With what joy and confidence can he always approach the throne of grace! 2. We have many deadly enemies; our dangers are great; and our own strength is weakness. Happy we, if we see and feel this! Then we shall pray with all the heart for strength from above; for divine guidance and protection; and that we may fully experience the marvellous lovingkindness of our God and Saviour. 3. What an awful picture of the ungodly! Enslaved by their appetites; proud in their language; mischievous in the devices in their hearts; subtle, cruel, and rapacious in their conduct,—such are the operations and fruits of sin. What a monster does sin make man, when he is under its dominion! 4. God bestows many gifts on the wicked. He uses them as instruments to fulfil His purposes. They have their good things now. But what will be their final portion? While we are exposed to their devices, or suffer from them, our prayer should be directed to Him who will frustrate their counsels, and grant us deliverance. 5. See the true believer in the full exercise of faith. He looks from the troubles of time to the joys of eternity. He looks to the day of the resurrection, when he shall awake, as to the body, from the sleep of the grave; when in his flesh he shall see God, and stand before Him in righteousness; shall behold His glory, and then through unending ages be satisfied with perfect bliss in the possession of a blessed and exalted conformity to Him. "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." PRAYER. O blessed Lord God, with such a glorious prospect before us, may we patiently endure the sufferings of the present time. Grant that we may be "washed, justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Grant that we may be pure in heart and upright in conduct before Thee. Hear our prayers, uphold us in all our goings, and preserve us by Thy mighty power from every enemy. Thus may we, through Thy grace and goodness, live the life of the righteous, that our last end may be like his. Mercifully fulfil our petitions for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. DAY 3.] PSALM XVIII. EVENING PRAYER. Thanksgivings for mercies granted to particular persons. Viewed literally, the Psalm is David's thanksgiving for benefits received. 2 Sam. xxii. Considered spiritually, it may be applied to Christ. (I. Praise.) 1 I will love Thee, O Lord, my Strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, And my delivererer; my God, My strength, in whom I will trust; |