XLIII dwelling far from
Jerusalem
and from the Temple.
Childrens - Psalm-Book
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? to know the true happiness which no human sorrow ^yyiv
can destroy. He saw that the real misery of life *'8, 1
is hating and trying to hurt each other; but that
if we "taste" with our feelings, and "see" with
our mind's eye, we shall understand the goodness
of the Lord, and always trust in Him whatever evil
may happen.
Then comes David's practical advice, which makes
us feel how earnestly he himself had thought and
sought to find the right way to live, till at last he
saw it clearly. "Keep thy tongue from evil," he
41
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRote on says--whether the evil be true or not. How often
. XXXIV. quarrels would be avoided if every one did this!
"Keep thy lips from speaking guile. " Take care
that what you say is not only true, but that it
cannot mean anything but the truth. But David
is not content merely to tell us what we should
not do. He does not only say "Depart from evil,"
he adds "and do good. " He knew that the best
way to depart from evil is to set about doing good.
To get rid of bad and wicked feelings, we must
turn all our thoughts to trying to do something
kind and good for some one else. "Seek peace and
pursue it. " It is not enough just to keep from
making others angry; if others are angry we must
try hard to soothe their anger.
Verse 16 says, "The face of the Lord is against
them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of
them from the earth. " The usual translation of
the next verse begins, "The righteous cry," but
the Hebrew means, "they cry. " namely those who
PSALM XXXIX.
Go tbe Cbief Ausictan. % psalm of Davfo.
(A Prayer in Time of Illness or Grief. )
I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with
my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a bridle,
while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with
silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my
sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot within
me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake
1 with my tongue, 4 Lqrd, make me to know
42
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
do evil,--" and the Lord heareth and saveth them mote on
out of all their troubles. " David knew well that P8- XXXIV.
none of us are perfect, that we all do wrong at
times; but his complete faith in the gracious mercy
of God made him know also that if we have done
evil and are truly sorry and pray to God, He will
hear us and " save us out of all our troubles. " For
the Lord is nigh to those who are truly sorry and
"broken-hearted" for having done wrong, and
will save those who really try hard to turn from
their evil ways and do better,--or as David puts it,
"such as be of a contrite spirit. "
So David ends his prayer with the comforting
thought that "none of them that trust in the Lord
shall be condemned. "
The argument of the last four verses appeals to
us all in our daily experiences of anxiety and dis-
appointment, and inspires us as it did David with
hope and courage, and with faith to " bless the Lord
at all times. "
xxxix.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. XXXIX. mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is;
that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou
hast>made my days as an hand-breadth ; and mine age
is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his
best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Surely
every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are
disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and
knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now,
Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me
not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I
opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it.
10 Remove Thy stroke away from me; I am
consumed by the blow of Thine hand. 11 When
Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,
Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a
moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. 12 Hear
my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold
not Thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with
Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go
hence, and be no more.
mote on In great sorrow, or in great suffering, when
IPs. XXXIX. Death has come very near to us or to those
we love best, this Psalm seems to bring a solemn
peace into our souls like the sound of very lovely
music.
The answering words to the prayer of verse 4
make each of us, young and old alike, feel as a little
44
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
I niriss nan 5: on ^in-no r&vk N^n-na *a* n>s. xxxix.
Snn-Sa-^N ^n;. ; n^rn nnn5
^nn-^x fcTx-^niv I dSs? -^n e :n^D-axa DnN
wip-na nnm 7 . dbdn-*a rrN'Si nsx* jvon;
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-Saa ae'in "nay pte na *a thnfoh* 'hvbi
: ovni. ^n Dpts;? ny^Nl. oaa y? n 13 .
child before God. "And now Lord, what wait I mote on
for? my hope is in Thee. " IP8- XXXIX.
All the difficulties of life seem smoothed away by
pure and absolute trust in our Almighty Father, and
by the overwhelming consciousness that--poor weak
creatures though we all are--yet His Infinite mercy
is ever with us.
45
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM XLII.
Zo tbe Cbiet Musician, jfor tbe Sons of Ikotab.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after Thee, O God. 2 My soul
thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I
come and appear before God? 3 My tears have
been my meat day and night, while they continually
say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I
remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them
to the house of God, with the voice of joy and
praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou
disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall
yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember Thee from the land of
Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy water-
spouts; all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone
over me. 8 Yet the Lord will command His
lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His
song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God
of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why
hast Thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because
of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with
a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
XLII. in
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it ; t; at : t ? j:|** - :IS ^w;
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
fl>s. XLII. art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God.
PSALM XLIII.
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an
ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and
unjust man. 2 For Thou art the God of my
strength; why dost Thou cast me off? why go I
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them
lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and
to Thy dwelling-place. 4 Then will I go unto the
altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon
the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God. 5 Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou
disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall
yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance,
and my God.
mote on The 42nd and 43rd Psalms form one poem, pro-
IPs. XLII. bably composed during the captivity, by an Israelite
IPs.
XLIII dwelling far from Jerusalem and from the Temple.
The first part describes the poet's yearning to feel
that the spirit of God is with him, even in those
strange surroundings. How long, he cries, ere I
come to appear before God? He weeps day and
night, and the strange people around him ask him,
"Where is thy God? " He cannot find words to tell
48
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
aV ? ? | "I ? j>> t V VI V ~
It I" "t '/ t
xliii. ao
a* t I '? <t *: ? v: ;t
? Tit j? ? v: jt -- P *i": ~: jt :-; it :?
i)rb$ mjy? nib? spty) njw Sr^t
: *as ftyW* <<n)k -tiy;^ d^nS
them; his heart is full to overflowing as he recalls
the time when he was wont to go with a multitude
of his brethren and fellow-worshippers to the
Temple, all singing to God, with the voice of joy and
praise. Then comes the beautiful refrain or chorus
verse * repeated at the end of each of the three parts
of the psalm --an invocation to the soul to take
* Verses 5 and 11 of Ps. xlii. , and verse 5 of Ps xliii.
IHote 01l
ps. XLII.
and
ps. XLIII.
49
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on courage and to hope in God, Who will surely comfort
Ps. XLI1. all them that trust in Him.
p8. XLIII. The second part takes up the keynote of the
refrain and enlarges on its dominant thought. It
proclaims the poet's unalterable trust in God,
whether in strange and distant lands or amid the
roar and whirl of tempestuous waters. When evil
comes on him he humbly turns to God, the Rock of
his trust, to inquire of Him why He lets him suffer.
And when he is tormented by the enemy, who
as though thrusting a sword into his body, taunts
him scoffingly with the oft-repeated question,
"Where is thy God? " then again the heartening
words of the refrain cheer him and lend him courage.
PSALM XLVI.
Co tbe Cbief ASusicfan. S Song for tbe Sons ot ftorab.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the
waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the
mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make
glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles
of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and
that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the king-
doms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou 1Rote on
in God, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health (R)3'^^'
of my countenance and my God" (that is, who is pS. XLHI.
the source of all my strength, both of body and
spirit). So ends part II.
Once again the poet raises his prayer to God;
once more he inquires of God why must evil and
suffering come upon him. And then, with increased
faith, he utters the beautiful prayer,--" O send out
Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me; let
them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thine
altars; " and the Psalm ends with the grand refrain,
the full comfort and meaning of which has now
reached the soul of the singer.
XLVI. TO
iwjpi aSa Dnn tribal Tpna vtffd? fifa2
T|v jt-;i-: i*t at ? ? j; :v *v;iv
j**::? I: a* v; ? :~: tt ;i t t
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jjj rrtj^pD fiflA <<jig e :npa ni^S
v; t >>~; ? at * a t; jt; I VIt >> t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. XLVI. melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God
of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the
works of the Lord, what wonders He hath made
in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the
end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth
the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the
fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in
the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the
God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
IRote on When everything around us is going on just as
)S. XLVI. ugual, we are apt not to think very often about
God. But suddenly something startling happens!
Perhaps some great, unlooked-for joy or perhaps
illness or danger or death comes very near to us.
Then we think of God, and our hearts gather courage
and comfort as we say the first words of this Psalm,
"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present
help in trouble. "
This first verse expresses the main thought of the
whole Psalm. The rest of the Psalm is divided into
three parts, in each of which that same thought,
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble," is brought to our minds by poetic
imagery that helps us to realize the full meaning
more and more vividly.
There is a refrain or chorus verse which, although
it is only repeated after the second and third parts,
is suggested to one's mind at the end of the first
part too, and may very likely have only been acci-
dentally left out when the Psalm was written down.
(See Psalm xcviii. )
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
i'* v; t jt; * at** ->>t; jt; | vitt
In the first part (verses 2 and 3) the Psalmist mote 011
pictures floods and earthquakes, and says he will not P*- XLVI
fear these, for the very floods reflect the God-made
laws of nature, by which, if we reverently study
them, the wonders of God's works are revealed to us.
(Remember this when you learn sciences such as
geology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, &c, which
record the laws of nature that men have learned by
observation and experiment. )
In the next part (verses 4 to 6) the Psalmist
presents by a different image that same thought--
God is our ever present help in trouble. The
streams of the flood, far from terrifying, rejoice the
City of God, the holy abiding place of the Most
High. In beautiful imagery he thus suggests the
thought that the abiding place of the Most High is
in the hearts of those who put their faith in God
and that all these know that God will succour them
at His appointed time, and in the manner His
Infinite wisdom decrees, no matter what may be
their danger.
Then comes the chorus verse (7), and then the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on third part (verses 8 to 10), the crown and climax of
lps. XLVI. the whole, in which all thought of danger is gradually
lost in the Psalmist's faith in the lovingkindness
of God, the great Peace Maker. He seems to be
hearing and uttering the very message of God in
verse 10.
Then comes the final repetition of the chorus
PSALM XLVII. *
Co tbe Cbtef Musician, a psalm tot tbe Sons
of Iftorab.
O CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God
with the voice of triumph. 2 For the Lord most
high is terrible; He is a great King over all the
earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and
the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our
inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom
He loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing
praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our
King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all
the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon
the throne of His holiness. 9 The princes of the
people are gathered together, even the people of the
God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong
unto God: He is greatly exalted.
* This Psalm is sung before the sounding of the trumpet on
New Year's Day.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
verse with yet intenser meaning;:--"The Lord of mote on
Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. " XLVi-
As we read it, the words of Isaiah seem to ring in our
ears, and echo the Psalmist's faith; "Peace to him
that is far off and to him that is near," said the
Lord, "and I will heal him. "
XLVII. V2
:ra*! Sip? D^fo$ ysFNffl twpSjji^
:pxrr^rSy Vini xnia frby ninpa 2
nnx nx un^m-nx uSpo? ! 4
it-:i-
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on This song of thanks for victory in battle calls
ps. XLVIl on the people of Israel to sing praises "with under-
standing " of the great truth that God is the King
of all the earth; it breathes the same spirit as
Ps. cxv. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
but unto Thy name give glory, for the sake of Thy
mercy and Thy truth. "
In order fully to understand this Psalm, you must
just think for a moment of the time when it was
written. Most of the peoples in the world were
idolaters. They either worshipped the sun and
moon and other wonders of creation, or they
imagined a world of gods ruling this world of ours,
and occasionally visiting it in the form of man,
woman, or beast.
PSALM XLIX.
Co tbc Gblet d&ueician. a psalm for tbe Sons ot Iftorab.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabit-
ants of the world: 2 Both low and high, rich and
poor, together. 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom;
and the meditation of my heart shall be of under-
standing. 4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I
will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5 Where-
fore should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity
at my heels shall compass me about? 6 They
that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in
the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them
can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to
God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
But to the Israelites the great truth of the One mote on
Almighty God was made known. The Psalmist IP9, XLVII.
realized the force of this great truth, of which
the Israelites were at once the heralds and the
guardians, and, in a prophetic spirit, he proclaims
their mission--" He shall choose our inheritance for
us. " The Jews bore, and still bear to the world
that great heritage, the message that God is the
One Creator of all the world, the Author of all the
Laws of Nature by which the whole world is
governed--earth, sea, and heavens, living creatures,
and growing plants,--and that every human being,
however lowly and simple, needs no mediator to
carry the prayer from his heart to God,--the
Creator and Father of all.
XLIX. EE
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: pnx *tofcn run yen nnian 21
it : v I j*- i" : i: at t ^jt t:
D'pinn-^ ^ vnay etea nin* rrrifi 22
y>> J*" t i I V * * at t , V j" t ;v jV
? to know the true happiness which no human sorrow ^yyiv
can destroy. He saw that the real misery of life *'8, 1
is hating and trying to hurt each other; but that
if we "taste" with our feelings, and "see" with
our mind's eye, we shall understand the goodness
of the Lord, and always trust in Him whatever evil
may happen.
Then comes David's practical advice, which makes
us feel how earnestly he himself had thought and
sought to find the right way to live, till at last he
saw it clearly. "Keep thy tongue from evil," he
41
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRote on says--whether the evil be true or not. How often
. XXXIV. quarrels would be avoided if every one did this!
"Keep thy lips from speaking guile. " Take care
that what you say is not only true, but that it
cannot mean anything but the truth. But David
is not content merely to tell us what we should
not do. He does not only say "Depart from evil,"
he adds "and do good. " He knew that the best
way to depart from evil is to set about doing good.
To get rid of bad and wicked feelings, we must
turn all our thoughts to trying to do something
kind and good for some one else. "Seek peace and
pursue it. " It is not enough just to keep from
making others angry; if others are angry we must
try hard to soothe their anger.
Verse 16 says, "The face of the Lord is against
them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of
them from the earth. " The usual translation of
the next verse begins, "The righteous cry," but
the Hebrew means, "they cry. " namely those who
PSALM XXXIX.
Go tbe Cbief Ausictan. % psalm of Davfo.
(A Prayer in Time of Illness or Grief. )
I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with
my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a bridle,
while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with
silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my
sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot within
me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake
1 with my tongue, 4 Lqrd, make me to know
42
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
do evil,--" and the Lord heareth and saveth them mote on
out of all their troubles. " David knew well that P8- XXXIV.
none of us are perfect, that we all do wrong at
times; but his complete faith in the gracious mercy
of God made him know also that if we have done
evil and are truly sorry and pray to God, He will
hear us and " save us out of all our troubles. " For
the Lord is nigh to those who are truly sorry and
"broken-hearted" for having done wrong, and
will save those who really try hard to turn from
their evil ways and do better,--or as David puts it,
"such as be of a contrite spirit. "
So David ends his prayer with the comforting
thought that "none of them that trust in the Lord
shall be condemned. "
The argument of the last four verses appeals to
us all in our daily experiences of anxiety and dis-
appointment, and inspires us as it did David with
hope and courage, and with faith to " bless the Lord
at all times. "
xxxix.
43
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. XXXIX. mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is;
that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou
hast>made my days as an hand-breadth ; and mine age
is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his
best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Surely
every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are
disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and
knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now,
Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me
not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I
opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it.
10 Remove Thy stroke away from me; I am
consumed by the blow of Thine hand. 11 When
Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,
Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a
moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. 12 Hear
my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold
not Thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with
Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go
hence, and be no more.
mote on In great sorrow, or in great suffering, when
IPs. XXXIX. Death has come very near to us or to those
we love best, this Psalm seems to bring a solemn
peace into our souls like the sound of very lovely
music.
The answering words to the prayer of verse 4
make each of us, young and old alike, feel as a little
44
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
I niriss nan 5: on ^in-no r&vk N^n-na *a* n>s. xxxix.
Snn-Sa-^N ^n;. ; n^rn nnn5
^nn-^x fcTx-^niv I dSs? -^n e :n^D-axa DnN
wip-na nnm 7 . dbdn-*a rrN'Si nsx* jvon;
? j<<J ? - it - ;i it : i ? ' * 1; :? I a t v:i v
oWn ws-Safc 8 . ^n *b *nSnin onN
? a? ? ? - t: t ? c j|: ? :- 1 at
-nnsN tb *nebn3 9 i oawrta ^55 nsnn
-- ;v j ? ;- v;l'. l ~ t t /~ :v
n-tfna tom "on 10 :npv nm *a *s
: n^D din-S3 ^n hian efo3 Dfcni
tl V jtt t V W ]<~ a"; jtt V jV ~
-Sn rmxn 1 T\yi#i nin* 1 ^rtan nyotr 12
t ? -;i - * t :-: t: * t ? : 't : 1 ?
-Saa ae'in "nay pte na *a thnfoh* 'hvbi
: ovni. ^n Dpts;? ny^Nl. oaa y? n 13 .
child before God. "And now Lord, what wait I mote on
for? my hope is in Thee. " IP8- XXXIX.
All the difficulties of life seem smoothed away by
pure and absolute trust in our Almighty Father, and
by the overwhelming consciousness that--poor weak
creatures though we all are--yet His Infinite mercy
is ever with us.
45
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM XLII.
Zo tbe Cbiet Musician, jfor tbe Sons of Ikotab.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after Thee, O God. 2 My soul
thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I
come and appear before God? 3 My tears have
been my meat day and night, while they continually
say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I
remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them
to the house of God, with the voice of joy and
praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou
disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall
yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember Thee from the land of
Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy water-
spouts; all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone
over me. 8 Yet the Lord will command His
lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His
song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God
of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why
hast Thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because
of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with
a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why
46
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
XLII. in
typ T? 3 ja. D^-^s^-Sy :nyn S^x?
a t /- t *t v: ? i" ? :- t :i t I ? v:
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-na 5 ? ;mn pan n^ini nar^'pa n*3
nisrS D^nSx1? ^nin ^y *pnm Vaa 1 ^nrwn
? |"i ? j>> t v*v;tv ? r ? ": i:i*
non j ptfir rw ' 1 dov 8 ? ipaa hv
: - t: v-: <t [tt /- t
1 maw 9 :*'n SnS n*? sn *>>y pMai
<t; I lt~ j": t ? ; a' * j ? t ;-- -- 1
rrta "3% mp-naS ynnar nth V? btb'
*rmr win 'niaxya 1 mra 10 :yix
it ; t; at : t ? j:|** - :IS ^w;
47
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
fl>s. XLII. art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God.
PSALM XLIII.
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an
ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and
unjust man. 2 For Thou art the God of my
strength; why dost Thou cast me off? why go I
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them
lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and
to Thy dwelling-place. 4 Then will I go unto the
altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon
the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God. 5 Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou
disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall
yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance,
and my God.
mote on The 42nd and 43rd Psalms form one poem, pro-
IPs. XLII. bably composed during the captivity, by an Israelite
IPs.
XLIII dwelling far from Jerusalem and from the Temple.
The first part describes the poet's yearning to feel
that the spirit of God is with him, even in those
strange surroundings. How long, he cries, ere I
come to appear before God? He weeps day and
night, and the strange people around him ask him,
"Where is thy God? " He cannot find words to tell
48
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
aV ? ? | "I ? j>> t V VI V ~
It I" "t '/ t
xliii. ao
a* t I '? <t *: ? v: ;t
? Tit j? ? v: jt -- P *i": ~: jt :-; it :?
i)rb$ mjy? nib? spty) njw Sr^t
: *as ftyW* <<n)k -tiy;^ d^nS
them; his heart is full to overflowing as he recalls
the time when he was wont to go with a multitude
of his brethren and fellow-worshippers to the
Temple, all singing to God, with the voice of joy and
praise. Then comes the beautiful refrain or chorus
verse * repeated at the end of each of the three parts
of the psalm --an invocation to the soul to take
* Verses 5 and 11 of Ps. xlii. , and verse 5 of Ps xliii.
IHote 01l
ps. XLII.
and
ps. XLIII.
49
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on courage and to hope in God, Who will surely comfort
Ps. XLI1. all them that trust in Him.
p8. XLIII. The second part takes up the keynote of the
refrain and enlarges on its dominant thought. It
proclaims the poet's unalterable trust in God,
whether in strange and distant lands or amid the
roar and whirl of tempestuous waters. When evil
comes on him he humbly turns to God, the Rock of
his trust, to inquire of Him why He lets him suffer.
And when he is tormented by the enemy, who
as though thrusting a sword into his body, taunts
him scoffingly with the oft-repeated question,
"Where is thy God? " then again the heartening
words of the refrain cheer him and lend him courage.
PSALM XLVI.
Co tbe Cbief ASusicfan. S Song for tbe Sons ot ftorab.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the
waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the
mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make
glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles
of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and
that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the king-
doms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou 1Rote on
in God, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health (R)3'^^'
of my countenance and my God" (that is, who is pS. XLHI.
the source of all my strength, both of body and
spirit). So ends part II.
Once again the poet raises his prayer to God;
once more he inquires of God why must evil and
suffering come upon him. And then, with increased
faith, he utters the beautiful prayer,--" O send out
Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me; let
them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thine
altars; " and the Psalm ends with the grand refrain,
the full comfort and meaning of which has now
reached the soul of the singer.
XLVI. TO
iwjpi aSa Dnn tribal Tpna vtffd? fifa2
T|v jt-;i-: i*t at ? ? j; :v *v;iv
j**::? I: a* v; ? :~: tt ;i t t
v; tjv:;- a, ? - t :| ? ;i j* v: I 1: v
jjj rrtj^pD fiflA <<jig e :npa ni^S
v; t >>~; ? at * a t; jt; I VIt >> t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. XLVI. melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God
of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the
works of the Lord, what wonders He hath made
in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the
end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth
the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the
fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in
the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the
God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
IRote on When everything around us is going on just as
)S. XLVI. ugual, we are apt not to think very often about
God. But suddenly something startling happens!
Perhaps some great, unlooked-for joy or perhaps
illness or danger or death comes very near to us.
Then we think of God, and our hearts gather courage
and comfort as we say the first words of this Psalm,
"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present
help in trouble. "
This first verse expresses the main thought of the
whole Psalm. The rest of the Psalm is divided into
three parts, in each of which that same thought,
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble," is brought to our minds by poetic
imagery that helps us to realize the full meaning
more and more vividly.
There is a refrain or chorus verse which, although
it is only repeated after the second and third parts,
is suggested to one's mind at the end of the first
part too, and may very likely have only been acci-
dentally left out when the Psalm was written down.
(See Psalm xcviii. )
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
i'* v; t jt; * at** ->>t; jt; | vitt
In the first part (verses 2 and 3) the Psalmist mote 011
pictures floods and earthquakes, and says he will not P*- XLVI
fear these, for the very floods reflect the God-made
laws of nature, by which, if we reverently study
them, the wonders of God's works are revealed to us.
(Remember this when you learn sciences such as
geology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, &c, which
record the laws of nature that men have learned by
observation and experiment. )
In the next part (verses 4 to 6) the Psalmist
presents by a different image that same thought--
God is our ever present help in trouble. The
streams of the flood, far from terrifying, rejoice the
City of God, the holy abiding place of the Most
High. In beautiful imagery he thus suggests the
thought that the abiding place of the Most High is
in the hearts of those who put their faith in God
and that all these know that God will succour them
at His appointed time, and in the manner His
Infinite wisdom decrees, no matter what may be
their danger.
Then comes the chorus verse (7), and then the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on third part (verses 8 to 10), the crown and climax of
lps. XLVI. the whole, in which all thought of danger is gradually
lost in the Psalmist's faith in the lovingkindness
of God, the great Peace Maker. He seems to be
hearing and uttering the very message of God in
verse 10.
Then comes the final repetition of the chorus
PSALM XLVII. *
Co tbe Cbtef Musician, a psalm tot tbe Sons
of Iftorab.
O CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God
with the voice of triumph. 2 For the Lord most
high is terrible; He is a great King over all the
earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and
the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our
inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom
He loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing
praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our
King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all
the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon
the throne of His holiness. 9 The princes of the
people are gathered together, even the people of the
God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong
unto God: He is greatly exalted.
* This Psalm is sung before the sounding of the trumpet on
New Year's Day.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
verse with yet intenser meaning;:--"The Lord of mote on
Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. " XLVi-
As we read it, the words of Isaiah seem to ring in our
ears, and echo the Psalmist's faith; "Peace to him
that is far off and to him that is near," said the
Lord, "and I will heal him. "
XLVII. V2
:ra*! Sip? D^fo$ ysFNffl twpSjji^
:pxrr^rSy Vini xnia frby ninpa 2
nnx nx un^m-nx uSpo? ! 4
it-:i-
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on This song of thanks for victory in battle calls
ps. XLVIl on the people of Israel to sing praises "with under-
standing " of the great truth that God is the King
of all the earth; it breathes the same spirit as
Ps. cxv. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
but unto Thy name give glory, for the sake of Thy
mercy and Thy truth. "
In order fully to understand this Psalm, you must
just think for a moment of the time when it was
written. Most of the peoples in the world were
idolaters. They either worshipped the sun and
moon and other wonders of creation, or they
imagined a world of gods ruling this world of ours,
and occasionally visiting it in the form of man,
woman, or beast.
PSALM XLIX.
Co tbc Gblet d&ueician. a psalm for tbe Sons ot Iftorab.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabit-
ants of the world: 2 Both low and high, rich and
poor, together. 3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom;
and the meditation of my heart shall be of under-
standing. 4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I
will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5 Where-
fore should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity
at my heels shall compass me about? 6 They
that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in
the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them
can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to
God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of
56
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
But to the Israelites the great truth of the One mote on
Almighty God was made known. The Psalmist IP9, XLVII.
realized the force of this great truth, of which
the Israelites were at once the heralds and the
guardians, and, in a prophetic spirit, he proclaims
their mission--" He shall choose our inheritance for
us. " The Jews bore, and still bear to the world
that great heritage, the message that God is the
One Creator of all the world, the Author of all the
Laws of Nature by which the whole world is
governed--earth, sea, and heavens, living creatures,
and growing plants,--and that every human being,
however lowly and simple, needs no mediator to
carry the prayer from his heart to God,--the
Creator and Father of all.
XLIX. EE
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