can take it up, for much of it expresses what the members may often feel while taking the same view of the Father's face that Christ sought. His doleful complaint occupies from 1 to 11 verses, resembling closely the deep pathos of Psa. xxii. Many of the allusions add depth to the words, conveying the idea, that all that was ever sorrowful in other men is to be found in this "Man of Sorrows." Hannah's and David's sorrow, that took away all appetite for food (1 Sam. i. 7 ;* 2 Sam xii. 17), and even Saul's blank horror (1 Sam. xxviii. 20), are to be found in him— แ My heart is smitten, and withered like grass, one So that I have forgotten to eat my bread." (Ver. 4.) At such cost He purchased for believers on his name the privilege of "eating their meat with gladress and singleness of heart, praising God," as exemplified in the men of Pentecost (Acts ii. 46). He is like "the pelican of the wilderness" (sometimes seen at the Lake of Galilee, or by the shore of the Waters of Merom,) when it has left its companions in their desert resorts, and lingers alone, drooping and dying; or like “the owl in desolate places,” sometimes haunting ruins, sometimes sitting on some hollow tree forlorn, even at noon-day, as travellers have observed in Palestine (sèe Narrative of Mission to the Jews, chap. v.); or, like some solitary sparrow, separated from the happy company of its fellows, mournful on the house-top.† He is like Job in the ashes, tears mingling with his drink, cast away, or cast down low now, and yet once lifted high (vers. 9, 10), his days like the shadow. But, as an angel strengthened him in Gethsemane, so the thought of his Father's purposes supports him here. At verse 12 he looks upward, as if he said, "But, O Father! I do not * Daniel's, too, chap. x. 3. Some have supposed Daniel the writer of this Psalm, the Holy Spirit using him in the days of the captivity, as a fit penman for a subject that touched upon many circumstances like his own. † Waterston, the naturalist, however, fixes on the "Passer solitarius,” which is known in Egypt and Syria, and in the south of Italy. This bird is like a thrush in size, shape, habits, and has a sweet plaintive note; but never associates with others of its species, not even with its own mate, except in breeding time. It is seen sitting solitary on house-tops, warbling, it may be, its plaintive song. The contents. distrust thee (comp. Psa. xxii. 3); thou art to me the same as from all eternity; thou art Jehovah ; "Thy memorial is from generation to generation." (Ver. 13.) That is, thy name manifested by deeds of love, and left on record for after ages, never changes. “It is thou that shalt arise (Op♫ AAN), and have mercy on Zion ; For the time to favour her, the appointed time, cometh on" (No1 'D, comp. Psa. xcvi. 13). At that time, "Thy servants have mercy upon (1) the very dust of Zion;" they feel sorrow for it. At that time shall instruments be found not less efficient than Nehemiah in his day (see Neh. iii. 34, and iv. 4) to repair her wastes; and at that time the nations shall not hinder but help on the work, seeing the glory of the Lord. "For"-as if already beholding it accomplished, the vision is so clear (vers. 17, 18)— "For the Lord has builded Zion! And His Glory has been seen ! He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer." (Comp. Psa. xxii. 24.) He has heard the prayer of Zion's helpers, as well as the prayer of Him who was emphatically "The Destitute One"the, naked of all things, nowhere to lay his head; like (as the word means) the heath in the wilderness (Jer. xvii. 6), like a bare solitary tree. This humiliation ends in exaltation; a future generation shall see it; for the Lord's character is known as helper of the miserable, manifesting his grace in their deliverance; and he has ever "looked down" (Deut. xxvi. 15) on Israel with such feelings, delivering (as he did Peter in after days) at times when men expected to see the captive's end. He will look down (ver 20), "To hear the groaning of the Prisoner (Christ), To set at large the children of death." (Compare Isa. Ixi. 1; Christ's members, and Israel among the rest.) And this delivered company shall shew forth his praise on that day when Messiah appears in his glory among the nations, the Shiloh to whom, at length, all kindreds and people gather. Such is the bright prospect, the glorious vision! From the garden of Gethsemane, with the cup at his lips, Christ sees the throne-glory, for a moment, bursting through the gloom. But it passes away; he feels himself still in the valley, and his sense of weakness and woe returns. Sorrowful unto death," his soul cries Take me not away in midst of my days." (Ver. 23, 24.) Take me not away, let me not sink, ere my Mediatorial work is accomplished. It is here (compare Heb. i. 10-12) that the voice from the “Thy years are to all generations! (77772. q.d., in the depth Of old thou hast laid the foundations of earth, And the heavens were the work of thy hands," &c. (Ver. 24, 25.) The Eternal Son cannot faint or fail. He must be conqueror. He must pass safely up from this humiliation to the throne Yes, it is his to create these heavens whence he descended. and earth anew. “These shall perish, but thou remainest These shall wear out as a garment. And when they have been worn out, “Thou shalt change them as a ves'ure (splendid attire, Gesen.), The word for "change" implies in it (see Schultens on Prov. *"His strength," ini is the true reading, (Hengst). Is it, "God has withdrawn the help which he used to make me feel?" Resurrection time. Christ's mem.. bers. CII. FSALM CII will put cedars in the room of sycamores." If so, we see very In that glory his children shall share-in that unchanging bliss they "receive a kingdom that cannot be moved," (Heb. xii. 28). They at present often drink of his cup; they have some of his sorrows; for many an age their lot on earth has been like his-sorrowful. But, at length, the day of his glory dawns, and the “children of his servants" shall no more be strangers and wanderers; but (1) "shall continue," or pitch their tents and be fixed. The children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, "his servants," may be specially intended; at least, they are not forgotten. For now his saints enter on the possession of Earth, and the millennial race of Israelites inherit their Land, reigned over by the Lord and his glorified saints. And thus we understand this Psalm, beginning in woe, ending in gladness. It is Messiah's complaint and comforts in the days of his PSALM CIII. A Psalm of David. 1 BLESS the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases ; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the cast is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgres sions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, That do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul. How often have saints in Scotland sung this Psalm in days when they celebrated the Lord's Supper! It is thereby specially known in our land. It is connected also with a remarkable case in the days of John Knox. Elizabeth Adamson, a woman who attended on his preaching "because he more fully opened the fountain of God's mercies than others did," was led to Christ and to rest, in hearing this Psalm, after enduring such agony of soul that she said, concerning racking pains of body, "A thousand years of this torment, and ten times more joined, are not to be compared to a quarter of an hour of my soul's trouble." She asked for this Psalm again before departing: "It was in receiving it that my troubled soul first tasted God's mercy, which is now sweeter to me than if all the kingdoms of the earth were given me to possess." Of this Psalm, when viewed as following the preceding, we Connection may say, Fruits of Messiah's work appear-glory to God, U |