Commune with your own heart Upon your bed, and be still. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord. (III. God's favour our happiness and safety.) 6 There be good?" many that say, "Who will shew us any Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For Thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. REFLECTIONS. We may here learn, 1. That when good men pray, they feel their need of mercy; they thankfully acknowledge God's former goodness to them; and they are anxious that their prayer should be heard, accepted, and answered. 2. That good men expostulate with the wicked, and give them sound advice. The wicked laugh at piety, and love vanity and falsehood. They will do well to consider, that the godly are the Lord's peculiar people, whose prayer He hears. They will do well to pause, to examine themselves, to turn to God, and to worship Him and trust in Him. 3. That the wicked scoff, as if religion did nothing for its disciples; but that God manifests His favour to His faithful servants, puts gladness into their hearts, and keeps them in peace and safety. The good may be tried and afflicted; but they are happy in God's favour, and safe in God's protection. PRAYER. O Lord, do Thou always hear our prayers, and give us strength and consolation. May we examine ourselves, renounce all sin, worship Thee in spirit and in truth, trust in Thy mercy, grace, and power, and rejoice in Thee and in Thy salvation, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. PSALM V. Prayer, as Psalm iv. The author, David; written perhaps on the same occasion as the preceding Psalm. A Morning Hymn. (I. Prayer.) 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God: For unto Thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning, will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. (II. God's hatred of sin.) 4 For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with Thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (III. A resolve: a petition.) 7 But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy : And in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make Thy way straight before my face. (IV. Character and punishment of the wicked.) 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy Thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their trans gressions; For they have rebelled against Thee. (V. Happiness and safety of the good.) 11 But let those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. 12 For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield. REFLECTIONS. 1. How earnest is the Psalmist in prayer! We shall do well to copy him both as to his spirit, and as to the time of his devotion. We should be careful to begin every day with God, in order that we may spend the whole of it under His blessing and to His glory. 2. God's holiness is a subject never to be forgotten. He abhors wickedness: and how awful will be the end of the impenitent and disobedient! O that we may delight in holiness and righteousness, and hate all iniquity. 3. In order to be kept from sin, to be holy, and to please God, what must we do? Resolve as the Psalmist resolved, and pray as he prayed. If we would prosper in piety, we must worship God in His house of prayer, and we must continually seek divine guidance and protection. 4. How dark is the character, and how awful is the end of the ungodly! Oh, what has sin wrought in the heart and conduct of man! Oh, how dreadful is that destruction which is the wages of sin! 5. How delightful is it to turn to those who are partakers of divine grace! What are their principles? Faith and love: by these they walk before God in holiness and obedience. What is their happiness? God is their Defender; they enjoy His favour; and they rejoice in Him. PRAYER. Give us, O Lord, praying hearts; and may we begin all our days with Thee. May we hate iniquity; worship Thee in thine ordinances; and seek Thy guidance. Have mercy upon the ungodly, and turn them from their evil ways, that sin may not be their ruin. Bless and defend us, and all Thy people, and may we rejoice in Thee, both now and ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DAY 1.] PSALM VI. EVENING PRAYER. Penitential. The author, David: the occasion, probably, the matter of Uriah. It is the language of a true penitent. (I. Prayer.) 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, Neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed: 3 My soul is also sore vexed: But Thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: O save me for Thy mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: In the grave who shall give Thee thanks? (II. Complaint.) 6 I am weary with my groaning; All the night make I my bed to swim; 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; |