mane suffering, and the three hours' darkness, and the earthquake, and the rending of the Temple veil,-things that took place in the view of other spectators than man, when the "prince of the air" was overthrown, and the Father, with his legions of angels, came forward to deliver. The mention of the "cherub" in verse 10 is not to be overlooked: "He rode upon a cherub." Like a king or warrior, the Lord is represented as going forth in his chariot; but he mounts, on that memorable day, a chariot whose coat of arms is the cherub. He goes forth in his cherub-chariot, and this is sufficient to shew the errand on which he is gone out: it is redemption. For that symbol is the redemption-symbol. Cherubim in paradise after the fall; cherubim on the mercyseat, with their feet touching the blood, and their whole weight on the ark; cherubim on the veil that was rent ;--everywhere cherubim (the four living beings of Rev. iv.) represented the Redeemed. How significant to the universe, when Jehovah rose up with the symbol of man's redemption, to go forth to the aid of man's Redeemer. The cherub. Let us begin, then. The true Sweet Singer of Israel, the The plan. firstborn among many brethren, stands on the shore of his Red Sea, and sings, in verses 1 and 2, the grace and glory of his God. What a God he is: "My strength, my rock,* my fortress," &c. Then comes the story of his awful conflict. He traverses the field with us, and tells us of his cries that pierced the heavens and the Father's heart (ver. 3-6),—a commentary on Heb. v. 7. But from verse 7 to 15 what a scene of terrific incidents is opened to view! "The cords" of the hunter "death" were enclosing him; and the "torrents of Belial" -floods swollen with all the mischief of hell and hellish men, -were sweeping down upon him, when his cry began to be noticed, and the Father rose up. Earth shook-smoke and fire were seen by those same angels who were witnesses of the smoke and fire on Sinai, attesting the majesty of the law; and the same heavens bowed that bowed when the Law was given, * The clause, "God of my rock,” în 2 Sam. xxii. 3, is properly "my rockGod," i.e., my strong, rock-like, God. the same darkness attended this descent, for now the Law-fulfiller was about to present the law fulfilled. He came with the cherub-symbol, inasmuch as there was now to be redemption from the curse of the law. But there was no abatement of his glory-no obscuring of his majesty; on the contrary, there was the same covering of darkness, as when the law was given, and thereafter the same brightness shot forth. Hailstones, too, as when He overcame his enemies at Bethhoron, attested the presence of the same majesty and power: the same thunder uttered its voice, the same lightning-arrows flew abroad. It was Israel's God in his majesty; yes, the same that laid bare the Red Sea's channel, (verses 14, 15), who then appeared in still greater displays of majesty. It was a scene not witnessed by mortal eyes, but, no doubt, "seen of angels." "He sent from At length the Redeemer was delivered. above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters" (Verses 16-18). In vain do the scribes and elders triumph, sealing the sepulchre stone, and setting a watch; in vain does Satan exult, as if he had crushed the woman's seed. "They prevented me, (i.e. got before me, as if between me and my refuge,) in the day of my calamity." But Jehovah came-resurrection followed, with all its consequences. He stood in "a large place;" and soon sat down at the right hand of Majesty on high. And in that hour every member of his body was virtually "raised with Him, and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places,”—in a large room! And was all this done in conformity with law and righteousness? The law was honoured then, and is honoured and magnified for ever, by all that the Redeemer wrought. Vers. 2026 declares it : “Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. "Because I kept the ways of the Lord "All his judgments were before me, “And I did not put away his statutes from me.” "Yea, I was upright before Him," &c. Henceforth, nothing hinders the application of his redemption work on the part of God; and on man's part there is nothing required but the poverty of spirit that is willing to receive a gift. Pride, that caused the fall, hinders the rising again of the fallen. "For thou wilt save the people that are poor," “But will bring down high looks,” (ver. 27). Our Brother, having brought us thus far in his history, tells us once more of the Father's love to Him and his people, and how fully the Father, who equipped Him for the former struggle, has equipped him for whatever remains for him to do. (Verses 28-35). The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands. He seems suddenly to remind the Father of this, (verses 35, 36), in preparation for what is coming, saying, "Thy gentleness hath MADE ME GREAT.” Then follows the final assault (long deferred) upon his unyielding enemies.* (Verses 37-42.) It is evidently the day of his Second Coming; for we hear the cry (v. 41), when "there is none to save : the Master has risen up and shut to the door. Rocks and mountains cannot shelter foes, any more than could the cave of Makkedah the five kings that fled to it. Our Joshua calls them out, and puts his own foot upon their necks. (V. 40, compared with Josh. x. 24). And then is earth subdued under Him. (Ver. 43, 44, 45). Isaiah lii. 15 is fulfilled nations coming to Him, as did the Queen of Sheba, attracted by the report of his grace and glory. : * The U of v. 45, is the same word used in Ps. lxvi. 3, and lxxxi. 16. It originally expressed "feigned obedience," through fear or flattery; the kind of submission yielded by men to irresistible conquerors. But here we must understand the word to be accommodated to the circumstances of the case, and to express the completeness of the homage rendered to Messiah, arising from the feeling of his irresistible greatness. It is q. d. all the homage that was ever given by subdued nations to their conquerors, shall be given to Messiah. The feignedness of the submission is not to be considered. Just as in Isaiah viii. 13, “Make Jehovah your dread, the object of your terror," (D). The allusion is to what idolators felt toward their horrid idols: but it is only an allusion, q.d., let Jehovah be the object of your heart's reverence,-this is your dread! The members of Christ. The Lord alone is exulted in that day. The glory resounds to Him (verses 46-48); and “h" is the watchword, or congratulatory acclamation (1 Kings i. 25, 31), of all the earth T: Jehovah liveth!" Jew and Gentile are seen in union; for the Deliverer (ver. 49-50) declares his celebration of Jehovah's name among the Gentiles, while he shews kindness "to David and his seed for ever." Well may we join with all the members of our Head, "made more than conquerors" in Him, and enjoying our share in all these triumphs along with Him,-well may we join in the exclamation of ver. 50, 66 “Thou who makest great the salvations of his King !" ور The full, salvation-work wrought out by our appointed King, is called ";" and these things are all done in the way of might and majesty. But now see how we too may sing all this; even as David could sing it, as well as David's son. We sing of our deliverances, and remember all the while that the source of them was God's rising up for us in all his power, invisible yet awfully great. And then in ver. 20-27, we, like David, may speak before the Lord of the righteousness we have got, and of the purity He himself has bestowed. It is with our eye on Christ's righteousness imputed, and Christ's Spirit imparted, that we so sing, humbly declaring what He has wrought for us. As for ver. 28-36, they tell our experience to the life; and as for ver. 37-45, they tell, in our case, of the day when we shall share with our Head, in bruising Satan under our feet, and when Rev. iii. 9 shall be fulfilled. What are we that we should be called upon to join in such a song 1 What are we, Lord, that thy Son should be our elder brother, and work all this for us! Enable us for evermore to love, serve, glorify, and follow fully that Saviour who was saved when he took our place! And never may we sing this Psalm but with burning love to Him, as we think of The Righteous One saved and glorified. PSALM XIX. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 THE heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple: 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes : 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ;-let them not have Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great trans- 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. STANDING on the platform of earth, but looking away from The plan. what in it is merely man's work, the eye of him that speaks in this Psalm has rested first on the glorious heavens, and then on the law that reveals Him who dwelleth in the heavens. Law is here equivalent to Revelation; it is ; that is, what he teaches. There will be a time when, under the seven-fold light of the New Heavens that will stretch their canopy over a New Earth, it may be said yet more emphatically than now, that "without voice, or articulate sound," E |