The psalmist praiseth God for the works of creation. 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. 9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. 10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 17 Where the birds make their nests as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. LECTURE 949. The glory of God manifested in his works. The The figurative language, at the commencement of this sublime psalm, seems to be taken from the parts of the tabernacle, or from circumstances connected with the tabernacle services. putting on of the consecrated robes by the high priest suggests the notion of God's clothing Himself with honour and majesty," and covering Himself "with light as with a garment." The hangings of the sacred tent are referred to in the stretching out "the heavens like a curtain." Its beams too, and its foundations, each supply an image, wherewith to describe God's abode and workmanship in the heavens and in the earth. Whilst after the manner of its ministers, the priests and Levites there officiating, God is waited on by angels, spirits that fly swift as fire to execute his will. Usually, we know, the tabernacle, with all that belonged to it, ought to be understood as typical of God's most gracious dealings, in the redemption of mankind by Christ. And yet it might also aptly furnish illustration of God's marvellous work in creating this goodly world which we see around us. And greatly should we err, and overlook the purport of many striking passages in Scripture, if we were to be so engrossed with the tidings of our own salvation, as never, or scarcely ever, to give heed to the manifestation of God's great glory, in the things which his hand has made. Light, what a wonderworking thing is this! How many things besides light itself, how many beauties, and uses, of God's works, were brought into being, when these words were spoken, "Let there be light!" Gen. 1. 3. The waters too, both those above the firmament, and those below, the winged winds, the genial influence of heat, and the fierce agency of fire, how many subjects of reverent admiration do these present to us! Next view the solid earth, which neither waters, winds, nor flames, are able to move from its foundations. Behold it at first covered by the waters of the deep, see the waves thereof gradually retire, and the mountains lift up their heads. Then again, observe the springs of waters forced up to the tops of the hills, and running down by the valleys unto their appointed place in the ocean. What wonderful provision is here made, to slake the thirst of beasts that do man service, and of birds that sing for his delight among the branches of the trees! And how plentifully are the topmost springs from time to time replenished from God's storehouse in the clouds; whereby the earth also is happily refreshed, its fruitfulness is nourished, its herbage made to grow, its bread and wine and oil are multiplied, for the increase of man's strength, gladness, and comeliness, whilst by the same means its forests of God's planting are filled from time to time with sap, the dwelling places of birds both small and great, like as are also the hills and rocks for beasts of various tribes. Such is the order, grandeur, beauty, of God's handywork on earth! Such is its fitness for the abode of man, its shortlived tenant! O heavenly Maker of this earth which we inhabit, if such be thy skill bestowed upon the home of mortal men, what must be the excellency of the court of heaven! What must be the brightness of glory that shines throughout the realms where angels dwell, and where Thou art Thyself enthroned! The psalmist further praiseth God for his works. 19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. : 20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches. 25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their 28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. 32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. 33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. LECTURE 950. The fruit of meditating much on God's wonderful works. Among the wonderful works of God, the moon, and its changes, so generally used of old for the regulation of time, are here pointed out to our attention. These are objects to be admired when the sun goes down. And the setting of the sun, so regularly, that it seems to know its proper time, is another subject of thankful admiration. Then go forth the wild beasts of the forest, prompted by the instinct, which God has implanted in them, to seek their food when man is most inclined to rest. And then again, when "the sun ariseth," they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. For it is now the turn of man to wake, and to labour for his daily bread. So well filled up is every part of time! So many and so various are the works of God! So wisely has He made them all! So full is all the earth of his wise workmanship! The great wide ocean also is no less fully replenished than the land. "There go the ships;" and that which seems to be a barrier between one nation and another, proves to be the very easiest and best of pathways, alike for men, and for the things which they exchange with one another. And there also are multitudes of living creatures, fed amply in that barren waste as it appears, fed amply, and multiplying prodigiously, and sporting happily in the waters of the deep. And who is it that there supplies their wants? who but He, who at the first gave them the breath of life, and who fills all things with plenteousness. If He hide away his face they are troubled, and they perish in countless multitudes. If He send forth his spirit, they are created anew, even as the face of the earth is year by year renewed under the power of his almighty hand. They change, but He endures always the same. They live, and die, and are succeeded by generation after generation. But God abides continually. His glory is unchangeable. His rejoicing in his works knows no drawback and no end. Glory redounds to Him, even from those of his mighty workings, which are most apt to fill us with alarm: as the earthquake, or trembling of the earth at his looks, the volcano, or smoking of the mountains at his touch. Let then this great glory of the Lord, in the works of his creative power, be to us a matter of rejoicing, and a subject of our songs of praise. Let it be a topic on which we often meditate; for if we do so, our meditation will be sweet, and we shall feel "glad in the Lord." We shall learn to acquiesce contentedly, or rather to rejoice thankfully, in all that is done, ordered, commanded, promised, and even threatened, by One who is so manifestly almighty, all wise, all good. Instead of longing to commit sin, or seeking to justify sinners, we shall be prepared to join in his sentence, that all such ought to be consumed out of a world, which He has made so excellent, and filled so full with goodness. We shall heartily wish, that the wicked were no more, by wishing that they would repent, and turn themselves to God. And whilst we call upon our own souls to bless the Lord, we shall be prompted by our fervent admiration of his works, and devout adoration of Himself, to call upon all others whom our words can reach, and whom our influence will weigh with, saying, Praise ye the Lord. PART VI. O. T. сс The psalmist calleth on God's people to praise Him. 1 O give thanks unto the give the land of Canaan, the LORD; call upon his name: lot of your inheritance: make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face ever more. 5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac ; 12 When there were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came the word of the LORD tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I wisdom. LECTURE 951. Our being God's people should move us to praise Him. Though there is no title to this psalm, we know that the first part of it, as far as verse fifteen, was written by David; for we find it, in nearly the same words, recorded in the First Book of Chronicles, as having been delivered by David to Asaph, when he had brought the ark unto mount Sion. See 1 Chron. 16. 8—22. And as it is not likely that any one would add to David's writing except himself, we may conclude that the whole psalm is of his composition. He calls upon the Israelites to praise the Lord in many ways; by giving Him thanks, by calling on his name, by |