4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

The divine assistance is implored by the Psalmist, thirdly, on the foot of the goodness of his cause, and the iniquity of his enemies. Such were Absalom, Ahitophel, &c. to David; Judas and the Jews to Christ; and such are the world, the flesh, and the devil, to the Christian. Against them he is to pray and fight continually; ever remembering, that wickedness is at least as dangerous when it tempts, as when it persecutes; and can smile as well as frown a man dead.

5. For thou art my hope, O LORD God; thou art my trust from my youth. 6. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels, my praise shall be continually of thee.

Former mercies are urged, as a fifth motive, for the divine goodness to continue those mercies. The watchful care of heaven over us, at an age when we are able to take no care of ourselves, deserves consideration. The love of Jesus, shown in passing through a state of childhood for us, deserves a still more deep and devout consideration.

7. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. David, banished from his kingdom, was regarded as a 66 wonder," or a prodigy of wretchedness; Christ, in his state of humiliation upon earth, was a sign," every where “spoken against," as Simeon foretold he would be, Luke i. 34. The Christian, who lives by faith, who quits possession for reversion, and who chooses to suffer with his Saviour here, that he may reign with him hereafter, appears to the men of the world, as a monster of folly and enthusiasm. But God is the "strong refuge" of all such.

8. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, and with thy honour, all the day.

Whatever men say, or think of him, the royal prophet desires still to strengthen, and to delight himself, in doing the will, singing the praises, and setting forth the glory of God. Such likewise was thy desire, O blessed Jesus, in the days of thy flesh. Ever grant that it may be ours.

9. Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth.

David, mindful of the noble actions, which through God's assistance he had achieved in his youth, beseeches him not to desert his servant, when persecuted by a rebellious son in his old age. The weaknesses and temptations peculiar to that time of life, render this a petition necessary for us all to make, before we

are overtaken by it. The church findeth but too much occasion to make the same, now that she is sunk in years; when faith languisheth, charity waxeth cold, and the infirmities of a spiritual old age are coming fast upon her.

10. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, 11. Saying, God hath forsaken him, persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him.

They who saw David ascending mount Olivet in tears, when Absalom had driven him from Jerusalem, and they who beheld Jesus led forth out of the same Jerusalem, to be crucified on mount Calvary, were tempted to regard both the one and the other as finally deserted by God. They who view the church, or any member thereof, under affliction and persecution, are too frequently tempted to think the same, and to act accordingly; though they are so plainly taught the contrary, by the restoration of the king of Israel, and the resurrection of the Son of God.

12. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste to my help. 13. Let them, or, they shall, be confounded, and consumed, that are against my soul; let them, or, they shall, be covered with reproach and dishonour, that seek my hurt.

As the insolence of his persecutors increaseth, the distressed monarch crieth more earnestly unto God; and is so far from relinquishing his hope, that, in the midst of his sorrows, he foreseeth and foretelleth the final confusion of his enemies. The Christian, who has faith in the promises, may do likewise, in the worst of times, and the worst of circumstances. For the day cometh, when all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed, " and death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire," Rev. xx. 14.

14. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. 15. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day long; for I know not the numbers thereof.

As there is no end to the loving-kindness of Jehovah, there should be none to our gratitude. The " hope" of a Christian "giveth songs in the night," and enableth him to be thankful, even in the dark season of affliction. Paul and Silas not only prayed, but also" sang praises" to God, in a prison at midnight, Acts xvi.

25.

16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

He who goeth to the battle against his spiritual enemies, should go, confiding, not in his own strength," but in that of the Lord God; not in his own" righteousness," but in that of his Redeemer. Such an one engageth with Omnipotence on his side, and cannot but be victorious.

17. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

It was the God of Israel, who "taught" David, as a warrior, to conquer, and, as a Psalmist, to declare the wondrous "works" of his great benefactor. He requests to be preserved in his old age, until by completing his victories, and his Psalms composed to celebrate them, he had“ showed the strength and power of God," not only to the men of the “generation" in which he lived, but also to "every one that should come,” or arise in after-times, and chant those divine hymns in the assemblies of the faithful throughout all ages. Doth St. Paul wish to have his life continued upon earth? It is only that he may edify the church and glorify God. Otherwise "it is far better," says he, " to depart, and to be with Christ."

19. Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee.

What a force is now added to these words, by the actual exaltation of the righteous Saviour," very high" above all heavens, and by the "great things" which he hath "done" for our souls? Let us think on these things, and we shall most affectionately say with David," O God, who is like unto thee!" Delightful is thy love, O Lord Jesus, beyond all pleasure, more precious than much fine gold, and honourable above the thrones of the mighty! The world languisheth and fadeth away at thy presence, whose beauty is inmortal, whose treasures diminish not, and whose glory endureth through the unnumbered ages of eternity.

20. Thoa which hast showed me, great and sore trouble, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

In David, delivered out of his troubles, and restored to his throne, we behold our Lord, after his "great and sore trouble, literally quickened, or revived, brought up again from the depths of the earth, increased in greatness, and comforted on every side." In him we were virtually, by his grace we are actually, raised from sin and sorrow, to righteousness and comfort; and through his power we shall be raised, from dust and corruption, to glory and immortality.

22. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 23. My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I sing unto the: and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 24. My tongue also shall talk of thy

righteousness all the day long; for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

The truth of God, in accomplishing his promises by the redemption of our souls, and the confusion of our spiritual enemies, is a subject which demands a never-ceasing tribute of gratitude and love, of praise and thanksgiving. To celebrate it aright, with the melody of instruments, voices, and affections, all in perfect concord, is the duty and delight of the church militant; which, when thus employed, affords the best resemblance of the church triumphant. PSALM LXXII.

ARGUMENT.

David, praying for Solomon, foretelleth his peaceful and glorious reign, and under that figure, in most lively and beautiful colours, pourtrayeth the kingdom of Messiah; 1-4. its righteous administration; 5. its duration; 6, 7. its blessings; 8. its extent; 9-11. the accession of the Gentiles to it; 12-14. the redemption to be wrought, and 15. the prayers and praises to be offered up in it; 16. its miraculous increase and fruitfulness; 17. its perpetuity and universality; 18, 19. a doxology sung to God for it.

*

1. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son." 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

In this prophetical prayer, the aged monarch of Israel, about to resign the kingdom into the hands of his son Solomon, makes unto God the request of a wise father for him. He asks such a portion of wisdom and integrity from above, as might enable the young prince to govern aright the people of God, and to exhibit to the world a fair resemblance of that King of Israel, who was, in the fulness of time, to sit upon " the throne of his father David;" Luke i. 32. " to reign in righteousness;" Isai. xxxii. 1. " and to have all judgment committed unto him," John v. 22.

3. T mountains shall bring, or, bear peace, and the little hills, in, or, by righteousness.

In other words, peace, manifested by its consequence, plenteousness, shall be upon all the mountains and little hills of Judea, by means of that righteous judgment, which Solomon will execute in the land. And thus in the days of Messiah, "Beautiful upon

The "king," and the "king's son," are the same person; a character that belongs to none so properly as to Solomon, who was the first prince that was at the same time "king," and "son of a king." Mudge. Dr. Chandler is of the same opinion.

the mountains were the feet of them that brought the glad tidings of peace;" which the fruits of the Spirit, in the churches, plainly showed to have been derived from above, through the righteousness of the Redeemer, producing "peace on earth.”

4. He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

It is the part of justice, in well-ordered governments, to see that the " poor and needy have right;" to break the teeth of " oppression, and pluck indigence from its devouring jaws. This Christ performed, when, having undertaken the cause of his people against the adversary, he "saved" them by his resurrection, and "broke in pieces" the power of the great OPPRESSOR.

5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endureth, throughout all generations.

The kingdom of Solomon continued in his own person only for forty years; but in his seed, that is Christ, it is established throughout all generations. He reigneth "over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end," Luke i. 33. His dominion over the world by his providence, and in the church by the influences of his grace, is to be coeval with that of the celestial luminaries in nature. And when" the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed," when the heavens shall be dissolved, and the earth burnt up, "the Lord of hosts shall reign on mount Zion," in the Jerusalem above, in glory everlasting. See Isai. xxiv. 23.

6. He shall come down like the rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth.

Refreshing and salutary as the drops of heaven to the shorn and parched grass, is the mild administration of a wise and pious prince to his subjects. And what image can convey a better idea of those most beneficial and blessed effects, which followed the descent of the Son of God upon the earth, and that of the Spirit at the day of Pentecost? The prophets abound with descriptions of those great events, couched in terms borrowed from the philosophy of rain and dew. See Isai. xliv. 3. Iv. 10. Hosea xiv. 5. Heb. vi. 7. In the last words of David, the reign of Messiah is described under this figure; "He shall be as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." I cannot help subjoining Bishop Sherlock's masterly illustration of this passage, "There cannot be a more lively image of a flourishing condition than what is conveyed to us in these words. The grass, which is forced by the heat of the sun, before the ground is well prepared by rains, is weak and languid, and of a faint complexion; but when clear