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7 God shall bless us and all : the ends of the world shall fear

· him.

V.I.

MORNING PRAYER.

Psalm lxviii. (y)

LET God arise (z), and let his

enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him, flee before him.

2 Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away: and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad, and rejoice before God:

(y) An animated triumphal hymn, probably upon bringing back the ark after some victory. It calls upon the people, in a spirited way, to join in praising God, refers to some of the signal instances of God's interposition, perhaps whilst they had the ark with them, notices an assurance God had given them of further protection, describes the state in which the ark was carried, and looks forward to the times when the heathen nations should be converted, and brought to the worship of God. It was probably sung in parts, some by particular divisions of the choir answering each other, some by single voices, and some by the whole choir. The different parts are supposed to have begun at the 1st, 4th, 7th, 11th, 15th, 19th, 24th, 28th, and 32d verses. It is one of the proper Psalms for WhitSunday,(perhaps) because more especially of verse 18. which may be considered as contemplating God's accepting an atonement to induce him to take his enemies into favour, and of verse 31. which may look forward to the conversion of the

heathen nations. Bp. Lowth remarks of it, that "were it not for some obscurities," (which probably have arisen from errors in transcribing), "it would be a singular "example of incredible sublimity."

(z) Let God arise," &c. When the children of Israel began the journeying out of the wilderness of Sinai, about

let them also be merry and joy. ful.

4 O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name: magnify him that rideth (a) upon the hea vens, as it were upon an horse; praise him in his Name JAH, and rejoice before him.

5 He is a Father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows: even God in his holy habitation.

6 He is the God, that maketh men to be of one mind (b) in an house, and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity but letteth the runagates (c) continue in scarce

ness.

7 O God (d), when thou

1490 years before the birth of Christ, and the ark of God set forward before them, Moses addressed God in nearly the words with which this Psalm begins: "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies "be scattered; and let them that hate "thee flee before thee;" and this beginning might be intended to bring to recollection the instances of the protec tion God there displayed.

(a) " Rideth," &c. A highly poetical v. 4. idea. So Ps. civ. 3. it is said of him, that he "maketh the clouds his chariot, " and walketh upon the wings of the "wind."

(b)"Of one mind," i. e. unanimous, v.6. without dissensions or disagreements.

(c) For" runagates,' ," B. T. reads v.6. "rebellious," "scarceness," i. e. want. The object probably is, to point out the difference between those whom God thinks fit to favour, and those he disregards.

(d)" O God," &c. This refers to v.7. what occurred when God led the Israelites through the wilderness in the time of Moses. Deborah and Barak allude to the same thing, in nearly the words here used, in their animated hymn after their triumph over Sisera, about 1296 years before the birth of Christ. Judges v. 4, 5. “Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, "when thou marchedst out of the field "of Edom, the earth trembled, and the

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"heavens dropped; the clouds also "dropped water: the mountains melted

from before the Lord; even that Sinai "from before the Lord God of Israel." The author of the Psalm might intentionally adopt the same expressions as Deborah and Barak, to call into remembrance also their deliverance.

(e) "As Sinai," &c. When God descended upon Mount Sinai, to deliver the ten commandments, (about 1491 years before the birth of Christ), the mount "was altogether on a smoke, because the "Lord descended upon it in fire: and "the smoke thereof ascended as the "smoke of a furnace; and the whole "mount quaked greatly." Exod. xix. 18.

(f)" Rain," i.e. (probably) of manna, as the Lord said to Moses, Exod. xvi. 4. "Behold I will rain bread from heaven "for you." And Ps. lxxviii. 25. "He "rained down manna also upon them for "to eat," &c.

(g) The translation should perhaps be, "Thou enabledst thy congregation to "dwell therein," (i.e. in the wilderness); "for thou, O God, of thy goodness, "didst prepare for the poor."

7.11. (b) Gave the word," i. e. probably, encouraged them, set them on.

V. II.

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to the triumph over the Midianites, about 1452 years before the birth of Christ. It was by God's command that the Israelites attacked them: five of their kings were slain; an immense booty was taken; and God ordered it to be divided into two parts, one for those who went out to the battle, and the other for the rest of the congregation. See Numb. xxxi. 2. 8. 27.

(k) "Of the household," i. e. of those v who stayed at home: so abundant was the spoil.

(1) "Lien," i. e. "lain. The vilest slaves used to lie on the stones upon which the pots were placed: and the meaning is, though your state has been most abject, you shall be highly exalted. (m) "As white," &c. Dressed in their whitest garments, their garments of joy a figurative expression, to express their extacy.

(n)" Basan," where Og reigned, t (Numb. xxi. 33.). not far from the place where the Midianites were overcome.

(o)" God's hill," i. e. Sion. God calls it, Ps. ii. 6. " My holy hill of "Sion." And it is called his holy "hill," Ps. xlviii. 1. The object here is, to set off the praises of Sion. Sion is a fair place, the "joy of the whole earth," Ps. xlviii. 2. the perfection of beauty," Ps.1. 2. : but its highest merit is, that God has chosen it for himself, that he will abide in it for ever.

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elsewhere described as (i) "The preachers," i. e. those who published or repeated it. Much of the force of this part of the Psalm is lost, because it is not known to what event it refers. It is not improbable that it referred

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longed for her: this shall be my rest "for ever: here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.”

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(r) The chariots," &c. This is to shew how much God's state surpasses that of earthly monarchs; so that his dwelling on Mount Sion must confer upon it much greater distinction than could be conferred upon any other mountain by the residence of any earthly monarch.

(s) "As in the holy place," &c. i. e. as he was theretofore in the tabernacle upon Mount Sinai. See note on verse 8.

2.18. (1) "Led captivity captive, and re"ceived gifts," &c. This is not very easily understood. But may not the meaning be, 1st, literally, thou hast made captive, either, those who wished to impose captivity upon others, or, more boldly, the very power of imposing captivity, and hast taken gifts from those who were before your enemies, so as to allow them to be part of your people, and as it were to dwell among them; and 2dly, figuratively and prophetically, looking forward to the Messiah, thou hast gained the victory over sin, death, &c. and all the powers of darkness, making captives as it were of those who wished

and received gifts (1) for men : yea, even for thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

19 Praised be the Lord daily : even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.

20 He is our God, even the God, of whom cometh salvation: God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.

21 God shall wound the head

to put all mankind under captivity, and hast accepted a ransom in respect of thine enemies, so as to be induced even to dwell with them, alluding to the acceptance of our Saviour's sufferings, whereby he made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, satisfaction, and oblation, for the sins of the whole world. St. Paul refers to this passage, Ephes. iv. 8. but not in such a way as necessarily to imply that he considered it prophetical. And from his substituting the word "gave" for " received," he probably meant only to accommodate it to his subject. "Wherefore he saith, when he "ascended up on high, he led captivity. "captive, and received gifts for men.' The Messiah is often spoken of, prophetically, as one who was "to proclaim "liberty to the captives, and the open"ing of the prison to them that are "bound." Isaiah lxi. 1. “To say to the "prisoners, go forth," Isaiah xlix. 9. referring to the power he should give mankind to extricate themselves from the dominion of Satan. In Isaiah xiv. 1, 2. is a passage which has some resemblance to this: The Lord will have mercy on "Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and "set them in their own land and the strangers shall be joined with them; " and they shall cleave to the house of "Jacob: and the people shall take them "captives, whose captives they were." In the song of Deborah and Barak, upon their deliverance from the Canaanites, about 1296 years before the birth of Christ, the same expression occurs: "Awake, "awake, Deborah; awake, awake, utter a song: arise Barak, and lead thy "captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam." Judges v. 12.

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of his enemies

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v. 24.

9.26.

Q. 26.

and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.

22 The Lord hath said, "I "will bring (u) my people again, "as 1 did from Basan: mine

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(u) "I will bring," &c. i. e. I will work as signal deliverances for them, and take such vengeance upon their enemies, as when I brought them up from Basan (where they overcame Og, the king of Basan, about 1452 years before the birth of Christ), and led them through the sea, (on their escape from Pharaoh, about 1490 years before the birth of Christ.)

(x)" That," i. e. so that. In such abundance shall the blood of thine enemies be shed. So Ps. lviii, 9. a vengeance is spoken of, where the righteous "shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the "ungodly."

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(y) This probably refers to the state with which the ark, the type of God, was carried to the sanctuary. Among the things which astonished the Queen of Sheba, was Solomon's "ascent, "by which he went up to the house of "the Lord," 1 Kings x. 5. probably on account of its solemnity and magnificence.

(z) "The congregations," i. e. the religious meetings of the people. See ante, Ps. xxii. 25.-xxxv. 18.-xl. 11.

(a) "Ground of the heart," to de-. note its sincerity; in opposition to what

26 Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congre. gations (z): from the ground of the heart (a).

27 There (b) is little Benjamin their ruler, and the princes of Judah their council: the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali,

28 Thy God (c) hath sent forth strength for thee: stablish (d) the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us,

29 For thy temple's sake (e) at Jerusalem; so shall kings bring presents unto thee.

30 When (f) the company of the spearmen and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad among the beasts of the people, so that they humbly bring pieces of silver and when he hath

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(c) Thy God," &c. i. e. it is be va who hath sent forth strength on thy be half, it is through him thou hast done thy mighty acts. As in Ps. Ix. 12.

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Through God will we do great acts: "for it is he that shall tread down our "enemies.".

(d) "Stablish," &c. i. e. confirm, v. complete what thou hast begun in us.

(e) "Thy temple's sake." It is often s made a topic for soliciting God's aid, that their success, &c. will advance the glory of God, and bring in strangers to his worship. See Ps. xxv. 10.

(f)." When," &c. The carrying up v.3 the ark naturally leads to the contemplation of the future glory of the temple, and properly introduces the prediction, that when God shall have given them the victory over their enemies, and esta blished them in peace, the heathen shall become proselytes, and join in their worship.

scattered the people that delight || he doth send out his voice (h),

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yea, and that a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel: his worship and strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places: even the God of Israel; he will give strength and power unto his people; blessed be God.

Lessons for the Thirteenth Day of the Month throughout the Year.

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(g)" Morian's land," i. e. (probably,) Ethiopia, put indefinitely for any heathen land. This is probably one of the many predictions which looked forward to the conversion of the Gentiles. See note on Ps. xxii. 27,-lxxxvi. 9.

(b) "His voice," perhaps alluding to thunder, which is often called, particularly in Ps. xxix. "the voice of the "Lord."

(i) An anxious prayer for deliverance,. seemingly written in time of great dis

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1 Pet. i.

(5) ante 31. 81. (10) ante 131,

ters are come in, even unto my soul.

2 I stick fast in the deep mire,

tress, mentioning the troubles he had undergone, complaining bitterly of the conduct of his enemies, and calling for or foretelling their punishment and downfall; but ending triumphantly, as if upon an assurance of God's assistance. It is one of the proper Psalms for Good Friday, and might be written prophetically (as Ps. xxii. was) with a view to our Saviour's sufferings and treatment, David, who was a type of the Messiah, speaking of things as referable to himself,

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