His ardent love and whole-hearted devotion to
God brought the comforting and courage-giving
belief that whatever happens is for the best, and that
PSALM LXV.
God brought the comforting and courage-giving
belief that whatever happens is for the best, and that
PSALM LXV.
Childrens - Psalm-Book
<t h'l: i: t:
9 :^yyhnn n^Sfs *^y ^jjj tWk
D^n'bx nnx-^n 10 :Di-wiy *aro *d TM *vy
j. v. jt - i -. iV. - *j-t t j-
jt tit I" :? : ? v: ** i: t a: -:
-rwi D^xa 12 ? din nsneta Aitrt nso
v -:r ? I" itt j-: :t: r- t. >>
l"t j t ;'at
cviii. np
^nba-fiN rnQrxi m*ete d^Sn *? b fD:
crcpyp jpjin 3 nq^ n*TM ^a3] rniyt 2
Dvfcx D^-Sy njjri 5 ? ^jnax D^ntrnyi ^jpn
ny^'in '? jhh; jttSrv jy&Se j^jjtq? nsO-^ ^21
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>8. CVIII. Thy right hand, and answer me. 7 God hath
spoken in His holiness. I will rejoice, I will divide
Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also
is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out
my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. 10 Who
will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me
into Edom? 11 Wilt not Thou, O God, which hadst
cast us off? And wilt not Thou, O God, go forth with
our hosts? 12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is
the help of man. 13 Through God we shall do
valiantly: forHeit is that shalltread down our enemies.
mote on These two psalms are placed together because
^ andX the ^ast eight verses of the 60th Psalm and of the
IPs. CVIII. 108th Psalm are the same; but the opening verses
are strikingly different.
Both Psalms commemorate King David's victorious
campaigns against the Philistines, the Edomites and
the Moabites on the south, and against the Syrians
on the north--campaigns which enlarged and secured
the boundaries of his kingdom.
In the 60th Psalm David begins by recalling the
struggles and disasters of the Israelites whenever
they ignored the laws of God. In the third verse he
deplores that the Israelites, too easily self-satisfied,
had to suffer hard trials and to "drink the wine of
astonishment" in order that they might realize the
strenuous efforts necessary to attain to goodness.
Then follows the noble thought,--clad in the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ngjpDS nhvk ieHj5| 1 ttrfcg 7 ? *Jag_ ^* ps. cvm.
? jt lr|: i: t : a* jt ? -; v ;i
imagery of the banner that is the rallying point before mote on
the bow of the enemy,--that the lofty ideal of goodness f)s. LX.
is constantly present to the minds of those who ug'^yij
revere God, and that it gives them moral safety.
The prayer of verse 5 is inspired by the thought of
verse 4: "So that Thy beloved" (i. e. those who
revere Thee) "may be delivered, save with Thy
right hand, and answer me. " And then comes the
song of thanks and recognition of the help of God
in the hour of victory.
The opening verses of Psalm cviii. are a fervent
and joyful expression of thanks and praise to God,
and a proclamation to all peoples of His mercy and
His truth. The triumphant pasan of praise and
thanks to God for Divine help, and recognition of
the Almighty power of God and the impotence of
mankind, form the theme of both these Psalms.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM LXI.
Go tbe Cbief dftusictan. B (C)saint of David.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the
rock that is higher than I. 3 For Thou hast been
a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will
trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.
5 For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou
hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy
name. 6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his
years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before
God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which
may preserve him. 8 So will I sing praise unto Thy
name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
te on Psalm Ixi. shows David both as a hero and as
. LXI. a king. The first five verses are the key-note
of the dauntless spirit and steadfast courage of
heroes in all ages. Intense faith in God, and serene
trustfulness in His mercy, gave David " the heritage
of those that fear Thy name," the calm and splendid
courage that sustained him in all the vicissitudes
of his adventurous life.
From shepherd to warrior, from warrior to
outlaw, from outlaw to monarch, David tells us all
his thoughts and feelings, and through them all, his
firm faith in God shines out. When danger comes
very near him, when trouble overwhelms his heart,
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
LXI. ND
:irrh 1 rrkitb
I-t: :|-
,. . |. . j. t . . t . |. _ a. t . ? v;i T : ?
D^p<<g ^aS elbga fcopx 1 pgn
: tin *3bo nrSiaa ,L> nDna rv*ma 3 '^nan
,. . . . . . * . . . a. jV : - tj't
: rta ? n*s3a mon n6nx m&Siy n^nxa mwx 4
tiv |j. t: v i": v v:iv a- t I : t|t ;i t j t
*tn* nna maS D^nSx njwa 5
- . ? : t t at t; * t :j- t ? v;i jt - ?
Tjiaa vniag> sppin ^r^rW t*PJ6
IP naxi ion dtok ^asS emu ae* 7'
mi *tbvh nyS menx 1 p 8 nmxa^
Di; 1 Di*
or when the burden of responsibility of a ruler mote on
weighs heavily on him, he prays to God to strengthen 1P8- LXI.
his heart. "Lead me to the rock that is higher
than I," is his prayer; and a noble utterance it is,
expressing humble consciousness of the weakness of
man, and steadfast faith in the greatness and good-
ness of God.
The last three verses show David's sense of the
tremendous responsibility of kingship. He prays
that he may be led to rule with " mercy and truth. "
"Thus," he says, "I will sing praise to Thy name
for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. "
These words are characteristic of David's habit of
81
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
'te on using his common sense to help him to a righteous
. LXI. way of life. They show how fully he understood
the value of the practical form of worship that con-
PSALM LXIII.
S psalm of David wben be was in tbe wilderness of
Juoab-
O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee:
my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for
Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have
seen Thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy loving-
kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise
Thee. 4 Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will
lift up my hands in Thy name. 5 My soul shall be
satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth
shall praise Thee with joyful lips: 6 When I
remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee
in the night watches. 7 Because Thou hast been
my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I
rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy
right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those that seek
my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts
of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they
shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall
rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by Him
shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies
shall be stopped.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
sists of striving day by day and hour by hour, in little Jftote on
things as well as in great things, to fulfil all our
duties to the best of our powers.
LXIII. 3D
:rnw nsnaa ihvna i^h niato
|t: - :? : :? a* t: i ; ?
1 hnov nm hit 1 D^nSx ?
^pn 3: ^ nixnj? ^nnn: anpa
I : * : at-; |j; v|t~: l-i I: i: ~: *~ t:
'" : * : a* ;- ^j-: I v vn vj? ? <: it- it v
? -: -: at : - J *? i~: ? I* v -: t;
l -l--: I '. 't: i--: a- t jt:v tj-t |> ||t v : |v
nam 9 naan *i' smrot *gte3 npai8
t ? ? : |1v ? : /t :it ? v-:[- >> :- |jt: it
I V|t t /*: ~: t j* :- jl:~: t ;i
foam" :vrv d^W roo mrm*-^ wj* io
I v v -; i: ? j* ti*. it: vat - ? -
nio: *j ia ya^n-^a ^niv D^nVxa n? E>>
|v|t ? ? : i
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
? fclote on In this song of prayer David pours out his longing
? LXIII. for nearness to God. He felt that life would be
poor and incomplete unless all its work and effort
were dedicated to the glory of God, and that ever-
present thought inspired in him a noble and heroic
attitude at all times, and when he became a great
king, it prevented his becoming arrogant and vain.
"Lord, my heart is not haughty nor mine eye lofty,"
he cries in one of his prayer-poems.
His ardent love and whole-hearted devotion to
God brought the comforting and courage-giving
belief that whatever happens is for the best, and that
PSALM LXV.
Go tbe Cbief Musician, a psalm ano Song of B)avfo.
Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion: and
unto Thee shall the vow be performed. 2 O Thou
that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our trans-
gressions, Thou shalt purge them away. 4 Blessed
is the man whom Thou choosest, and causeth to
approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy
courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of
Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou
answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the
confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them
that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Which by His
strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the Infinite wisdom and mercy of God is ever over mote on
us all. David's own self seems to be brought very (C)8- LXIII.
near us in these Psalms. The poet-king, who lived
three thousand years ago in a far-off land, speaks to
us like a familiar friend. We seem to know the very
ring of his voice, as he comforts us and cheers us
in times of trouble and trial, by telling us of the
trials he himself has gone through. We see that his
difficulties were just the same as ours are, and
that if our souls "follow hard after" God, the same
perfect faith in God that sustained David through
his troubles will sustain us too.
LXV. no
lup trb nfcto nftth
naiy 3: ? prhs srw rhsr\ vm 2
-;i j"; * t t 't t t I Vt t *; -j"
j- . . K. . . - i. . . . . . jt _ ** t; *av :jt
trnp sjp*3 ai95 n? ? feM T$q fi^ni
n&aa vta uapn jrrca 1 rfkiii 5 :sta*n
inba Dnn paa 6 :D*j*n 91] ^"'. Wj? ^!
DO^- P^r jW IP'S#D7 :nrjQj3 ntxj
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
p8. LXV. with power: 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas,
the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the
people. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost
parts are afraid at Thy tokens:
Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and
evening to rejoice. 9 Thou visitest the earth, and
waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river
of God, which is full of water: Thou preparest them
corn, when Thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou
waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: Thou
settlest the furrows thereof: Thou makest it soft
with showers: Thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness;
and Thy paths drop fatness. 12 They drop upon
the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills
rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed
with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with
corn . ; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Mote on The first four verses of the 65th Psalm picture our
ps. LXV. dependence on the help of God, and the blessing of
being able to pour out the inmost feelings of our
heart in prayer to Him.
The comforting thought that earnest prayer
direct from the human heart is ever acceptable to
our Almighty Father is the very essence of our faith.
David repeats it in Psalm after Psalm, and in many
different ways, -- none more beautiful than the
noble words of this Psalm, "O Thou that hearest
prayer, to Thee shall all flesh come. " The third
and the fourth verses picture the strength that
comes to us from prayer and from trust in the
goodness of God.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
nan nj^rii pxn rnjpjD 9 :prin nn}ntnj3h u^fto
p *a mri pan D'ja nSo d^k na^n
Drrnia ijjn$ nru rv&S^ 10 :nbal?
It is very wonderful to think that when King mote on
David sang this Psalm, the Israelites alone of all t>s. LXV.
the people in the world realized the truth that God
is the Creator of the whole world. While the
Egyptian kings with all their elaborate civilization
worshipped bulls and a whole number of gods and
goddesses, and the Greeks attributed a separate
personified deity to every force of nature, the
Israelites raised their voices in prayer to the one
God, " the Trust of all the ends of the earth and
of them that are afar off on the seas,"--the Almighty
God, Whose universal dominion is so beautifully
pictured in this Psalm.
The fifth verse leads to the awe-inspiring thought
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on of the Infinite power of the Almighty, and the
ps. LXV. thought of the Divine goodness is completed
with a picture of the beneficent ordering of the
world that God has given us to dwell in. Thus
PSALM LXVI.
Go tbe Cbief Musician, a Song ano psalm.
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing
forth the honour of His name: make His praise
glorious. 3 Say unto God, How awful are Thy
works! through the greatness of Thy power shall
Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.
4 All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing
unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah.
5 Come and see the works of God: He is awful in
His doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned
the sea into dry land: they went through the flood
on foot: there did we rejoice in Him. 7 He ruleth
by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations:
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice
of His praise to be heard: 9 Which holdeth our
soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For Thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast
tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us
into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water: but Thou
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the three parts of the Psalm express three great mote on
thoughts about God, His lovingkindness, His IP0, LXV-
power, and the culminating thought of the manifesta-
tion of both in the wonder and beauty of His works.
LXVI. ID
*fota w rraaa1?
a : 1 ** - ? ? - : -i
a: 1: >>T 1 vit t t ? i" '/? t
Ia1? 5 :hSd tjo^ lH? E t^J)! ^ ^ltJp^!
who rfchv tnfa D^rta niWsa am
Sana nay mas ntra^ 1 d* ^sn e :din
vat: >> : -i- tt-i tt-i: t |-<t Itt
o^iy 1 irroaaa StrS 7 :ta-niwa fife'
tiV jt It ~ ? ; I - taV ;? j. - t "1
? 3b>n 9 :inVnn Sip wfotrh wrbx I m&y tons 8
<<nana-*31o na1pn &W? fna-t&i D<<na <<trsa
/t: -: p t-: - j - l>>- t >>: a- -1 - ? ? :-i
nnrcjsa ttQKaq " :^Dr^T*3 ttnsn? Of^S
ttiwh1? enax naan n 12 :wanaa nam?
i? #? ? : v: t :- :- r* : t; j|tt 1 t : i-
tirva xiax 13 . rvnS H^wn D'aai ^xa-iaxa
|j; l" itt :it "? j-"" t t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
pe. LXVI. broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 13 I will go
into Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay Thee
my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered, and my
mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 15 I
will offer unto Thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with
the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats.
Selah.
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will
declare what He hath done for my soul. 17 I cried
unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with
my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me: 19 But verily God hath
heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my
prayer. 20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned
away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.
IRote on This is a prayer of thanksgiving for safety and
ps. LXVI. peace after suffering and peril. The Psalmist recalls
the great rescue of all Israel from slavery in Egypt
by the awe-inspiring power of God.
Not only were the bodies of our ancestors freed
from slavery, but also their souls were freed to soar
to God, their Saviour:--" Which holdeth our soul
in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved"
(verse 9).
Affliction teaches us to realize our own powerless-
ness, and impels us to turn for help to the Most High.
As silver is tried in the furnace and purified, so are we
tried and purified by affliction, which inspires us to
seek communion with God. In times of prosperity
we are too apt to forget what we owe at every
moment of life to His lovingkindness and mercy
towards us, and perhaps even to forget and to break
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-nan ws-ib>n 14 :n-o^> dWx niSiya ps. lxvi.
v ? : att: ^ t v -; itt: j|; i? ? --: a ':
iyoe> ia1? 1e :rbD DHiny_-Dy npa nh? x d^x
iw&b n^y ib'm D^nSx w^-Sa msDxi
p ? -; jt t v -: a* v: j** :? t t: --
-dk tlx 13 :*ate^ nnn Dbhi *ntnjr*s 17
d\-t? k van? pn 19 :tfw i ^a mi
-ih -p? dvtSk ina 20 . ^^s^ ^ba a^pn
pftw2j nDm ^nVsn to
the good resolutions made when we were in dire mote on
trouble. Not so our Psalmist, who says, "I will pay IP8. LXVI.
Thee my vows, which my lips have spoken when I
was in trouble. I will offer unto Thee burnt
sacrifices" (verses 13, 14, 15). Our offerings and our
sacrifices no longer take the form of the burning of
fatlings and the slaughter of bullocks. But the spirit
in which our shepherd forefathers brought the
choicest of their flocks and herds to dedicate to the
altar of God is the same spirit in which we must
strive now and always to worship Him, by making
the highest efforts in our power to be truthful and
just, loving and generous, in every wish and thought
and act of our lives.
Then we may dare to hope that God will not turn
away our prayer, nor His mercy from us.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM LXVII.
Co tbe Gbief Musician. H (C)salm ano Song.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause
His face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That Thy way
may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among
all nations.
9 :^yyhnn n^Sfs *^y ^jjj tWk
D^n'bx nnx-^n 10 :Di-wiy *aro *d TM *vy
j. v. jt - i -. iV. - *j-t t j-
jt tit I" :? : ? v: ** i: t a: -:
-rwi D^xa 12 ? din nsneta Aitrt nso
v -:r ? I" itt j-: :t: r- t. >>
l"t j t ;'at
cviii. np
^nba-fiN rnQrxi m*ete d^Sn *? b fD:
crcpyp jpjin 3 nq^ n*TM ^a3] rniyt 2
Dvfcx D^-Sy njjri 5 ? ^jnax D^ntrnyi ^jpn
ny^'in '? jhh; jttSrv jy&Se j^jjtq? nsO-^ ^21
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>8. CVIII. Thy right hand, and answer me. 7 God hath
spoken in His holiness. I will rejoice, I will divide
Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also
is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out
my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph. 10 Who
will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me
into Edom? 11 Wilt not Thou, O God, which hadst
cast us off? And wilt not Thou, O God, go forth with
our hosts? 12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is
the help of man. 13 Through God we shall do
valiantly: forHeit is that shalltread down our enemies.
mote on These two psalms are placed together because
^ andX the ^ast eight verses of the 60th Psalm and of the
IPs. CVIII. 108th Psalm are the same; but the opening verses
are strikingly different.
Both Psalms commemorate King David's victorious
campaigns against the Philistines, the Edomites and
the Moabites on the south, and against the Syrians
on the north--campaigns which enlarged and secured
the boundaries of his kingdom.
In the 60th Psalm David begins by recalling the
struggles and disasters of the Israelites whenever
they ignored the laws of God. In the third verse he
deplores that the Israelites, too easily self-satisfied,
had to suffer hard trials and to "drink the wine of
astonishment" in order that they might realize the
strenuous efforts necessary to attain to goodness.
Then follows the noble thought,--clad in the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ngjpDS nhvk ieHj5| 1 ttrfcg 7 ? *Jag_ ^* ps. cvm.
? jt lr|: i: t : a* jt ? -; v ;i
imagery of the banner that is the rallying point before mote on
the bow of the enemy,--that the lofty ideal of goodness f)s. LX.
is constantly present to the minds of those who ug'^yij
revere God, and that it gives them moral safety.
The prayer of verse 5 is inspired by the thought of
verse 4: "So that Thy beloved" (i. e. those who
revere Thee) "may be delivered, save with Thy
right hand, and answer me. " And then comes the
song of thanks and recognition of the help of God
in the hour of victory.
The opening verses of Psalm cviii. are a fervent
and joyful expression of thanks and praise to God,
and a proclamation to all peoples of His mercy and
His truth. The triumphant pasan of praise and
thanks to God for Divine help, and recognition of
the Almighty power of God and the impotence of
mankind, form the theme of both these Psalms.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM LXI.
Go tbe Cbief dftusictan. B (C)saint of David.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the
rock that is higher than I. 3 For Thou hast been
a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will
trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.
5 For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou
hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy
name. 6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his
years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before
God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which
may preserve him. 8 So will I sing praise unto Thy
name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
te on Psalm Ixi. shows David both as a hero and as
. LXI. a king. The first five verses are the key-note
of the dauntless spirit and steadfast courage of
heroes in all ages. Intense faith in God, and serene
trustfulness in His mercy, gave David " the heritage
of those that fear Thy name," the calm and splendid
courage that sustained him in all the vicissitudes
of his adventurous life.
From shepherd to warrior, from warrior to
outlaw, from outlaw to monarch, David tells us all
his thoughts and feelings, and through them all, his
firm faith in God shines out. When danger comes
very near him, when trouble overwhelms his heart,
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
LXI. ND
:irrh 1 rrkitb
I-t: :|-
,. . |. . j. t . . t . |. _ a. t . ? v;i T : ?
D^p<<g ^aS elbga fcopx 1 pgn
: tin *3bo nrSiaa ,L> nDna rv*ma 3 '^nan
,. . . . . . * . . . a. jV : - tj't
: rta ? n*s3a mon n6nx m&Siy n^nxa mwx 4
tiv |j. t: v i": v v:iv a- t I : t|t ;i t j t
*tn* nna maS D^nSx njwa 5
- . ? : t t at t; * t :j- t ? v;i jt - ?
Tjiaa vniag> sppin ^r^rW t*PJ6
IP naxi ion dtok ^asS emu ae* 7'
mi *tbvh nyS menx 1 p 8 nmxa^
Di; 1 Di*
or when the burden of responsibility of a ruler mote on
weighs heavily on him, he prays to God to strengthen 1P8- LXI.
his heart. "Lead me to the rock that is higher
than I," is his prayer; and a noble utterance it is,
expressing humble consciousness of the weakness of
man, and steadfast faith in the greatness and good-
ness of God.
The last three verses show David's sense of the
tremendous responsibility of kingship. He prays
that he may be led to rule with " mercy and truth. "
"Thus," he says, "I will sing praise to Thy name
for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. "
These words are characteristic of David's habit of
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
'te on using his common sense to help him to a righteous
. LXI. way of life. They show how fully he understood
the value of the practical form of worship that con-
PSALM LXIII.
S psalm of David wben be was in tbe wilderness of
Juoab-
O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee:
my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for
Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have
seen Thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy loving-
kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise
Thee. 4 Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will
lift up my hands in Thy name. 5 My soul shall be
satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth
shall praise Thee with joyful lips: 6 When I
remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee
in the night watches. 7 Because Thou hast been
my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I
rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy
right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those that seek
my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts
of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they
shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall
rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by Him
shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies
shall be stopped.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
sists of striving day by day and hour by hour, in little Jftote on
things as well as in great things, to fulfil all our
duties to the best of our powers.
LXIII. 3D
:rnw nsnaa ihvna i^h niato
|t: - :? : :? a* t: i ; ?
1 hnov nm hit 1 D^nSx ?
^pn 3: ^ nixnj? ^nnn: anpa
I : * : at-; |j; v|t~: l-i I: i: ~: *~ t:
'" : * : a* ;- ^j-: I v vn vj? ? <: it- it v
? -: -: at : - J *? i~: ? I* v -: t;
l -l--: I '. 't: i--: a- t jt:v tj-t |> ||t v : |v
nam 9 naan *i' smrot *gte3 npai8
t ? ? : |1v ? : /t :it ? v-:[- >> :- |jt: it
I V|t t /*: ~: t j* :- jl:~: t ;i
foam" :vrv d^W roo mrm*-^ wj* io
I v v -; i: ? j* ti*. it: vat - ? -
nio: *j ia ya^n-^a ^niv D^nVxa n? E>>
|v|t ? ? : i
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
? fclote on In this song of prayer David pours out his longing
? LXIII. for nearness to God. He felt that life would be
poor and incomplete unless all its work and effort
were dedicated to the glory of God, and that ever-
present thought inspired in him a noble and heroic
attitude at all times, and when he became a great
king, it prevented his becoming arrogant and vain.
"Lord, my heart is not haughty nor mine eye lofty,"
he cries in one of his prayer-poems.
His ardent love and whole-hearted devotion to
God brought the comforting and courage-giving
belief that whatever happens is for the best, and that
PSALM LXV.
Go tbe Cbief Musician, a psalm ano Song of B)avfo.
Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion: and
unto Thee shall the vow be performed. 2 O Thou
that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our trans-
gressions, Thou shalt purge them away. 4 Blessed
is the man whom Thou choosest, and causeth to
approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy
courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of
Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou
answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the
confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them
that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Which by His
strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the Infinite wisdom and mercy of God is ever over mote on
us all. David's own self seems to be brought very (C)8- LXIII.
near us in these Psalms. The poet-king, who lived
three thousand years ago in a far-off land, speaks to
us like a familiar friend. We seem to know the very
ring of his voice, as he comforts us and cheers us
in times of trouble and trial, by telling us of the
trials he himself has gone through. We see that his
difficulties were just the same as ours are, and
that if our souls "follow hard after" God, the same
perfect faith in God that sustained David through
his troubles will sustain us too.
LXV. no
lup trb nfcto nftth
naiy 3: ? prhs srw rhsr\ vm 2
-;i j"; * t t 't t t I Vt t *; -j"
j- . . K. . . - i. . . . . . jt _ ** t; *av :jt
trnp sjp*3 ai95 n? ? feM T$q fi^ni
n&aa vta uapn jrrca 1 rfkiii 5 :sta*n
inba Dnn paa 6 :D*j*n 91] ^"'. Wj? ^!
DO^- P^r jW IP'S#D7 :nrjQj3 ntxj
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
p8. LXV. with power: 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas,
the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the
people. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost
parts are afraid at Thy tokens:
Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and
evening to rejoice. 9 Thou visitest the earth, and
waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river
of God, which is full of water: Thou preparest them
corn, when Thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou
waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: Thou
settlest the furrows thereof: Thou makest it soft
with showers: Thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness;
and Thy paths drop fatness. 12 They drop upon
the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills
rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed
with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with
corn . ; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Mote on The first four verses of the 65th Psalm picture our
ps. LXV. dependence on the help of God, and the blessing of
being able to pour out the inmost feelings of our
heart in prayer to Him.
The comforting thought that earnest prayer
direct from the human heart is ever acceptable to
our Almighty Father is the very essence of our faith.
David repeats it in Psalm after Psalm, and in many
different ways, -- none more beautiful than the
noble words of this Psalm, "O Thou that hearest
prayer, to Thee shall all flesh come. " The third
and the fourth verses picture the strength that
comes to us from prayer and from trust in the
goodness of God.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
nan nj^rii pxn rnjpjD 9 :prin nn}ntnj3h u^fto
p *a mri pan D'ja nSo d^k na^n
Drrnia ijjn$ nru rv&S^ 10 :nbal?
It is very wonderful to think that when King mote on
David sang this Psalm, the Israelites alone of all t>s. LXV.
the people in the world realized the truth that God
is the Creator of the whole world. While the
Egyptian kings with all their elaborate civilization
worshipped bulls and a whole number of gods and
goddesses, and the Greeks attributed a separate
personified deity to every force of nature, the
Israelites raised their voices in prayer to the one
God, " the Trust of all the ends of the earth and
of them that are afar off on the seas,"--the Almighty
God, Whose universal dominion is so beautifully
pictured in this Psalm.
The fifth verse leads to the awe-inspiring thought
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on of the Infinite power of the Almighty, and the
ps. LXV. thought of the Divine goodness is completed
with a picture of the beneficent ordering of the
world that God has given us to dwell in. Thus
PSALM LXVI.
Go tbe Cbief Musician, a Song ano psalm.
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing
forth the honour of His name: make His praise
glorious. 3 Say unto God, How awful are Thy
works! through the greatness of Thy power shall
Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.
4 All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing
unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah.
5 Come and see the works of God: He is awful in
His doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned
the sea into dry land: they went through the flood
on foot: there did we rejoice in Him. 7 He ruleth
by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations:
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice
of His praise to be heard: 9 Which holdeth our
soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For Thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast
tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us
into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water: but Thou
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the three parts of the Psalm express three great mote on
thoughts about God, His lovingkindness, His IP0, LXV-
power, and the culminating thought of the manifesta-
tion of both in the wonder and beauty of His works.
LXVI. ID
*fota w rraaa1?
a : 1 ** - ? ? - : -i
a: 1: >>T 1 vit t t ? i" '/? t
Ia1? 5 :hSd tjo^ lH? E t^J)! ^ ^ltJp^!
who rfchv tnfa D^rta niWsa am
Sana nay mas ntra^ 1 d* ^sn e :din
vat: >> : -i- tt-i tt-i: t |-<t Itt
o^iy 1 irroaaa StrS 7 :ta-niwa fife'
tiV jt It ~ ? ; I - taV ;? j. - t "1
? 3b>n 9 :inVnn Sip wfotrh wrbx I m&y tons 8
<<nana-*31o na1pn &W? fna-t&i D<<na <<trsa
/t: -: p t-: - j - l>>- t >>: a- -1 - ? ? :-i
nnrcjsa ttQKaq " :^Dr^T*3 ttnsn? Of^S
ttiwh1? enax naan n 12 :wanaa nam?
i? #? ? : v: t :- :- r* : t; j|tt 1 t : i-
tirva xiax 13 . rvnS H^wn D'aai ^xa-iaxa
|j; l" itt :it "? j-"" t t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
pe. LXVI. broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 13 I will go
into Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay Thee
my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered, and my
mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 15 I
will offer unto Thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with
the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats.
Selah.
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will
declare what He hath done for my soul. 17 I cried
unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with
my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me: 19 But verily God hath
heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my
prayer. 20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned
away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.
IRote on This is a prayer of thanksgiving for safety and
ps. LXVI. peace after suffering and peril. The Psalmist recalls
the great rescue of all Israel from slavery in Egypt
by the awe-inspiring power of God.
Not only were the bodies of our ancestors freed
from slavery, but also their souls were freed to soar
to God, their Saviour:--" Which holdeth our soul
in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved"
(verse 9).
Affliction teaches us to realize our own powerless-
ness, and impels us to turn for help to the Most High.
As silver is tried in the furnace and purified, so are we
tried and purified by affliction, which inspires us to
seek communion with God. In times of prosperity
we are too apt to forget what we owe at every
moment of life to His lovingkindness and mercy
towards us, and perhaps even to forget and to break
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-nan ws-ib>n 14 :n-o^> dWx niSiya ps. lxvi.
v ? : att: ^ t v -; itt: j|; i? ? --: a ':
iyoe> ia1? 1e :rbD DHiny_-Dy npa nh? x d^x
iw&b n^y ib'm D^nSx w^-Sa msDxi
p ? -; jt t v -: a* v: j** :? t t: --
-dk tlx 13 :*ate^ nnn Dbhi *ntnjr*s 17
d\-t? k van? pn 19 :tfw i ^a mi
-ih -p? dvtSk ina 20 . ^^s^ ^ba a^pn
pftw2j nDm ^nVsn to
the good resolutions made when we were in dire mote on
trouble. Not so our Psalmist, who says, "I will pay IP8. LXVI.
Thee my vows, which my lips have spoken when I
was in trouble. I will offer unto Thee burnt
sacrifices" (verses 13, 14, 15). Our offerings and our
sacrifices no longer take the form of the burning of
fatlings and the slaughter of bullocks. But the spirit
in which our shepherd forefathers brought the
choicest of their flocks and herds to dedicate to the
altar of God is the same spirit in which we must
strive now and always to worship Him, by making
the highest efforts in our power to be truthful and
just, loving and generous, in every wish and thought
and act of our lives.
Then we may dare to hope that God will not turn
away our prayer, nor His mercy from us.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM LXVII.
Co tbe Gbief Musician. H (C)salm ano Song.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause
His face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That Thy way
may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among
all nations.
