God, The Comforter

BY J. JAMES TISSOT. REPRODUCED BY COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN TISSOT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.

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"The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping."-Ps. 6, 8.

HILE the general tone of the Psalms is full of

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joy and praise, so much so indeed that they are known collectively in Hebrew as "The Praises," yet through many of them there runs a sadder note. They tell of grief and sin and the misery of life. Seven of them have been specially separated from the others and called the “penitential psalms." These seven (numbers 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) are filled with intense remorse for sin. “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak," says the sixth psalm. Then it tells in detail of the agony of penitence. "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.”

This is the typical scene of the penitential psalms which Tissot's picture reproduces. The sinner, broken and weak with shame, crouches on his bed's edge, while over him bends the loving kindness of his Maker. "The Lord hath heard my supplication," cries the psalm, "the Lord will receive my prayer.”

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PSALM CXLIV- WHAT IS MAN ?”

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12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 144

1 David blesseth God for his mercy both to him and to man. 5 He prayeth that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies. 9 He promiseth to praise God. 11 He prayeth for the happy state of the kingdom. A Psalm of David.

LESSED be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 145

1 David praiseth God for his fame, 8 for his goodness, 11 for his kingdom, 14 for his providence, 17 for his saving

WILL extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

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PSALM CXLV-PRAISE OF GOD

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominior endureth throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

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.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

1 The psalmist voweth perpetual praises to God.

Psalm 146

mercy, and kingdom, is only worthy to be trusted.

3 He exhorteth not to trust in man. 5 God, for his power, justice

RAISE 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 any being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.