This Selah-pause divides the Psalm into portions at suitable times, and intimates a change of scene or tone. Here, as usual, it gives time for solemn thought; and then an invitatation is given to men to "Come and see." As John i. 26, 27, at Christ's First Coming, and Rev. vi. 3, 5, 7, in events leading on to his Second "Come and see the works of God! Awful in his dealings to the sons of men." (Ver. 5.) And when we have cast our eye back to Red Sea and Jordan wonders, and have seen Him to be the same for ever, still subduing the nations, another "Selah" gives us time to pause and adore. But the harp is soon struck again (ver. 8), "Bless our God, ye nations" (by, not as Psa. lxii. 8.)* The Jews are now inviting the Gentiles; for the Jews are life from the dead to the world. They tell how their God refined them; how He "laid pressure on their loins," the seat of strength; yet made their trials act as a furnace to take away the dross. Even "frail men" were made strong against them; yet Israel passed through desert and flood; and, at length, reached “The wealthy place” (ver. 12)—affluence-refreshing. (1999). Each of their number, as well as their Leader, thus invites the Gentile nations; and they do it by example, and not by word only “I will go into thine house with offerings; I will perform my vows unto thee. I will offer fat victims as burnt-offerings, Along with rams that have incense-savour. Selah. (Ver. 13, 14.) Another pause-like Wisdom's in Prov. i. 23. And then once more, voice and instrument together sound forth a cheerful summons to draw near and listen to Messiah and the Church of Israel He was (ver. Come, hear, and I will tell, All ye that fear God, What he has done for me." (Ver. 16.) 17) "Hearer of prayer” to me (Isa. lxv. 2); for * It may remind us of Isa. xxiv. 13, "There shall be among they, the nations, the shaking of an olive-tree," the Gentiles taking up what Israel lets fall. no sooner did I call upon Him than he answered-turning my prayer into praise. Had I sought to "lying vanities," or had tried crooked paths, I should have failed in finding this blessed result. But the God of Israel, the Holy One, was honoured. "Verily God hath heard, He hath hearkened to the voice of my prayer." (Ver. 19.) But the way to this blessedness is by a holy path, verse 18 Messiah magnified the law; and in Him, we who come to God through his blood and righteousness do the same, and so shall sing the same song, and bless the same God. “He has not turned away my prayer ! He has not turned away his mercy from me!" A close equivalent to Rev. v. 8, where the golden vials, full of saints' prayers, are held up by the saints, and owned by the Hearer of Prayer on that day. Far from turning away my prayer, lo he has done exceeding abundantly beyond all I asked. Instead of turning away his mercy from me, lo! He has brought me to the Wealthy Place! Such is the Song of Messiah and his ransomed Israel praising the prayerhearing God. PSALM LXVII To the chief Musician. On Negineth. A Psalm or Song. 1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 0 let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. ONCE more the Jewish Church is prominent in this solemn The title. Psalm," which is sung as a lively "Song," on Neginoth. The contents. They pray for the outpouring of the full blessing which their High Priest, Jesus, is to bestow by their means on all the earth. The language of verse 1 refers us to Num. vi. 21, 25, and very appropriately; for the time is the Lord's Second Coming, when, as true High Priest, he comes forth from the Holiest to bless the people. The "Selah" at the end of verse 1 and verse 4 is, in both cases, very expressive, indicating, as it does, pauses in the sense and feeling, as well as the music. "God be merciful to us And bless us! And cast the light of his countenance (So as that it may be) with us." (IN See Hengst.) Bless us and guide us in thy way, (thy mode of dealing with thy people), that by us thy way may be known on the earth, as foretold in Gen. xii. 3, and since those days, in Amos viii. 14; Isa. lx. 1, 2; Acts xv. 15-17; Rom. xi. 15, and many other places. “The nations (Day) shall praise thee, O God; The nations shall praise thee!" (Ver. 3.) The peculiar people, D, here anticipate with joy the time when the , the whole Gentile people, shall praise their God and Saviour, and that through their means. “Let the tribes (of earth, the ii. 1) rejoice and sing, who once raged against thee, Psa. For thou judgest (i. e., rulest) the (by) nations righteously, And as for the tribes of earth (D) thou guidest them." (Isa. lviii 11, Hengst.) And again at the happy prospect they cry, "Hallelujah !” for they repeat their song- "The nations (py) shall praise thee, O God, The nations shall praise thee! every one of them !” (Ver. 5.) And now Earth, as well as Palestine, giveth its increase, for the God blesseth us! And they fear Him ! Horsley says, this is "A hymn for the Feast of Tabernacles, prophetic of a general conversion of the world to the worship of God." Dr Allix entitles this Psalm, "A Prayer of the Synagogue for the Second Coming of the Messias, when her empire is to be extended over all nations, and the temporal blessings which are promised to the Jews in several oracles shall be conferred on them." But it is simpler, and perhaps more correct to describe it thus The Prayer of Israel for the blessing which Messiah is to bestow on them, for the sake of earth at large. PSALM LXVIII. To the chief Musician. A Psalm or Song of David. 1 LET God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: But the rebellious dwell in a dry land. 7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness. Selah. 8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: Even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. 10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. 12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 13 Though ye have lien among the the pots, Yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. 14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. 15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill, as the hill of Bashan. 16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? This is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; Yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men ; Yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, Even the God of our salvation. Selah. 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; And unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. 21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, And the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses. 22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: 23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, And the tongue of thy dogs in the same. 24 They have seen thy goings, O God: even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. 25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the damsels playing the timbrels. 26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. 27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council; The princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. 29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. 30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people. Till every one submit himself with pieces of silver. Scatter thou the people that delight in war, 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt ; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. 32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praise unto the Lord. Selah. 33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old! Lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. 35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places! The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. |