the things that God "spoke in his holiness." But it is simpler to treat the verses as expressions of what the psalmiBt feel,i he can do, and means to endeavour to do, basing bis confidence on the fact that "God has spoken in his holiness "-bas made promise and pledge to him ; and God's pledges, he is sure, are holy, inviolate, certain of fultil- ment. In relation lo David, the promise to secure for him the full sovereignty of the nation is probably referred to (2 Sam. vii.). "In his holiness" means, " in the immu- table integrity of his heart," which was an infallible guarantee for the fulfilment of his promise. The key-note of this portion of the psalm is the fact that the promises of God sent by Nathan to David ensured tbe establishment of the Davidic dyna.ty over the kin<1dom of Israel. But when the origiual of the psalm was composed, David had all the ~ork before him. The northern portion of Canaan had to be won ; neighboLir- ing nations had to be subdued, or put under tribute. But the promise gave him con- scious strength, made him feel superior to his responsibilities; able even to speak lightly, almost scornfully, of those whose conquest would involve hard toil and fighting (see figures of ver. 9). I. FrnM HOLD OF GoD's PROMISE GIVES us CONSCIOUS SUl'ERIORITY TO LIFE'S DIFFI- 0ULTIEB. '!'his is true, whether our difficulties come from our circumstances or our sins. We have Divine promises that we shall finally master both our surroundings and ourselves, winning the whole kingdom of our being for righteousness. Wha.t keeps us full of good cheer? Not our evident successes, but our grip of the Divine promises. In God's word and pledge, we rise above our circumstances and above our sins. We feel no sort of fear; we shall "come off more than conqueroril." II. Fm11 HOLD OF GoD'S PROMISE GIVES us CONSCIOUS STRENGTH TO CARRY OUT OUR RESOLVES, David meant to win Moa.b, Edom, Philistia, etc.; and he knew he could because God had spoken. There is no sense of strength to accomplish life-purposes ever comes to a man like that he knows when he feels God is at bis back.-R. T. Ver. 11.-God with us assures confidence and victory. What "casting off" is here referred to by the psalmist no one seems to have satisfactorily explained. The best suggestion, perhaps, is that the sentiments of a returned exile a.re here interwoven with the sentiments of David. The idea of God, as one who had cast off his people for awhile, is quite suitable to a returned exile, but quite unsuitable to David. The thought is, however, found in the original of this psalm (Ps. Ix. 1); and if we must connect it with David, it is necessary to assume that he suffered some temporary repulse in the beginning of his national wars, and that, in a gloomy, poetic way, he regarded this as "God ea.sting off his people." A good writer on Ps. Ix. says, "From the first five verses we should gather that the country had been crushed by some grea* national disaster.» One is forcibly reminded of two scenes in the national history. I. THE ANXIETY OF MosEs ABOUT GoD GOING WITH lsRAEL. Recall the expressions of Divine rndigna.tion 10 the matter of the golden ea.If. The purpose was, as it were, half formed, to cast off a people who were showing themselves so unfaithful to tha trust reposed in them. Moses intercedeu. Tho evident burden on his heart was the possibility that God might not himself go with them; and he passionately plea.lied, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." Well be knew that "God with us a11sures confidence a.nd victory." II. THE ANXIETY OF JosHUA AnouT GoD GOING WITH ISRAEL. \Vhen the covenant was broken, through the covetousness of Acha.n, God for a time withdrew his defence and help, cast off his people, with the result that the army was defeated, and the whole expedition placed in jeopardy. Joshua was terribly distressed. It seemed to him (not knowing the real cause of the disaster) that the very Name of God wo.s being dis-- honoured, and he passionately pleaded for that restoration of God's presence a.nd power which alone could give confidence and victory. The history of God'11 people furnishes abundant illustrations of the same truth; and it was sealed for ever, as the truth of truths for helpless nian, when the ascending Jesus gave his a.ss=ce, "Lo, I am wiLh you Bll the da.ys."-R. T.
Vers. 1-13.-This psalm consists of portions of two others, the first half of it being taken from the fifty-seventh psalm (vers. 7-11), aud the latter half from the sixtietb (vers. 6-12). 'l'he notes on these two other psalms may be consulte,l.-S. 20 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [Ps. orx. 1-81,