Mote on third part (verses 8 to 10), the crown and climax of Ps. XLVI. the whole, in which all thought of danger is gradually

lost in the Psalmist's faith in the lovingkindness

of God, the great Peace Maker. He seems to be hearing and uttering the very message of God in

verse 10.

Then comes the final repetition of the chorus

PSALM XLVII.

To the Chief Musician.

A Psalm for the Sons of korab.

O CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the LORD most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.

*This Psalm is sung before the sounding of the trumpet on New Year's Day.

verse with yet intenser meaning:-" The Lord of Mote on Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Ps. XLVI. As we read it, the words of Isaiah seem to ring in our ears, and echo the Psalmist's faith ; "Peace to him that is far off and to him that is near," said the Lord, "and I will heal him."

Mote on

This song of thanks for victory in battle calls Ps. XLVII. on the people of Israel to sing praises "with understanding" of the great truth that God is the King of all the earth; it breathes the same spirit as Ps. cxv. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for the sake of Thy mercy and Thy truth."

In order fully to understand this Psalm, you must just think for a moment of the time when it was written. Most of the peoples in the world were idolaters. They either worshipped the sun and moon and other wonders of creation, or they imagined a world of gods ruling this world of ours, and occasionally visiting it in the form of man, woman, or beast.

PSALM XLIX.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of korab.

HEAR this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: 2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together. 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels shall compass me about? 6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of

But to the Israelites the great truth of the One Mote on Almighty God was made known. The Psalmist Ps. XLVII. realized the force of this great truth, of which the Israelites were at once the heralds and the guardians, and, in a prophetic spirit, he proclaims their mission-" He shall choose our inheritance for us." The Jews bore, and still bear to the world. that great heritage, the message that God is the One Creator of all the world, the Author of all the Laws of Nature by which the whole world is governed-earth, sea, and heavens, living creatures, and growing plants,—and that every human being, however lowly and simple, needs no mediator to carry the prayer from his heart to God,-the Creator and Father of all.

Ps. XLIX. their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever :) 9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. 10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish perish, and leave their wealth to others. II Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Mote on Ds. XLIX.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah. 16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18 Though while he lived he counted himself an happy man and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. 20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

After the poetic invocation of the first four verses the Psalmist dilates on the different measure of happiness and suffering that befalls different people.