7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, As when one heweth and cleaveth wood

upon the earth.

(IV. Faith and prayer.)

8 But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord : In Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for

me,

And the gins of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, Whilst that I withal escape.

REFLECTIONS.

1. We have need to pray; to pray earnestly; and to pray that our prayers may be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2. As we pray to be heard and helped, so we must pray to be preserved. It is of great moment that we attend to our words, purposes, and actions; that we keep from the society of the wicked, hear the reproofs of the wise and good, and pray for the ungodly.

3. Though we meet with cruel conduct, our words must be those of kindness: nor let us account it strange if, with all our kindness, we experience nothing but severity at the hands of men.

4. Faith will enable us to repose in God. To Him we shall pray for preservation. Thus we may be sure that we shall obtain deliverance, while the wicked fall by their own devices.

PRAYER.

Hear our prayers, O Lord; and be Thou our Helper. Keep us from all evil in thought, word, and action. Whatever be the unkindness or cruelty of men, make us to look to Thee, to call upon Thee, and never leave us destitute of Thy help, but make us rejoice in Thy protection and blessing; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

PSALM CXLII.

DAY 29.]

EVENING PRAYER.

Prayer, as Psalm iv. A Psalm of David when he took refuge in the cave of Adullam.

(Comfort in the day of trouble.)

1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; With my voice unto the Lord

did I make my supplication.

2 I poured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then Thou knewest my path.

In the way wherein I walked

Have they privily laid a snare for me.

4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld,

But there was no man that would know me:
Refuge failed me;

No man cared for my soul.

5 I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge

And my portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend unto my cry;

For I am brought very low:
Deliver me from my persecutors;
For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,

That I may praise Thy Name:

The righteous shall compass me about;
For Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

REFLECTIONS.

The Psalmist here records what his conduct was in the day of trouble: and we have in him an example worthy of our imitation. Our trials may at times be severe : our spirit may be overwhelmed within us. We may derive no comfort from man; no one may regard our sorrow, or consult our welfare. But let us hold fast our faith: then we shall remember that God knows our case, and that He careth for us; then, too, we shall look to Him as our refuge and portion, and pour out our hearts before Him, beseeching Him to be our Deliverer, for our own comfort, and for the benefit of others.

PRAYER.

In all our sorrows, O Lord, may we look to Thee for strength and safety, for comfort and deliverance. Deal bountifully with us, that the righteous may see it and rejoice, and that we may praise Thy holy Name for ever; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

PSALM CXLIII.

Penitential. A Psalm of David when in trouble.

(I. Prayer; complaint.)

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,

Give ear to my supplications:
In Thy faithfulness answer me,
And in Thy righteousness.

2 And enter not into judgment with Thy servant :
For in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
He hath smitten.my life down to the ground;
He hath made me to dwell in darkness,
As those that have been long dead.

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate.

(II. Reflection and Prayer.)

5 I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Thy works;
I muse on the work of Thy hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee:

My soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land.

7 Hear me speedily, O Lord:

My spirit faileth :

Hide not Thy face from me,

Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the

morning;

For in Thee do I trust:

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto Thee.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies:

I flee unto Thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do Thy will; For Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good;

Lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy Name's sake: For Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul: For I am Thy servant.

REFLECTIONS.

1. Here is a case of great distress. Here is earnest prayer. Here is deep humility, grounded on the knowledge of God and of ourselves. When our spirits are overwhelmed and our hearts desolate, let us not think it strange; for such are the trials of the righteous. But if our complaint be sad, our prayer should be earnest and humble. We must approach God under a sense of our guilt, and place our confidence in His mercy according to the Gospel of Christ.

2. In the time of trouble, meditation on the ways of God in former ages, and in former years, is one means of obtaining repose and comfort. The Psalmist here furnishes us with a specimen of earnest prayer. The favour, guidance, deliverance, instruction, and enlivening grace of God, are the blessings which we always need and for these we should pray, as the Psalmist prayed, with most fervent and intense desire.