Mote on

In this song of prayer David pours out his longing Ps. LXIII. for nearness to God. He felt that life would be poor and incomplete unless all its work and effort were dedicated to the glory of God, and that everpresent thought inspired in him a noble and heroic attitude at all times, and when he became a great king, it prevented his becoming arrogant and vain. "Lord, my heart is not haughty nor mine eye lofty,' he cries in one of his prayer-poems.

His ardent love and whole-hearted devotion to God brought the comforting and courage-giving belief that whatever happens is for the best, and that

PSALM LXV.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm and Song of David.

PRAISE waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion: and unto Thee shall the vow be performed. 2 O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come. 3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away. 4 Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causeth to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.

5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Which by His strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded

the Infinite wisdom and mercy of God is ever over Mote on us all. David's own self seems to be brought very Ps. LXIII. near us in these Psalms. The poet-king, who lived three thousand years ago in a far-off land, speaks to us like a familiar friend. We seem to know the very ring of his voice, as he comforts us and cheers us in times of trouble and trial, by telling us of the trials he himself has gone through. We see that his difficulties were just the same as ours are, and that if our souls "follow hard after" God, the same perfect faith in God that sustained David through his troubles will sustain us too.

Ps. LXV. with power : 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas,

the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at Thy tokens:

Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: Thou preparest them corn, when Thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: Thou settlest the furrows thereof: Thou makest it soft with showers: Thou blessest the springing thereof. II Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness. 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Mote on The first four verses of the 65th Psalm picture our Ps. LXV. dependence on the help of God, and the blessing of being able to pour out the inmost feelings of our heart in prayer to Him.

The comforting thought that earnest prayer direct from the human heart is ever acceptable to our Almighty Father is the very essence of our faith. David repeats it in Psalm after Psalm, and in many different ways, none more beautiful than the

noble words of this Psalm, "O Thou that hearest prayer, to Thee shall all flesh come." The third and the fourth verses picture the strength that comes to us from prayer and from trust in the goodness of God.

It is very wonderful to think that when King Note on David sang this Psalm, the Israelites alone of all Ps. LXV. the people in the world realized the truth that God is the Creator of the whole world. While the Egyptian kings with all their elaborate civilization worshipped bulls and a whole number of gods and goddesses, and the Greeks attributed a separate personified deity to every force of nature, the Israelites raised their voices in prayer to the one. God, "the Trust of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off on the seas," the Almighty God, Whose universal dominion is so beautifully pictured in this Psalm.

The fifth verse leads to the awe-inspiring thought

Hote on of the Infinite power of the Almighty, and the Ps. LXV. thought of the Divine goodness is completed with a picture of the beneficent ordering of the world that God has given us to dwell in.

Thus

PSALM LXVI.

To the Chief Musician. A Song and Psalm.

MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing forth the honour of His name: make His praise glorious. 3 Say unto God, How awful are Thy works through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee. 4 All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah.

5 Come and see the works of God: He is awful in His doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot there did we rejoice in Him. 7 He ruleth by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard: 9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. 10 For Thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. II Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but Thou