ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet."

Yes, it is God above who can make wars to cease, and peace prevail. And this, we know, will one day be the case. Hasten, O Lord, that blessed time, and prepare us for the enjoyment of it.

In the tenth verse the Lord Himself addresses us; "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." There is a holy stillness, when God's

power is seen and felt. All opposition gives way, and He alone is exalted. Feebleness yields to omnipotence, and rebellion is silenced by His word.

Oh that the Lord's power may be felt in our individual souls! Oh that every proud feeling may be quelled, every high imagination cast down, and every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ! And may we "be still," and feel that we are but as the clay in the hands of the potter, to be moulded and fashioned as He pleases!

Once again, at the close of the Psalm, a note of confidence is raised, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Blessed truth! This calms all our uneasiness, and quells every rising fear.

PSALM XLVII.

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God he is greatly exalted.

THIS Psalm, so full of exultant joy, calls upon

all nations to praise God for His excellent greatness; "For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet;" making them bow before Him either by the power of His almighty arm, or by His allsubduing grace.

"He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved." He gave to His people of old Canaan as their promised portion; and He grants us a still better inheritance in the

Canaan above. of it through our unbelief! Oh that we may go up, and possess the land in the name and in the strength of the Lord!

Oh that we may not come short

In the fifth verse the Psalmist speaks of God having "gone up with a shout." This may refer to the bringing back the ark amidst the sounds of triumph and the songs of praise, after being carried into the field of battle by the conquering hosts of Israel; or it may refer to that still more glorious occasion when Jesus ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, and entering heaven itself amidst the shouts of rejoicing angels. This was indeed an act of triumph, calling forth our thankfulness and praise. Our Lord's Ascension into heaven was the crowning event which completed His atoning work on earth, showing that that work was finished, and that God accepted it, whilst the very angels shouted for joy.

And now, in the seventh and eighth verses, God is spoken of in the voice of prophecy as "the King of all the earth," and as "reigning over the heathen." In one sense He already reigns, sitting upon His throne above; but the time is coming when His sovereignty will be owned and acknowledged, and all men shall bow before His glorious sceptre.

By the expression, "the shields of the earth. belong unto God," is meant that God raises up

He

protectors for His people. And is not this our comfort and our security? In the hour of danger He can protect us. He is able to work deliverance for us when we least expect it. He protected David in his unequal contest with Goliath. shielded Daniel from the fury of the lions. He stood between St. Paul and his foes, so that they could not hurt him. And when our spiritual needs press us, when we feel that our souls are in danger, and we are groaning under the pressure of unpardoned sin, or are harassed by the Tempter's power, He is able to deliver us, and to speak peace and comfort to our souls.

PSALM XLVIII.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generations following. For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.

HERE we have a glorious song of praise for the

deliverance of Zion from its attacking enemies; and all by the wondrous power and providence of God.

The beauty of the city and temple is spoken of in the second verse; "Beautiful for situation, the