Yers. 1-6.-The subject of this grand hymn is the entry of God into his sanctuary on Zion. "These introductory verses contain the praise of God as the Almighty Destro_Hr of the wicked and the Deliverer of the just, and the exhortation to praise him as the Helper of all the miserable." J. Goo SOMETIMES SEEMS TO SIT INACTIVE, ANO NOT TO INTEllFEllE WITII HUMAN AFFAIRS. At such times wicked men and wicked nl\tions seem to triumph over righteous men and righteous nations, and good men arc filled with doubting and despon- dent thoughts. Hence they pray, "Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered." II. BuT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN Goo SHOWS HOW WEAK JS THE BTllONGEST WHEN ARRAYED AGAINST HIM. The wicked then flee before his face as Rmoke is driven before the wind, or as wax melts before the fire. 'l'hen good men are filled with rejoicing, and are confirmed in their highest thoughts of God. National revolutions and national growths are full of God's activity. III. WHEN Goo ARISES TO WORK ANY GREAT CHANGE, WE HAVE TO PREPARE THE w H Fon HIS COMING, (\T er. 4.) "Cast up a highway for him who rideth through the deserts,'' alluding to the custom of Eastern monarchs, who sent pioneers to prepare the route which they intended to follow; not "extol him that rideth upon the hel\vens." Ilere the preparation is evidently the joyful expectation of his coming to go before his people, and of the mighty deeds which he will work. By faith and joy- ful work we prepare Gou's way; and he goes before us to prepare our way. Both ideas here. IV. Gon IS TO BE PRAISED NOT ONLY FOR ms GREAT VICTORIES, DUT FOR HIS COllPASSION TO THE MISERABLE. (Vers. 4, 5.) He helps those most to be pitied, while the great earthly potentates respect only the rich and the noble. 1. He helps and comforts the widow and the fatherless. 2. He gives homes to the outcast and homeless, s. He gives liberty to the captive, Only the rebellious abide in a land of drought.-S.
EXPOSITION. Ver. 1.-Save me, 0 God; !or the water■ PSALM LXIX. are come in unto my soul. Thie is a com- Tms is tha cry of one suffering severely mon, perhaps, we may say, a proverbial, from men, partly on account of his own sins expression for nny great distress (comp. Pes. xviii. 4; xlii. 7; lxxxviii. 7, 17; and (ver. 5), but mainly for the sake of God Job xxii. 11; xxvii. 20). (vcrs. 7-9). It i, said to be "written in Ver. 2.-I sink in deep mire, where tliere the style of Jeremiah" (Cheyne); but the is no standing. "Mire" and "clay" are resemLlance to several Davidical psalms, metaphors for dangers and difficulties, which especially Pas. xxii., :x::n:v ., and xl., is entangle a man and incapacitate him from exertion (comp. Ps. xl. 2). I am come into admitted ; and the expression, " Al Sho- deep waters (comp. ver. 15; and see also shann im," in the "title,'' connects it also Pee. cxxiv. 4, 5; cxxx. 1). Where the floods with Po. xl v. Moreover, the '' title" dis- overflow me; i.e. "I am utterly overwlielmcd tinctly assigns it to Da"l'id, as does St. Panl by my misfortunes." (Rom. xi. 9); anu there are no arguments Ver. 3.-I am weary of my orying ; i.e. "I have cried to God for aid, until I am of any wcigl,t to set against these testi- weary of so doing." No reply comes, no aid monies. As for the time in David's life to i~ given, My throat is dried. Parched- which it belongs, there is no very distinct unable to cry out any more. Mine eyes fail e"l"idence; but Dr. Kay's conjecture, that it while I wait for my God (comp. Ps. cxix. wa.s written at the time of .A.donijab's rebel- 82; Deut. xxviii. 32). "I have waited and looked for Gou, till I can look no more." lion, is not improbable. Ver. 4.-They that hate me without a The psallll divides into five nnequal por- oause are more than the hairs of mine head tions, consisting respccti vely of four, eight, (comp. Ps. 11xv. 14; anrl for the simile, uine, eight, and seven verses. comp. Ps. xl. 12; both of them Davidice.l Vere. 1-4 contain a patlietic complaint, compositions). They that would destroy me, being mine enemie■ wrongfully, are mighty. expressed first in figurative language (vers. Joab and Abiathe.r, who supported the ro- 1-3), but (in VE:r. 4) plainly connected with belli,m of Adonijah (1 Kings i. 7), and were the wicked designs of beman enemiee, '' wighty" ine11, certainly were David', I'S, LXIX, 1-36.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 53