Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

PSALM XXVII.

A PRAYER FOR RESTORATION TO THE PRIVILEGES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

THIS Psalm would seem to have been composed near the crisis of the contest, but before it was finally decided. Hence we see in it confident anticipations of triumph (ver. 6), followed by prayers for help (ver. 9).

In Ps. xxiii. 6 the words in which he anticipates restoration to the place of worship are the same as those in the fourth verse of this psalm, "dwell in the house of the Lord." It is worthy of notice that the words which follow in the twenty-third psalm are "for ever"; but in this, "all the days of my life." The former expression is shown by numerous passages to mean no more than a long, but limited time.

PSALM XXVII.

1 THE Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my

Of whom shall I be afraid?

life;

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my persecutors, came upon me to devour me,

They stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart

shall not fear;

Though war should rise against me, yet will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord; that do I yet

seek;

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the glory of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his

pavilion ;

In the secret place of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.

6 Yea, already doth he lift my head above mine enemies round about me;

7

Therefore I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of

joy;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice; Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, “Seek ye my face,”

My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face from me;

Put not thy servant away in anger;

Thou hast been my help, leave me not,
Neither forsake me, O God, my helper !

10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord,

And lead me in a plain path, because of mine ene

mies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies; For false witnesses are risen up against me,

And such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I trust to see the goodness of the Lord

In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine

heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord.

PSALM XXX.

THANKSGIVING FOR GOD'S INTERPOSITIONS IN HIS FAVOR.

THIS psalm seems to have been uttered after the suppression of the rebellion, and the restoration of David to his kingdom. The first verse expresses thanks for support against his enemies; the second and third, for restoration from sickness. The fourth and fifth express very beautifully the happy change from danger to safety, and from sickness to health. "Sorrow may be a guest for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." The remainder of the psalm recounts the change of his fortunes from prosperity to adversity, his appeals to God for relief, the favorable change granted in answer to his prayers, concluding with an expression of his determination to "sing praise and not be silent," and "to give thanks for ever," a phrase which has the same meaning here as was indicated in the remarks upon it in the previous psalm (the twenty-seventh).

1

PSALM XXX.

I WILL extol thee, O God, for thou hast lifted me up, And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O Lord, my God,

I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Lord, thou hast raised me up from the grave; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go

to the pit.

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his,

down

And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment,

But his favor for life;

Sorrow may be a guest for a night,
But joy cometh in the morning.

6 In my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved. 7 Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong."

Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O Lord,

And unto the Lord I made my supplication:

9" What will my blood profit thee, that I should go down to the pit?

Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me!

Lord, be thou my helper!"

11 Thou didst turn for me my mourning into dancing;

Thou didst loose my sackcloth, and gird me with gladness;

12 Therefore I will sing praise to thee, and not be si

lent;

O Lord, my God, I will give thanks unto thee for

ever.

PSALM XVIII.

CONCLUSION OF DAVID'S WARS, AND RETROSPECT OF

HIS LIFE.

THIS psalm contains passages which in sublimity equal, if they do not surpass, any thing of the kind in the whole range of literature; the sacred writings affording nothing more excellent, and classical literature nothing equal to them. The appearance of the Deity visibly taking part with David in his conflict with his enemies (ver. 7-15) is described in language adequate, if human language can be so, to the subject. The imagery is thought by Dr. Lowth to be drawn from the awful scene at the giving of the law from Sinai, and the description, in the fifteenth verse, of the withdrawal of the waters from their channels, and laying bare the foundations of the earth, is no less plainly an allusion to the crossing of the Red Sea. It is a remarkable fact that this most sublime of descriptions should have been rendered with great success by the tamest and most inelegant of all the versifiers who have attempted to transfer the Psalms to English metre, Sternhold and Hopkins. It is indeed the only pas

« FöregåendeFortsätt »