Vers. 1-13.-Rcasons for praising God. "Can hardly doubt that this psalm was composed on the occasion of an abundant harvest, a.ad was intended to be sung as a hymn of thanksgiving by the whole congregation gathered before God in Zion." God is praised under three aspects. I. A£, THE Gon OF THE CmrncH. (Vers. 1-5.) "Whom thou choosest, and causeet to approach." 1. He is the Hearer of all true prayer. (Ver. 2.) "Unto thee doth all flesh come" in dependence and prayer. 2. He pardons iniquity and transgression. (Ver. 3.) Pardons those who become conscious of their sins, and are persistent. 3. Sa,ti,s.fie,s the desires of those whom he draws to himself. (Ver. 4.) God inspires the worship he rewards with such satisfying blessings. 4. Manifests his righteousness in the safoation of hi.s people. II. A£, THE Gon WHO REVEALS HIMSELF IN NATURE. (Vere. 6-8.) 1. His work in natwre manifests omnipotence. (Ver. 6.) "Setteth fast the mountains," etc. 2. He overrules the greatest disturbances of nature and the nations. (Ver. 7.) 3. Man and nature both ultimately subject to him. 3. Man is afraid, but nature sings of God in the 711,(Jrning and in the evening. (Ver. 8.) The ignorant heathen are afraid, not those who kuow God. - III. As THE Gon oF THE HARVEST. (Vers. 9-13.) 1. God is the great Ilusband- man. (Vers. 9, 10.) He prepares and enriches the soil to receive the corn. 2. He makes the wilderness and the hills to rejoice with their abundance. (Vers. 11, 12.) 3. Goo is the great Shepherd of the earth. (Ver. 13.) The pastures are clothed with flocks.-S.
EXPOSITION.
PSALM LXVL (vers. 5-7): next a statement in general terms of the deliverance experienced, and a Tms is another song of thankegiving, and description of the sacrifices to be offered for is connected with a. special deliverance (vers. it (vers. 8-15); o.nd finally an address to 10-12). The composer is abont to offer a the people, calling on them to "he1uken "- sacrifice to God in his holy place, in per- together with a protestation of sincerity, formance of a. vow which he had made when and an appeal to God as witnessing to it he w11,11 in tronble (ver~. 13--15), and h~s (vere. 16-20). The psalm, not being prepo.red the psa.lm as a. liturgical formula ascribed to Davidiu the" title," and having to be used on the occasion. It is an ode in no especial traces of hie mo.nner, is gene- fonr strophes: an opening one of four verses rally assigned to a later Judman king, ns --e simple rendering of pro.ise (vers. 1--4); A.so, Jehosliaphat, or Hezekiah. then a short strophe of three verses, cele- bro.ting God's might a.gainst his enexnie, Ver. 1.-Make a joyful DOI.le unto God, al,l I'~. f,XVI, 1-20.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS.