Pa. oxii. is <'onoerned with "tho reflection Ver. 6.-B:e bath showed his people the of these in the happiness, beneficence, a.nd power of his works, that he may give them righteousness of God's servants" (Klly). the heritage of the heathen; rather, in giving The two together seem to have been in- them. God manifested his power to Israel very specie.Uy by ea.using them to overcome tended to form an introduction to the the mRny strong Ce.na.a.nitish nations, and "Hallel," or chant sung a.t the Passover, at to take their lands and labours in possession Pentecost, and at the Feast of Tabernacles, (Pa. ov. 44). Thie was one of the greatest which consisted of Pss. cxiii.-cxviii. of his " works," or "doings," Ver. 7.-The works of his hands a.re verity Ver. 1.-Praise ye the Lord. Scarcely a and jndgment. All that God does is right part of the psalm-rather a. heading or in- and just-" done in truth and uprightness" troduction. I will praise the Lord with my (ver. 8). All his commandments are sure; whole heart (comp. Pss. iL 1; cxix, 34, 58, i.e. firm, unchangeable-being based on 69). "With my whole henrt" replaces the truth and right. "greatly" of Ps. cix. 30. In the assembly Ver. 8.-They stand fast for ever and ever. of the npright, and in the oongregation. Thie is exegetical of the "sure" in ver. 7. Professor Cheyne translates, "in the coun- In the sense in which they were given-the cil and assembly of the upright;" and it spiritual sense underlying them-not one seems to be generally allowed that two jot or tittle of God's commandments ever distinct assemblies are not spoken of, but passes away (Matt. v. 18). And are done that the one congregation of the faithful in truth and uprightness ; rather, being is designated by two names. Thus the done. It is the intrinaio trnth and equity Prayer-book translation is wrong. of the commandments that render them ever- Ver. 2.-The works of the Lord are great. lasting and nncbangee.ble (see Cudworth Not his IDJ1.terial works, but the doings of on 'Immutable Morality'). his providence (see vers. 3-9). Sought out Ver. 9.-He sent redemption unto his of all them that have pleasure therein. people. The "redemption" from Egypt Searched into and carefully studied by all (Exod. vi. 6) is perhaps especially in the who take an interest in such things. Deru- writer's mind, but he may be thinking also akim, "objects of study," is etymologically of other deliverances. He bath commanded oonnectecl with madrasa, a college, a. "place his covenant for ever (comp. Gen. ix. 12; of study and research." xvii. 13; Exod. xxxi. 16, etc.). Holy and Ver. 3.-His work is honourable and reverend is his Name. Intrinsically "holy," glorions; literally, honour and glory; but and therefore" reverend," or to be reverenced. our translators have rightly paraphrased. Ver. 10.-The fear of the Lord is the And his righteousness endureth for ever; beginning of wisdom (comp. Prov. i. 7; i.e. his jnst and righteous dealing with all ix. 10; Ecclus. i. 16; and also Job xxviii. his creatures. 28). The meaning seems to be that "the Ver. 4.-He bath Jllll.de his wonderful beginning of wisdom is not found in keen works to b.i remembered; literally, a me- insight, nor wide experience, nor the learn- mOTial kath he made for hiB wonderB; i.e. he ing of the schools, but in the temper of has so done them that they cannot cease to reverence and awe. The fear of the finite in be had in remembrance. Memorial institu- the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in tions, like the Passover, are scarcely glanced the presence of the Holy, self-abhorring, at. The Lord is gracious and full of oom- adoring, as in Job's confession-this for the passion; or, "compassionate" (comp. Ps. Israelite was the starting-point of all true ciii. 13). wisdom" (Denn Plumptre). A good under- Ver. 5.-He bath given meat unto them standing have all they that do his com- that fear him. The manna may he pri- mandments; literally, that do them; but the marily in the writer's mind, but he is also "commandments" of ver. 7 a.re, no doubt, thinking of the " food given to all flesh " intended. His praise endureth for ever. (Ps. cx.xxvi 25) continually. He will ever The praise '' of him," not " of it," as in the be mindful of his covenant. The covenant Prayer-book Version. As he had begun with Abraham, made "to a thousand gene- (ver. 1), so the pso.lmiat ends, with Jehova.h's ratiol!JI" (Pa. cv. 8). praise.
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-10.-77.e work of God and the wisdom of man. The uniting thought in the psalm is the work of God. It is evident (see vere. 6, 6, 9) that the writer has in view those 11pecinl manifestations of Divine power by which the people of God were 1'1!, OXI, 1-10.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 37