PRAYER.

At all times, O Lord, and especially in our troubles, may we look up to Thee, and call upon Thee, with humble, devout, and believing hearts. Be Thou our Comforter, Deliverer, Instructor, and Guide. Enliven our souls, that we may desire Thee, do Thy will, and be Thy faithful servants; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

DAY 30.]

PSALM CXLIV.

MORNING PRAYER.

Thanksgiving, as Psalm xviii. A Psalm of David.

(I. Praise God's condescension.)

:

1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight.

2 My goodness, and my fortress; My high tower, and my deliverer;

My shield, and He in whom I trust; Who subdueth my people under me. 3 Lord, what is man,

That Thou takest knowledge of him!
Or the son of man,

That Thou makest account of him!

4 Man is like to vanity:

His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

(II. Prayer for deliverance.)

5 Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down :

Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth Thy lightning, and scatter them: Shoot out Thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send Thine hand from above;

Rid me, and deliver me out of great waters,
From the hand of strange children;

8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity,

And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

(III. Thanksgiving.)

9 I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto Thee.

10 It is He that giveth salvation unto kings: Who delivereth David His servant from the hurtful sword.

(IV. Prayer for deliverance and prosperity.)

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children,

Whose mouth speaketh vanity,

And their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants

Grown up in their youth;

That our daughters may be as corner-stones,
Polished after the similitude of a palace :

13 That our garners may be full,

Affording all manner of store;

That our sheep may bring forth thousands
And ten thousands in our streets :

14 That our oxen may be strong to labour;

That there be no breaking in, nor going out;

That there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

REFLECTIONS.

1. He who was the defender of David from his temporal enemies, is our defender from our spiritual enemies. How great is the condescension of God in noticing such feeble and transient creatures; in providing for their welfare and happiness!

2. Whatever our troubles may be, and whoever our enemies, wicked men or wicked spirits, our defence is in God; our deliverance is from Him; and to Him we must present our supplication.

3. As we pray unto God under a sense of our wants, so we praise Him under a conviction of His greatness, and from the experience which we have of His goodness. Salvation, both temporal and spiritual deliverance, is from God; and that equally in the case of the greatest and lowest of mankind. To Him let all men ascribe blessing and praise.

4. Here we pray for deliverance from our enemies; for our children, that they may flourish and prosper both in body and soul; for temporal prosperity, that our fields and our cattle may be fruitful; for our country, that there be no incursions of enemies into it, no flight from it, no complaining in it. Happy is the people thus highly favoured. Happy in themselves, and happy as a community, are they whose God is Jehovah.

PRAYER.

O blessed God, Thou art the fountain of all goodness: by Thee we are delivered from all our enemies by Thee we are favoured with every blessing, temporal and spiritual. We beseech Thee to look down upon us, and bless us with Thy protection as the God of grace; bless our children and our country. And as we are partakers of Thy lovingkindness, may we live to Thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PSALM CXLV.

General acknowledgment of God's goodness and mercy, and particularly of His care and protection of good men, as Psalm xxiii. A Psalm of David.

(I. Praise.)

1 I will extol Thee, my God, O King;

And I will bless Thy Name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless Thee;

And I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever.
(II. God's greatness.)

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

(III. His might.)

4 One generation shall praise Thy works to another, And shall declare Thy mighty acts.

(IV. His glory.)

5 I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, And of Thy wondrous works.

(V. His justice.)

6 And men shall speak of the might

of Thy terrible acts:

And I will declare Thy greatness.

7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness,

And shall sing of Thy righteousness.

(VI. His mercy.)

8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9 The Lord is good to all:

And His tender mercies are over all His works.

(VII. The majesty of His kingdom.)

10 All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; And Thy saints shall bless Thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, And talk of Thy power;

12 To make known unto the sons of men

His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

(VIII. His providence.)

14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall,

And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon Thee;

And Thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest Thy hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.