Psalm 122.

A Song of degrees of David.

I I WAS glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

the people did thus attend the great festivals is plain from what we read of in the good times of Israel, as well as in the time of our Lord.

3-5. Jerusalem was their strength (ver. 3); their seat of religion (ver. 4); and their seat of government (ver. 5). The "testimony of Israel" was the ark. "Give thanks," as in ver. I.

6-9. "Peace," "prosperity," and "good" for Jerusalem.

8. The social aspect of true religion. Not "leaving others alone."

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God,

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

I, 2. Blessed is that servant who, under any circumstances, is found

I, 2. What is here said is the poetry to the prose of Ezra. The surprise of both Jews and heathen. "Jehovah hath done great things for them." We do not, and, per

deliverance.

what an unprecedented and extraordinary thing it was for a heathen potentate to be so influenced.

filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity,

3. Apply this to our own selves, as redeemed by Christ. It describes the simple way in which, as believers, we are wound up.

4-6. Either a retrospect of their feelings when in captivity, or an account of their present feelings when returned from it. Perhaps the latter is the most likely. It was not easy work for the Jews

Psalm 127.

A Song of degrees for Solomon.

I EXCEPT the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

WRITER: Unknown.

The title might be read "of Solomon"; but it is not thought probable that Solomon had anything to do with the psalm.

OCCASION: Unknown.
CHARACTER: Doctrinal.

1, 2. To build or to keep vain without God. So is it vain to be over-anxious about anything. Repose, in every sense, a gift.

3-5. Children one great source of

O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

under Ezra. The prayer (ver. 4) was in that case for a further return, and helped, perhaps, to bring Nehemiah. Not, as in Ps. lxxxv. 4. "Turn us," but "turn again our captivity." "As streams in the south": as the dry beds of streams are filled with water when God sends rain. Specially so in south. Ver. 5, 6 illustrated in Ezra iii. 12, and x. I; Neh. i. 4, and viii. 9.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

anxiety. Reasons for scouting the vulgar notion that we are "burdened" by them. "A heritage," i.e., a possession come from God as an estate comes through another. "His reward," how different from the world's view! "Children of the youth," that is, either young children, or the elder children, the first-born. They are the ones who are able to rally round a parent in advancing years. Family union. There is a Chinese proverb: "When a son is born into a family, a bow and arrow are hung before the gate."

WRITER: Unknown, OCCASION: Unknown. CHARACTER: Doctrinal.

1. The psalm is another version of Ps. i. and Ps. cxii.; only dwelling exclusively on the happiness of the godly.

2. So with the early Christians (Acts ii. 46). About as simple and yet full a description of prosperity as could possibly be. Embraces everything. Godliness still has "promise of the life that now is."

olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

3. Closely related to vers. 3-5 in previous psalm. The vine enriching and rejoicing. Observe "olive plants" growing up into usefulness. And observe, "thy wife," not thy wives. Where is the superior sanctity of celibacy?

4. A man who does not fear God may have the family, but not the blessing.

5, 6. Observe how the prosperity of the family and that of the Church (the family of God) are intertwined. We ought to go beyond our family circle, and seek "the good of Jerusalem."