Ps. cxi. 2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
THIS psalm is one of those appointed by our Church for Easter Day : for which it is sufficiently appropriate, in that it celebrates that redemption of
God's people from Egypt, which was typical of the redemption wrought out for us by Christ upon the cross, and perfected by his resurrection from the dead. The structure of it is very peculiar. Every sentence begins with the different letters of the He- brew alphabet in their order; the eight first verses consisting each of two sentences, and the two last of three sentences. This artificial mode of writing it seems to have been with a view to its being; more easily remembered. The first word of it, " Halle- lujah," was, in fact, no part of the psalm itself, but only the title of it ; and it shews us with what dis- position of mind the subject should be contemplated, and with what feelings it was recorded. O that our souls might rise to the occasion, whilst we consider, I. The greatness of God's works !
Great indeed they were, even the deliverances accomplished for Israel in Egypt. Who can read of all the plagues with which that land was visited ; or of the destruction of Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea ; or of the wonders wrought for Israel in the wilderness ; or of their final establishment in the land of Canaan ; and not exclaim, " Great and mar- vellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty ! " But, however much we may be disposed, in imitation of David in this psalm, to admire the perfections of God as illustrated in that stupendous work, we are called to the consideration of infinitely greater works, of which the deliverance from Egypt was but a type and shadow. Yes : in the redemption of the world we do indeed behold the perfections of our God shining forth, as it were, in meridian splendour. That was a work beyond all parallel and all conception great,
1. In wisdom and power — [When Moses saw what God had wrought for the people of Israel at the Red Sea, he sang, " Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders3?" But St. Paul speaks of our blessed Lord as concentrating in himself all that is great and glorious, and as being, as it were in the abstract,
a Exod. xv. 11. VOL. vr. s