Jehoshe.phe.t,on hie return to Jerusalem from render it well-nigh impregna1le. Such a the scene of hie adversaries' slaughter, held survey would "tend to the glorifying of the e. thanksgiving service in the temple," with God of Israel, and to the strengthening of psalteries, e.nd hnrpe, and trumpets," because their faith" (Hengstenberg), the Lord he.d made the people to rejoice Ver. 13.-Me.rk ye well her bulwarks (or, over their enemies (2 Chron. xx. 27, 28). her ramparls ), consider her pe.le.cea. Note Ver. 10.-Aocording to thy Ne.me, 0 God, the height e.nd fine me.sonry of her outer so is thy praise. The" Ne.me of God," i.e. wall, which no people could destroy except the character that he he.e established for the Rome.us (Neh. i. 3; ii. 13-17; iv. 6). himself by former mighty deeds, and the And note e.lso the grand houses of her praise which he has now won by the recent princes and nobles (Amos vi. 11), which deliverance, a.re coextensive. Both of them show themselves even a.hove the ramparts. reach llllto the ends of the earth; i.e. over all That ye may tell it to the generation fol- the regions known to the writer. Thy right lowing. That ye may let them know "bow hand is full of righteousness. Thou hast splendid Jerusalem appeared on the morrow dealt out e. righteous judgment by thy right of its great danger" (Cheyne). hand and thy stretched-out arm, thereby Ver. 14.-l!'or this God (i.e. the God who showing how full thy right he.nd is of justice he.e now delivered us) is our God for ever and judgment. and ever; i.e. he will e.lways remain faithful Ver. 11.-Let Mollllt Zion rejoice, let the to us, as we will to him. B:e will be our daughters of J'uda.h be glad ; i.e. let there Gnide even llllto death. Dr. Kay trauslates be a chorus of joyful thanks over the length "even over death," and understands that and breadth of the land, not ooly in J eruse.- God's loving protection is promised to the lem, but in every city of Jude.h (Josh, xv. faithful even in the land beyond the grove. 45) eque.lly. Because of thy judgments. Bnt be ste.nds alone in this interpretation. Because thou hast vindicated thy people, Mo~t modems question whether the words and executed jndgment on their enemies. nm-1:,p are e.ny po.rt of the psalm, and, com- Ver. 12.-Walk about Zion, and go rolllld paring them with the p S mzr~J1 of the title about her; tell the towers thereof. Admire, to Ps. ix., suggest the.t they nre n mere ,.e., 0 Israelites, your glorious city, which musice.l noll\tion. But the psalm woul,l end God hoe preserved for you into.et. Walk abruptly without the words, and the meaning, around it, view it on every side; observe its "he will be our Guide unto death," is strength e.nd beauty. Noy, count its towers, quite snlisfaotory (so Hengstenberg and the and see how me.ny they are, the.t ye may Revised Version). form n true estimate of its defences, which
HOMILETICS. Ver. <J.-Goa's loving-kindness. "We he.ve thought of thy loving-kindness." Thought is quick. A. lightning-flash of thought, a momentary recollection of God, mny give guidance to take the right step, cour11ge to speak the right word, strength to withstand sudden temptation, comfort when we are ready to give up all as lost. But this swift inspiration, sudden illumination, is not the kind of thought of which this text speaks. It is calm meditation, devout; leisurely contemplation. Memory sprea<li1 her stores. FaHh, hope, love, drink full draughts from the living well of truth. Prnyer and praise have time to clothe themselves in fit words. While wo muse, the fire burns. One of the greatest blessings of the snbbath is the opportunity for such prolonged, undisturbed thought. One of the richest fruits of the public service of God's house, and of the ministry of God's Word, is reaped when we are led to think of God's loving-kindness. I. The Revisers have wisely retained THIS BEAUTIFUL WORD "LOVINa-KmDNEss," although the same Hebrew word is frequently translated "mercy" (sometimes o.lso "goodness," or "kindness"). We could ill afford to lose it, for no other English word so happily expresses one of the most wonderful and delightful aspects of Divine mercy, goodness, or kindness; viz. its special application to individuals. The Bible aluuo sheds this ray of Divine glory on the path of human life. We do not find it in heathen religions, for men do not nature.Uy think thus of God. Scienco cannot roveal it; for science deals with whe.t is universal or general, not with individuals. We learn it by faith and experience. The histories of Scripture are full of it; e.g. Hagar in tho desert; Eliezer at the well; Jacob at Bethel, at Haran, at Penuel; Elijah iu the famine; Ezrn o.t Aho.va (Ezra viii, 21, 22). 'l'he mirarles of Scripture arc largely 374 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, XLVIII. 1-14.