II.-1. Mourns over the sad condition of the royal house of David, v. 38-45.

2. He then concludes with a hearty prayer and benediction, v. 46-51.

L-1. My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord : with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth from one generation to another. Or,

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever."

"I will sing." No substitute shall perform this privilege for me. I will myself do it for my own comfort, and for the good of others. "I will sing." It is not I will speak, or I will say, but I will sing. The divine goodness is best exalted in joyful praise. It is not enough to pen, I will sing.

"The mercies of the Lord." This is the theme of the poet's song. Mercies mean graces, kindness, goodness. The mercies of the Lord are the tokens of His love towards the family of David. Is. lv., 3. "For ever." This duration of praise shows that it is the Church which speaks, and not an individual.

With my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another.

"Thy truth "-thy faithfulness, which means God's unchangeable love and immutable promises. These will the Psalmist sing, these will he make known to all generations. The song cannot grow old, because God's mercies are ever new. 2 Tim. i., 9; Tit. i., 2.

2. For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever: thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.

Here is the Psalmist's faith and hope. "I have said," i.e., my heart is persuaded of it, and I affirm it. But what is that of which he is so confident? It is that God's "mercy shall be set up for ever." "Set up," or built up. What shall be set up or built up? The sure mercies of our Spiritual David, who is Jesus Christ. What is the "Mercy" that is to be "built up for ever"? The glorious scheme of our salvation completed in the death of Christ. Who is the builder? "Whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. xi., 10.) On what is it founded? "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. iii., 11.) himself being the chief corner-stone." Eph. ii., 20.

"Christ

Thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.

No thing of earth can be a fit emblem of truth, for "we all do fade as a leaf." (Is. lxiv., 6.) "The earth mourneth and fadeth away." (Is. xxiv., 4.) God's "truth" is in His eternal counsels, therefore above all changes. The truth of God's word is as sure as the stability of the "heavens," and God's nature is a guarantee for their unchangeableness.

3. I have made a covenant with my chosen: I have sworn unto David my servant.

The Lord made a covenant with David His servant, and confirmed it with an oath. 2. Saml. vii., 12–16.

God here speaks for the comfort and confidence of His people; and he says, "I have made a covenant, and will therefore make it good."

1. Lost creatures could not make a covenant.

2. Unless a covenant had been made for them, they must perish.

3. But God said, "I will make a covenant with my chosen." "My chosen," i.e., God's chosen, the chosen one, the co-eternal Son, the Messiah, of whom David was the antitype, figure, and forerunner. The promises of God to David extend to all ages. To establish these promises "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent."

"David my servant." Jesus was of the "seed of David," and took upon Him "the form of a servant.'

4. Thy seed will I establish for ever: and set up Thy throne from one generation to another.

David's Son and Lord is the second Adam, the everlasting God. He sees His seed, and in them beholds of the travail of His soul. "Thy seed," i.e., Jesus Christ, of the seed of David. Jer. xxxiii. 20, 21.

Solomon was the "seed," and the immediate successor of David. Solomon was appointed to "build an house for God's name." But Solomon was a type and figure of Messiah.

Jesus suffered in the flesh as the "Son of David." Luke i., 32.

And set up thy throne from one generation to another.

1. "Will stablish for ever."

2. "Will set up thy throne."

3. "To all generations."

This "throne" shall be surrounded by the redeemed of all ages, and this is the "seed" which God will stablish for ever.

5. O, Lord, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works: and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.

"Heavens " here mean angels; as in Job, "The heavens are not clean in thy sight," i.e., "And his angels he charged with folly." Job iv., 18.

"Wonderous works," is in Heb. "thy wonder," "thy miracle." God's grace to man is this miracle. And it is into the depth of this display of mercy "the angels desire to look." 1 Peter i., 12.

The harmony displayed in nature is a constant song of praise; but His faithfulness and truth are most fitly sung in the congregation of the saints.

"The congregation of the saints." This comprises the saints in heaven, and the saints on earth. These make up the Church of God. "Therefore with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, &c." (P.B., Com. Serv.) Is. vi., 3; Rev. xv., 3.

6. For who is he among the clouds: that shall be compared unto the Lord ?

High above all is the throne of God..
Before him "angels veil their faces."
The saints are prostrate in adoration.

"To whom will you liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." Is. xl., 25.

Who is a strong Lord like unto thee?" Ps. lxxxix., 8.

"Hast thou an arm like God?" Job xl., 9.

His voice is of thunder.

He is surrounded with faithfulness.

Who then can be compared unto the Lord ?

7. And what is he among the gods: that shall be like unto the Lord?

"Gods"-the sons of the mighty.

Except the Lord Jesus, God has no compeer in heaven. Has He any on earth among "the sons of the mighty ?" asks the Psalmist. "Who is like unto thee, O Jehovab, among the gods? Who is like unto thee?" Ex. xv., 11.

None can be found

1. Among the sons of the morning.
2. Among the sons of the mighty.

Therefore to God alone must all praise be given.

8. God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints: and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about Him.

Perfect love casteth out fear, which hath torment.

God's children. must approach Him "with reverence and godly fear."

9. O Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto thee: thy truth, most

mighty Lord, is on every side.

God's superiority to men and angels is here expressed.

"Who is like thee, mighty Jah?" This title expresses His selfexistence and His power. This is the God of the promise.

10. Thou rulest the raging of the sea; thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.

Is. 1., 2.
Matt. xv., 29.

"The Lord caused the sea to go back." Ex. xiv., 21. "He divideth the sea with His power." Job xxvi., 12. "He turned the sea into dry land." Ps. lxvi., 6. "Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea." "Even the winds and the sea obey him." And He said unto the sea, Peace, be still." 11. Thou hast subdued Egypt and destroyed it: thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm. Or,

Mark iv., 39.

"Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain."

From the sea of waters the Psalmist turns to the sea of nations. Egypt is likened to a great sea swelling and raging proudly. When Pharaoh and his host were destroyed, by the same miracle both seas were subdued. Here was defiant Egypt fatally smitten. By Rahab, Egypt is to be understood. Ps. lxxiv., 13—17; Is. li., 9.

12. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is. To God who made and who governs the heavens, to Him the heavens belong.

By His hand were the earth and sea created, to Him, therefore, they belong.

"He spake and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast." Ps. xxxiii., 9.

13. Thou hast made the north and the south: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name. Or,

"The north and the right hand."

From north to south, from pole to pole, is the handiwork of Jehovah. But east and west, too, were equally fashioned by Thee. Tabor and Hermon are the two highest hills in Canaan.

Tabor is an insolated mountain in the north-east of the plain of Esdraelon. It is 1,000 feet high, and seven miles east from Nazareth.

Hermon, a mountain on the north-east border of Palestine, is the most conspicuous and beautiful mountain in the whole country, and is visible from all parts of it. Its height is about 10,000 feet.

Thus Tabor and Hermon represent the east and west which, with the north and south, "rejoice in Thy name.'

14. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy

right hand.

1. A mighty arm.

2. A strong hand.

3. A high right hand.

With His mighty arm, and powerful outstretched hand, He is able to save His people and destroy His enemies.

15. Righteousness and equity are the habitation of His seat: mercy and truth shall go before His face.

The emblems of God's regality are not robe, diadem, and sceptre, but

1. Righteousness.

2. Equity.
3. Mercy.

4. Truth.

The throne of Solomon was supported on lions. 1 Kings xix., 20. God's throne is set on justice and judgment. Mercy paves the way for God's truth. This is the kind of God, says the Psalmist, upon whom Israel depends.

16. Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice in Thee: they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance.

In the Bible version it is "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound." This joyful sound refers to the Jewish festivals, the sound of the trumpet, and many other occasions, such as

1. The shout of the victorious army, and of a king. Numb. xxiii., 21.

2. The sound over sacrifices, and on solemn feast-days. Ps.

lxxxi., 1-3.

3. Sound of jubilee-trumpet when slaves and debtors were released. Lev. xxv., 54.

4. The glad tidings of great joy to all mankind.

Blessed is the people who can hear this sound, know it, and love it. They shall see God's smiles through their own griefs.

17. Their delight shall be daily in Thy name: and in Thy righteousness shall they make their boast.

Thus God's people shall rejoice all the day, and every day. 1 John i., 4.

This is the holy daily walk of God's people from sin to holiness in the "light of God's countenance."

On Mount Sinai was the awful sound-The voice of God in the Law.

On Mount Sion was the joyful sound-"It is finished."