(IX. His saving mercy.) 17. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, And holy in all His works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, To all that call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love Him: But all the wicked will He destroy. (X. Praise.) 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: And let all flesh bless His Holy Name For ever and ever. REFLECTIONS. 1. We see our duty. The Psalmist asserts his determination to praise God; to bless Him daily, and for ever. Let this be the determination of our souls. He is our God and King: and we should extol Him accordingly. 2-6. We see how the duty is performed. We cannot praise God without knowing Him: and if we know Him, we shall acknowledge, that His greatness is unsearchable; that His acts show His omnipotence; that His works and ways declare His glorious majesty, His justice, and His mercy. He who would praise God with an understanding mind, must study the works and word of God, and behold His perfections as they are there exhibited. 7-9. We see how the kingdom of divine grace forms a peculiar subject of exalted praise. This king dom is that on which the saints delight to meditate, and of which they rejoice to speak. It is glorious; full of divine perfection; full of redeeming power; full of mighty acts; and it is everlasting. Here also, ver. 14-16, is a description of God's providence in this kingdom, in upholding, and raising, and sustaining His people. And then we see, ver. 17-20, the goodness of God to His faithful servants, in being nigh to them, answering their prayers, fulfilling their desires, and preserving them. 10. Surely if we meditate on these things, it will be our determination to praise God; and we shall call upon others to join us in the same delightful work. PRAYER. O Lord our God, we bless Thee for having revealed Thyself to us, and for setting before us Thy adorable perfections in Thy works, and word, and ways. May we be of the number of those who speak of Thy kingdom; who share its blessings of mercy and power; who call upon Thee, and are sustained and preserved by Thee unto everlasting life; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. PSALM CXLVI. General acknowledgment, as Psalm xxiii. Author and occasion unknown. (I. Praise.) 1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have (II. Trust in God, not in man.) 3 Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, The sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever: (III. God our Benefactor.) 7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners : 8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind : 9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked He turneth upside down. (IV. Eternity of His kingdom.) 10 The Lord shall reign for ever, Even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. REFLECTIONS. 1. We see the Lord in the works of creation, the ways of providence, and the gracious counsel and work of redemption; the riches of love, mercy, and grace, and the blessedness and splendour of life and gloryall these are before our view. Let us, then, praise the Lord; and praise Him through the whole of our existence. 2. Vain is our trust in man; a feeble, changeable, and dying creature, whose purposes expire with himself. But confidence in God is a sure support; for He is almighty, faithful, and everlasting. 3. Here we see the gracious dispensation of God; the blessings which He confers upon His creatures in their different circumstances. Here, too, we see His righteousness; for as He is gracious to those who fear Him, so He is awful in His judgments on the wicked. 4. The Lord is King, the Ruler of all worlds, and His kingdom is everlasting. How happy are they who obey Him, trust in Him, and are the objects of His love! A Being so glorious and gracious is entitled to our unceasing praise. PRAYER. Help us, O Lord, to meditate at all times on Thy greatness, glory, and goodness. Grant that we may put our whole trust in Thee, experience Thy lovingkindness according to our several necessities, and praise Thee for ever; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. DAY 30.] PSALM CXLVII. EVENING PRAYER. Psalm displaying the divine perfections, as Psalm viii. (I. Praise.) 1 Praise ye the Lord; For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem : He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds. (II. God's wisdom, power, and goodness.) 4 He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving ; Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, And to the young ravens which cry. (IV. His delight in His people.) 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse : EE |