Imatges de pàgina
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not turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

If thy children will keep My covenant, and My testimony that I shall teach them; their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.

For the LORD hath chosen Zion: He hath desired it for His habitation.

This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell, for I have desired it.

I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy with bread.

her poor

I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

His enemies will I clothe with shame but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

The latter part of this Psalm bears evident marks of Divine inspiration. It is supposed, that the following Psalm was sung in divisions to solemn music *

PART I.

Sung when the Priests lifted up the Arkt.

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad : let them rejoice before GOD, yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Sing unto God, sing praises to His name: extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His name JAH, and rejoice before Him.

* Dr. Chandler's Life of David.

+ Psalm lxviii.

A father

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is GOD in His holy habitation.

PART II.

Sung when the Ark was placed on the Shoulders of the Levites.

O GOD, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people ; when Thou didst march through the wilderness;

The earth shook, the heavens also drooped at the presence of GOD: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of GOD, the God of Israel.

The LORD gave the word, great was the company of those that published it.

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

The words in the first part agree with those used by Moses and the Israelites whenever they removed the ark: those in the second served to remind the people of Gon's former mercies to the house of Jacob.

When the ark was in view of mount Sion, it is probable this was sung.

PART III.

The chariots of GoD are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the LORD is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

He that is our GOD is the GOD of salvation: and unto GOD the LORD belong the issues from death.

C 5

Sing

Sing unto God, ze kingdoms of the earth: Ó sing praises unto the LORD.

To Him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which were of old, lo, He doth send out His voice, and that a mighty voice.

Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds.

O God, Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places, the GOD of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people; blessed be God.

It is supposed that the following Psalm was set to music on this occasion, and sung by way of dialogue by king and people; we may conjecture, that it began when they reached the foot of mount Sion *.

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.

For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the flouds.

When they arrived at the gates of Jerusalem, which may be considered as a type of Heaven, it is likely that the king and his choir sung as follows:

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. And those within answered.

Who is the King of glory?

To which the first replied:

The LORD strong and mighty; the LORD mighty in battle.

And now let us suppose, that the procession proceeded to the gates of the court of the tabernacle, the instruments playing the same airs; and the king, princes, and damsels, moving to the measure (as was the custom

* Dr. Delany's Life of David.

+ Psalm xxiv..

in those times); when they arrived at the gates of the tabernacle, they sung, and were answered as follows:

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory?

The LORD of HOSTS, He is the King of Glory *. When they had deposited the ark in the tabernacle, it is likely the following was sung.

+ Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.

Glory ye

in His holy name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek His face continually.

Remember His marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth; O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob His chosen ones. He is the LORD our GOD; His judgments are in all

the earth.

Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations; even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath unto Isaac:

And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.

Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.

* The two learned authors, from whose works I have chiefly com posed my comments on the Life of King David, differ in their application of Psalms to this solemnity; that selected by each, appears to me well adapted to the occasion, therefore I have introduced them both; from the fear of omitting the Psalm, which would excise the properest ideas in the minds of my readers.

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When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it : And when they went from nation to nation, and from' one kingdom to another people;

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He re-› proved kings for their sakes,

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day His salvation.

Declare his glory among the heathen; His marvellous works among all nations.

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Glory and honour are in his presence, strength and gladness are in his place.

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give into the LORD glory and strength.

Give unto the LORD the glory due ïnto His name : bring an offering and come before Him; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Fear before Him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to Thy holy name, and glory in Thy praise.

Blessed

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