PSALM 85.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Probably written after the return of the exiles from the Babylonish Captivity.

Prayer for continuance of past mercies, and declaration of confidence in God's goodness.

THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST, THE TRUE RETURNING OF THE CAPTIVITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE.

Prayer of the people. vv. 1-7.

I Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Ps. 126. "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I

am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" Rom. 7:23-25.

2 Selah. "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" S. Mat. 1:21.

3 Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, anger toward us to cease. See Neh. 1:3. 6 Lit. Wilt thou not quicken us again? raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; quickeneth whom he will" S. Jo. 5:21. 7 Verse 9.

and cause thine

"As the Father even so the Son

The Divine Promise. vv. 8-13.

8 Lit. Let me hear what the God LORD will speak: for he will speak unto his people; and to his saints: only let them not turn again to folly. Verse 10. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" S. Lu. "He is our peace Eph. 2:14. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?" Rom. 6:2 See Heb. 1:1, 2.

2:14.

9 Verse 7: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the

Ps. LXXXV. Title; Korah, see Ps. 42, title, n. 3 Displeasure, K. J. wrath. 5 Be displeased; K. J. be angry. 9 For, K. J. surely.

37:40 that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.

128:5 145:19 72:19

89:16-19

10 Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace 89:15 have kissed each other.

72:3,7

89:9

67:6

II Truth shall flourish out of the earth and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

65:9-14 12 Yea, the LORD shall show 8412 loving-kindness: and our land shall give her increase.

25:3,8,11 67:2 72:1

13 Righteousness shall go before him: and he shall direct his 89:15 going in the way.

86:11

138:5

31:2

102: 1,2

Prop. Ps. Christmas M. Am. P. B., in Sel. VIII. v. 7, Suffrages in Daily Prayer, and Am. & Irish P. B. in Visit. Pris. Sar. Cons. Ch. Moz. Liturgy vv. 6, 7. at beginning. Rom., Christmas; v. 7, Conf.; v. 1, 23d-25th Sun. af. Pent.; vv. 1, 2, 3d in Adv.; vv. 6, 7, 2d in Adv.; vv. 7, 12, 1st in Adv. Gk. 9th H. L. N. C.

Bow down thine ear, O LORD,

130:2 and hear me : for I am poor, and

40:20

70:6 in misery.

4:3 25:19

2 Preserve thou my soul, for I 97:10 am holy my God, save thy serv119:94 ant that putteth his trust in thee.

56:1 57:1

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: 67:1 85:7 for I will call daily upon thee.

55:18

25:1

4 Comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee, O Lord, do I 85:2,12 lift up my soul.

103:3

31:21

130:4 5 For thou, Lord, art good and gracious and of great mercy unto 118:1-4 all them that call upon thee.

57:11

130:7

145:18 6 Give ear, LORD, unto my prayer and ponder the voice of 28:2 my humble desires.

5:2 17:1

only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" S. Jo. 1:14, 17.

IO Verse 8. "Judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and Tighteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" Is. 32:16-18.

II "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it " Is 45:8.

12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good. See Lev. 26:3, 4. "The seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things" Zech. 8:12. "All things work together for good to them that love God" Rom. 8:28.

13 Lit. Let righteousness go before him; and make his steps a way, (i. e. guide the people in the way indicated by God's will)." Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" S. Jo. 14:6.

PSALM 86.

A Prayer of David.

Probably written at the time of Absalom's rebellion.
For Deliverance in Adversity.

SUPPLICATION of the "Man of Sorrows." Prayer for help grounded on God's forgiveness and mercy. vv. 1-7.

I Verse 6.

3 For I cry unto thee all the day. Verse 16.

5 Verses 13, 15. "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" Neh. 9:17. "If we confess our síns, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness I S. Jo. 1:9. See Ex. 20:6; Neh. 9:27, 28, 31.

6 Verse I.

IO "Mercy and Truth met together indeed in the birth at Bethlehem of Him in Whose Person the grace and truth of God were fully revealed to men. And as in His birth of a mortal womb Truth sprang out of the earth, so in the free justification of man by God's grace through the redemption by His blood, Righteousness looked down from heaven." -Thrupp. II Shall flourish; K. J. shall spring.

Ps. LXXXVI. Title; Prayer, see Pss. 17, 90, 102, 142, titles. 2 Holy; better, godly. 4 Comfort, K. J. rejoice. 5 Gracious, K. J. ready to forgive. 6 Humble desires; K. J. supplications.

17:6 20:1 50:15

77:2

7 In the time of my trouble I thee for thou hear

will call

120:1 est me.

130:1 145:19

upon

8 Among the gods there is none 18:31 like unto thee, O Lord: there is 77:13 not one that can do as thou doest. 89:6,7,9

71:19

95:3 9 All nations whom thou hast 22:27 made shall come and worship thee, 82:8 O Lord and shall glorify thy Name.

72:9-11

72:18 10 For thou art great, and doest 77:11,14 wondrous things: thou art God 83:18 alone.

136:4

25:3,4

II Teach me thy way, O LORD, 27:13 and I will walk in thy truth: O 85:13 knit my heart unto thee, that I

119:27,

33

26:3

61:8 68:4

145:21

may fear thy Name.

my

12 I will thank thee, O Lord God, with all my heart and will praise thy Name for evermore. 16:10 13 For great is thy mercy to56:13 ward me: and thou hast delivered 116:8 my soul from the nethermost hell.

54:3

103:8,11,

14 O God, the proud are risen against me: and the congregations of naughty men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.

15 But thou, O Lord God, art 13 full of compassion and mercy: 145:8,9 long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.

108:4

25:15

116:14

16 O turn thee then unto me, 69:17 and have mercy upon me : give thy 123:2,3 Strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.

125:4,5

17 Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed: be

7 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again " S. Jo, 12:27, 28.

"For

Greatness and Omnipotence of God. vv. 8-10. 8 Neither are there any works like unto thy works. though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" Cor. 8:5, 6. See Ex. 15:11; Deut. 3:24; 2 Kin. 19:17-19.

66

9 Many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you" Zech. 8:22, 23. See Zech. 14:9, 16. Union sought with God. Praise for His loving-kindness.

VV. 11-13.

11 Lit. Teach me thy way, O LORD, that I thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy Name. them one heart, and one way, that they may ever" Jer. 32:39. See S. Jo. 17:21. 13 Verses 5, 15. "He

may walk in "I will give fear me for

spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell" Acts 2:31.

God's help sought on account of enemies.

VV. 14-17.

14 And the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 Verses 5, 13.. Same words in Ex. 34:6.

16 Verse 3. Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord" S. Lu. 1:38.

17 Shew me a token for good.

9 K. J. worship before thee.

12 Praise, K. J. glorify.

13 Hell, lit. Sheol; see Ps. 6:5, n. 15 A reference to this verse in Ecclus. 2:11. 16 Help, K. J. save.