No More Learning

more on The 103rd and 104th Psalms form one great
Ps. Clll. song of praise. The beginning of each is the same,
"Bless the Lord, O my soul. "
In the 103rd Psalm the poet follows out the
thought which these opening words bring into our
minds about every individual human being. They
make us think of God's tender care of us at every
moment of our lives, and His great lovingkindness
towards us all; how He pities us when we do wrong,
and mercifully forgives us when we are sorry. We
turn naturally to God for help when we are in
distress--but when all is well with us we are too apt
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-*2 14 :wrvhv nirv Dm Doa-'ry an Dnia 1s p<<. cm.
enjx 15 :>>n>> nsy-*a -tot <<ir yr ton
nn '3 16 p nntrn r*a vo* T*na
- j I i t I-" Vt ~ | ; att -? tiV
nDm 17 :tetad liy isto*-^ tiaw iamav
:Dni^y1? vip's nafo inna nofc6 << :D^a
SHdxk iNDa pan D*a? ra riin* 19
tit t ^ - :- 1 :? l ? ? t-- t:
inan w na na: vasfra 1 riim lana 20
at t; t t: j-;it it: |j: - :?
v^yo-Sa i nih* iana 22 :iai^n w vmtro
:nirv-nn wtoi *ana inStroa niabo-Saa
it: v * :- :it / |: t:
to take it as a matter of course, to " forget all His flote on
benefits," and to be self-satisfied through the Pfi* CIH,
omission of the daily task of self-criticism and the
daily duty of humbly communing with God, in order
to perceive our own shortcomings by the light of His
perfect goodness, the thought of which should be
ever stimulating us to try to do better. God in His
mercy made known His wonderful works and the
eternal laws of Right and Wrong, through Moses,
to the Jews for them to tell and teach to the whole
world. And the Psalmist reminds us not only to tell,
but to do them ourselves in our daily life, and thus
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
on to try to merit the mercy of God, which is ever-
'l1* lasting, "to such as keep His covenant, and to those
who remember His commandments to do them. "
Note for Older Children. --The 17th and 18th verses
are a complete sermon in themselves, and inspired a
famous saying of a later preacher: "God is found by
everyone who seeks Him, if the seeker goes stead-
fastly towards Him, nor ever turns astray. "*
History, which tells both of the doers and of the
violaters of God's commandments, teaches us great
* Maimonides.
PSALM CIV.
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 founda-
tions 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
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
moral lessons by the light of the eternal laws of mote on
Right and Wrong, and helps to build up the CM-
principles and characters of successive generations
of men and women. As we read verses 14 to 17 we
realize that, as each generation passes away, the
place thereof shall know it in future ages only by what
of good and helpful work it may have left us as a
heritage, and an example to posterity. This thought
is perhaps the greatest of all incentives to us all, to
strive to remember God's commandments to do them.
CIV. Tp
-tkd rhu *rhx nirv nirrnx to *tbl
>s: t : j-t - v;t jt: /t: v ? :~ /*~:it
nato nafe nix ntiy 2 :n#aS mm -tin
/v at: - ^ V ft t ; | tt jtt: I
jt- /t ? ~: ? vjt :i~ |t ? : - ? - t
miaa-W px-ro 5 :t3riS efc vmtfa ninn
av : - I vvi -|t I" j? ? t-:it: a
-bv in*Da t^ia'pa Dinn 6 nyi oSiy aian-Sa
- a ? ? J ' - ; i IVt /t' ? -
1 nr Dip&-Sx ntypa m onn 8 'msrv
na^-Sa rnajr-Sa natr-^aa 9 :dhS mb*
I ? : ~ i a - t : -1 i: I v t t :--r
pa ohms Dwa nWcn 10 :pxn niDaS
I /? ? ft* t; - ? t; -1 I vitt . * ~:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
. CIV. sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run
among the hills, n 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. 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
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
d*n1s nap>> irvn-Sa n :nafov Dnn >>s. civ.
t: :: ? att j ;- t | :-t I i ? ? ~: *t
d^ns'y paa na^ own-spy DrvSy 12
I v-:i- ? : ? at -tv |jv: - (i:
a^yj nana! ? 1 Txn rpa? a 14 :pxo
1 p 15 :pKn-tt? dpi1? wfirb cnxn mayS
-aiS dpi^i pBfe ws S'pKrk ewaaS natr
-(: v v: I vat ? ->-t :~: v: -c:
pan1? *rjg np? tyat^ w :-;yp: tfijx
o^ha nTDn wap* mot otf-nete 17 . y^
/<<: t ? a*? (-: j*t: ? ti v ~: itt
hdpid D'ySb D^y'S D^na-in Dnn i8 :niva
iv; ~ ? t: a* **:~ ? ;--1 j* t it
: ixiaa vt tfa# DnyioS m* new 19 :D*fis^S
i :*-*t v v ? -: 1: - **ti jt t *" : ~
nynrvn-^a bbnriia rbh *m "ntfn-neto 20
It ;- t ;? i t ;at ? j* I v t v it
:oSaK Vnd eteJa cintsS d*jk? on^san 21
it : t j" ? ? It"-: I vat- j--: i ? ? : ->
-na 24 :any-ny imaySi iWsS din nx* 23
it v|t j ti-:i~: at:|t: tt j--?
n^Sa nw naana D^a rnn* 1 Ttbya 1 iin
; it t a* t jt : t: t t: | v :i_ -
-w D*T ami 9i-ta D'n 1 nr 25 ? pxn
it ? -tt a-: t jt- %v I|vt:|- I vtt
de> 26 :niSn-roy niaap ni'n nsoa ron jran
ti i: ~|: /- at: ? M? ? : w>
D^a 27 na-pnfrS jvup 1 nt na^rp ntox
t-ti I I v l- j t -. i--r |v Itt:- I a ? ? -: j-t:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>s. CIV. upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat
in due season. 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 looked 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.
Hote on In the 103rd Psalm, as we have seen, the
VS. CIV. wordS, <<Biess the LordS O my soul," lead the
Psalmist to the thought of the relation of the
Creator to mankind.
In the 104th Psalm the same words inspire the
Psalmist with the thought of the Creator in relation
to the whole world and its wonders.
The author of this Psalm must have travelled and
seen many countries. He must have crossed the sea
and seen whales, and the dolphins rolling about, and
turning over and over in the water, looking just as
if they were having a romp. He must have seen
burning mountains with smoke pouring out from
their summits, like Vesuvius and Etna, and he must
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Tp^s TriDr, 29 * nitp pyapj ^4 nnsn ppffy
:jot; d^--^x) Dmn t)pn
intsnx ns fcnnrvi nana* sinn n^n 3o
it t-: j": --: I a "it ? l-: i j--:
:vewM nirv DSiyS nin* ntaa w 31
it -;i-: jt: i-; ? at *: jt: j; <? :
:tttfjn Dnna w isnni rW? t^a&n 32
itV;iV; * t iV I-' at ; ? - Vttt
:niya *riW? maw* Mna nirv1? rm^ 33
I*': j- i" it: --: at-: jt i- tj- t
w 35 :nirra nopx *rvfe> yhs 34
? it i- :v t a* ? jt t iV
have watched the course of rivers, from their begin- tflote on
nings amongst the hills, flowing down the valleys, P8, "IV*
"making grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for
the service of man," and making other good and
beautiful things to grow besides.
He observed how the trees are a natural home
for the birds, and the hillsides for goats and deer,
and how the wild animals all come out at night and
wander about seeking their food from God,--and
finding it. And then, when the sun rises, how they
creep back to the forests and the caves, and man
comes out to work in the sunlight. And when the
sun goes down man goes home to rest.
As these pictures of the harmony of the ordering
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
on of nature throughout the world, and in the life of
man and of all living creatures flash on his " inward
eye,"* the Psalmist feels overwhelmed with the sense
of the wonderful work of the Creator, of His Infinite
power, His Infinite wisdom, and the perfection of His
lovingkindness to all that He has created.
Thank-
fulness to God takes possession of his soul, and he
pours out a song of praise and thanks.
Note for Older Children. --This beautiful Psalm
has been described by a great literary critic as, of all
poems, the one that "most truly fulfils the conditions
of real poetry, high thoughts in magnificent periods. "
Its vivid word-pictures bring forcibly before us both
the harmony and the economic marvels of creation--
the perfection of the great laws of nature by which
all creatures are fed and multiply, and all flowers and
fruit, and seed thrive and increase by the combina-
tion of the forces of nature and the toil of man.
In these days of rapid transmission of facts and
* '' They flash upon that inward eye,
That is the bliss of solitude. " (Wordsworth. )
PSALM CV.
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His
name: 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 evermore. 5 Remember His marvellous
works that He hath done; His wonders, and the
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
things by means of ocean cable and of a world-wide mote on
network of steamships and railways, it needs an IPs- CI^.
effort of imagination to realize the possibility of a
land in famine. We are apt to forget that we (like
our ancestor Jacob) owe " bread to eat and raiment
to wear " to the Divine ordering of Nature by which
bread is brought forth out of the earth, and grass is
made to grow on the mountains. The custom of
saying a word of thanks at meals, however brief, to
Him Who also "giveth to the beast his food, and to
the young ravens which cry," is a fitting offering to
God, and a timely reminder to ourselves that the
dominion of man over the beasts of the field, the
fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea is a gift and a
trust from the Almighty.
Let us always remember that we, who have been
given dominion over all dumb creatures, have also
been given the responsibility of using our power
justly and kindly. We shall not be held guiltless
if, by thoughtlessness or cruelty, we wantonly inflict
pain on birds or beasts or fishes or insects; or if
we practise or sanction prodigal waste of animal life.
at t : - r --,u l* ** : :' t : i at t iv -;
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
tie. CV. 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; 10 And confirmed the same unto
Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the
land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 When they 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: his soul entered into the iron: 19 Until the
time that His word came: the command 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 wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob so-
journed in the land of Ham. 24 And He increased
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
wrbx nirv xin i :wna oa nayps. cv
-m inna D^tyS -dt 8 :vbstr^ pxn-Saa
jt t a ? ; jt '; i-t i t t: ? I V t t t;
insWi Dmax-nx ma new 9 :nn tiSxS mi
j r 1: at t : - v -tT jv ~: 1 |vjv: t"
nna bvritfi> rrb ? nb nrayn10 :pntrS
j-: ? ? t: ? : | a: |j-;r: tjv ? *:[-- I it: ? :
bin fypa px/nx jf]$ ^ ifix1? " :pSiy
:na Dnjn tDy&a nana *no Dnvna 12 jDanSm
it j-t: -: ? at : ? j? ? ; t :ii (v : --:r
,. . - v t t . - . a v j . . _ .
:D*a4j DrvSy row Dpe>'yS dix mmh 14
>>* t; jv ** ~: - I -- I t: t: jtt - j* * 1
10 :typhis W^-1? t* 15
n1? ^ 17 natr DnS-ntso-^ pxn-Sy ayn
j- t It t V /V "~ t I V at t _ t t
Saaa TM jnbr 1303 nas^ drtjsS
j ? li" :? v v: a- jv ** : ?
m&N navxa ny-ny 19 :itr'33 nxa Sha vSn
-1: * at; t T. - l :~ tjt v:~ a ; -
wsy Se>a ^mwi "nSo-nS^ 20 nnns-ra rnrv
* _ a" ? -- Iv vi _jt ;i t t; jt:
nyjp-Saa h&tx irva1? fnx 21 nnnnsn
it:|<< t: ? * a **: I jt j t I" : ~:-
xa*i 23 . D3n^ vipri itraja intr nd<<1? 22
j t- i" -: t|": :-: t t j :v
-nx nsn 24 :Dn-pxa apyn omtb bunt*
vjv- it I viv: jt I -at; ? j? ? r; ?
tkxh DaS nsn 25 :vnsa ! irupw>>i imo iay
j; ? t *l I j-t lt t * a . j <<?
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
, CV. His people greatly; and made them stronger
than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to
hate His people, to deal subtilly with His servants.
26 He sent Moses His servant: and Aaron whom
He had chosen. 27 They showed His signs among
them, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He
sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled
not against his word. 29 He turned their waters
into blood, and slew their fish. 30 Their land
brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers
of their kings. 31 He spake, and there came divers
sorts of flies, and lice in all their borders. 32 He
gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their
land. 33 He smote their vines also and their fig
trees; and brake the trees of their borders. 34 He
spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and
that without number, 35 And did eat up all the
herbs in their land, and devour the fruit of their
ground. 36 He smote also all the firstborn in their
land, the chief of all their strength. 37 He brought
them forth also with silver and gold: and there was
not one feeble person among their tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the
fear of them fell upon them. 39 He spread a cloud
for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40 The people asked, and He brought quails, and
satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He
opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they
ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For He
remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His
servant. 43 And He brought forth His people with
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
nnx nay nvb rh&w :maya Siann1? teyps. cv.
I j :~ jv ~jt itt-;i- ? ? - : *: a ~
D'nsbi vninfc nm Da 27 :<ia-nna to
tin ^o-x1? ] ni? # 28 . Dn f nxa
itt: v vt- at: jv ? ? i" v |j-t it:
ifcx 31 :Drv? Sa nina D'yrisx dxnk ptr 30
-ti iv ? ? : - ? ? :-: a- :: -: jt :- I'-t
na dm iru 32 . D'lia any kti
att jV " : ? |>>~t it ; t; ? ? at jt"
nae>*i DnaNni Djsa *n>>n 33 :Dx->>*a nianS trn
** - :- at t i": t : -t |j-- it :-: j t ;v i"
nspajw pS<j nai<< xan n&N34 :D^aji py.
:Dnonx ns b&n D*nxa aby-^a SaN>>i 35
itt :- ? ; - - at :-: v t - j-
:D3ix-1? a17 nwtri Dnto -tfaa-Sa 11 >>i 36
it t: . . . at . - . j . t j4--
ibm2 v&atra pro arm tpaa dnwi 37
i" jt t: ? It**: att: |vjv: ** ? i-i
mrvhv Dnns Ssj-? a Dnxxa msta natr 38
v ? ? -; jt: - i-t p at ? ? : ? j-t
W 40 irhh yurh ip^b ny fens 39
ti t :it ^* t: ? ? : Iatt; | jtt j-t
l -jt . . . . - ? - t VjV; at; j"t-
-rn-nx nana 42 . -nr, nvxa iaSn D^a mm
: v -r j- tt / ? - :it -at Jt-
jib^a iay tqft3 43 nay Drnasrng itHB
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ps. CV. joy, and His chosen with gladness: 44 And gave
them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited
the labour of the people; 45 That they might
observe His statutes, and keep His laws. Praise ye
the Lord.
*}ote on The 105th, 106th and 107th Psalms form one
"' 'long ode in three parts. Each part presents a
different aspect of the might and mercy of God.
The 105th Psalm proclaims with paeans of praise
and thanks that God alone is the Creator of all, and
that the whole universe is governed by the Divine
ordering. "He is the Lord our God: His judg-
ments are in all the earth. "
The Psalmist calls on Israel to proclaim this God-
given Message to the world.
The greatness of the Message is indicated by the
vividly told story of the Messenger Race, mercifully
and marvellously preserved through all sorts of dan-
gers and vicissitudes to bear and to declare to
countless generations the sacred, everlasting Message
confided to it, the Message of the Covenant between
God and man, between the Divine spirit and every
human being, however humble.
This covenant is the very essence of Judaism.
Belief in the one and only God carries with it the belief
that every human soul is directly responsible to the
Creator, with no human or superhuman intermediary
between the spirit of God and the soul of man. Over
and over again this is insisted on in Deuteronomy.
Moses presents no elaborate dogma to justify virtue or
to condemn vice, but he insists on practical effort
in daily life to obey the eternal moral laws that
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