of Thy hand;" employed by Thee, and controlled by Thee. Ver. 14. which have their portion, &c.] Who have this world only for their share or lot; who "in their life-time receive their good things." Luke xvi. 25.thy hid treasure.] A great store of earthly blessings; with great abundance, as if taken from a large hidden treasure. Ver. 16. But as for me, &c.] For my part, I will not look to the world for happiness, but to Thy favour in the way of righteousness; that so, while they who have their portion in this life, will sink into the grave, and rise again from it wicked and wretched as they died; I, on the other hand, shall awake from the sleep of death, like unto Thee, in Thy glorious image of holiness, after which Adam was created: Gen. i. 27. and with this I shall be satisfied; full of delight, and of the most unbounded joy, at having "chosen that better part, which shall not be taken from me." Luke x.42. Whatever dangers may terrify, whatever troubles disturb, whatever enemies oppress us, the Lord will hearken unto every prayer, that goeth out of sincere and unfeigned lips; and will hold up our goings in His paths of righteousness, if we be mindful to walk in them. What gracious figures are employed, to teach and assure us of the Lord's tender care for His people! They are kept as the tender pupil of the eye; they are safe as a bird under the shadow of the mother's wing. How does this encourage us to trust and serve Him! to look beyond this poor perishable world, in which the children of vanity have their portion; and to look forward to an eternal world of peace and joy. The hour is fast coming, when we shall lie down in the dust; and then it will signify little, whether we have had less or more of this world's treasure; but it will signify much how we Ex. Ps. D : shall awake from the dust; whether in the likeness of God or of satan whether to have our portion with angels or with wicked spirits; whether to be satisfied, or to be miserable for ever. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John iii. 2. Think on these things. QUESTIONS. When will God hearken unto our prayer?-What are feigned lips?-How could David say he did no wickedness, and did not offend?-Explain verse 4. ?-Marvellous?-Resist Thy right hand?" The apple of an eye?"-The shadow of Thy wings?— How is the ungodly man a sword of God's?-How a man of His hand?-With Thy hid treasure?-In whose likeness did David hope to awake?-Awake from what?-What is meant by God's likeness?—What shall we be when so awaking? EVENING PRAYER. PSALM XVIII. David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. 2 Sam. xxii. 1. The Psalm is nearly the same with this chapter in Samuel. We may consider it (in a prophetical sense) as foretelling the deliverance of Christ and His Church from all their enemies. 1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence: my Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge. 2 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me: and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid. 4 The pains of hell came ne: the snares of death k me. my trouble I will call he Lord: and complain -y God. shall he hear my voice his holy temple: and plaint shall come before shall enter even into his e earth trembled and the very foundations the hills shook, and moved, because he was ere went a smoke out presence: and a confire out of his mouth, coals were kindled at bowed the heavens d came down and it k under his feet. e rode upon the cherund did fly: he came pon the wings of the e made darkness his ace: his pavilion round m with dark water, and uds to cover him. the brightness of his his clouds removed: s, and coals of fire. e Lord also thundered aven, and the Highest thunder: hail-stones, of fire. sent out his arrows, tered them: he cast tnings, and destroyed at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure. 16 He shall send down from on high to fetch me: and shall take me out of many waters. 17 He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me for they are too mighty for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my trouble: but the Lord was my upholder. 19 He brought me forth also into a place of liberty: he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me. 20 The Lord shall reward me after my righteous dealing: according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me; 21 Because I have kept the ways of the Lord: and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doeth. 22 For I have an eye unto all his laws and will not cast out his commandments from me. 23 I was also uncorrupt before him and eschewed mine own wickedness. 24 Therefore shall the Lord reward me after my righteous dealing and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight. : 25 With the holy thou shalt be holy and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect. 26 With the clean thou shalt be clean: and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness. springs of waters were 27 For thou shalt save the the foundations of people that are in adversity: d world were disco- and shalt bring down the high hy chiding, O Lord: looks of the proud. 28 Thou also shalt light my candle the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light. 29 For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall. 30 The way of God is an undefiled way: the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him. 31 For who is God, but the Lord or who hath any strength except our God? 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength of war; and maketh my way perfect. 33 He maketh my feet like harts' feet and setteth me up on high. 34 He teacheth mine hands to fight and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel. : 35 Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation: thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving-correction shall make me great. 36 Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go: that my footsteps shall not slide. 37 I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them: neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them. 38 I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand; but fall under my feet. 39 Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou upon me and I shall destroy them that hate me. 41 They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them: yea, even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them. 42 I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind: I will cast them out as the clay in the streets. 43 Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people: and thou shalt make me the head of the heathen. 44 A people whom I have not known : shall serve me. 45 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: but the strange children shall dissemble with me. 46 The strange children shall fail and be afraid out of their prisons. : 47 The Lord liveth, and blessed be my strong helper: and praised be the God of my salvation, 48 Even the God that seeth that I be avenged: and subdueth the people unto me. 49 It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries: thou shalt rid me from the wicked man. 50 For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises unto thy Name. 51 Great prosperity giveth he unto his king: and sheweth shalt throw down mine ene-loving-kindness unto David his Anointed, and unto his seed for evermore. mies under me. 40 Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs Ver. 1. buckler,] A small shield buckled on the arm.—the horn, &c.] The power of some animals consists chiefly in the horn; so God is called the horn, that is, the strength, of His people. Ver. 3. Compassed] Came around me.-overflowings, &c.] Ungodliness coming on me like a flood. Ver. 4. The pains of hell] Pains, or distresses, sufficient to bring me to the grave, (see Ps. xvi. 11.) This verse is applied to Christ, Acts ii. 24. Ver. 7 to 14.] These verses contain a very grand description of the power of Jehovah, which was manifested on behalf of David: it is described by figures, taken from the awful storms on Mount Sinai, at the giving of the law, Exod. xix. 16-28. David's deliverance from his enemies was a wonderful instance of the Divine power. Ver. 9. He bowed the heavens] Came down as upon. a cloud. Ver. 10. cherubims,] Angels: He was attended by such numbers, that it seemed as if He was borne up upon them. Ver. 11. His pavilion] His tent or dwelling. He dwelt in the watery cloud. Ver. 15. The springs of waters] Here the figure appears to be taken from the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, Exod. xiv. when the waters clave asunder and showed the bottom, or foundation, to which the children of Israel went down and walked, and afterwards came out safely. This event was a sign of the deliverance and salvation of mankind by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and therefore this |