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Lessons for the Twenty-fourth Day of the Month throughout the Year.

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EVENING PRAYER.

Psalm cxix. (k)

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way and walk in the law of the Lord.

2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart.

3. (1) For they who do no wickedness: walk in his ways. 4. Thou hast charged: that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.

5. O that my ways were made so direct that I might keep thy statutes!

6. So shall I not be confounded while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.

8. I will keep thy ceremonies: O forsake me not utterly!

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was probably done to assist the memory in getting it by heart and remembering it, there being no particular connection between the parts or verses. The law, statutes, and judgments of God (including probably the great promise of the Messiah) are the chief subjects, there being scarce a verse which does not mention them. David is considered as the author; and he is supposed to have written it during his persecutions by Saul, but at intervals, whilst he had leisure to reflect upon the excellence of God's law, the happiness of them who kept it, (the nature of God's

man cleanse his way even by ruling himself after thy word. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not go wrong out of thy command

ments.

11. Thy words have I hid (n) within my heart that I should not sin against thee.

12. Blessed art thou, O Lord : O teach me thy statutes.

13. With my lips have I been telling; of all the judgements of thy mouth.

14. I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies: as in all manner of riches.

15. I will talk of thy commandments and have respect unto thy ways.

16. My delight shall be in thy statutes and I will not forget thy word.

3d Part. (0)

17. O Do well unto thy ser vant that I may live, and keep thy word.

18. Open thou mine eyes: that

great promise,) and the comfort they had afforded him in his afflictions. The first part is upon the blessedness of acting up to God's commands, with an earnest prayer for power so to do.

() v. 3. The reading should probably be," who do no wickedness, and walk in "his ways."

(m) Considerations for the young; protesting an adherence to and delight in God's commandments, and praying for further instruction therein.

(n) v. 11. " Hid," i. e. "treasured up." (o) A prayer for God's protection and for further knowledge of his laws; perhaps written when David was compelled to keep himself concealed for fear of Saul; whilst he might well say (as in verse 19.) that he was a stranger upon earth, and (as in verse 23.) that princes (i. e. Saul's courtiers) did sit and speak against him.

I may see the wondrous things | timonies: O Lord, confound me

of thy law.

19. I am a stranger upon earth: O hide not thy commandments from me.

20. My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire : that it hath alway unto thy judge

ments.

21. Thou hast rebuked the proud and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.

22. O turn from me shame and rebuke: for I have kept thy

testimonies.

23. Princes also did sit and speak against me but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes. 24. For thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.

4th Part. (p)

25. My soul cleaveth to the dust O quicken thou me according to thy word.

26. I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me: O teach me thy statutes.

27. Make me to understand the way of thy commandments: and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

28. My soul melteth away for

very heaviness comfort thou me according unto thy word.

29. Take from me the way of lying and cause thou me to make much of thy law.

30. I have chosen the way of truth and thy judgments have

I laid before me.

21. I have stuck unto thy tes

(v) Reflections, resolutions, and prayers, during great distress.

(q) A prayer to be instructed and kept in the ways of goodness.

(r) v. 36. "Covetousness," i. e. (perhaps) "inordinate desire of whatever kind."

not.

32. I will run the way of thy commandments: when thou hast set my heart at liberty.

MORNING PRAYER.
5th Part. (q)

33. TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end.

34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law: yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments: for therein is my desire.

36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness. (r)

37. O turn away mine eyes lest they behold (s) vanity and quicken thou me in thy way. 38. O stablish thy word in thy servant that I may fear thee.

39. Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of: for thy judgments are good.

40. Behold my delight is in thy commandments: O quicken me in thy righteousness.

6th Part. (t)

41. LET thy loving-mercy come also unto me, O Lord: even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

42. So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers (u): for my trust is in thy word.

(s) v. 37. "Lest they behold," i. e. "that they may not behold."

(t) A prayer for protection, and resolutions to keep God's laws, and speak courageously of his testimonies.

(u) v. 42. "Blasphemers," i. e. "scoffers,

43. O take not the word of thy truth (r) utterly out of my mouth for my hope is in thy judgements.

44. So shall I alway keep thy law: yea, for ever and ever.

45. And I will (y) walk at liberty for I seek thy command

ments.

46. I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings (≈) : and will not be ashamed.

47. And my delight shall be in thy commandments: which I have

loved.

48. My hands (a) also will I lift up unto unto thy thy commandments, which I have loved and my study shall be in thy statutes. 7th Part. (6)

49. 0 THINK upon thy servant, as concerning thy word (c): wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.

50. The same is my comfort in my trouble for thy word hath quickened me.

51. The proud have had me exceedingly in derision: yet have I not shrinked from thy law;

52. For I remembered thine everlasting judgements, O Lord: and received comfort.

"those who ridicule my dependence upon "thee."

(x) v. 43. "The word of thy truth," i.e. either, generally, "thy promise of pro"tection to those who trust in thee;" or, "some particular promise to David, like "that mentioned 2 Sam. v. 2." See note on v. 49.

(y) v. 45. "Will," or "shall."

(z) v. 46. " Before kings." This implies that the Psalm was written before David was on the throne: afterwards he would not have used this expression.

(a) v. 48. "My hands, &c." i. e. either, "I will adhere vigorously to thy com"mandments;" or, "I will swear solemnly

53. I am horribly afraid for the ungodly that forsake thy law.

54. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pil grimage. (d)

55. I have thought upon thy Name, O Lord, in the night-season and have kept thy law.

56. This I had because I kept thy commandments.

8th Part. (e)

57. THOU art my portion, O Lord: I have promised to keep thy law.

58. I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart: O be merciful unto me according to thy word.

59. I called mine own ways to remembrance and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60. I made haste, and prolonged not the time to keep thy commandments.

61. The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me but I have not forgotten thy law.

62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee: because of thy righteous judgements.

63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and keep thy commandments.

"to follow them:"- one of the Jewish modes of swearing was by lifting up the hand to heaven. See note on Ps. xliv. 21. (b) A prayer for protection.

(c) v. 49." Thy word, &c." referring perhaps to some special promise God had made David, probably that mentioned 2 Sam. v. 2." Thou shalt feed my people "Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over "Israel."

(d) v. 54. "House of my pilgrimage, i. e. (perhaps)" the places where he had "concealed himself from fear of Saul."

(e) Reflections and resolutions after prayer and self-examination.

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Lessons for the Twenty-fifth Day of the Month throughout the Year.

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