are supposed to attend the procession. "The Levites and singers, at least 4000 "in number, divided into 24 sets, and "accompanied with their musical instru

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46

ments, lead the way. After the intro"duction in the first two verses, when the "procession is beginning to ascend the "Mount, the question is put, as by a se"michorus, "Who shall ascend, &c." "and the response is made by the full "chorus, "he that hath clean hands, &c." "As the procession approaches the doors "of the tabernacle, the chorus, with all "their instruments, join in this exclam"ation, "Lift up your heads, &c." The "semichorus then put the question, "Who is the King of Glory?" and the response is made by the burst of the "whole chorus, "The Lord strong and mighty, &c." The effect resulting from the grandeur of the procession, and the number of the performers, must have been surprising. No wonder that among the things which astonished the Queen of Sheba, when she went to see Solomon, was his "ascent by which he went up to "the house of the Lord. 1 Kings x. 5." Even in the times of Moses their hymns were responsive, and accompanied with music. In the first piece of poetry extant, the Song of the Children of Israel on the destruction of Pharoah, Moses and the Children of Israel sang the song, and Miriam went out, and all the women after her, with timbrels and dances; and Miriam (either alone or with the women) answered them, "Sing ye to the Lord,

from the Lord: and righteousness (b) from the (c) God of his salvation.

6. This is the generation (d) of them that seek him: even of them that seek thy face (e), O Jacob (g).

7. Lift up (h) your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory (i) shall come in.

8. Who is the King of glory? it is the Lord, strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.

9. Lift up your heads, O ye

"for he hath triumphed gloriously; the "horse and his rider hath he thrown into "the sea. Exod. xv."

(u) v. 2. "Upon," or "against:" referring to the boundaries of land and sea. (x) v. 3. "Who shall ascend, &c." Nearly the same question as that in Ps. xv. 1.

(y) v. 1. 3. 5. 8. 10. Κυρία, or Κυρία et Κύριος.

"The Lord:" 75

(z) v. 4. "A pure heart." External conformity was not sufficient; inward purity was requisite.

(a)" Nor sworn to deceive," i.e. “ nor "deceived after having sworn." The same as in Ps. xv. 5. "He that sweareth unto "his neighbour, and disappointeth him "not, though it were to his own hin"derance;" or "not sworn in order to "deceive."

(b) v. 5. "Righteousness," i. e. " favour, mercy." Wilson's Hebr. Gr. 381.

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(c) The God of his salvation," or "God his Saviour." Sept. Ok σwlñpos àvlẽ. (d) v. 6. "The generation, &c." i. e. "the "character, the disposition: this is the race "that seek him."

(e) "

Thy face," i. e. "thy countenance "or favour."

(g) "O Jacob," i. e. "O God of Jacob." Τὸ πρόσωπον 7ῷ Θεῷ Ιάκωβ. Sept. and Justin M.255.

(h) v. 7. "Lift up," i. e. "to open." The manner of opening them was by lifting up the gates, as the gates of a portcullis.

(i) The King of glory," i. e. "the "ark, the symbol of God's presence;" or "the Messiah." 4. August. 461. Justin M. 254, 5,-311.

(i) v. 7. 8. 10. “ ὁ Βασίλευς 7ῆς δόξης· Τίς εσιν 7ος ὁ βασίλευς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος,” &c.

gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

10. Who is the King of glory? even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalm xxv. (k)

UNTO thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me.

2. For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed: but such as transgress without a cause, shall be put to confusion.

3. Shew me thy ways, O Lord: and teach me thy paths.

4. Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long.

5. Call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercies: and thy loving-kindnesses, which have

been ever of old.

6. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth (7): but

(k) A warm appeal to God for pardon, protection, and guidance, and a spirited eulogium on the advantages of God's assistance. In the Hebrew it is alphabetical; the first word of the first verse beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the first word of the second with the next letter, and so on. There are in the Old Testament twelve of these compositions, seven of which are in the Psalms. When perfect, they consist of twenty-two verses or parts, that being the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. One of the objects in this practice probably was, to assist the memory in repeating the composition.

() v. 6. "My youth." So Job. xiii. 26. When Job is noticing how strict God is against him, he says, "Thou writest bitter

things against me, thou makest me to possess" (i. e. bringest in charge against me)" the iniquities of my youth."

according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy good

ness.

7. Gracious and righteous is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners (m) in the way.

8. Them that are meek (n) shall he guide in judgement: and such as are gentle (n), them shall he learn his way.

9. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth: unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

10. For thy Name's sake (o), O Lord: be merciful unto my sin, for it is great.

11. What man is he that feareth (p) the Lord: him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose;

12. His soul shall dwell at ease: and his seed shall inherit the land.

13. The (q) secret of the Lord is among them that fear him: and he will shew them his covenant.

14. Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

(m) v. 7. "Sinners." Even them.

(n) v. 8. "Meek," and "gentle." These are the dispositions God will take under his more especial care.

(o) v. 10. “ Thy Name's sake." When distress or calamity fell upon any of God's followers, the heathen thought disrespectfully of God, as if he was unable to relieve them. This consideration is frequently pressed as an argument to avert the punishments their sins deserved. See Numb. xiv. 15, 16.- Deut. ix. 28.-Isaiah xlviii. 9, 11. Jer. xiv. 7.- Ezek. xx. 9. 14. 22.-Ps. xxxi. 4.-Ps. lxxiv. 23.Ps. lxxix. 9. 11.-Ps. cvi. 8.

(p) v. 11. "Feareth, &c." "The fear "of the Lord therefore is" (as is observed Ps. cxi. 10. and Prov. ix. 10.) "the begin"ning of wisdom."

(g) v. 13. "The secret, &c." i. e. (perhaps) "what is kept secret from others "he suffers them to know."

(r) v. 21. This is supposed to be an addition to the Psalm. The alphabet ends with the preceding verse.

(s) A protestation of innocence, of care in the choice of associates, and of attachment to God's service; and a prayer for protection. David is supposed to have been the author.

(t) v. 2." My reins, &c." Referring, not to the outward appearance, but to the inward motives of his conduct: knowing that God seeth not as man seeth, but that He looketh on the heart. See note on Ps. vii. 10.

ever before mine eyes: and I will walk (u) in thy truth.

4. I have not dwelt with vain persons: neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful.

5. I have hated the congregation of the wicked: and will not sit among the ungodly.

6. I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord: and so will I go to thine altar;

7. That I may shew the voice of (r) thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house: and the (y) place where thine honour dwelleth.

9. O shut not up my soul witl the sinners: nor my life with the blood-thirsty;

10. In whose hands is wickedness: and their right hand is full of gifts (≈).

11. But as for me, I will walk innocently: O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.

12. My foot standeth right: I will praise the Lord in the congregations (a).

(u) v. 3. “Walk in thy truth," i. e. (perhaps) "rely on thy promises."

(x) v. 7. "That I may shew the "voice of, &c." i. e. " that I may raise my voice in giving thee thanks; that "I may offer my thanksgivings unto

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"thee.'

(y) v. 8. "The place, &c." i. e. " the "tabernacle" where the ark, the symbol of God's presence, was.

(z) v. 10. "Gifts," i. e. "bribes."

(a) v. 12. "Congregations," i. e. "the public religious meetings." See note on Psalm xxii. 25.

EVENING PRAYER.

Psalm xxvii. (b)

THE Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then (c) shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

2. When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes came upon me, to eat up my flesh: they stumbled and fell.

3. Though an host (d) of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid and though

(6) An animated hymn, supposed to have been written by David, expressing the most lively confidence in God, thankfully noticing a former deliverance he had received, and praying for further protection.

(c) v. 1. "Whom then, &c." Not unlike the spirited commencement of the 11th Psalm: "In the Lord put I my trust: "How say ye then to my soul, that she "should flee as a bird unto the hill ?"

(d) v. 3. "Though an host, &c." There is an equally courageous and confident assertion, Ps. iii. 6. "I will not be afraid "for ten thousands of the people, that

Even. Isaiah xxiv.

(5) ante, 166. (6) ante, 59. (11) ante, 191. 193.

there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.

4. One thing (e) have I desired of the Lord, which I will require: even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.

5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me (g) in his tabernacle yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of

stone.

"have set themselves against me round "about."

(e) v. 4. "One thing, &c." i. e. (probably) above all others. He often notices the delight it gives him to be able to visit the place of God's worship. See Ps. xlii.— Ps. lxxxiv.

(g) v. 5." Hide me, &c." So Ps. xxxi. 22. "Thou shalt hide them" (i. e. those that trust in thee) "privily by thy own "presence, from the provoking of all men: "thou shalt keep them secretly in thy ta "bernacle," &c.