influence among his neighbours. But of Moab he speaks with great contempt; "Moab is my washpot;" and of Edom he says, "Over him will I cast out my shoe;" or, I will subdue him and tread him under foot.

And then, towards the end of the Psalm, he shows how entirely he looks to God to bless his arms. He who in his youthful days relied upon an unseen Helper in his contest with Goliath, now in his old age looks to the same almighty arm to give him the victory over his foes. And shall not we utter the same prayer in our daily warfare? "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." His strength we are strong; and if He fights we shall gain mighty victories.

In

PSALM LXI.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my

Vows.

DAVID

AVID was clearly in trouble when he wrote this Psalm, but by faith he saw his way out of it. He had been driven from his home and his throne by Absalom, but he relies much on the efficacy of prayer; "from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed."

This world is to God's people a sea of troubles, and our only safety is upon the Rock which He has provided for us. Fixed upon that Rock, we may look down, and defy all the storms and tempests of this lower world, and enjoy peace in the midst of turmoil. Christ is our everlasting Rock, and resting upon Him we are safe.

David speaks, in the fourth verse, of "abiding in God's tabernacle for ever;" that is, in God's presence, of which the tabernacle was the emblem. And perhaps he also thought of those happy, peaceful moments which he had spent, and which he hoped again to spend, in God's sanctuary. Here he loved to dwell, and here he found unceasing refreshment for his soul.

He speaks too of his "vows having been heard"-those vows probably which were made during the time of his banishment, and which God accepted, restoring him again to his kingdom and promised inheritance.

His life had often been in great jeopardy; but now he speaks of days given back to him, and of years lengthened out. And here, as well as elsewhere, he no doubt alludes to that endless life, which he hopes to spend with God in Heaven, where there shall be no night, no trouble, no death. He closes the Psalm with a determination to bless and praise God for His goodness; "So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows." And if David had reason to praise God, much more have we! Our blessings and our deliverances are even greater; and the light that shines upon us is even brighter than that in which he rejoiced.

VOL. I.

X

PSALM LXII.

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy; for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

UNLIMITED confidence in God was the strong

point in David's character, and nowhere is this more clearly declared than in the Psalm before us.

In the two opening verses he expresses his per

fect repose in God; "Truly my soul waiteth (or resteth) upon God." Here is a calmness which the storms and agitations of the world could not disturb. He speaks of the Lord as his "Rock," his "Salvation," his "Defence." Here was a triple shield around him, which made him feel safe and at rest here were so many strong pillars, by which he supports his stedfastness.

In the third and fourth verses, he shows why he had thus sought a Heavenly shelter; namely, because of the wickedness of his enemies, who had sought to rob him of his dignity, and even of his life. But he feels assured that with all their violence they would be defeated; they would crumble in pieces like an ill-cemented wall, or a brittle and tottering fence.

David's adversaries "consulted" together how to deprive him of those honours which God had bestowed upon him. And so too did the Jews take counsel against our blessed Lord, with the same intent. In both cases they scrupled not to make use of false pretences, and secret plans of evil. While they "blessed with their mouth, they cursed inwardly."

Therefore he is content to shelter himself under God's care; "My soul, wait thou only upon God." There are other rocks and other defenders at hand; but He is the only true one; He is the only source of safety.