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(IV. Praise.)

9 But I will declare for ever;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The works, the ways, and the word of God, prove that He is near us: and a recollection of His constant presence should urge us to the duty of thanksgiving and praise.

2. Authority should be used to promote justice; and whatever confusion may be around us, we should consult the maintenance of truth and order.

3. The ungodly may be proud, and own no superior; but God orders all things: He advances and He depresses men, when and as He pleases: and the workers of evil will find, if they proceed in their wickedness, that the dregs of the divine wrath are their portion.

4. It becomes the good to be stedfast in faith; to declare God's righteous dealings, and to sing His praise; assured that the power of wickedness shall be broken, and that His servants shall be exalted to honour and happiness.

PRAYER.

O blessed God, may we always remember Thy presence, and give Thee thanks and praise. Help us, in our several places, to act uprightly. Convince the ungodly of their folly, and give them true repentance:

and may we, and all Thy people, declare Thy glorious works, and praise Thee for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PSALM LXXVI.

Thanksgiving, as Psalm xlvi. That Asaph who lived in the time of David might have written this Psalm to celebrate some victory : but some refer it with much probability to the overthrow of Sennacherib: verses 5, 6.

(I. God's glory in the Church.)

1 In Judah is God known:
His Name is great in Israel.
2 In Salem also is His tabernacle,
And His dwelling-place in Zion.

(II. The Church's deliverance.)
3 There brake He the arrows of the bow,
The shield, and the sword, and the battle.
4 Thou art more glorious and excellent
than the mountains of prey.

5 The stout-hearted are spoiled, They have slept their sleep; And none of the men of might

have found their hands.

6 At Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob,

Both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead

sleep.

(III. A reflection.)

7 Thou, even Thou, art to be feared:

And who may stand in Thy sight
when once Thou art angry?

(IV. Effect of the deliverance.)

8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven;

The earth feared, and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment,

To save all the meek of the earth.

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: The remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.

(V. Exhortation.)

11 Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God; Let all that be round about Him

Bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth.

REFLECTIONS.

1. God is known in every Christian land; but the Church is in an especial manner His dwellingplace it is there that He meets and blesses His people.

2. Temporal deliverances are from God, and He is to be thankfully acknowledged as their author: but we more especially look to spiritual deliverances. How vain and impious is all opposition to God! The wisdom of the wise becomes foolishness; and the power of the mighty is found to be utter weakness.

3. The dealings of God ought to fill us with awe and reverence: and as His love and favour are to be sought and delighted in, so is His displeasure to be dreaded.

4. As we read this Psalm we may think of the overthrow of Sennacherib's army: and in that we see how God maintains the cause of His people, turns the wrath of man to His own glory, and restrains the passions and purposes of the wicked as He pleases. And surely this is a truth full of consolation to the humble believer in this evil world.

5. Kings and princes have great power: but if they abuse it, He who is King of kings will show Himself to be terrible to them by the judgments which He will inflict upon them. He, indeed, is that God who ought to be feared" by every one: and they who are wise will stand in awe of Him, pay their vows to Him, and offer unto Him holy and acceptable worship.

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PRAYER.

Great and glorious God, Thou art terrible towards evil-doers, and gracious unto Thy people. We thank Thee that we live in a land where Thou art known, and belong to the Church, which is Thy dwellingplace. Mercifully protect, and bless, and prosper Thy Church and may we be of the number of those who fear Thee, worship Thee, and honour Thee in this world, so that in the world to come we may receive the gift of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PSALM LXXVII.

Prayer, as Psalm xiii. Written in a season of great distress.

Author and occasion unknown.

(I. Complaint.)

1 I cried unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice: And He gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My sore run in the night, and ceased not: My soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled:

I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. 4 Thou holdest mine eye waking;

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

(II. Victory of faith over distrust.)

5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart:

And my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever?

And will He be favourable no more? 8 Is His mercy clean gone for ever?

Doth His promise fail for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? 10 And I said, This is my infirmity:

But I will remember the years

of the right hand of the Most High.

11 I will remember the works of the Lord :

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