PSALM IV.

To the Chief Musician.1 A Psalm of David.

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call unto Him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Mote on This Psalm, like so many others, seems to bring the
Ds. IV. character of David's very self before us.
We can

hardly believe that the man who wrote it lived 3000
years ago; but as Carlyle says about the heroes of
old, "Heroism" is "the divine relation . . . which
in all times unites a Great Man to other men."

We feel how true this is as we read the psalms of King David, the hero-poet, and realize his brave,

1 For note on "The Chief Musician," see Ps. lxxxi.

simple nature and high-minded though impulsive note on disposition.

În Psalm iv. David gratefully recalls God's mercies to him in the past and humbly prays for divine help. Then he breaks off to lament the folly of those who, "turning my glory into shame, love vain things and seek after falsehood." We feel the overwhelming earnestness of the reproof in those stirring words. Turning that in which I glory (my faith in God and all it means in guiding my conduct to try to please

Ds. IV.

Mote on Him) into a shameful thing (which means their ps. IV. shame, the loving of folly and seeking after base and contemptible objects of desire).

Verse 5 is one of the many forms in which David uttered the thought that was his guiding star through life, as it may well be ours. "Offer the offering of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord." The same thought in its very highest form is echoed in the next verse. If we can feel that we have made

PSALM VIII.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? 5 For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!

the offering to God of trying our very hardest to do mote on what is right, to live so that the light of His Ps. IV. countenance is upon us, then we may fearlessly trust that whatever may happen to us is for the best. A touch of homely imagery in verse 7 conveys to us that David is thinking of something other than the changes and chances of worldly prosperity, and the thought brings the sense of infinite peace and trustfulness with which the Psalm closes.

Mote on The Psalmist is lost in wonder at God's loving Ps. VIII. care of us human beings. When we are little babies we cannot know God's goodness to us. When we grow older and understand God's loving care of us, we know that God has given us the beautiful world to live in, and all the living creatures on earth to serve us. We must try to deserve these great gifts of God by never misusing the power He has given us. It is a great trust, and we must try

PSALM XV.

A Psalm of David.

LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill ? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Mote on This Psalm reminds me of a story about Hillel, Ds. XV. the wise Rabbi. A stranger came to him and asked him, "What is the Law of God?" Hillel answered, "What is hateful to thee, do not to thy fellow-man. That is the Law, all the rest is only to explain it.”