EXPOSITION. every cle,nse of the psalm contains some PS.ALM O. snch call. Come before his preaenoe with THE hundredth psalm be.a for its title, "A singing; or, with a cry of joy. Psalm of praise," or "of tl.ianksgi ving," Ver. 3.-Know ye the,t the lord he is God; or, be sure-" recognize the fact as e. and to tliis description it well answers. certainty" (sec the Pre,yer-book Version). There is not a single molll'nfnl note in the It is he that he,th me,de us, and not we our- composition. God is praised from the selves ; or, aceorrliog to onother readiog, beginning to the end, and all the earth is and his are we. This la.tter reading is pre- called npon to join in blessing and thank- ferred by De Wette, Kay, Cheyne, and the iog him. It has been sngge.sted that it Revised Version. But the other, which was the readiug of the LXX., and is sup- was probably written to be ehaoted by a ported by the Vulgate and the old com- festive procession as it approached and mentators generally, should, however, be eotered the temple (see ver. 4). The whole retained, as yielding a better sense (see the rons on without any break or division. argumeots of Hengstenberg, 'Commentary on the Psalms,' vol. iiL p. 201, Engl. trans.). Ver. 1.-Ke.ke a joyful noise unto the We are his people, and the sheep of hia Lord (comp. Po. xov. 1, 2, e.nd the oomment pasture (comp. Pas. lniv. l; l.uix. 18; ad Zoe.). All ye land.a; literally, all the :r.ov. 7). earth. Ver. 4.-Enter into his gates with thanka- Ver. 2.---Berve the Lord with glad.110111. giving, and into his courts with praise. "Gladness" is the emphatic word. Al.Iiloet The mentioll of" gates" and "courts" points l'S, 0, 1-6.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. -353
primririly to the temple-worship, but the mercy is everlasting; literally, hi, mercy is reforence may be, BB Professor Alexander for _e11er. Compare the frequent refrain, suggests, "typical or meto.phorica.l" mther "Hie mercy endureth for ever" (Pas. ex viii. than litero.l, und mny extend to all the 1-4, 29; cxxxvi. 1-26, etc.). And his fo.ithrul and to all places of worship. Be truth (or, his faithfulness) endureth to all thankful unto him; or, gi1•e than"8 ,mtn him genera.t_iona ; literally, to generation antl (Revised Version), And bless his Name generatwn. All men'd hope is in God'~ (comp. Pae. xcvi. 2; cxlv. 21). "~a.ithfulne~a," that he will keep his pro- Ver. 5.--For the Lord is good (comp. mises to them-pardon them, deliver them, I Chron, xvi. 34; 2 Chron. v. 13; vii. 3; cleanse tbem, and give thtm rest in his Ezra. iii. 11 ; Pas. cvi. l; cvii. 1; cxviii. 1, kiogdom for ever. 29; ex.xv. 3; cxxxvi. l; cxlv, 9, etc.). His
HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-Tlie joy of service. (Sermon for missions.) In this short psalm a note ia sounded which eclioes, and will never cease to echo, through the world. The trumpet of jubiJee3 is blown, not for Israel, but for all mankind. Brief as thi~ psalm is, it is one of the most wonderful portions of Scripture, glowing with self-evident light of inspira- tion, not poetic, but pr0phetic, Divine. This first verse exhibits the three characteristic features of the whole psalm-its catholicity; its joyfulness; its hope and promise. I. Here, in the very heart of OJJ Testament Scriptures, is an anticipation of Christ's world-wide command (Mark xvi. 15; Matt. xxviii. 19). No trace of either national exclusiveness or ecclesiastical bigotry. God's temple is thrown open to all marikind (ver. 4). "Courts," not the "conrt of the Gentiles" merely. All men alike are invited to say," His we are [see margin]; we are his people." It is impossible to explaiu such words from Jewish lips, such feelings in Jewish hearts, but by Divine inspiration ( cf. Gal. iii. 8). II. Joy IN GoD IS ONE OF THE MOST MARKED FEATURES OF THE PSALMS. In this psalm it rises to its highest pitch. Worship is a native instinct and need of the human heart; and heathen worship was often attended with tumultuous rejoicing. But not joy in God's holiness (Ps. xcvii. 10-12); in our belonging absolutely to him (Ps. cxix. 94); in his righteous rule (Ps. xcviii. 6, 9); in his mercy and truth (ver. 5). These streams of joy are from a higher source (Gal. v. 22). III. 'l'HIS PSALM CAN BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD ONLY TAKEN WITH Pss. xcili. 95-99. The whole series not only celebrates, but foretells, the corning of Jehovah to "jutlge," M, to rule and reign over the whole world (comp. Ps. lx:xii.). Such bold world-wide hopes would be utterly inexplicable as mere poetic dreams of Jewish imagination, and can be explained only as inspired prophecies and promises; so they would be wholly unmeaning and fictitious apart from their fulfilment in Christ (John v. 22, 23; xii. 32; Matt. xx:viii. 18). CONCLUSION. The enterprise of Christian missions is the most joyful work in the world; the proclamation of the most joyful news to every human being, on the authority of God's command, in the light of God's glorious promises.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-Jubilate. This psalm, which comes at the close of the magnificent series of royal psalms, which tell of the reign of Christ Jehovah, has been called their doxology. lt seems to have been sung during the thank offering in the temple service (Lev. vii. 12). "Luther would have immortalized his name had he done no more than written the majestic air and harmony to which we are accustomed to sing this psalm, and which, when the mind is in a truly worshipping frame, seems to bring heaven down to earth, and to raise earth to heaven, giving us anticipations of the pure and sublime delights of that noble and general assembly in which saints and angels shall for ever celebrate the praises of God." The psalm " is all ablaze with grateful adoration, and has, for this reason, beC3n a great favourite with the people of God ever since it was written." It bids us "make a joyful noise unto the Lord." It means "a PSALMS-II, 2 A 354 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, 0, 1-6.