to him. And now that he lieth; i.e. " now private revenge, bnt David's duty as a that ho is prostrate npon a. sick-bed." He king (Rom. xiii. 4). shall rise up no more. He shall not recover, Ver. 11.-By this I know that thou but die of his ma.lady. favourest me; or, deli')hteat in me (comp. Ver. 9.-Yea., mine own familiar friend Pae. xviii. 19: xxii. 8; 2 Sam. xv. 26). (literally,' the man of my peace), in whom Beoa.uee mine enemy doth not triumph over I trusted. Here Ahithnphel is almost me. David's enemies hnd not triumphed certainly intended. He is called "the man over him, and he felt assured that they of my pence," since he wus one of David's wonld not be allowed to triumph. This oflioial counsellors (2 Sam. xv. 12), and assurance was so strong that he could make oonsequently ou the most friendly terms it au argument on which to ground his with him (comp. Ps. Iv. 13, 14). Which belief that God" delighted in him." David did eat of my bread. At Oriental courts, argues from effect to cause. the king's comisellors, together with many. Ver. 12.-And as for me, thou upholdest other members of the court, habitually" eat me in mine integrity(comp. Pe. xxvi. 1, and at the king's table" (comp. 2 Sam. ix. 7- the comment ad lee.). And aettest me before 13; 1 Kings iv. 23, 27; xviii. 19 ; N eh. v. thy face for ever. So that there falls upon 17; E•th. i. 10, 11; iii. 15, etc.). Ha.th me the light of thy countenance (comp. P~. lifted np his heel against me. (For Ahitho- iv. 6). The expreesion, "for ever," is phel's defection f,om David, and share in rema.rkable in this connection, and mny be Absa.lom's conspiracy, see 2 Sam. xv. 12, fairly taken as indicating a hope of im- 31; xvi. 15-23; xvii. 1-23.) His oonduct mortality ( comp. Pes. xvi. 11 ; xvii. 15; is here compared to that of a vicious horse, xxiii. 6; xx.x. 12). which kicks his own master. (For the Ver. 13.-messed be the Lord God of Israel relation of type and antitype between from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, Ahithophel and Judas, see John xv. 18.) and Amen. A similar doxology occurs at Ver. 10.-But thou, 0 Lord, be merciful the end of Pss. lxxii., lxxx.ix.., and cvi., not mito me (comp. ver. 4). The writer pa.see~ (o.ppo.rently) as po.rt of the psalm to which from complaint to prayer, and once mo~_e it is attached, but as a mark of pa.use a.nd calls on God to deliver him. And raise me separation. The Psnltcr is thus rlivided np. Falsify the prediction of my enemies into five books (comp. Hippolyt., p. 153, edit. (ver. 8); r11iee me up from my sick-bed, aud Lo.garde, "Thelfobrewa divided the Psalter re-establish me in a: position of anlhority. into five books, so that it is another Penta- that I ma7 requite them. This was not tench ").
HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-0onsiderate aympathy. "Blessed is he that considoreth the poor." A double blessing waits for those who are worthy of it, in these words-a blessing of heaven above, and a blessing of the deep that lieth under. As Holy Writ, they utter a Divine promise; as the voice of hnman experience, they breathe heart-felt gratitude. They are "the blessing of him that was ready to i;i:insh.n This word "poor" is not to be restricted to what we specially call "poverty.' It sometimes has that stnso (e.g. Exod. xxiii. 3), but also means "weak, miserable, downc!\st." The psalm exprestil.Y refers to bodily sickness and weakness, aggravated by the heartless cruelty of false friends. Consider (1) the reasons, llnd (2) the nature, of this blessing. I. 'l'nE REASON OF THE BLESSING. 1. Considerate sympathy, helpful compassion for the needy, weak, or suffering, is "blesserl," because it is a feature of likeness to God. It is "the mind which was in Christ Jesus." See the Divine example and the practical inference (1 John iii. 16, 17). Whon our Lord rebuked the hypocrisy of Judas ("not that he cared for the poor"), he took care to add," '!'he poor always ye have with you" (John xii. 8). St. James keenly satirizes the mock charity in whicli words are not coupled with deeds (Jaa. iii. 15, 16). Compassion for the poor runs through the Bible. Care for the poor, for widows, etc., was one of the earliest and most sacred cares of the primitive Church. Our innumerable hospitals and asylums of all kinds receive munificent support from many who lay no claim to Christian faith; yet they 1ave their deep and sure root in Christian sympathy. They are among those blessings whioh "Religion scatters on her march to immortality" (Robert Hall). Two of the main forms of huruan suffering are specially set before us in these words-poverty and sickness. Poverty begins where plenty ends. A man is not to""\:.bo counted "poor" because he dwells in a cottage, lives simply, <lres~od plainly, earns his children's bread 824: THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. XLI, 1-18.