ed, must be dashed in pieces by the stroke of eternal vengeance. 10. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. The decree of the Father, concerning the kingdom of the Son, being thus promulgated by the latter, an exhortation is made to the kings of the earth, that they would learn true wisdom, and suffer themselves to be instructed unto salvation; that they would bow their sceptres to the cross of Jesus, and cast their crowns before his throne; esteeming it a far greater honour, as well as a more exalted pleasure, to serve Him, than to find themselves at the head of victorious armies, surrounded by applauding nations. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little; blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Christ beseeches kings, no less than their subjects, to be reconciled to him, and by him to the Father; since a day is at hand, when mighty men shall have no distinction, but that of being mightily tormented. And then will be seen the "blessedness" of those who "put their trust in" the Lord Jesus. For when the glory of man shall fade away as the short-lived flower of the field, and when all, that is called great and honourable in princes, shall be laid low in the dust, he shall give unto his faithful servants a crown without cares, and a kingdom which cannot be moved. PSALM III. ARGUMENT. This Psalm is said to have been composed by David, when he fled from his son Absalom. Thus circumstanced, he expresses himself in terms well adapted to the parallel case of the Son of David, persecuted by rebellious Israel; as also to that of his church, suffering tribulation in the world. 1, 2. He complains, in much anguish, of the multitude of his enemies, and of the reproaches cast upon him, as one forsaken by God; but 3. declares, notwithstanding, his sure trust in the divine promises; 4, 5. he relates the success of his prayers, 6-8. derides the impotent malice of his enemies, and ascribes salvation to Jehovah. 1. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me; Many are they that rise up against me. David is astonished to find, that "the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom;" 2 Sam. xv. 13. that his counsellors are 1 revolted, and his friends falling off continually; and that the king of Israel is forced to leave his capital mourning and weeping. Thus, led forth out of Jerusalem by his own children in arms against him, the holy Jesus went, forsaken and sorrowing, to the cross, in the day of trouble. Thus is the church oftentimes opposed and betrayed by her sons, and the Christian by his passions and affections. So true it is, that "A man's foes are they of his own household." But he, who by prayer engages the assistance of Jehovah, will rise superior to them all. 2. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in GOD. Affliction and desertion are two very different things, but often confounded by the world. Shimei reviled David, as reprobated by heaven; and the language of the Shimeis afterward, concerning the Son of David, was, He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him." See 2 Sam. xvi. 8. Matt. xxvii. 43. The fearful imaginations of our own desponding hearts, and the suggestions of our crafty adversary, frequently join to help forward this most dangerous temptation, in the hour of sorrow. What therefore hath faith to offer? We shall hear 3. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head. Such is the answer of David, and of all the saints, but above all, of the King of saints, to the temptation before mentioned. Jehovah is a shield" against this, and all other fiery darts, shot by Satan and his associates: he is the "glory" of Christ and the church, with which they will one day be seen invested, though for a season it appear not to the world, any more than did the royalty of David, when, weeping and barefoot, he went up mount Olivet: 2 Sam. xv. 30. the same Jehovah is "the lifter up of our heads," by the gift of holy confidence, and the hope of a resurrection, through that of Jesus Christ, prefigured by the triumphant and happy return of David to Jerusalem. 4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. David, driven from Jerusalem, still looked and prayed towards the holy hill" of Sion. Christ, when a stranger on the earth, "made supplication, with strong crying," to his Father in heaven. Christ was heard for his own sake; David was heard, and we shall be heard, through him. 5. I laid me down and slept ; I awaked, for the LORD sustained me. Behold David, in the midst of danger, sleeping without fear; secure through the divine protection, of awaking to engage and van quish his enemies. Behold the Son of David composing himself to his rest upon the cross, that bed of sorrows; and commending his spirit into the Father's hands, in full confidence of a joyful resurrection, according to the promise at the time appointed. Behold this, O Christian, and let faith teach thee how to sleep, and how to die; while it assures thee, that as sleep is a short death, so death is a longer sleep; and that the same God watches over thee, in thy bed and in thy grave. 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. · Faith, revived and invigorated by prayer, and fixed on God alone, is a stranger to fear in the worst of times. The innumerable examples of saints rescued from tribulation, and above all, the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead, render the believer bold as a lion, although the name of his adversary be " legion." 7. Arise, O Lord, save me, O my GOD; for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone ; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. The church, through Christ, prayeth in these words of David, that Jehovah would arise, as of old time, in the power of his might; that he would finally break the power of Satan and his adherents; pluck the spoil out of the jaws of those beasts of prey; and work that glorious deliverance for the members, which is already wrought for the Head of the body mystical. 8. Salvation belongeth, or, be ascribed unto the LORD; thy blessing is, or, be upon thy people. The Psalm ends with an acknowledgment, which ought always to fill the heart, and upon every proper occasion, to flow from the mouth of a Christian; namely, that" salvation" is not to be had from man, from the kings of the earth, or the gods of the heathen, from saints or angels, but from Jehovah alone; to whom alone, therefore, the glory should be ascribed. If He will save, none can destroy; if He will destroy, none can save. Let Balak, then, curse Israel, or hire Balaam to curse them for him; be but "thy blessing," O Lord, upon thy people, and it sufficeth. PSALM IV. ARGUMENT. The person speaking in this Psalm, 1. prayeth to be heard by God; 2. convinceth the world of sin; 3. declareth the righteous to be under the divine protection; 4, 5. prescribeth solitude and medita tion, as the proper means to lead men to repentance and faith; 6. showeth, that in God alone peace and comfort are to be found, and 7. how superior the joys of the Spirit are to those of sense; 8. reposeth himself, in full assurance of faith, on the loving-kindness of the Lord. 1. Hear me when I call, O GOD of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. The church, like David, "calls" aloud, as one in great affliction, for God's assistance: she addresses him as the "God of her righteousness," as the fountain of pardon and grace; she reminds him of that spiritual liberty, and" enlargement" from bondage, which he had purchased for her, and oftentimes wrought in her; and conscious of her demerits, makes her prayer for" mercy." 2. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame ? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing, or falsehood? If the Israelitish monarch conceived he had just cause to expostulate with his enemies, for despising the royal majesty with which Jehovah had invested his Anointed: of how much severer reproof shall they be thought worthy, who blaspheme the essential glory "of King Messiah, which shines forth by his " Gospel in the church? Thou O Christ, art everlasting truth; "all is vanity and falsehood," transient and fallacious, but the love of thee! 3. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call upon him. Be the opinions, or the practices of men what they will, the council of the Lord, shall stand. Is David" set apart" for the kingdom of Israel? Saul shall not be able to detain, nor Absalom to wrest it from him. Is Messiah ordained to be King of the Israel of God? Death and hell shall not prevent it. Are his disciples appointed to reign with him? Infallibly they shall. Our Intercessor is already on high; and for his sake," the Lord will hear us when we call upon him." What, then, can be said for us, if we neglect to call upon him? 4. Stand in awe, Heb. tremble and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. The enemies of Christ, as well as those of David, are here called to repentance, and the process of conversion is described. The above-mentioned consideration of the divine counsel, and the certainty of its being carried into execution, by the salvation of the righteous, and the confusion of their enemies, makes the wicked "tremble." "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:" it arrests the sinner in his course, and he "sins not;" he goes no : farther in the way of sin, but stops, and reflects upon what he has been doing he" communes with his own heart upon his bed, and is still;" his conscience suffers him not to rest in the night, but takes the advantage of solitude and silence, to set before him his transgressions, with all the terrors of death and judgment; stirring him up to confess the former, and deprecate the latter, with unfeigned compunction and sorrow of heart? to turn unto the Lord and do works meet for repentance: to learn to do good, as well as to cease from doing evil. 5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. The Jews are no longer to offer the shadowy sacrifices of their law, since He, who is the substance of them all, is come into the world. The Gentiles are no more to offer their idolatrous sacrifices, since their idols have fallen before the Cross. But returning sinners, whether Jews or Gentiles, are to offer the same "sacrifices of" evangelical" righteousness;" not " putting their trust" in them, but" in the Lord" Jesus, through whose Spirit they are enabled to offer, and through whose blood their offerings are acceptable unto God. Faith, hope, and charity, mutually strengthen each other, and compose" a threefold cord," which" is not easily broken." 6. There be many that say, who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us? The two former verses were addressed to rebellious sinners, inviting them to repentance and reformation. This seems to relate to the righteous, who, in times of calamity and persecution, like the friends of distressed David, are tempted to despond, on seeing no end of their troubles. The Psalmist therefore prescribes prayer to all such, as an antidote against the temptation; he directs them, in the darkest night, to look towards heaven, nor doubt the return of day, when the rising sun shall diffuse light and salvation, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away. How many are continually asking the question in this verse? How few applying to Him who alone can give an answer of peace and comfort. 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased. No sooner is the prayer preferred, but the answer is given; and the devout soul declares herself to experience a joy in the midst of tribulation, far superior to the joy with which men rejoice in the time of harvest, or that of vintage; a joy, bright and pure, as the regions from whence it descends. Such is the difference between the bread of earth, and that of heaven; between the |