966 PSALM XXXVIII—A PENITENTIAL PSALM 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Psalm 38 David moveth God to take compassion of his pitiful case. A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. anger; neither 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. Vashti Condemned BY ERNEST NORMAND, OF THE MODERN BRITISH SCHOOL. "Let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus."-Esther, 1, 19. P ERHAPS the emperor's command had been sent to Vashti in drunken sportiveness; perhaps she was more than justified in her refusal to obey. For ages now she has been portrayed as the type of womanly fortitude and resistance to man's overbearing dominance. In those days, however, her disobedience, her defiance, was regarded as unspeakably presumptuous against the king. There is a touch of the ludicrous in the solemn council which Ahasuerus called to discuss what should be done under the astounding circumstances. Memucan, one of his seven chief princes, urged that Vashti had not only offended against the king but against all his guests, and even against "all the people that are in all the provinces of the king." He argued that all the women of Persia would henceforward disobey their husbands and despise the masculine authority. In face of such a dire calamity, it was decided that queen Vashti must be punished. She was deposed from her station. It was decreed that she 'come no more before king Ahasuerus." And, much no doubt to masculine comfort, it was proclaimed through all the empire that "every man should bear rule in his own house." 66 |