66 PSALM CXXXVI. ARGUMENT. THIS is a delightful hymn of praise and thanksgiving to Jehovah, God of gods and Lord of lords, for the wonders of creation, of providence, and grace; which were probably celebrated in due order by one half of the choir, while the other half, or perhaps the whole in full chorus, took up the burden of each verse, For his mercy endureth for ever!" a form of acknowledgment, as bishop Patrick observes, prescribed, by David, 1 Chron. xvi. 41. to be used continually in the divine service; a form highly proper for creatures, and sinful creatures, to use, whose great employment it is now, and will be for ever, to magnify the mercy and loving kindness of their God. 1. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. We are called upon to praise Jehovah, first, for his own essential attributes; then, for the exertion of those attributes in his works. The attributes here mentioned are those of goodness and power; the one renders him willing, the other able, to save: and what can we desire more, but that he should continue to be so? Of this likewise we are assured, by contemplating the unchangeableness of his nature. His disposition alters not, and his kingdom none can take from him; "his mercy endureth for ever." 4. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. All the works of God are wonderful, and speak him alone to have been their author. The established course of the world is, in reality, no less admirable, than are those extraordinary interpositions of omnipotence, whereby it has been sometimes interrupted and suspended; though the latter, on account of their novelty, are apt to affect us more than the former doth, which is ever before our eyes, and therefore less regarded by us. How many of those, for whom the wonders of creation, providence, and redemption, have been wrought, think none of them worthy their attention! Angels admire and adore, where man will not deign to cast an eye, or employ a thought. 5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. The heavens above, and the earth beneath, declare the wisdom of their great Maker, and proclaim aloud, to an intelligent ear, the divinity of the hand that formed them. The heavens display the love of God to man; the earth teaches the duty of man to God. Heaven is glorious and gracious, earth verdant and fruitful. The bright and ample circumference of heaven, the variegated surface of the earth, and the profusion of good things that distinguish the seasons, contaminated they all have been by man's transgression, even now yield a prospect which annihilates all human grandeur. What idea then, are we to frame of those new heavens and earth, from which sin and corruption are excluded, and where righteousness hath fixed her eternal throne? 7. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever. 8. The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9. The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. Light is the life and soul of the universe, the noblest emblem of the power and glory of God, who in the night season leaves not himself without witness, but gives us some portion of that light reflected, which by day we behold flowing from its great fountain in the heart of heaven. Thy church and thy saints, O Lord, "are the moon and the stars," which by the communication of doctrine, and the splendour of example, guide our feet, while we travel on in the night that hath overtaken us, waiting for the dawn of everlasting day. Then we shall behold thy glory, and see thee as thou art. 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-born: for his mercy endureth for ever. 11. And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever. 12. With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13. To him which divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever. 14. And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever. 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 18. And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 19. Sihon, king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever. 20. And Og, the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever. 21. And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever. 22. Even an heritage unto Israel his servant : for his mercy endureth for ever. 23. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever. 24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. He celebrates that From the works of creation the Psalmist proceeds to those of providence and grace. mercy which rescued Israel from oppression, brought them out of the house of bondage, divided the sea to make a way for them, supported and conducted them through a waste, howling wilderness, crushed the might and power of those who opposed them, and at length settled them in the inheritance promised to their fathers. Eternal mercy has in Christ Jesus realized all these figures, and accomplished the great redemption, thus foreshadowed of old. The Israel of God has been rescued from the oppression of Satan, and brought out of the house of spiritual bondage. The old man of sin is buried, and we arise triumphant, to sing the praises of God our Saviour, who from thenceforth supports and conducts us in our passage through the world, strengthening us in the day of battle against every enemy that opposes us, until we enter the heavenly Canaan, promised to the fathers of our faith, and dwell for ever in the possession of peace. When we consider how God has thus "remembered us in our low estate," and thus "redeemed us from our enemies," can we be weary of repeating, "For his mercy endureth for ever?" 25. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. The same bounty, which in the natural world provides proper nutriment for every creature, has also provided for the spirits of all flesh the bread of eternal life. In either sense, Jehovah "openeth his hand, and filleth all things living with plenteousness." Be, therefore, his praise as universal and lasting as his mercy! |