EXPOSITION. gives to men that whioh ho knows they PSALM OXXVII. have need of, if they ha.ve only the faith to A DIDACTro psalm, preaching a contented "sit still " 11,nd " we.it." Ver. 3.-Lo, 11hildren 11,re an heritage of trust in God as more conducive to the pros- the Lord. The teaching is enforced by Bn perity of a man, or a. state, than any a.mount example. The prosperity, alike of states of fussy activity. The ascription to Solomon and of individuCLls, depends on nothing so is borne out (I) by the use of Solomonic much as on an abundant progeny of children. words; e.g. 'etseb, ne'urim, yedido; and (2) But children a.re manifestly the free gift of God. And the fruit of thewomb is his reward. by the agreement of the genera.I sentiment One of the we.ye in which he rewCLrds his with Prov. x. 22. faithful ones (see Dent. xxviii. 4, 11). Ver. 4.-As arrows ore in the ha.nd of a Ver. l.-E:a:11ept the Lord build the house; mighty man; so CLre children of the youth ; rather, a house; i.e. any house whatsoever. ra.ther, the children of youth; i.e. children They labour in vain that build it. They born to a. rnon in his youth, Such children will effect nothing-no hoUBe will be built. protect their aged parents RB effectually as E:a:oept the Lord keep the city; rather, a CLrrows in the he.nd of CL warrior. citg. The watchma.n waketh but in vain. Ver. 5.-Happy is the ma.n that bath his Human watching is of no use unless Mcom- quiver full o! them. Hoppy the me.n whoso pa.nied by Divine wCLtching. quiver contains many such arrows, CLnd who Ver. 2.-It is vain for you to rise up is thus sure of 11bundunt protection. They early, to sit up late (comp. Isa. v. 11); i.e. shall not be ashamed, but they sha.11 speak to be "ooreful ond troubled " about your with the enemies in the gate ; rather, 1Dhen work in the world, whatever it is. To eat they shall epeak(Hengstenberg, KCLy, Choyne, the bread of sorrows. 'l'o foed, as it were, Revised Ver8ion). "The gote" wu.s the on sorrow-and trouble 11nd cCLre-to mCLke place where judgment was given, 11nd where your Ii ves CL burden to yourselves through consequently odversCLries were opt to meet, your oorefulness. For so he giveth his os they pushed thoir respeoli ve ea.uses. belovod sleep ; rother, surely he giveth to his There might be collisions on such occusions; belaved in sleep; i.e. in their sleep. The 1111d, in o.ny oose, a. mon with soveml lusty te11,ohing is simihu to thBt of Exoil. xiv. 14 ; sons to tCLke his pa.rt would ho.ve o.n o.dva.n• Isa, 1lLL 7, 15; .M11,tt. vi. 25-34, God t11ge.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-5.-The blessing of God. 'l'he psalm is In keeping with that prevalent piety which led the devout Israelite to trace God's hand in everything, and ascribe both good and evil, both joy 11nd sorrow, to his directing power. I. UNDLEBSED LABoun. 1. We can do nothing at nil without the Divine co-opera- tion. We constantly depend on the presence of his materfal, on tho CLction of his laws, on the activity of the forces ho keeps in play. ,vo 1111 recognize this in 11griculture; that it is vain for the husbandman to sow his seed, unless God sends his rain aud wind and sunshine, etc. It is also true of our other occupations. 'l'ho sailor a.ml the builder depend on the constancy and regularity of Divine l11ws 11nd forces. ,vc are alwCLys assuming their existenco, though we may think nothing of their Author. 2. Wo can offect nothing without tho Divine permission. If God means that the guilty city ~hall Z2S THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, OXXVII, 1-5,