ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon

7. The confidence as to the future which they who cast themselves on God may rightfully have.

8. "Salvation" means any de

Psalm 4.

A Psalm of David.

I HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?

3 But know that the LORD

WRITER: David.
OCCASION: Unknown.
CHARACTER: Practical.
PRINCIPAL USE: For time of
trouble.

the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.

liverance, not only the great salvation from the penalty and dominion of sin. A most reviving truth in this verse that might well cheer us in the very darkest day.

hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

ungodly of all ages who have taken up the line of mocking at religion, especially so on account of the grievous infirmities of the religious.

3. This is the answer to those who "turned His glory into shame." In spite of their mocking, and his own unworthiness, the Lord did care for him, and would hear his prayer. The union and communion were a reality. "Godly" those who are honestly and in the main

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

in thy sight thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

nor

7. No self-righteousness, excusing of sin. What a very sweet thought to come into God's house "in the multitude of his mercy." See Ps. xxvi. 6.

8. " Thy way straight before my face." Mark that. It is plain that the psalm is for those who are in warfare of some sort.

9. "For." This made it so difficult. The "enemies" were not open ones. Unfaithfulness and flattery. St. Paul quotes (Rom. iii. 13) part of this verse as descriptive of the general character of mankind. David's enemies, therefore, were but specimens of human nature in all ages-nay, of himself when left to himself.

10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

II But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:

10. It is right to pray that God would destroy enemies as regards their devices against us, or as enemies of the public weal. But see how David acted personally towards his greatest enemy. I Sam. xxvi. 9-11.

Psalm 6.

A Psalm of David.

I O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

WRITER: David.

OCCASION: Unknown.
CHARACTER: Practical.
PRINCIPAL USE: For time of
sickness.

The reason why it is connected with sickness is because death and the grave are mentioned in ver. 5. Otherwise the expressions in vers. 1-4 might be figurative. But in any case, enemies" (vers. 7, 10) are connected with the trouble.

66

1. "In thine anger," "in thy hot

let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them : let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12 Forthou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

11-12. Very beautiful. "Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them." Think of this.

N.B.-The word "temple "(ver. 7) means tabernacle. It is also used of heaven. Literally, a roomy, spacious place. John xiv. 2.

4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake,

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye is consumed displeasure." There is a chastening not in displeasure.

because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine

enemies.

8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

of iniquity," and seem to have gloried over the psalmist's sickness. How, or why, we know not. But with ourselves, sickness is often the occasion when thoughts, anxieties, doubts, recollections, and, above

9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

IO Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

all, Satan, rise up as enemies to trouble us.

8, 9. The remedy, to remember God.

Io. It was so with Sennacherib. Isa. xxxvii. 37.

Psalm 7.

Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

I O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil

WRITER: David. OCCASION: See title.

Cush, the Benjamite, was neither Saul nor Shimei, but some otherwise unknown individual of the same tribe as Saul, and who slandered David.

CHARACTER: Practical. PRINCIPAL USE: For time of danger.

unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy :)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust.

6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

1, 2. The danger.

3, 4. Slander is hard to bear; especially when we are accused of doing what we have scrupulously, and at great cost, refrained from.

5. "Lay mine honour in the dust." Very striking.

6. "The judgment that thou hast commanded." God's interference was the only hope of deliverance; but it does not follow that David knew what God would do.