sho.11 not only bo said, but sung, nnd nccom- to every one that h to come. The p'almist paniod with the melody of music (ver. 22). calls on God to sustain him in bis old age, Hie lips nnd soul shnll both rejoice together not for his own sake, but that he may im- press on the rising generation God's might (ver. 23); and the pro.ise of God shall and marvellous acts. employ hie tongue wilhout coo.sing (ver. 24). Ver. 19.-Thy righteousness also, 0 God, Ver. 14.-llut I will hopa continually; is very high; or, reache• to the height (comp. litemlly, but ae for me, I will hope, etc. Pse. vii. 7; x. 5; xv iii. 16, etc.). Who hast '!'ho phr,1ee, "ae for me," almost always done great things: 0 God, who is like unto marks a tmnsition. And will yot praise thee I (comp. Pss. xxxv. 10; lxxxix. 6, 8). thee more and more; lite1ally, I will add Ver. 20.-Thou, which hast showed me to all thy praise; i.e. "I will ndd to all great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me my past praises of thee further praises in again; or, o.ccording to another reading, the future." which hast showed U8-shalt delirer us. The Ver. 15.-My mouth shall show forth thy change of number may be a.scribed to the righteousness and thy salvation all the desire of the psalmist to 1rnite his people day. Sal vntion is inseparable from right- with himself in the hopes of deliverance eousness. It is ns being righteous himself which he is expressing. And shalt bring that God accepts the righteous, and as me up again (rather, shalt bring Wl up again) faithful to his promises, which is a part of from tha depths of the earth. The "depths his righteousness, that he pardons penitents. of the earth" is a metaphor for the extreme For I know not the numbers thereof (comp. of misery and depression ( comp. J'ss. lxxxviii. Pa. xl. 5). God's acts of pe.rdouing mercy, 6; CXXX. 1). by which he brings a.bout the so.lva.tion of Ver. 21.-Thou shalt increase my great- penitents, are innumerable. ness, and comfort me on tvery side. The Ver. 16.-I will go in the strength of the psalmist feels that the trial now laid upon Lord God; literally, I will come with the him is the last-that henceforth his great- mighty acts of the Lord God (Revised Ver- ness and majesty will increase instead of sion); i.e. I will bring these acts forward, diminishing, and that God will turn and and make mention of them in my songs of e-0mfort him (comp. 1 Chron. nix. 28). praise. I will make mention of thy right- Ver. 22.-I will also praise thee with the eousness, even of thine only. I will attribute pse.ltery, even thy truth, 0 my Glld: 'll.l1to my deliverance to no strength, or efforts, or thee will I sing with the harp, 0 thou Holy righteousness of my own (see Pas. xx. 7; One of Isre.eL (On the p~altery, and its use xliv. 3, 6), but to thy righteousness-i.e. as a devotional instrument, see the comment thy faithfulness aud truth-only. on Ps. xxxiii. 2.) The conjunction of the Ver. 17.-0 God, thou hast taught me from psaltery and harp seems to imply that the my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy "praise," of which the writer here speaks, wondrous works. Hitherto, i.e., have I is to be public praise in the sanctuary, ac- al ways ho.d thy guidance and instruction, companied by the usue.l sacred music. and hitherto have I always ho.d occasion to Ver. 23. -My lips shill greatly rejoice praise thy Name. Hence I am confident when I sing unto thee; and my sonl, which with respect to the future. thou hast redeemed. Not my mouth only, Ver. 18.-Now also when I e.m old and hut ruy heart and spirit, will "rejoice," or greyheaded, 0 God, forsake me not. Surely, "sing out thy praise" (Cheyne), when the thon, thou wilt not forso.ke me when my time comes, and my " redemption," or de- youth has fled, o.nd my time of weakness liverance, hae been accomplished. o.nd decay has arrived, so thnt I need thee Ver. 24.-llty tongue also shall talk of all the more. At the timtJ of Adonijah's thy righteousness all the day long. The rebellion, David was "old and stricken in musical utterance of praise can only be oc- years" (1 Kings i. I)-nearly, if not quite, casional, but the tongue ca.n ''talk" of God seventy years of age (2 Sam. v. 4). Until I continually (see ver. 15). For they are con- he.ve showed thy strength (literally, thine founded and bronght unto she.me, that seek own) unto this generation, and thy power my hurt (comp. Pss. uxv. 4; xl. H; lxx. 2).
HOMILETICS. Ver. 16.-Strong confidence. "I will go," etc. Since these words were written, almost everything iu the worlu capable of change has chauged. Empires, nations, languages, religions, have died, and new ones grown up in their stee.d. The centre of civilization has moved westward. Discovery and invention have so revolutioni:i.ed man's rehition to his surroundings, that he seems to live in a new world. The form of revealed religion has undergone n no less marvellous change. The priesthood, sacrifice~, sanctuary, laws, G2 TilE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. LXXI. 1-21.