to "give Isre.el e. little revmng in their that fear him; or, will be nigh. The an- bonduge" (Ezra ix. 8). That thy people swer to the prayer in ver. 7. That glory may rejoioe in thee. The "revivBl" o.nd may dwell in our land. Professor Cheyne "rejoicing" co.me in N ebemio.h's time, asks, " What glory? " a.nd suggests, " The when the dedico.tion of the we.II of Jorusa- trne Shechine.h, the manifesterl pre~encP, of lem wae kept "with gle.dness, both with Isra.el's God." But it may he doubtful thanksgiving, and with singing, with cym- whether anything more is meant tha.n a. bals, psalteries, o.nd wiLh ho.rps" (N eh. xii. return of earthly glory and prosperity, snch 27). e.s that for which Nehemiah laboured and 'Ver. 7.-Bhow us thy mercy, 0 Lord, and prayed. grant DB thy aa.lva.tion. Compare the de- Ver. 10.-Hercy and truth a.re met to- vout petitions of the Church morning e.nd gether. God's mercy and God's truth a.re evening, "0 Lord, show thy mercy upon reconciled e.nd brought into harmony. The DB. Aud grant us thy salvation" (Or<ler psalmist does not say-probably does not for Morning and Evening Prayer). know-how. He accepts tl,e fact of tlie reconciliation, which is reveale<l to !,im Vere. 8-13.-The joyrul anticipation. (ver. 8) by faith, a.nd boldly announces The psalmist anticipates a favourable an- it. The explanation was re~erved for lhe swer to his prayer, e.nd proceeds to note coming and teaching of Christ. Righteous- ness e.nd peace have kissed eacl1 other. ciown the chief points of it. God will "Righteousness" and "peace" are synony- "speak peace to his people" (ver. 8), bring mous with "mercy" and "truth.'' Here his se.Ive.tion near to them (ver. 9), con- they a.re personified - "represented e.s trive e. we.y by which "mercy e.nd truth," angels in hnme.n form" (Cheyne). "righteousness and pee.ea," she.II be re- Ver. 11.-Truth shall spring out of the earth (comp. Isa. xiv. 8). One result of the conciled (vers. 10, 11), shower blessings on reconciliation of God's mercy and truth his land (ver. 12), and gnide his people in shall be a growth of righteousness among the way marked out by his own footsteps men. The pardoned people of God slw.11 (ver. 13). bring forth much frnit. And righteousness she.11 look down from heaven. God'~ right- Ver. 8.-I will hear what God the Lord eousness "looks down from heaven" (like will speak; i.e. "I will we.it now e.n<l hear the sun), to draw np e.nd mature the feeLle the Divine o.nswer to my prayers" (comp. plant of man's righteonsuess, which, without Hab. iii. 1, "I will stand upon my wo.tch, it, would come to nothing. e.nd set me upnn the tower, and will watch Ver. 12.-Yea, the Lord shall give that to see what he will se.y unto me"). For he which is good; i.e. shower blessings on his will speak pGace unto his people. He will land, botl1 spiritu:i.l o.nd tempor:i.l. And our give them o. gentle answer--one breathing land she.ll yield her increase. Other crops pco.ee and loving-kindness. And to his may be included, but the special reference saints. And e~pecinlly he will so 1mswer is to a large increase of gootl works. the &ite of his people-the khasidim, " his Ver. 13.-RighteoDBness shall go before eaiuls," or "loving ones." But let them him. Prepare the way, i.e., for the restum- not tum a.go.in to folly (comp. Ezro. ix. tion of the people to God's favour (com- 10-14). If, after the deliverance that they pare the first clanse of ver. 11, and the had experienced, they turned e.ga.iu to such second of ver. 12). And shall set us in the "folly" e.s he.d brought on their misfor- we.y of his steps; i.e. co.use his people to tune~, it would make their end worse than walk in the way murkod ont by hi. foot- their beginning. sleps-i.e. by the inJicl\tions of his will Ver. 9.-Buely his salvation is nigh them either in nature or ill the wiitten Word.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 6.-Revival. "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" The prayers of Scripture, like its promises, never grow ohl. They deal not with the changing surface e.nd ci1 ~umstances of life, but with its living heart an,i abiding needs. So this prayer of the old psalmist is as fresh and fit for our lips to-day, as when the ink we.s wet in which he wrote. The same Spirit who inspired him also "helpeth our infirmities." I. 'l.'HE BLEt!SlNG BOUGHT: REVIVAL. This word has come to be often used for a season of extraordinary religious activity, attended by numerous convPrsions. But it properly means the quickening, strengthening, elevating, of life already possessed ; 204 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. LX'X:X.V. 1-18.