(II. Praise for divine power.) 5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, 6 Which by His strength setteth fast the mountains; Being girded with power. 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts Thou makest the outgoing of the morning (III. Praise for the divine providence.) 9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: With the river of God, which is full of water: When Thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly : Thou settlest the furrows thereof: Thou blessest the springing thereof: 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: And the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered over with corn; REFLECTIONS. 1. The true worshipper of God is the blessed man; for he draws near to God in His house of prayer; praises Him, calls upon Him, confesses his sins to Him, and obtains the blessings of pardon and peace: he is satisfied with the divine goodness: he is instructed, strengthened, and comforted in the holy ordinances of the Church. 2. What a subject for joyful meditation is the power of God. We look to the hills, to the waves of the sea, to the rising and setting sun, and to the restrained passions of men, and we have abundant proof of it. And this Almighty Being is our confidence and the God of our salvation. How great is our security! What abundant reason have we to rejoice! 3. As God is infinite in power, so is He infinite in goodness. What a delightful view is here given us of His bounty in providing for our temporal wants! The descending showers, the springing and flourishing corn, the plenty that crowns the hills and vales, and even the wilderness, plainly manifest His care of us. But these things are only a part of His ways; and they ought to lead us to consider blessings of a higher order. PRAYER. O Almighty God, infinite in power and goodness, while we thank and praise Thee for the bounties of Thy providence, grant that we may seek and enjoy the blessings of Thy mercy and grace in Christ Jesus. Grant that we may be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, praise Thy holy Name, and live to Thy glory, through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PSALM LXVI. Thanksgiving, as Psalm xlvi. Some refer this Psalm to the days of David; others to those of Hezekiah. (I. Exhortation to praise.) 1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing forth the honour of His Name: Make His praise glorious. 3 Say unto God, "How terrible art Thou in Thy works! “Shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee. 4"All the earth shall worship Thee, "And shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy Name." (II. Deliverance of the Church.) 5 Come and see the works of God: He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land: They went through the flood on foot : There did we rejoice in Him. 7 He ruleth by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. 8 O bless our God, ye people, And make the voice of His praise to be heard; 9 Which holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved. 10 For Thou, O God, hast proved us; Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. (III. Religious service.) 13 I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay Thee my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered, And my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer unto Thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. (IV. God's special goodness declared.) 16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what He hath done for 17 I cried unto Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me; 19 But verily God hath heard me; my soul. He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Which hath not turned away my prayer, REFLECTIONS. 1. All the works and ways of God furnish matter for praise. It is by His power that enemies are overthrown, and that the hearts of men are brought to the obedience of faith. We ought to consider this, and to "sing forth the honour of HisNa me." 2. Here we are instructed how to meditate on the divine dealings. The power of God was shown in the deliverance of Israel; in their support, and in vanquishing their enemies: and it is equally manifested in the deliverance, support, and trials of the Church, and of every member of it. Tribulation is our lot; for we must be tried: but God is with us when we pass even through fire and water, and He will bring us into a wealthy place; to His promised rest. Shall we not, therefore, praise Him? 3. In affliction we make vows: in prosperity let us perform them. Public worship is a most important duty; and our experience of the divine goodness should induce us to engage in it with unfeigned gratitude. 4. The true Christian can speak of the goodness of God to himself. He has prayed to God; he has praised Him; he has expelled iniquity from his heart, cherishing no sin in his breast: and he has been heard, and answered, and preserved, and blessed by the God of all mercy and blessing. PRAYER. O gracious and glorious God, infinite in power and mercy, grant that we may consider Thy works, and praise Thy Name. Whatever be our trials and afflic |