The theme. ceasing All ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. 3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. THIS is the last of the "Songs of Degrees;" consisting of Praise without praise and blessing, yea calling on us for never-ceasing praise. The shutting of the Temple gates at night is by some (e. g., Horsley) supposed to indicate the appropriate time for singing this song. Hengstenberg assigns it to the time of the evening sacrifice, and compares Psa. xcii. 2, denying that there was any Levitical service during night. But 1 Chron. ix. 33 seems to assert, very clearly, that there was a service of song by night; and other places hint the same. There is animation at least in Barclay's paraphrase of this most lively Psalm "O bless the Lord, his servants all, To bless and praise him as ye do." Benediction was most appropriate in closing this series of "Psalms of Degrees." The worshipper calls upon those who inhabit the sanctuary to be ever praising (ver. 1), and lifting up their hands "towards his sanctuary," Psa. xxviii. 2 ; a call in which Paul most heartily joins, 2 Tim. ii. 8. And then, in verse 3, the priest pronounces a Melchizedec-blessing; for it is in the very style of Melchizedec, Gen. xiv. 18, 19. And this is the final blessing reserved for the Lord's weary Abrahams, to be pronounced on them by the "Possessor of heaven and earth,” on the day of Christ; in prospect of which, and in enjoyment of all that cometh even now from the same Lord, The Lord's servant calls for unceasing praise to Jehovah. PSALM CXXXV. 1 PRAISE ye the Lord! Praise ye the name of the Lord! Praise him, O ve servants of the Lord. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant. 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, In the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh the lightnings for the rain: he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13 Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; And thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. 14 For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron: WE have been descending the river, finding its banks very The tone. varied, with sometimes shade, sometimes sunshine on its waters, yet all along the incessant murmur of praise. The river is now nearer its ocean, and hence the utterance of praise becomes louder, fuller, more distinct and direct than ever. In this Psalm and the next, we have two very lofty bursts of song, "Hallelujahs" from the lips of men on earth. The peculiar 66 The contents. people, Israel, sing in the name of all God's people; and no doubt the Lord Jesus, when on earth, took up the song as chief musician. The first ground of praise is what the Lord is in himself. “Praise ye Jah (M9), Praise ye the name of Jehovah (IFT), Praise ye, ye servants of Jehovah." (Ver. 1.) Ye who "stand" in the Lord's house; that is, wait there to serve him, as Deut. x. 8; Judges xx. 28. Then verse 3— His name is pleasant, it is ; it has in it D (Psa. xxvii. 4; Psa. xc. 17). It discovers to us the Lord's well-pleasedness; it shews us the awful frown of the Judge changed into the sweet smile of favour. Israel sees it thus-Israel, to whom the altar and all its significant accompaniments belong. The next ground of praise is the Lord's sovereignty, (verses 4-6,) choosing a people, shewing himself above all gods, doing as pleaseth him; and it is sweet for Israel to say as they sing, that this Jehovah is theirs, as they are his D, peculiar prohis, perty, his valuable jewels. “ And our Lord is above all gods.” (Ver. 5.) Bringing up vapours from the ends of earth; Bringing the wind from his treasure-chambers." But chiefly is he praised for works of providence and redemption, (ver. 8–12); smiting Egypt and great kings.* And all this contrasts so broadly with all other gods, that no name but Jehovah's shall be exalted, no one shall be named along * "In regard to Sihon and Og, he smote them." The construction of verse 11 is peculiar, the verb having had the accusative before, now employs a preposition ↳ with him; his "memorial," i. e., that by which he is known and remembered, shall be for ever singular and peculiar. See Exod. iii. 15. “For Jehovah will act the part of a judge () to his people,” i. e., defend their rights. (Gen. xxx. 6; Jer. xxii. 16.) And will repent (i. e., change his procedure) toward his servants ;” reminding us of Deut. xxxii. 26, the utterance of the Lord's name in that song of Moses. But as for idols, they have a mouth," but speak not to give advice; "ejes,” but see not the circumstances, nor yet the gifts, of their devotees; "ears," but hear neither their praise nor prayer; and as they have no "breath in their nostrils," they cannot inhale the sweet and fragrant incense offered to them. Their worshippers become equally helpless and vain. Oh, then, Israel, bless thou Jehovah! House of Israel, house of Aaron, house of Levi, fearers of Jehovah everywhere, bless ye Jehovah! “From out of Zion let Jehovah be blessed (i. e., let the voice of praise (Jchovah) who dwells at Jerusalem. We may easily suppose Christ thus exhorting his own in the days of his flesh, using this very Psalm; aye, and at this closing verse, would he not feel peculiarly? for he was Jehovah, come to fulfil all types and shadows, being himself the Incarnate God inhabiting Jerusalem. And then he would look forward to the future, when his throne shall be as a canopy over Jerusalem, and when he shall in glory inhabit it as the city of the Great King, while out from Zion issues forth such praise as makes earth wonder-the joy of Jerusalem heard afar off. We, too, may sing it with such thoughts, joining Israel and Israel's King. It suits all the redeemed, inasmuch as it is The peculiar people's song of praise, as they adore the excellency of their sovereign God. The theme. PSALM CXXXVI. 1 0 GIVE thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever 2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy en dureth for ever. 16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy en dureth for ever. 17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever : 20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: THE theme of last Psalm is taken up again; but whereas the glory of Jehovah was chiefly dwelt upon there, now it is his love. The same acts display more than one illustrious perfection, and may therefore call forth variety of praise. That "God is love" is the pervading view; or, in other words, "God is good, and his mercy endureth for ever"-the fountain and the stream, the fountain sendeth forth its streams on our |