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FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 </3g# 
 
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IN ENGLISH VERSE. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 gilbert and rivington, printers, 
 st.- John's square. 
 
3anp 
 
 OF 
 
 Jo- 7 Cp, 
 
 IN ENGLISH VERSE. 
 
 THE REV. JOHN BENTHALL, M.A. 
 
 VICAR OF WILLEN, BUCKS, 
 FORMERLY AN ASSISTANT MASTER IN WESTMINSTER SCHOOL. 
 
 SONGS ILLUSTRATING 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 The man who was raised up on high, 
 The anointed of the God of Jacob, 
 And the sweet Psalmist of Israel, said, 
 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me. 
 
 2 Samuel xxiii. i 2. 
 
 Kanfcoit: 
 
 SAMPSON LOW. MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON, 
 
 CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET. 
 
 1879. 
 
 [All rights reserved.] 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The greater number of the Songs of the Hebrews, 
 which have been preserved, are collected in the 
 Psalter, or Book of Psalms, which forms a large 
 portion of the services of the Christian Church, as 
 it once did of those of the Jewish Temple. They 
 have evidently been arranged in Holy Scripture 
 with a view rather to spiritual edification than to 
 enlightenment in matters of history ; but the 
 events to which they refer, and the circumstances 
 under which their authors poured forth their joys 
 and sorrows before God, must be a very interesting 
 and profitable subject of study. It has occurred 
 to me that an attempt to arrange these and other 
 Songs contained in the Old Testament in some- 
 thing like historical order may not be an unaccept- 
 able work ; for it may be beyond the power of the 
 general reader to peruse the writings of the many 
 learned Commentators, from whose various conjec- 
 tures as to the dates at which these Songs were 
 
vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 respectively composed I have selected those which 
 appear to me to be the most probable. I have 
 also endeavoured to supply what I have long 
 felt to be much wanted, viz., a literal rendering 
 of these magnificent poems, which should retain 
 the special characteristic of Hebrew verse, and yet 
 satisfy the ear accustomed in poetry to the musical 
 effect of metre and rhyme. 
 
 The peculiar feature of Hebrew verse is that in 
 two consecutive clauses there is such a resemblance 
 that the latter clause seems to follow from, or to be 
 an answer to, the former. Doubtless this style of 
 poetry arose from the early custom of a company 
 of singers rejoicing and praising God to the sound 
 of music, when a sentence chanted by a leader of 
 the band would be taken up and answered by the 
 rest. The following are a few examples, selected 
 from Songs composed at long intervals in a period 
 ranging from the time of Moses until after the 
 Babylonish captivity : — 
 
 The Song of Moses.— Exodus 
 v. 3. Jehovah is a man of war : 
 
 Jehovah is his Name. 
 v. 4. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He 
 cast into the sea : 
 His chosen captains also are drowned in the 
 Red Sea. 
 v. 5. The depths have covered them: 
 
 They sank into the botto:n as a stone. 
 
INTRODUCTION. Vli 
 
 The Song of Deborah. — Judges v. 
 v. 3. Hear, O ye kings : 
 
 Give ear, O ye princes: 
 
 I, even I, will sing unto Jehovah : 
 
 / will sing praise to Jehovah, God of Israel 
 
 The Song of the Women after Davtd's Victory.— 
 1 Sam. xviii. 
 
 v. 7. Saul hath slain his thousands, 
 
 And David his ten thottsands. 
 
 Isaiah i. 
 v. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, 
 And the ass his master's crib: 
 But Israel doth not know, 
 My people doth not consider. 
 
 After the Return from Babylon. — Psalm cxiv. 
 v. 3. The sea saw it, and fled : 
 Jordan was driven back. 
 v. 4. The mountains skipped like rams, 
 And the little hills like lambs. 
 
 The trammels of metre and rhyme, from which 
 the Hebrew poetry is entirely free, must often have 
 a weakening effect ; but I have endeavoured to 
 avoid, as much as possible, both omission and 
 enlargement, preferring a close adherence to the 
 text of the English Bible to a more natural and 
 graceful flow of language, which might have been 
 attainable in a freer translation. Where, however, 
 
VIM INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the English Bible fails to interpret accurately the 
 original meaning, I have attempted to give a more 
 literal rendering ; and I hope that I have thus 
 sometimes succeeded in unveiling a beautiful 
 Hebrew figure or expression, not easy to be 
 recognized in the authorized translations, and that 
 a verse, which in them appears wanting in meaning 
 and poetry, may be shown to contain some striking 
 simile. I have had the advantage of being able to 
 consult not only the works of Bishops Lowth, 
 Home, and Horsley, and those of Scott, Hartwell 
 Home, and others, but also the more recent 
 writings of Bishop Wordsworth, Dean Stanley, 
 Canon Perowne, Professors Murphy and De- 
 litzsch, Neale and Littledale, &c, besides many 
 interesting articles in books of reference, such as 
 Smith's Dictionary of the Bible. To all the 
 authors mentioned above, as well as to others 
 whom I have consulted, I am under great obliga- 
 tions, although I have seldom given references to 
 their works. 
 
 It cannot be doubted that most, if not all, of the 
 Songs of the Hebrews were handed down to the 
 great body of the people by oral tradition, written 
 documents being extremely rare and costly. A large 
 proportion of them relate to the life of David, and 
 on that account are selected to form this volume. 
 
 Among these Songs we often meet with Part 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 Songs or Dialogues, which may generally be dis- 
 covered to be such by changes in the use of the 
 personal pronouns, For instance, we sometimes 
 find, as in Psalm civ., one singer addressing the 
 Almighty in the second person, while another 
 speaks of Him in the third. Many Psalms again, 
 composed in order to recall to memory past events 
 (e.g. Psalms xx. and xxi.), seem to partake of a 
 dramatic character, and to be likewise intended 
 for more than one voice ; and in some of the 
 Psalms the Almighty Himself is represented as 
 one of the speakers. In this case I have thought 
 it more reverent to put the words into the mouth 
 of an inspired priest or prophet, who is supposed 
 to utter them in God's name. 
 
 The Psalter was divided by the Hebrews into 
 five Books, or Collections of Psalms, made at 
 different periods of time. The first Book contains 
 a Preface (Psalm i.) and forty other Psalms (viz. 
 ii. to xli.) ; the second Book contains thirty-one 
 Psalms (viz. xlii. to lxxii.) ; the third Book seventeen 
 (viz. lxxiii. to lxxxix.) ; the fourth Book also 
 seventeen (viz. xc. to cvi.) ; and the fifth Book the 
 remaining forty-four (viz. cvii. to cl). There is a 
 great diversity of opinion with regard to the 
 authors of the Psalms and the dates of the several 
 Collections. The following conjecture appears to 
 me the most probable, viz. that Solomon wrote the 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 first Psalm as an introduction to a Collection, made 
 during his reign, of the poems of his father ; that 
 the second and third Books contain Songs of 
 David and of other poets, recovered or written 
 after the death of Solomon, but not collected into 
 Books until the reign of Hezekiah ; and that the 
 two last Books were compiled after the return from 
 Babylon. It is important to bear in mind that, if 
 this supposition be correct, no Psalm can have 
 been composed by an author who lived at a later 
 period than that of the Book in which we find it 
 placed, although an old Song, unknown to the 
 Compiler of an early Book, may have been dis- 
 covered afterwards, and inserted in a later Book 
 either with or without alterations. 
 
 Poems preserved by oral tradition must always 
 be liable to many changes, and we cannot be sur- 
 prised at finding that some of the Psalms appear 
 to have receiyed additions, and others to have been 
 divided into two or more parts. Sometimes a 
 Song, or a fragment of a Song, composed for one 
 occasion, seems by these means to have been sub- 
 sequently adapted to another, so that, in the same 
 poem, we may find one part suitable to the age of 
 David and another to that of a later period. 
 
 Again, there must often have been different ver- 
 sions of the same Song; for instance, Psalm liii. is 
 the same as Psalm xiv. (Bible Version), with a 
 slight variation, while St. Paul seems to have been 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 acquainted with a third version (Romans iii. vv. 10 
 — 1 8), which is the one given in our Prayer Book 
 as Psalm xiv. 
 
 In these various ways the Psalms were altered 
 and collected together until the Psalter was com- 
 pleted and finally arranged in its present form. 
 
 My attention has been particularly drawn to 
 thirty-nine Psalms in which the word SelaJi is 
 found. It occurs twice in the middle of a verse, 
 sixty- five times between two verses, and four times 
 at the end of a Psalm. Of these thirty-nine 
 Psalms, nine are placed in the first, and two in the 
 fifth Book of the Psalter, and all these are ascribed 
 to David by their Hebrew titles. Of the remaining 
 twenty-eight, seventeen are contained in the second 
 Book, and eleven in the third. These two Books 
 (as has been already said) were probably compiled 
 in the reign of Hezekiah, who " commanded the 
 Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words 
 of David and of Asaph the seer" (2 Chron. xxix. 
 30). Now it is remarkable that in the second Book, 
 although more than half the Psalms contained in 
 it are assigned to David, only one is entitled " A 
 Psalm of Asaph/' while in the third Book these 
 proportions are exactly reversed. This would lead 
 to the conclusion that in Hezekiah's time two 
 separate Collections were added to the Psalter — the 
 first, of Songs chiefly composed by, or having 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 reference to, David ; and the other, of Songs sup- 
 posed to contain chiefly the words of Asaph. On 
 further examination it seemed to me that this con- 
 jecture, especially in reference to the second Book, 
 was in a great measure correct, although I found a 
 difficulty in regard to some of the Psalms in it, e.g. 
 Psalms xlvi. and lxxvi., parts of which bear internal 
 evidence of being of later date than the time of 
 David and Asaph. On the other hand I observed 
 that these parts were quite distinct from the others 
 and were divided from them by the word Selali. 
 
 This naturally led me to inquire into the meaning 
 attached to this word by the various Commentators. 
 They entertain different opinions as to its exact 
 signification, but they all agree in thinking that it 
 is a musical notice of some kind. The greater 
 number suppose it to signify that particular atten- 
 tion is to be paid wherever it occurs, and that a 
 pause, made for meditation, will be filled up by a 
 musical symphony. In many cases this opinion is 
 supported by the fact that SelaJi not only comes at 
 the end of an emphatic passage, but that it marks 
 the commencement of a new train of thought. 
 Professor Murphy often draws attention to this, 
 and I may mention Psalm xxiv. as an instance. 
 Indeed the change here is so marked that a Com- 
 mentator of no less authority than Ewald looks on 
 the remainder of the Psalm as a separate Song. 
 
 In other cases, however, Selali occurs in the 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 middle of a connected sentence, as in Psalm lxvii. 
 I, which verse, although itself a paraphrase of the 
 blessing in Numbers vi. 24 — 26, is so connected with 
 the verse which follows it that a pause would 
 weaken the effect. 
 
 Again in Psalm lv., where Selah is found at the 
 end of v. 7, the sentence indeed is complete, and 
 the figure of the Psalmist desiring to fly far away 
 from danger like a frightened bird is complete 
 also, for the next verse, although expressing 
 the same desire to escape, does not carry on the 
 figure, inasmuch as a bird, when overtaken by a 
 storm, instead of flying far away, would seek 
 refuge in the nearest covert. But in this instance, 
 as in Psalm lxvii., it is apparent that, although the 
 sentence is complete in itself, yet the same train of 
 thought is continued in the following verse, and a 
 lengthened pause would be quite out of place. 
 
 Hence, after a careful examination of all the 
 Psalms in which the word Selah is found, the con- 
 clusion is forced upon me that the theory men- 
 tioned above, viz. that a pause was to be made 
 where this word occurs, cannot be sustained. 
 
 Is there no other explanation which would be 
 applicable to every instance ? 
 
 After much consideration I have been led to 
 believe that the thirty-nine Selah Psalms are all 
 composite poems, made up of short Songs or fragments 
 of Songs, and that, as entire Psalms, they were 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 generally applied to occasions different from those for 
 which the several component parts were originally 
 written, The word Selah would then be intro- 
 duced at the point where the junction occurs, but 
 would not denote (as in many cases it certainly 
 does not denote) that the particular place especially 
 calls for serious attention. 
 
 My reasons for this conclusion will be best 
 explained by an examination of a few Selah pas- 
 sages selected by way of illustration. 
 
 Let us take first those instances to which refe- 
 rence has already been made. 
 
 It has been mentioned that in Psalm xxiv. v. 6, 
 the change of subject is so complete that Professor 
 Ewald looks on the remainder of the Psalm as a 
 separate Song. 
 
 In the cases of Psalms Ixvii. and lv. y where it has 
 been pointed out that the same train of thought is 
 continued after the Selah (although the simile in the 
 latter case is not kept up), this would be a natural 
 result on the supposition that two separate Songs, 
 or fragments of Songs, distinct from each other bur 
 cognate in subject, were joined together. 
 
 Take next Psalm Ixviii. This Psalm has generally 
 been supposed to be one entire Song, relating to the 
 removal of the Ark to Mount Zion ; but it appears 
 to me to consist of several distinct Songs, or frag- 
 ments of Songs, sung at various stages of the pro- 
 cession. The word Selah seems, by a clerical error, 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 to have been placed in the middle of a sentence at 
 the end of v. 7, instead of at the end of v. 6. If this 
 mistake were corrected, the Psalm would consist of 
 four Songs divided from each other by the musical 
 notice, viz. vv. 1 — 6, 7 — 19, 20 — 32, and 33 — 35. 
 
 The first portion (1 — 6) commences with the 
 words used when the Ark set forward in the wil- 
 derness (Numbers x. 35), and then goes on in 
 words which, literally translated, would call upon 
 the procession to prepare a highway for Jehovah. 
 All this portion would probably have been sung at 
 starting. 
 
 The next portion (7 — 19) begins with the open- 
 ing of the Song of Deborah (Judges v. 4), and 
 appears to have been sung as the procession 
 marched up the hill of Zion. 
 
 The third portion (20 — 32) would be extremely 
 applicable to the return down the hill, after the 
 Ark had been placed in the Tabernacle. It relates 
 the order of the march, and alludes to the doings 
 in the Sanctuary. 
 
 The beginning and conclusion of these two parts 
 (7 — 19 and 20 — 32) afford internal evidence of 
 their being distinct, although corresponding, Songs. 
 
 The last portion of the Psalm (33 — 35) contains 
 an expression very similar to that in the last por- 
 tion of the first division, (viz. 4 — 6) ; but, although 
 in our Bible version the words in v. 4. " that rideth 
 upon the heavens " are almost identical with those 
 
xvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in v. 33, "that rideth upon the heavens of heavens," 
 the meaning of the two passages is so different in 
 the original that they are probably fragments of 
 separate poems. For in the Hebrew v. 4 repre- 
 sents the Almighty as riding along the sandy 
 steppes of the desert, while His people are 
 called on to cast up a highway for Him (a simile 
 which is also employed in Isaiah xl 3 and lvii. 14 
 and which is very suitable to the setting out of the 
 Ark), whereas in v. 33 God is represented as 
 enthroned in the Heavens. 
 
 Psalm lxviii. is generally admitted to be very 
 difficult to be explained, but if my view — that it is 
 composed of several distinct Songs — is adopted, 
 the meaning becomes much less obscure. 
 
 Let us now turn to Psalm Ixxxviii. This Psalm is 
 so unvarying in its tone of misery, and so full of 
 repetitions of the same cries of woe, that at first 
 sight it might appear to be one continuous poem. A 
 closer examination, however, leads me to a diffe- 
 rent conclusion. Many of its most pathetic ex- 
 pressions, or very similar ones, are found in other 
 Psalms (e. g. in Psalms vi., xxviii., and xxxi.) ; but 
 in all these the author, however mournfully he 
 may commence, seems to gather consolation from 
 communion with God, and concludes in a more 
 hopeful strain. Psalm Ixxxviii., on the contrary, 
 contains nothing but despair, and is one unbroken 
 wail of misery. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV11 
 
 Now how can this be accounted for ? If my 
 theory in regard to the word Selah is correct, the 
 explanation would be that, whereas the other 
 Psalms (in which no Selah is found) are con- 
 tinuous and complete Songs, Psalm lxxxviii. is 
 composed of three fragments of separate poems, 
 joined together where the Selah mark occurs. One 
 at least of these fragments seems to have been 
 composed by Heman, and they were probably 
 combined in order to frame a Psalm suitable to 
 some well-known period of sickness or other cala- 
 mity, coming directly from the hand of God, which 
 I have imagined to be the pestilence recorded in 2 
 Sam. xxiv. and 1 Chron. xxi. 
 
 Here again it may be observed that the Selahs 
 are found at places to which there seems to be no 
 particular reason for calling special attention, and 
 where there is no change of sentiment. On the 
 contrary, in v. 1 1 the substance of the previous 
 verse is repeated, although in a different form. 
 
 My theory in regard to the word Selah seems to 
 be still further corroborated by Psalms Ivii. and lx., 
 each of which contains a portion of Psalm cviii. 
 
 This last-mentioned Psalm has no Selah in it, 
 and is, therefore, probably one continuous and 
 complete Song. It is, however, remarkable that, 
 although it is assigned to David and is gene- 
 rally supposed to have commemorated his victory 
 in the Valley of Salt recorded in 2 Sam. viii., and 
 
 a 
 
xvin INTRODUCTION. 
 
 although separate portions of it appear in the 
 second Book of the Psalter as parts of Psalms lvii. 
 and lx._, yet it is not placed earlier than in the 
 fourth Book as an entire Song. Its omission from 
 the second Book as a continuous Song shows that, 
 although it may have been composed by David in 
 that form, it was not known to be a complete 
 Psalm by the Compiler in the reign of Hezekiah, 
 but was one of those recovered after the return 
 from Babylon and collected in the fourth Book. 
 The two parts of which it is composed appear to 
 have been known in Hezekiah's time as two dis- 
 tinct Songs, or fragments of Songs, and as such to 
 have been added, respectively, to the earlier por- 
 tions of Psalms lvii. and lx., the Selah mark being 
 placed to denote the additions. 
 
 Independently, however, of the fact that Psalms 
 lvii. and lx. contain the very words found in another 
 Psalm, there is in each of them internal evidence of 
 its being a composite Song. 
 
 Take first Psalm lvii. Bishop Horsley describes 
 it as follows : — " It begins in a plaintive strain, im- 
 ploring aid and expressing deep distress and ex- 
 treme danger ; when suddenly in v. 7, in the sure 
 prospect of the Divine assistance, the stanza is 
 changed to notes of praise and triumph as over an 
 enemy already fallen." 
 
 So sudden a revulsion of feeling in a continuous 
 short poem appears very unnatural, and incon- 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 sistent with the title, which assigns it to " David 
 when he fled from Saul in the cave." It is true, as 
 Canon Perowne remarks, that sudden transitions 
 from despondency to triumph are very common ia 
 the Psalms, but they may almost always be ex- 
 plained by a careful examination of the passages 
 in which they occur. In the Selah Psalms such 
 changes would be accounted for by the composite 
 character of those poems. Thus Psalm lvii., 
 which we are now considering, is, according to 
 my view, composed of three distinct fragments, 
 linked together by the Compiler in order to form a 
 consecutive history of the various feelings which 
 must have been aroused in David's heart by his 
 adventure in the cave. The first of these fragments 
 expresses his alarm at the approach of Saul's army ; 
 the second describes his hopes on perceiving the 
 king coming without any attendants towards the 
 cavern in which he and his companions are con- 
 cealed ; while the last is a Song of praise suitable 
 to the morning which followed the escape of the 
 party, after David had cut off the skirt of the royal 
 garment. 
 
 Psalm Ix. also appears to be a composite Song, 
 for if the Selah notice had been intended to call 
 particular attention to the passage in which it 
 occurs, or to point to the introduction of a new 
 sentiment only, it would surely have been found, 
 not at the end of verse 4, but at that of verse 5, 
 a 2 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 before the words " God hath spoken in His holi- 
 ness ; " but if, as has been already explained, the 
 second part of the Psalm is a fragment of Psalm 
 cviii. and Selah marks its commencement, the 
 musical notice is in its right place. 
 
 The Psalm also bears other internal evidence of 
 being made up of separate Songs. It is assigned 
 by the Hebrew title to the victory of Joab over 
 Edom in the Valley of Salt. Now the only 
 accounts of a victory during the reign of David 
 over the Edomites and their allies in the Valley of 
 Salt are found in 2 Sam. viii. 13 and 1 Chron. xviii. 
 12. These two passages, though differing in some 
 important particulars, are supposed to refer to the 
 same event, but neither of them agrees with the 
 title of the Psalm. 
 
 Two other victories in the Valley of Salt over 
 the same allied armies are recorded as having 
 taken place at later periods, the first in the reign 
 of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. xx.), and the other in 
 the reign of Amaziah (2 Chron. xxv.). Now we 
 learn from 2 Chron. xx. that there was a great 
 panic in the kingdom of Judah when the news 
 arrived of the advance of the confederate army, 
 and the first part of Psalm lx. seems very suitable 
 to the prayer of Jehoshaphat in his distress. 
 Bishop Horsley indeed supposes that the whole 
 Psalm, although assigned to the reign of David, 
 refers to this later invasion ; but to me it seems 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxi 
 
 more probable, that, although very appropriate to 
 the alarm felt in the time of Jehoshaphat, the first 
 part was really composed in reference to the in- 
 vasion in David's reign (2 Sam. viii. 5), and that 
 afterwards, in the reign of Hezekiah, the latter 
 part of Psalm cviii. was added to it, with the Selah 
 mark and the present doubtful title, in order to 
 form a hymn for the Temple service. 
 
 I have already mentioned that there are four 
 Psalms (viz. iii. y ix. y xxiv., and xlvi.) in which the 
 word Selah is found at the end of the last verse. 
 This might at first sight appear to militate against 
 my theory that Selah is always intended to denote 
 the place where two distinct Songs or fragments 
 are joined together. On further examination, 
 however, it will, I think, prove a strong argument 
 in its favour. I had already observed that Psalm iii. 
 was probably the commencement of the devotions 
 of the Hebrews both in public and private, and 
 that Psalms xxiv. and xlvi. were processional 
 hymns, when I found the following note on 
 Psalm iii. v. 4 in Bishop Wordsworth's Commen- 
 tary. Alluding to the word Selah (here first 
 introduced in the Psalms) he says, — " It never 
 occurs at the end of a Psalm, except in Psalms 
 which are coupled to the following ones, as 
 Psalms iii., xxiv., and xlvi., which were festival 
 hymns succeeded by others." In regard to 
 Psalm ix. — in the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and 
 
xxn INTRODUCTION. 
 
 some other versions, Psalms ix. and x. are linked 
 together so as to form one poem. Thus in all 
 these cases we may suppose that Sclah was the 
 mark of transition placed between two distinct 
 Songs which were used continuously in the same 
 service. 
 
 My view of the meaning of this mysterious 
 word will also often reconcile the conflicting 
 opinions of Commentators of high standing in 
 regard to the probable dates of the various Psalms 
 (especiallyof those contained in the second and third 
 Books of the Psalter). For example, Psalm xlvi. 
 is assigned by 
 
 Professor Murphy to the age of David, 
 
 „ Delitzsch ,, Jehoshaphat, 
 
 Bishop Wordsworth „ Hezekiah, 
 
 Canon Perowne ,, Hezekiah. 
 
 But if this Psalm consists of three distinct and 
 separate Songs, I should agree with Murphy so far 
 as to assign the first and last Songs to the time of 
 David, with Delitzsch so far as to think that these 
 two Songs were united and sung as one in the 
 reign of Jehoshaphat, and with Wordsworth and 
 Perowne in supposing that the middle part was 
 inserted and that the Psalm was sung as a whole 
 in the time of Hezekiah, after the defeat of 
 Sennacherib. 
 
 It has already been mentioned that all the Selah 
 Psalms in the first and fifth Books of the Psalter, 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxili 
 
 as well as many of those in the other Books, are 
 by their Hebrew titles ascribed to David. The 
 rule in regard to the ascriptions seems to have 
 been as follows : — When all the component parts 
 of a Selah Psalm were believed by the Compiler 
 (whether rightly or wrongly) to have been written 
 by David, or Asaph, or any other poet, the Psalm 
 was ascribed to its supposed author (e. g. Psalms 1., 
 Hi., liv., lx., lxxxviii., &c.) ; but if part of a Selah 
 Psalm was believed to have been composed by one 
 person and part by another, no name w r as prefixed 
 to indicate the writer (e. g. Psalms xlvi., xlvii., 
 xlviii.). 
 
 The Selah Psalms thus unascribed in the second 
 and third Books are all addressed to "the Chief 
 Musician/' or "the sons of Koran," or "the Chief 
 Musician for the sons of Korah ; " and, as it 
 appears to have been a common practice of David 
 so to address his Psalms, it seems fair to presume 
 that parts of these unascribed Selah Songs were 
 composed by him. 
 
 By detaching the various portions of the Selah 
 Psalms and restoring to them the distinct form 
 which (if my view be correct) they originally pos- 
 sessed, the number of Scriptural Songs is greatly 
 enlarged ; and by comparing them carefully with 
 the history of David, as related in the Books of 
 Samuel, I Chronicles, and I Kings, I find that to 
 
XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 almost every recorded event in his chequered 
 career some poem, either complete or fragmentary, 
 appears to be more or less appropriate. 
 
 I have assumed that all the Psalms ascribed by 
 their Biblical prefixes to David were written by 
 him, and I have placed those of which the parti- 
 cular occasions are mentioned according to their 
 Hebrew titles. I have also assumed that, with few 
 exceptions, some portion at least of each Selah 
 Psalm was probably composed in David's time, 
 and these detached portions are applied to the 
 events with reference to which they may be sup- 
 posed to have been written. These events are not 
 generally the same as those to illustrate which the 
 Compiler at a later period combined their com- 
 ponent parts. 
 
 In order to avoid repetition a Selah portion has 
 always been rendered by me in a different metre 
 from that of the complete Psalm. 
 
 The fifteen Psalms entitled in our Bible u Songs 
 of degrees " are generally supposed to be ancient 
 poems sung, either in their original form or in one 
 somewhat altered, after the return from Babylon, 
 by the pilgrims to the yearly festivals at Jerusalem. 
 I have, therefore, made use of such as seemed to 
 me to be applicable to the history of David. 
 
 It would be most presumptuous in me to say 
 that all, or even any, of these Songs were actually 
 composed for the occasions to which I have taken 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXV 
 
 upon myself to assign them ; but, in attempting to 
 connect the Psalms with events recorded in the 
 historical portions of Scripture, I have only followed 
 the example of the most pious and learned Com- 
 mentators, and indeed in most cases have been 
 guided by their conjectures. 
 
 It is remarkable that in the first, fourth, and fifth 
 Books of the Psalter, which include many Psalms 
 of David, the Almighty is almost invariably de- 
 signated as li Jehovah," whereas in the second and 
 third Books, which, although compiled by the 
 Levites in the reign of Hezekiah, consist chiefly 
 of Psalms assigned to David and Asaph (see ante, 
 page ix), He is seldom spoken of otherwise than 
 as u God." It seems not unreasonable to suppose 
 that the Levites changed the word " Jehovah " into 
 11 God " (a Name more commonly used in their 
 time), as we know they did in the case of Psalm 
 liii., which was a later version of Psalm xiv. 
 However this may have been, it is not generally 
 considered that the date at which a Psalm was 
 composed can be determined with any certainty 
 from the use in it of either the one or the other of 
 these appellations. Still I have thought it best to 
 follow the Hebrew text in regard to the employ- 
 ment of the words "Lord," "God," and "Jehovah," 
 which last is the " LORD " of the English Bible. 
 
xxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It has not been my province in this collection of 
 Songs to point out how far many of them are pro- 
 phetical, nor indeed to assume the duties of a 
 Commentator. My object has been to show that 
 these Songs may be so arranged as to illustrate 
 the life of David from his anointing by Samuel to 
 his death, and that they give a faithful picture of 
 his character. That character was very far from 
 perfect. David was unrivalled as a poet, but, 
 living in a barbarous age, he sometimes uses lan- 
 guage which to us appears painful and difficult to 
 be understood. Yet there is throughout all his 
 Songs such a spirit of ardent piety, such an un- 
 wavering dependence on the loving care of the 
 Almighty, that, whether he invokes blessings on 
 his friends or curses on his enemies, we still feel 
 that God is in all his thoughts. It is this which is 
 the great charm of his writings ; it is this which 
 enables us to read these glorious Songs with delight 
 in the time of joy and with comfort in the hour of 
 sorrow, and which never fails to increase their 
 value the more that they are studied. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 
 V. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 
 i Samuel. ^agi 
 
 Ps. viii. ; xix. I — 6; cxxxix ; ciii. ... I 
 Ps. civ. i Sam. ii. i — 10. Pss. xliv. I — 8 ; cli. 12 
 Ps. cxxxiii. 1 Sam. xviii. 7. Pss. Ixiv.; lxxxvi.; 
 
 cxxxi. ; lv. I — 7 ...... 23 
 
 Pss. lviii.; iii. 3, 4; xvii.; lxvi. 5 — 7 ; cxl.; lix. 
 
 I — 5 ; lix. 6 — 13 ; lix. 14 — 17 ; iv. 1, 2.; xxxv. ; 
 
 xxxvii. ........ 34 
 
 Pss. cxliii. 7 — 12 ; cxxi 60 
 
 Pss. lxx. ; xxxix. I — 5 ; lvi. . . . .64 
 
 Pss. xxxiv. ; cxlii. ; cxliii. I — 6; Hi.; cxl. I — 3; 
 
 cxl. 4, 5 7° 
 
 Pss. ix. 17—20; cxl. 6 — 8; xii.; xiii. ; xxxi. ; 
 
 xvi. ; liv. 1 — 3; x. ; xi.; liv. . . . .81 
 
 Pss. lvii. 1 — 3; lvii. 3 — 6; lvii. 7 — 1 1.; vii. I — 5. 103 
 Pss. xiv. ; xlix. 16 — 20 ; lxii. 9 — 12 . . . 108 
 
 Pss. cxl. 9 — 13; iii. 1, 2 ; iv. 3, 4 ; lxvi. 16 — 20. 113 
 Pss. cxli.; lxi. I — 4 . . . . . .118 
 
 Ps. lxxxix. 46 — 48 121 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 Ps. xliv. 2 Sam. i. 19—27 .... 123 
 Pss. lxvi. 8 — 15 ; cxxxviii. . . . .130 
 
 2 Sam. iii. 33, 34 . . . . 134 
 
 Pss. xxvii. ; cxlv. ; xlvii. I — 4; lxi. 5 — 8 ; cxxviii. 136 
 Pss. xxiii.; lxxxix. I — 4 ; lxxxix. 5 — 37 ; ex. . 193 
 Pss. ix. ; xx. I — 3 ; xxi. 1, 2 ; lx. I — 4 ; lx. 5 — 
 
 12; cviii. ; xix. 7 — 14; ci 204 
 
 Pss. ii. ; xlvi. 1 — 3; lxii. 5 — 8; xlvi. 8 — II; 
 
 exxiv. ........ 236 
 
 Ps. xx. ........ 245 
 
 Ps. Ii. ; xxxii. 5; xxxix. 6 — II. 2 Sam. xii. 22, 
 
 23. Pss. exxvii.; xxi. ..... 248 
 
 Pss. vi. ; lxii.; xxxix. 12, 13; lxxxix. 49 — 51 ; 
 
 Iii. I — 3; lv. ; xxvi. ; xxviii. ; lxix. I — 29. 
 Pss. xxii. 1 — 21 ; vii.; iv. ; cix. . . . . 
 
 Pss. Iii. 4, 5 ; v. ; iii.; Iii. 6 — 9; xlix.; xii.; lxiii. 
 Pss. xxv. ; cxliii. 2 Sam. xviii. 33. 
 Pss. exxx. ; exxii. ; lxxxiv. 1 — 4; lxxxi v 9 — 1 
 
 lxxxiv. 5 — 8 ....... 
 
 260 
 284 
 298 
 315 
 
 323 
 
XXV111 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAI\ 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 
 xxm. 
 
 I. 
 II. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 35. 
 
 Pss. xxxvi.; cxxv.; lv. 19— 2 3 ; XX1L 22 3 1 > 
 
 Pss. lxxvii. 4-9 ; tea^a- i-7 ; In- ; xxxn. 6, 7. ^ 
 Ps. xviii. ..-••• ' I 70 
 2 Sam. xxiii. 2 — 7 P' 
 
 1 Kings. 
 
 Pss. xxxviii.; lxxv. 4—10 . 
 Ps. xxxix . 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 lxxxv. I, 2 ; lxviii. I — 6 ; xxxiii. 
 
 361 
 
 167 
 
 Pss. cxxvi 
 
 xxix. ... * 
 
 Pss. cxv.; lxvi. I— 4 ; cxliv \ 
 
 lviii. 9— *i- , 
 
 xxiv. 1—6 ; lxviii. 33 
 
 lxvii. I ; lxvii. 2—4. 
 
 Fss. cxv.; ixvi. 1 — q- , ^"' 
 Pss. xlviii. 9— 14; lxxxv.; _ 
 
 xxiv. 1-6 ; lxviii. 33-35 J xxiv. 7-10 ; xv 
 Pss. lxviii. 7-19 ; lxvii. 5-7- * Chron. xvi. 8- 
 
 36. Pss. cxxxiv.; lxviii. 20—32 J xlvn. 5—9 
 Pss. lxxxviii.; xxxii. 1—4 - 
 Pss. xxx.; lxxxvii. I— 3 
 Ps. lxv. ...••• 
 Ps. lxxii * 
 
 145 
 157 
 
 166 
 
 180 
 
 345 
 350 
 354 
 357 
 
 Note. -For Zm/read LORD, in pages I, 6, 28, 36, 81, 83, 95- 
 
ERRATUM. 
 
 The reference to the Introduction in the Prefaces 
 to the Songs must be carried two pages forward in 
 every instance. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 The asterisk (*) before a line in the songs signifies some noticeable 
 departure from the sense of the Bible or Prayer-book version, in 
 order to give a more literal rendering. It is not generally affixed 
 at merely slight deviations from the authorized translations, such as 
 changes of person, number, tense, &c, although, with a few un- 
 avoidable exceptions, such changes are not made without the 
 authority of modern translators and commentators of high standing. 
 
 i Samuel xvi. 
 Song i 
 
 " The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day 
 forward" — v. 13. 
 
 The history of David commences with the visit of 
 Samuel to Bethlehem, to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be 
 the future king of Israel. The ostensible reason of the 
 prophet's coming was to preside at an annual sacrificial 
 feast, at which it appears that Jesse, as the greatest man 
 of the place, with his family, usually took the lead (v. 5 ; 
 also chap. xx. 6). 
 
 It is not clear to what extent Samuel explained his 
 object in desiring Jesse to present to him in turn his 
 seven tall and goodly sons, for we learn from verse 2 that, 
 for the safety of Samuel, and probably of David himself, 
 
 B 
 
2 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 the transaction was to be kept secret. Possibly, even 
 when the anointing oil was poured forth, those most 
 deeply interested did not yet understand its full meaning. 
 It was plain, however, that the simple lad, to whom were 
 allotted the humblest duties, and whom no one had even 
 thought of summoning to the sacrifice, was henceforth 
 the chosen of the Almighty to some high and holy 
 office. 
 
 No feeling of pride appears to have entered the young 
 shepherd's heart. He returned to his peaceful occupa- 
 tion, sweetened as it was by his wonderful talent for music 
 and poetry. But from this time his songs were to assume 
 a new character. Filled with joy and reverential awe by 
 the consciousness of the Divine influence within him, he 
 would sing the praises of Jehovah in such strains as those 
 of Psalm viii., which may have been composed on some 
 bright cloudless night, with his father's sheep around 
 him. 
 
 In verse 2, alluding to his recent call, the youth seems 
 lost in admiration of the ways of God, who had " founded " 
 (or stablished) strength from a source which he compares 
 in its weakness to an infant's wail. 
 
 Gazing on the glories of the visible heavens, he rejoices 
 that their Creator is the God of Israel, to whom He has 
 revealed Himself by His own most holy Name, and with 
 adoring rapture the song begins and ends : " How excel- 
 lent is Thy Name, Jehovah our Lord ! " 
 
 Psalm viii. 
 
 EHOVAH, Thou our Lord, Thy Name 
 How excellent ! how high ! 
 Thou Who in earth hast set Thy fame, 
 In Heaven Thy majesty. 
 
THE SHEPHERD OF BETHLEHEM. 
 
 2 Strength is from infants' mouths ordained 
 
 *And stablished by Thy will, 
 That the avenger be restrained, 
 That Thou the foe may'st still. 
 
 3 Jehovah, when Thy heavens I see, 
 
 Created by Thine hand, 
 The moon and stars ordained by Thee 
 To shine on every land : 
 
 4 Oh ! what is man that in Thy mind 
 
 He should obtain a place ? 
 Or son of man, that he should find 
 With Thee such wondrous grace ? 
 
 5 Than angels little lower made, 
 
 With glory crowned by Thee, 
 
 6 Thou at his feet Thy works hast laid, 
 
 Beneath his rule to be, — 
 
 7 Beasts of the field, the flocks of sheep, 
 
 8 Oxen, the fowls of air, 
 
 Fishes that dwell within the deep, 
 Whatever moveth there. 
 
 9 Jehovah, Israel's God and Lord, 
 
 How excellent Thy Name ! 
 In all the earth Thou art adored, 
 Thy praise Thy works proclaim. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song it. 
 
 "A son of Jesse the Bethlehe??iite i that is cunning i?i playing." — v. 1 8. 
 
 Psalm viii., being apparently a midnight composition, 
 is naturally succeeded by the first part of Psalm xix., which 
 may have been suggested to David's mind by the splen- 
 dour of a morning sky. When, however, the sun arises 
 to illuminate the whole world, the Psalmist no longer 
 uses the name by which Jehovah had specially revealed 
 Himself to His peculiar people, but that title by which 
 the great Creator is universally worshipped. 
 
 May not David thus unconsciously allude to that Sun 
 of Righteousness who was to arise with healing in His 
 wings, and to be not only the glory of Israel, but a light 
 to the Gentiles also? (Mai. iv. 2; Isa. xlix. 6.) It is 
 remarkable that, in the second part of this Psalm, which 
 is written in praise of the law of Moses, as Israel's law, 
 David no longer uses the general name of God, but 
 returns to the more limited title of Jehovah. This leads 
 to the conclusion that the second part was a later com- 
 position, joined to the other by David himself. 
 
 Psalm xix. i — 6. 
 
 HE heavens declare God's boundless praise, 
 The firmament His work displays ; 
 2 Day unto day doth utter speech, 
 And night to night doth knowledge teach ; 
 3 No sound is there, no uttered word, 
 No language in their voice is heard ; 
 
THE SHEPHERD OF BETHLEHEM. 
 
 4 Yet hath their line reached earth's far end, 
 And through the world their words extend. 
 From his pavilion there the sun 
 
 Sets forth at morn his course to run, 
 
 5 Joyful as bridegroom from his bride, 
 Or racer in his strength and pride. 
 
 6 He goeth forth from heaven's far bound ; 
 From end to end his path is found ; 
 
 To all his circuit is revealed, 
 
 Nor from his heat is aught concealed. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song iii. 
 
 " Prudent in matters .... and (he Lord is ivith him" — v. 18. 
 
 The. word " prudent " is generally employed in the 
 Bible in a higher sense than that in which we are accus- 
 tomed to use it ; and we may look on Psalm cxxxix. as a 
 specimen of those communings with God and his own 
 heart on the lonely plains of Bethlehem which, aided by 
 the Holy Spirit's influence, filled the shepherd-lad with 
 wisdom far beyond his years. 
 
 This Divine song possesses a depth and spirituality 
 more in harmony with a solitary life than with the stirring 
 events of a court or camp, traces of which we find in 
 most of David's later compositions. Perhaps the latter 
 part of the Psalm may have been added after the con- 
 quest of Goliath, verses 19 — 22 referring to David's 
 indignation at the blasphemous language of the giant, 
 and verses 23 and 24 to his conscious integrity when 
 reproached by his brother Eliab for pride and naughtiness 
 of heart. 
 
 Psalm cxxxix. 
 
 'EHOVAH, Thou hast searched me ; 
 2 When down I sit, when up I rise, 
 All that I do is known to Thee ; 
 Thine eye my thoughts far off descries. 
 Thou dost my path and bed surround, 
 And all my ways to Thee are clear ; 
 For on my tongue no word is found 
 But Thou, Jehovah, dost it hear. 
 
THE SHEPHERD OF BETHLEHEM. 7 
 
 5 Behind, before me Thou art nigh, 
 
 And hast upon me laid Thine hand ; 
 
 6 Such knowledge is for me too high ; 
 
 Such things I cannot understand. 
 
 7 From Thee O whither shall I go ? 
 
 Where from Thy Spirit shall I hide ? 
 What place doth not Thy Presence know 
 Where doth Jehovah not abide ? 
 
 8 If up to heaven my flight I take, 
 
 The heavens Thy Presence always share ; 
 And if in hell my bed I make, 
 
 Thou still art with me — Thou art there. 
 
 9 If I should seek the utmost sea, 
 
 Borne on the wings of dawning day, 
 
 10 E'en there Thine hand my guide shall be, 
 
 Thy right hand hold shall on me lay. 
 
 11 " In darkness I will take my flight," 
 
 (Thus peradventure I may say), 
 " I shall be covered by the night/' 
 
 Then shall my night be turned to day. 
 
 12 Yea, darkness hideth not from Thee ; 
 
 It shineth clearly as the sun ; 
 The night to Thee as day shall be ; 
 Darkness and light to Thee are one. 
 
 13 My reins are Thine, are Thine alone ; 
 
 When in my mother's womb I slept 
 To Thee were all my members known ; 
 By Thee I was in safety kept. 
 
 14 Thee, O Jehovah, I will praise ; 
 
 For I am wonderfully made ; 
 That wondrous are Thy works and ways 
 Is clearly to my soul displayed. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 5 My bones were not concealed from Thee, 
 
 Beneath the earth though they were framed ; 
 
 16 Thou didst mine unformed substance see ; 
 
 My members in Thy book were named ; 
 Yea, surely they were written there ; 
 
 Fashioned by Thee was every one, 
 (And daily grew beneath Thy care,) 
 
 E'en while as yet of them was none. 
 
 17 O God, when on Thy thoughts I dwell, 
 
 How precious are those thoughts to me ! 
 
 18 The sand in number they excel ; 
 
 I wake, and I am still with Thee. 
 
 19 Surely the wicked shall be slain ! 
 
 Ye bloodthirsty, from me away. 
 
 20 * Thy foes against Thee rise in vain ; 
 
 * In vain they plots against Thee lay. 
 
 21 Hate I not them who hate Thee dare ? 
 And grieve when they against Thee rise ? 
 
 22 To them I perfect hatred bear, 
 
 I count them as mine enemies. 
 
 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart ; 
 
 Try me ; my thoughts before Thee lay ; 
 
 24 See if my feet to sin depart, 
 
 And lead me in the living way. 
 
BALM FOR THE TROUBLED MIND. 
 
 Song ib. 
 
 "It came to pass when the evil spirit jrom God was upon Saul, that 
 David took an harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, 
 and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him" — v. 23. 
 
 Beneath the Divine displeasure Saul was afflicted with 
 a mental malady, described in Scripture as an evil spirit 
 from the Lord. Music being found beneficial during the 
 paroxysms, his servants suggested that an accomplished 
 player on the harp should be found, to be in attendance 
 on the king. David was proposed, as tradition says, by 
 Doeg, who, having the superintendence of the royal 
 herds, may have met with him when making his rounds. 
 Although no mention is made of song, we cannot doubt 
 that the king delighted in the additional charm of the 
 young minstrel's voice, and no words could have been 
 better suited to the required object than those of Psalm 
 ciii., which have been a solace to the distressed, both in 
 mind and body, in every subsequent age. 
 
 • The Syriac Psalter refers this psalm to David's last 
 illness, and the fervent gratitude and piety which breathes 
 in every line render it very probable that it was repeated 
 by him on his death-bed. 
 
 Psalm cm. 
 
 THOU, my soul, Jehovah bless, 
 
 My soul, and all that dwells in me ; 
 2 Think of His mercies numberless, 
 Forget not all He doth for thee. 
 
IO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 Who doth forgive thee all thy sin ; 
 
 By Whom thy sicknesses are healed ; 
 
 4 Who from the grave thy life doth win ; 
 
 His tender love thy crown and shield. 
 
 5 Thy mouth with blessings ever new 
 
 Whose gracious hand doth satisfy ; 
 Thy youth with strength Who doth endue, 
 Yea, with the eagle's strength supply. 
 
 6 Jehovah righteousness displays; 
 
 The oppressed by Him upheld have been 
 
 7 To Moses He made known His ways ; 
 
 By Israel's sons His acts were seen. 
 
 8 Great mercy doth Jehovah show ; 
 
 He gracious is, of tender love, 
 Of suffering long, to anger slow, 
 Plenteous in mercy from above. 
 
 9 He will not us for ever chide, 
 
 Nor alway His displeasure keep ; 
 
 10 He oft His wrath hath turned aside, 
 
 Nor let our sins due vengeance reap. 
 
 1 1 For as the heaven o'er earth is high, 
 
 To them who fear Him is His love ; 
 
 12 Far as the east from west doth lie, 
 
 He doth our sins from us remove. 
 
 13 To them that fear Him greater far 
 
 Than father's pitying love is His ; 
 
 14 Jehovah knows that dust we are, 
 
 Well known to Him our frailty is. 
 
 1 5 The days of man are as the grass, 
 
 Himself a flower that decks the plain ; 
 
 16 Gone as the wind doth onward pass, 
 
 Its place shall know it not again. 
 
BALM FOR THE TROUBLED MIND. II 
 
 17 But yet Jehovah's loving grace 
 
 To endless ages doth endure ; 
 To all who fear Him, and their race, 
 His mercy still remaineth sure. 
 
 18 To such as on Him humbly wait, 
 
 Nor dare from His commandments stray, 
 Who on His statutes meditate, 
 And love His precepts to obey. 
 
 19 Jehovah hath in Heaven His throne, 
 
 And there His seat hath ready made ; 
 His is the kingdom, His alone ; 
 By all His rule shall be obeyed. 
 
 20 Bless ye Jehovah, ye who dwell 
 
 With Him, and hearken to His voice, 
 Ye who in strength and power excel, 
 Ye to obey Him who rejoice. 
 
 21 Bless ye Jehovah, ye on high, 
 
 His Hosts, who in His presence stand ; 
 Bless Him, His ministers who fly, 
 With speed fulfilling His command. 
 
 22 Bless ye Jehovah, bless His Name, 
 
 Where'er His laws the worlds control ; 
 Ye works of His, His praise proclaim ; 
 Bless thou Jehovah, O my soul. 
 
12 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xvii. 
 Song to. 
 
 " David went and returned from Said to feed his father's sheep at 
 Bethlehem."— v. 15. 
 
 Psalm civ. is one of those appointed for the Sabbath, 
 and belongs to a series to which the word Hallelujah was 
 attached. It seems to have been composed as a com- 
 panion to the preceding Psalm. They begin and end 
 with the same words ; and while one dwells on the good- 
 ness of the Almighty Father, the other describes the 
 wonders of the great Creator. In each, as he approaches 
 the conclusion of his song, the poet's thoughts seem to 
 wander from the subjects on which he has been dwelling 
 to those which form the groundwork of the other Psalm. 
 There is, however, a remarkable difference in their 
 structure ; for in Psalm civ. one singer always addresses 
 God in the second person, while the other always speaks 
 of Him in the third, an arrangement not followed in ciii. 
 Psalm civ. has been assigned to the age of Moses, the 
 reign of Solomon, and other periods ; but its companion 
 form points to the conclusion of those commentators who 
 think that it was composed by David about the same 
 time as ciii.; and its numerous allusions to country 
 scenes appear in character with his return to shepherd 
 life. 
 
THE PLAINS OF BETHLEHEM. 1 3 
 
 Psalm civ. 
 First Voice, 
 
 THOU, my soul, Jehovah bless. 
 
 My God, Thou art in glory high ; . 
 What tongue Thy greatness can express 
 Whom honour clothes and majesty ! 
 Who coverest Thyself with light 
 
 Around Thee as a garment shed, 
 And Who the heavens in splendour bright 
 Dost like a mighty curtain spread. 
 
 Second Voice, 
 
 3 A place Who in the waters finds 
 
 Whereon His chambers' beams may lie ; 
 Who walks upon the wings of winds, 
 His chariot makes the clouds that fly ; 
 
 4 *Who winds His messengers hath made, 
 
 *His ministers of fiery flame ; 
 
 5 Who hath the earth's foundations laid, 
 
 And fixed immovably its frame. 
 
 First Voice, 
 
 To cover it, the flowing tide 
 
 A garment formed at Thy command ; 
 Thou mad'st its robe the ocean wide, 
 
 The waters o'er the hills to stand. 
 
14 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 7 They heard Thy thunder's voice and fled ; 
 
 8 They rise above the mountains' crest ; 
 Then fall to their appointed bed, 
 
 And in the valleys sink to rest. 
 
 9 Their settled bound from Thee they learn, 
 
 Which never may their waves pass o'er ; 
 They are forbidden to return ; 
 
 Their floods shall cover earth no more. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 10 He sendeth in their courses springs, 
 
 Whose waters from the mountains flow, 
 And these He to the valleys brings, 
 That run among the hills below. 
 
 11 Beasts of the field to drink are there; 
 
 And there their thirst wild asses slake ; 
 
 12 Beside them dwell the fowls of air, 
 
 And in the boughs glad concert make. 
 
 13 He from His chambers in the sky 
 
 Sends rain to water every hill ; 
 His works all creatures satisfy ; 
 
 Their fruits the earth with goodness fill. 
 
 14 Grass for the cattle in the field 
 
 He makes abundantly to spring, 
 And herb for man the ground to yield, 
 That food He from the earth may bring. 
 
 15 Yea, plenteously it brings forth wine, 
 
 Which gladness doth to man impart ; 
 And oil, that makes his face to shine ; 
 And bread, that strengthened! his heart. 
 
THE PLAINS OF BETHLEHEM. 1 5 
 
 16 With sap the cedar-trees are filled 
 
 On Lebanon, His handiwork ; 
 
 17 In them the birds delight to build, 
 
 And in the fir-trees dwells the stork. 
 
 18 The goats find refuge in the hills ; 
 
 The conies in the rocks abound ; 
 
 19 The moon her monthly course fulfils ; 
 
 The sun performs his daily round. 
 
 First Voice, 
 
 20 Thou makest night succeed to day, 
 
 When creep from out their dark retreat 
 
 21 Wild beasts, and, roaring for their prey, 
 
 Young lions seek from God their meat. 
 
 22 The sun ariseth in his might 
 
 With beams of day -the morn to crown ; 
 They haste together from his light, 
 And in their dens they lay them down. 
 
 23 Man, going forth upon his way, 
 
 The labour of his hands renews ; 
 And, till the evening's fading ray, 
 He his appointed work pursues. 
 
 24 Jehovah, O how manifold 
 
 Are all Thy works, in wisdom made ; 
 The riches of the earth untold 
 
 Are Thine, and are by Thee displayed. 
 
 25 The ocean, great and wide, Thy care 
 
 A home for countless creatures makes ; 
 
 26 There go the stately ships ; and there 
 
 Leviathan his pastime takes. 
 
1 6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2j These all upon Thee waiting rest, 
 
 That Thou may'st give them timely food ; 
 
 28 And when Thine hand Thou openest, 
 
 They all are satisfied with good. 
 
 29 Thy face Thou hidest, and dismay 
 
 And troubles on them multiply ; 
 When Thou dost take their breath away, 
 Returning to their dust, they die. 
 
 30 Again Thy quickening breath doth raise 
 
 New life and freshness to the earth ; 
 Beauty again her face displays, 
 Renewed, as by a second birth. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 31 Jehovah's glory fast shall stand ; 
 
 To everlasting it shall be ; 
 The works of His almighty hand 
 Jehovah shall rejoicing see. 
 
 32 The earth with dread His presence fills, 
 
 Beneath His eye it trembling lies ; 
 And if He do but touch the hills, 
 
 Thick clouds of smoke are seen to rise. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 33 My song Jehovah's praise shall tell ; 
 
 Long as I live shall rise my voice ; 
 
 34 Sweet shall it be on Him to dwell ; 
 
 I in Jehovah will rejoice. 
 
 35 All those who walk in wickedness 
 
 Shall perish in their evil ways ; 
 But Thou, my soul, Jehovah bless ; 
 Ascribe ye to Jehovah praise. 
 
GOLIATH. 17 
 
 (i So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with 
 a sto?ie." — v. 50. 
 
 It is uncertain how much time elapsed between David's 
 departure from the Court and the outbreak of the war men- 
 tioned in this Chapter, when David was sent to carry pro- 
 visions to his brothers in the camp near the valley of Elah. 
 
 Both Hebrews and Christians have been familiar from 
 their childhood with the account of the combat between 
 David and the giant which took place there, and some 
 songs must surely have been written to celebrate the 
 young shepherd's victory ; yet there is no Psalm which is 
 peculiarly appropriate to it. 
 
 Ewald and others have supposed that the song assigned 
 to Hannah (1 Sam. ii.) was really composed by David in 
 reference to this conquest; and its triumphant tone is 
 certainly more in unison with the feelings of a youthful 
 conqueror than with the overflowing gratitude of a gentle 
 and much-enduring woman, while the allusion to the 
 king, near the end, is unsuitable to the time of Hannah. 
 
 For these reasons I think that this song, by whom- 
 soever written, may be introduced here as applicable to 
 the history of David. 
 
 1 Samuel ii. 1— 10. 
 
 IN Jehovah do rejoice ; 
 
 My horn in Him is lifted high ; 
 In Thy salvation glad, my voice 
 •• Doth glory o'er mine enemy : 
 2 Jehovah is the Holy One ; 
 
 No rock like God ; beside Thee none. 
 
 C 
 
[8 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 No more your pride in boasting show ; 
 
 No longer arrogance display ; 
 Jehovah every thought doth know ; 
 Our God doth every action weigh. 
 
 4 The bows are broken of the strong ; 
 Now to the weak doth strength belong. 
 
 5 The rich are hungry and forlorn ; 
 
 The poor for bread have ceased to moan ; 
 Now to the barren seven are born ; 
 She that hath sons is feeble grown. 
 
 6 Jehovah slays, gives life again, 
 
 Brings to the grave, brings back the slain. 
 
 7 Jehovah poor and rich doth make ; 
 
 He lifteth up, and low He lays ; 
 
 8 The poor from out the dust doth take, 
 
 The beggar from the dunghill raise, 
 To make them among princes known, 
 And set them on a glorious throne. 
 
 The pillars of the earth are His, 
 
 And He on them the world hath set ; 
 
 9 Guide of His saints Jehovah is ; 
 
 To keep them He will ne'er forget : 
 In silent death shall sinners fail, 
 For by his strength shall none prevail. 
 
 10 Broken in pieces shall be those 
 
 Who rise against Jehovah's might ; 
 He shall send thunder on His foes, 
 
 In earth's far ends give judgment right, 
 With strength endue His chosen king, 
 To honour His anointed bring. 
 
GOLIATH. 19 
 
 Sang bit. 
 
 "And the men of Israel and of yudah arose, and shouted, and 
 pursued the Philistines until thou co??ie to the valley, and to the 
 gates of ' Ek? vn" — v. 52. 
 
 The overthrow of their champion filled the army of the 
 Philistines with dismay \ the panic was complete, and the 
 soldiers fled in the utmost disorder to seek for safety 
 within the walls of their fortified towns. On the other 
 hand, the courage of the Israelites was thoroughly re- 
 stored, and they pursued their flying enemies to the very 
 gates of Gath and Ekron. The following song may not 
 improbably have been composed by David in remembrance 
 of this glorious day. 
 
 Psalm xliv. i — 8. 
 
 Soldiers. 
 
 GOD, Thy servants have been taught, 
 Our fathers in our ears have told, 
 The works which Thou for them hast 
 wrought, 
 Thy wonders in the days of old : 
 
 2 How Thou their foes didst dispossess, 
 
 Drive out the heathen with Thine hand, 
 Didst plant them in, their foes distress, 
 
 * That they might spread throughout the 
 land. 
 
 C 2 
 
20 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 Their sword made not the nations yield, 
 
 Nor theirs the might that victory gave ; 
 Vain was their strength on battle-field, 
 Helpless their arm from death to save : 
 
 But Thy right hand, Thine arm of might, 
 Their enemies did overthrow, 
 
 And of Thy countenance the light, 
 Because Thou didst them favour show. 
 
 David. 
 
 4 Thou art my King, O God, command 
 
 Deliverances for Jacob's race ; 
 
 5 Through Thee we conquerors shall stand ; 
 
 Our feet we on the foe shall place : 
 
 6 For I confide not in my bow, 
 
 My sword shall not the victory claim ; 
 
 7 Nay, Thou hast saved us from the foe, 
 
 And put our enemies to shame. 
 
 David and Soldiers. 
 
 8 In God we boast ; a joyful song 
 
 To God Who helpeth us we raise : 
 In God we triumph all day long ; 
 Thy Name, O God, we ever praise. 
 
GOLIATH. 21 
 
 Song biit. 
 
 "David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to 
 Jerusalem." — v. 54. 
 
 Thus ends the history of David's conquest of Goliath, 
 and, as we learn from Joshua xv. 63 and Judges i. 21 
 that (although the Jebusites still held the citadel) the 
 town of Jerusalem was inhabited by portions of David's 
 own tribe of Judah and of the royal tribe of Benjamin, 
 it was a fitting place in which to deposit the head of the 
 slain giant as a trophy. It is, however, possible that Jeru- 
 salem may here mean the neighbouring sanctuary of Nob. 
 
 This, being the termination of David's shepherd-life, is 
 a suitable place in which to introduce the following song, 
 though its style is totally unlike that of David. The 
 Psalter is closed in the Septuagint version by a Psalm 
 numbered cli., with the title: — "This is a Psalm of 
 David's own writing, and outside the number, when he 
 fought the single combat with Goliath. " 
 
 Psalm cll 
 
 ITHIN my father's house the one 
 Of least account, the youngest son. 
 My lot it was my father's sheep 
 
 Upon the mountain-side to keep. 
 
 A harp my fingers fashioned there \ 
 
 A psaltery did my hands prepare. 
 
 How shall it reach Jehovah's ear ? 
 He is Jehovah ; He doth hear. 
 
22 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Called by His messenger from toil, 
 I was anointed with His oil : 
 My brethren fair, of stature high, 
 Grace found not in Jehovah's eye. 
 
 'Twas mine undaunted forth to go 
 To meet the proud Philistine foe. 
 I met him on the battle-plain ; 
 He cursed me by his idols vain. 
 
 Lo, victor in the unequal fight, 
 
 My hand drew forth his sword of might ; 
 
 His head I severed. On that day 
 
 I took our Israel's shame away. 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL. 23 
 
 i Samuel xviii. 
 Song xx. 
 
 " The soul of yonathan was knit with the soul of David, and 
 Jonathan loved him as his own soul." — v. I. 
 
 Saul was so delighted with the overthrow of the giant 
 and the defeat of the Philistines that he insisted on 
 retaining the conqueror at court, and placing him in 
 immediate attendance on his own person. In this situa- 
 tion David rapidly acquired the esteem and affection of 
 the king's eldest son, and their mutual love is one of the 
 most pleasing incidents related in the Hebrew Scriptures. 
 There must have been something peculiarly attractive in 
 David to secure so immediately the affection of the heir 
 of the throne — a valiant soldier, many years his superior 
 in age. Psalm cxxxiii. is an exquisite little song, which 
 is possibly a memorial of their friendship. It is the first 
 that I have quoted of those fifteen Psalms called in our 
 Bible " Songs of degrees," which were probably contained 
 in some ancient book of hymns. 
 
 Psalm cxxxiii. 
 
 EH OLD, how good it is and sweet, 
 Yea, full of pure delight ! 
 In bonds of love when brethren meet, 
 In peace unite. 
 
24 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Sweet as the oil on Aaron's head, 
 
 Whose streams of fragrance rare 
 Flowed down his beard to overspread, 
 And garments fair. 
 
 3 On Hermon's top, on Zion's sides, 
 
 As gently falls the dew , 
 There with Jehovah's love abides 
 Life ever new. 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL. 
 
 25 
 
 §0tKJ X. 
 
 "It came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the 
 slaughter of the Philistine, that the wo?nen came out of all cities of 
 Israel, singing and dancing to meet king Saul \" — v. 6. 
 
 Saul had no intention of allowing David to become a 
 mere idler about the court. In order to make use of his 
 military talents he gave him an appointment in the army, 
 and sent him on various occasions against the enemy. 
 In these expeditions David's fame became such, that he 
 was regarded as a greater conqueror than the valiant king 
 himself, as we learn from the following song of the women. 
 
 1 Samuel xviii, 7. 
 
 Women. 
 
 AUL hath, with uplifted spear, 
 
 Stretched his thousands on the plain ! 
 
 Women answering. 
 
 David's deeds let Israel hear, 
 Tens of thousands he hath slain. 
 
26 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song xx. 
 
 "Saul iuas very wroth." — v. 8. 
 "And Saul eyed David from that day and forward." — v. 9. 
 
 It is scarcely surprising that Saul's natural jealousy, 
 increased by his constitutional malady, should have been 
 aroused by comparisons, so unfavourable to himself, drawn 
 between him and David. Envious courtiers seem to 
 have plotted to increase this change of feeling in the 
 king ; and from that time David's peace of mind at the 
 court was gone. 
 
 In Psalm lxiv. he implores the protection of the 
 Almighty from Saul's murderous fits of rage (to which he 
 seems to allude in verse 1) and from the slanders of the 
 sycophants who combined to destroy his character. 
 
 Psalm lxiv. 
 
 GOD, my supplication hear ; 
 
 Preserve my life from deadly fear ; 
 2 Hide me from those in council met 
 
 In secret, on my ruin set ; 
 
 3 From men who whet their tongues like swords, 
 And shoot their arrows, bitter words ; 
 
 4 Who with a sudden treacherous dart 
 Fear not to wound the true of heart. 
 
 5 Each doth his fellow bolder make, 
 As evil deeds they undertake ; 
 
 They commune, hidden snares to lay ; 
 And Who shall see them, now ? they say. 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL. 
 
 6 The wickedness that they have sought 
 *Is to perfection by them brought. 
 
 The inward thoughts of all are deep ; 
 These in their hearts they secret keep. 
 
 7 But God His bow shall quickly bend, 
 And swift to wound an arrow send ; 
 
 8 Their tongues shall their own ruin be ; 
 They who behold shall trembling flee ; 
 
 9 Yea, men shall fear, and pondering own 
 The work of God, His work alone. 
 
 10 The just shall trust in Him, and raise 
 The voice of joy, the song of praise. 
 
 27 
 
28 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Seng xtt 
 
 1 ' Daind behaved himself wisely in all his ways ; and the Lord was 
 with him." — v. 14. 
 
 We learn from the following Psalm the secret of 
 David's wisdom in circumstances of such extraordinary 
 difficulty ; he lived a life of prayer. Ver. 1 1 especially 
 appears to be the petition to which the text quoted above 
 shows the abundant answer. 
 
 Psalm lxxxvi. 
 
 OW down to me from Heaven Thine ear ; 
 Jehovah, hearken when I plead ; 
 ^1 For I am poor ; O be Thou near 
 In this my need. 
 
 2 Preserve my soul ; for that my heart 
 Is Thine, Thou, O my God, dost see. 
 
 O to Thy servant help impart 
 
 Who trusts in Thee. 
 
 3 Be now to me Thy mercy shown, 
 Jehovah, day by day I cry ; 
 
 4 Rejoice my soul, which to Thy throne 
 I lift on high. 
 
 5 For Thy forgiveness freely flows ; 
 Jehovah, Thou art good to all ; 
 
 Plenteous Thy mercy is to those 
 
 Who on Thee call. 
 
 6 Give ear, Jehovah, to my prayer 
 When at Thy footstool low I bend ; 
 
 O to my supplications there 
 
 Do Thou attend. 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL, 29 
 
 7 To Thee in sorrow I will cry ; 
 
 To Thee in time of trouble flee ; 
 
 For Thou to hearken wilt be nigh, 
 
 And answer me. 
 
 8 Surely among the gods is none, 
 
 Jehovah, who is like to Thee ; 
 Of others' w r orks with Thine not one 
 Compared may be. 
 
 9 All nations whom Thou didst create 
 
 Shall, worshipping, Thy praise proclaim ; 
 They all shall magnify Thy great, 
 
 Thy glorious Name. 
 10 For Thou art great, O Thou Most High ; 
 
 In wondrous things Thy might is shown ; 
 Thou, Who Thy Name dost magnify, 
 Art God alone. 
 
 1 1 Teach me Thy way ; Thy truth impart ; 
 
 My path to Thee shall then be near ; 
 Jehovah, knit to Thee my heart, 
 
 Thy Name to fear. 
 
 12 O Lord my God, its song to raise 
 
 My thankful heart to Thee shall soar ; 
 Thy glorious Name my lips shall praise 
 For evermore. 
 
 1 3 Because Thy mercy I have seen 
 
 Far greater than my tongue can tell ; 
 My soul by Thee hath rescued been 
 From lowest hell. 
 
30 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 14 O God, the proud against me rise ; 
 
 And wicked men, who scorn control 
 And set not Thee before their eyes, 
 
 Have sought my soul. 
 
 15 But Thou, O Lord, art ever found 
 
 A gracious God, compassionate ; 
 Thy mercies plenteously abound ; 
 
 Thy truth is great. 
 
 16 O turn Thee unto me and hear ; 
 
 Have mercy, lest I be undone ; 
 Still let Thy saving strength be near 
 
 Thine handmaid's son. 
 
 17 Some gracious token to me show, 
 
 Which they that hate me shamed may see ; 
 For Thou dost help on me bestow, 
 And comfort me. 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL. 3 1 
 
 Song xxxi. 
 
 " Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that 
 I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?" — v. 23. 
 
 Finding that all Israel loved David, Saul decided that 
 it would be safer to expose him to the sword of the 
 Philistines than himself to destroy him. As a bribe to 
 go frequently into battle, he offered him first his elder 
 daughter, and then the younger, in marriage ; but David, 
 with wise humility, hesitated to accept an honour not 
 suitable to his station and circumstances, the usual dowry 
 of a princess being far beyond his means. 
 
 Learning, however, that a deed of valour was all that 
 was needed, and (as is evident from his after-life) reci- 
 procating Michal's love, he at length acceded to the 
 proposal, and became the king's son-in-law. 
 
 Psalm cxxxi. seems very appropriate to this occasion. 
 
 Psalm cxxxi. 
 
 EEK, O Jehovah, is my heart, 
 Not proud mine eye ; 
 Nor do I seek to take a part 
 In things too high. 
 
 2 Humble my spirit is, and mild ; 
 Meekly I go ; 
 
 My soul is as a weaned child, 
 Quiet and low. 
 
 3 Let Israel trust Jehovah's grace, 
 And Him adore ; 
 
 Henceforth their hope upon Him place, 
 And evermore. 
 
32 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song xib. 
 
 fl Saul became David's enemy continually" — v. 29. 
 
 David's power of winning all hearts, except those 
 which envy and malice had hardened against him, filled 
 Saul with increasing fear and hate. David's life had 
 now become one of constant anxiety and dread. The 
 following song expresses his longing desire to escape to 
 a humbler and more peaceful home, and may probably 
 have been composed at this time. 
 
 Psalm lv. i — 7. 
 
 IVE ear unto my prayer, 
 
 O God, hear Thou my cries ; 
 Hide not Thyself when unto Thee 
 My supplications rise ; 
 
 2 Attend to me, and hear my moan ; 
 
 I mourn in my complaint, and groan. 
 
 3 The foe doth evil speak ; 
 
 The wicked me oppress ; 
 Anger and hate to me they bear, 
 Imputing wickedness. 
 
 4 Anguish hath entered to my soul ; 
 The fear of death doth o'er me roll. 
 
 5 Trembling hath o'er me come, 
 
 And dread hath filled my breast ; 
 Yea, fearfulness hath on me seized, 
 Horror my heart oppressed ; 
 
THE COURT OF SAUL. 33 
 
 Until at length, overwhelmed with grief, 
 My soul in words thus found relief. 
 
 " O that I had the wings 
 
 " That bear the dove on high ! 
 " Then would I fly and shelter seek 
 
 " Where I at rest might lie ; 
 (t Lo, I would wander far away, 
 " And in the wilderness would stay." 
 
 D 
 
34 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xix. 
 gtottg xto. 
 
 "Saul spake to yonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they 
 should kill Dai 'id. n — v. I . 
 
 Saul's enmity, hitherto confined to secret stratagems, 
 at length burst through all restraint. It is conjectured 
 that he instituted a legal process against David, and, by 
 corrupting the assembly of the elders, obtained an 
 iniquitous sentence of treason against him. 
 
 Psalm lviii. 
 
 E great assembly, do ye then 
 Speak righteousness ? 
 And do ye, O ye sons of men, 
 The wronged redress ? 
 
 2 Nay, in your hearts ye go astray, 
 Devising sin ; 
 
 The violence of your hands ye weigh 
 The land within. 
 
 3 Sin is of wicked men the guide 
 Strange paths to seek ; 
 
 E'en from their birth they go aside, 
 And lies they speak. 
 
 4 Like serpent's poison causing pain 
 Doth theirs appear ; 
 
 Like the deaf adder they remain, 
 That stops her ear ; 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 35 
 
 5 Which to the charmer doth refuse 
 
 To give due heed, 
 Charms though he ne'er so wisely use, 
 Her will to lead. 
 
 6 Break Thou the lions' teeth, O God ; 
 
 Destroy their might ; 
 Let the young lions' teeth Thy rod 
 In anger smite. 
 
 7 To melt away as waters flow, 
 
 Such be their lot ; 
 To be destroyed when from His bow 
 His darts are shot. 
 
 8 O let them like a snail be worn, 
 
 And melt away ; 
 And, like a child untimely born, 
 Not see the day. 
 
 9 Before your pots the thorns have felt, 
 
 ^Burning and green, 
 They shall by wrath upon them dealt 
 Swept off be seen. 
 
 10 The righteous shall rejoice to know 
 
 This vengeance meet ; 
 While sinners' blood in streams shall flow, 
 To wash his feet. 
 
 1 1 So that " The righteous," men shall say, 
 
 " Rewards shall bless ; 
 " He is a God that doth repay 
 " In righteousness." 
 
 D 2 
 
36 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 gtottg xbi. 
 
 ' Saul swore, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain." — v. 6. 
 "And Jo?iathan brought David to Saul." — v. 7. 
 
 Jonathan, whose dutiful conduct appears to the last 
 to have preserved his influence over his father, contrived 
 for a time to restore Saul to a better frame of mind. 
 Warning David of a plan to murder him in the night, he 
 told him to hide near the spot where the king was accus- 
 tomed to take his morning walk, that he might hear what 
 passed ; there joining his father, he with the arguments of 
 truth and justice so effectually pleaded the cause of his 
 friend as to obtain the solemn assurance of his safety 
 quoted above. We may imagine the following short and 
 joyful song to be David's thanksgiving for his restoration 
 to favour. 
 
 Psalm hi. 3, 4. 
 
 EHOVAH, Thou dost near me stand, 
 My Shield to be ; 
 Thou art my Glory, Thy right hand 
 Uplifteth me. 
 
 4 I to Jehovah raised my cry, 
 He lent His ear ; 
 And from His holy hill my sigh 
 Vouchsafed to hear. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 37 
 
 .Song xbii 
 
 " And he was in his presence, as in times past " — v. 7. 
 
 Although David was for a time restored to his position 
 at court, it is evident from what follows that the gleam 
 of prosperity was soon clouded over. " Deadly enemies " 
 seem to have encompassed the man whose valour and 
 genius had made him the popular favourite. Saul's heart 
 was again hardened against him, and in such circum- 
 stances David may in the following psalm have appealed 
 to the Searcher of hearts, the Righteous Judge, the Refuge 
 of the oppressed. 
 
 Psalm xvii. 
 
 1EAR Thou the right, incline Thine ear, 
 Jehovah, to my cries ; 
 My fervent prayer, my pleadings hear, 
 From no false lips that rise. 
 
 O let the sentence passed on me 
 From out Thy Presence spring ; 
 
 ^Because Thine eyes look down and see 
 The fair and equal thing. 
 
 Thou in the watches of the night 
 
 Hast tried mine inmost soul, 
 And found it guiltless in Thy sight, 
 
 For I my words control. 
 
 In all men's doings, lest I stray, 
 Thy word hath been my guide ; 
 
 So, shunning the destroyer's way, 
 I have not turned aside. 
 
38 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 O make me in Thy paths to go, 
 And safely there abide ; 
 Uphold me ; Thy support bestow ; 
 Nor let my footsteps slide. 
 
 6 To Thee did my petition rise, 
 
 For Thou, O God, dost hear ; 
 O hearken to Thy servant's cries, 
 Incline to me Thine ear. 
 
 7 Thy wondrous loving-kindness show, 
 
 O Thou that savest those, 
 Who Thee their only refuge know, 
 From all assailing foes. 
 
 8, 9 Keep, as the apple of the eye, 
 
 Him to Thine arm who clings ; 
 From deadly foes who hover nigh 
 O hide me with Thy wings. 
 
 io Puffed up with wealth and earthly fame, 
 With haughty steps they stride ; 
 Their greatness their own mouths proclaim ; 
 Their words are full of pride. 
 
 1 1 Whithersoe'er our steps are bent, 
 
 Our goings they surround ; 
 Their eyes are set with fixed intent 
 *To cast us to the ground ; 
 
 12 E'en as a lion for his prey 
 
 Doth wait with greedy eyes ; 
 As lion's whelp beside the w r ay 
 In secret lair that lies. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 39 
 
 13 Arise, Jehovah, in Thy might, . 
 
 *And forth to meet him go : 
 *Thy sword shall save me in the fight, 
 And lay the wicked low. 
 
 14 *Thine hand of men of worldly mind 
 
 Shall disappoint the will, 
 Their portion who in this life find, 
 Whom Thou with wealth dost fill. 
 
 They wish for children and receive 
 
 Their wishes at Thine hand ; 
 Sons they beget to whom they leave 
 
 Their substance in the land. 
 
 15 But as for me, in righteousness 
 
 Thy Face mine eyes shall see ; 
 Thy likeness shall me waking bless ; 
 I satisfied shall be. 
 
 r^ 
 
40 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §torcg xmil 
 
 u There was war again : and David went out, and fought with the 
 Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter ; and they fled 
 front him. 9 ' — v. 8. 
 
 It seems that during their short reconciliation Saul 
 reinstated David in his command in the army. 
 
 The second part of Psalm lxvi. is a song of triumph 
 which may be referred to the victory described above, 
 although the psalm is not specially assigned to David. 
 
 Psalm lxvi. 5 — 7. 
 
 OME, the works of God behold ; 
 
 Terrible His deeds have been ; 
 
 Yea, the sons of men have seen 
 God His wondrous might unfold. 
 
 6 Through the flood on foot they trod, 
 
 When the sea He made dry land ; 
 There, delivered by His hand, 
 We were joyful in our God. 
 
 7 On the nations is His eye ; 
 
 By His power He ever reigns; 
 
 He the rebels' pride restrains, 
 
 Lest they set themselves on high. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 4 1 
 
 $aw$ xxx. 
 
 " Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin." — v. io. 
 
 Though quieted for a time by the good offices of 
 Jonathan, Saul's jealousy broke out afresh in consequence 
 of his son-in-law's new triumph over the Philistines. 
 
 David, however, was still ready with his harp to soothe 
 the diseased mind of the king, until this second attack 
 with the ever-present spear made immediate escape im- 
 perative. 
 
 The Syriac Psalter assigns Ps. cxl. to this occasion. 
 Probably it war compiled with reference to it, some parts 
 alluding to Saul, and others to the malicious sycophants 
 who surrounded him, while v. 7, may relate to the recent 
 battle. 
 
 Psalm cxl. 
 
 ^AVE me, Jehovah, keep my life 
 
 From men on violence intent, 
 
 2 Who mischief plot ; on war and strife 
 
 Whose hearts are bent. 
 
 3 Sharp like the serpent's they have made 
 
 Their tongues, to hurt me that delight ; 
 Poison beneath their lips is laid, 
 Like adder's bite. 
 
 4 Be Thou, Jehovah, my Defence ; 
 
 Let not the wicked lay me low ; 
 Nor let the man of violence 
 
 My steps o'erthrow. 
 
42 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 The proud a trap and cords have set 
 
 To take me passing unaVares ; 
 Beside the way have spread a net, 
 
 And laid their snares. 
 
 6 Thus to Jehovah did I say, 
 
 " Thou art my God, O bend Thine ear, 
 " Before Thee when my prayer I lay, 
 " My voice to hear." 
 
 7 O God the Lord, on battle-field 
 
 Whose strength hath my salvation wrought, 
 Thou o'er my head hast held Thy shield 
 Where foemen fought. 
 
 8 Grant not the wicked man's desire, 
 
 And further not his schemes of sin, 
 Lest prosperous days should pride inspire 
 His heart within. 
 
 9 As for the head of those who seek 
 
 With ruin to encompass me, 
 O let the mischief which they speak 
 
 Their covering be. 
 
 io Let fall on them the fiery blast, 
 
 Hot burning coals upon them rain ; 
 *Into the floods let them be cast, 
 
 Nor rise again. 
 
 1 1 Prosperity shall ne'er attend 
 
 The steps of him who evil speaks ; 
 Evil shall hunt him to the end 
 
 Who mischief seeks. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 
 
 12 Jehovah will, I surely know, 
 
 The cause of the afflicted plead, 
 Will justice mete, and help bestow 
 
 On those in need. 
 
 13 The righteous shall give thanks to Thee, 
 
 And ever in Thy Name delight ; 
 Their safe abiding-place shall be 
 
 Within Thy sight. 
 
 43 
 
44 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 £ong x\\ 
 
 '' Saul also sent messengers unto Daricfs house, to watch him, and to 
 slay him in the morning. — v. 1 1. 
 
 Saul, finding that his own murderous attack on David 
 had failed, employed others to accomplish his deadly 
 purpose. Michal, who doubtless had friends among the 
 royal household, obtained secret intelligence of the in- 
 structions to seize him given to a band of men, who 
 appear to have paraded the streets at night, and to have 
 intimidated the citizens lest they should rise to defend 
 or avenge their hero. 
 
 Aided by his wife, David effected his escape, while the 
 murderous band continued their round, little thinking 
 that their victim had eluded them, and David could 
 exultingly exclaim, " Let them return at evening, let 
 them grudge if they be not satisfied !" 
 
 Even without the Hebrew title there could be no 
 question about assigning Ps. lix. to this occasion. It is 
 apparently composed of three distinct songs illustrating 
 the different stages of the proceeding; — the first ex- 
 pressing anxiety at the evidently hostile preparations ; 
 the second perhaps showing the hope inspired by 
 Michal's suggestion ; the third mingling mockery of the 
 baffled foe with thanksgiving to the God Whose mercy 
 had brought deliverance. 
 
 Psalm lix. i — 5. 
 
 S1AVE me, my God, from all mine enemies, 
 2 From evil doers my Defender be ; 
 *Bear me away, when they against me rise, 
 And from bloodthirsty men deliver me. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 45 
 
 For lo, to take my life they lie in wait, 
 
 The mighty are against me gathered round ; 
 
 It is not for my sin they bear me hate ; 
 No fault in me, Jehovah, have they found. 
 
 They run, and make them ready to begin, 
 
 Although I have in no way done them wrong : 
 Look down, Jehovah, and behold their sin ; 
 Awake, and let Thy succour make me strong. 
 
 O Thou, Jehovah, God of Hosts, awake ; 
 
 O God of Israel, Thy wrath prepare ; 
 On all the heathen speedy vengeance take, 
 
 Nor let Thy mercy the transgressor spare. 
 
46 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 £ong xxL 
 
 " Michal, David's wife, told kirn, saying, If thou save not thy life 
 to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain"— v. II. 
 
 Psalm lix. 6 — 13. 
 
 T evening they return, aloud they cry, 
 
 Like howling dogs around the walls they 
 
 go; 
 
 7 Swords are within their lips, for "Who is nigh ? " 
 
 They say, " Who doth us hear ? Yea, who 
 shall know ?" 
 
 8 By Thee, Jehovah, they shall laughed at be ; 
 
 Thou wilt the heathen's vain attempts deride. 
 
 9 *0 Thou my Strength, I ever wait on Thee, 
 
 For God my Fortress is wherein to hide. 
 
 10 My God, to me Who loving-kindness shows, 
 
 Shall go before, and lead me on the way ; 
 Yea, He shall grant my heart's desire on those 
 *In ceaseless watch who waiting for me stay. 
 
 1 1 Destroy them not ; my people may forget ; 
 
 But scatter them ; be thus Thy power re- 
 vealed ; 
 Bring down all those whose hearts on sin are set ; 
 
 Yea, bring them down to dust, O Lord, our 
 Shield. 
 
 12 Let them be even taken in their pride, 
 
 For wickedness is ever in their talk, 
 For bitter curses on their lips abide, 
 
 And in the crooked path of lies they walk. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 
 
 47 
 
 13 Consume them, on their heads destruction 
 
 bring, 
 
 Consume them in Thy wrath, no more to be, 
 
 And let them know that God is Jacob's King, 
 
 And earth's far ends are ruled by His decree. 
 
48 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 ^ong xxii. 
 
 1 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image 
 i)i the bed." — v. 16. 
 
 Psalm lix. 14 — 17. 
 
 ET them return at evening ; let their cries, 
 As those of dogs, be heard on every side ; 
 1 5 And as they wander, let their voices rise 
 Like hungry dogs with meat unsatisfied. 
 
 16 But I will sing aloud to praise Thy power ; 
 
 Yea, in the morning I Thy Name will bless ; 
 For Thou hast been to me a saving Tower, 
 My Refuge in the day of my distress. 
 
 17 OThou my Strength, to Thee shall risemysong, 
 
 *To Thee I with the harp my voice will raise ; 
 For God is my Defence, my Fortress strong, 
 My God of loving-kindness Whom I praise. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 
 
 49 
 
 §on% xxiii 
 
 "So David fled, and escaped." — v. 18. 
 
 This plaintive song seems to express the feelings, which 
 must have filled the heart of the fugitive, both towards 
 Him who had set him at liberty and towards the slan- 
 derers who had " turned his glory into shame." 
 
 Psalm iv. i, 2. 
 
 GOD, God of my righteousness, 
 
 To this my call give ear ; 
 Thou hast enlarged me in distress ; 
 
 My prayer in mercy hear. 
 
 2 Ye sons of men, how long will ye 
 My glory turn to shame ? 
 How long shall lies your pleasure be, 
 And vanity your aim ? 
 
 1 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §ong xxlb. 
 
 1 ' David .... came to Samtiel to Ramah t and told him all that Saul 
 had do)ie to him.''' — v. 1 8. 
 
 Although there is no mention of any meeting of David 
 with Samuel, between the anointing at Bethlehem and 
 this time, we cannot doubt that the prophet took a deep 
 interest in the welfare of the youth chosen through his 
 instrumentality to rule over Israel. Ramah was only a 
 few miles distant from the court of Saul at Gibeah, and 
 it was very natural that David should seek the powerful 
 protection of Samuel from the violence of the king and 
 the malice of the courtiers. The following psalm is 
 generally referred to the time of Saul's persecution, and 
 many expressions in it are suggestive of this hasty flight. 
 "Stop the way against them that persecute me/' "let 
 their way be darkness and slipperiness," refer to actual 
 pursuers, while all the latter part vividly describes the 
 calumnies, insults, and persecutions from which the 
 Psalmist is escaping. The two last verses may express 
 his joy at finding himself among friends at Ramah. 
 
 Psalm xxxv. 
 
 TRIVE Thou, Jehovah, strive with those 
 Who rise to strive with me ; 
 And in the warfare with my foes 
 On my side be. 
 
 2 Lay hold on buckler, take the shield, 
 
 Stand up, and help bestow ; 
 
 3 Draw out the spear, the good sword wield, 
 
 And stop the foe. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 5 I 
 
 Yea, stop the persecutors' way, 
 
 Their speed, their power control ; 
 " I thy Salvation am," O say 
 
 Thou to my soul. 
 
 4 Confound them, cover them with shame 
 
 Who thus my hurt devise ; 
 And turn them back from whence they came 
 Who 'gainst me rise. 
 
 5 As chaff before the driving blast, 
 
 So let them scattered be ; 
 Forth by Jehovah's angel cast, 
 
 O let them flee. 
 6*Their pathway darkness let them find, 
 Let pitfalls them o'erthrow, 
 Jehovah's angel press behind 
 
 As on they go. 
 
 7 For privily my life to take 
 
 Their hands a net did lay, 
 Without a cause a pit did make 
 My soul to slay. 
 
 8 O let destruction unawares 
 
 Fall swiftly on his head ; 
 Let him be taken in the snares 
 
 Himself hath spread. 
 
 9 Then, in Jehovah's Name, its voice 
 
 My thankful soul shall raise ; 
 In His salvation shall rejoice, 
 
 And sing His praise. 
 E 2 
 
52 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 10 Jehovah, all my bones shall cry, 
 " who is like to Thee, 
 " Who to the poor oppressed art nigh 
 
 " To set him free; 
 " And Who the helpless dost defend 
 
 " From him that is too strong ; 
 " Aid to the needy Who dost send 
 
 " That suffer wrong ? " 
 
 1 1 False witnesses against me laid 
 
 Things that I ne'er conceived ; 
 
 12 My good with evil is repaid, 
 
 *My soul bereaved. 
 
 13 When they were sick, in sackcloth clad 
 
 I fasted, worn with care ; 
 And to my bosom, grieved and sad, 
 
 Returned my prayer. 
 
 14 As for a friend, or brother dear, 
 
 With grief my head was bent ; 
 As one beside his mother's bier, 
 
 I mourning went. 
 
 15 But in my fall they did rejoice, 
 
 And thronged their joy to vaunt ; 
 *E'en unknown abjects raised their voice 
 With ceaseless taunt. 
 
 16 Base flatterers who know not shame, 
 
 And hypocrites drew near ; 
 Gnashing their teeth they round me came 
 With scoff and jeer. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 53 
 
 17 How long, O Lord, this wilt Thou see? 
 Deliverance to me send ; 
 My darling save, and rescue me, 
 Lest lions rend. 
 
 18 I in the great assembled throng 
 
 Thy goodness will proclaim ; 
 And where the people meet, my song 
 
 Shall praise Thy Name. 
 
 19 O let not those mine enemies 
 
 Be joyful o'er my fate ; 
 Nor let them scoff whose mocking eyes 
 Reveal their hate. 
 
 20 For peaceful words they do not speak, 
 
 But they deceit have planned 
 Against the quiet and the meek 
 Within the land. 
 
 21 Yea, they with open mouth draw nigh, 
 
 And, with exulting mien, 
 " Aha ! aha ! " they loudly cry, 
 
 "Our eye hath seen." 
 
 22 This, O Jehovah, Thou didst see ; 
 
 No more Thy tongue restrain ; 
 O Lord, be Thou not far from me ; 
 Return again. 
 
 23 Stand up in my defence, awake, 
 
 For judgment stretch Thy rod ; 
 Arise, my cause to undertake, 
 
 My Lord and God. 
 
54 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 24 According to Thy righteousness, 
 
 Jehovah, judge Thou me ; 
 And let them not in my distress 
 Triumphant be. 
 
 25 Forbid them in their hearts to say, 
 
 " This our desire hath been ; 
 " We have devoured him for our prey, 
 " His ruin seen." 
 
 26 Brought to confusion let them lie 
 
 Who at my hurt are glad, 
 And all themselves who magnify, 
 
 With shame be clad. 
 
 27 Let them in shouts uplift their voice, 
 
 Their gladness thus display, 
 *Who in my righteousness rejoice, 
 
 Yea, ahvay say, 
 "Jehovah's Name exalted be, 
 " Jehovah's praise forth tell, 
 " Whom prosperous His own to see 
 "It pleaseth well." 
 
 28 Thy righteousness shall be my song ; 
 
 And I my voice will raise 
 To magnify Thee all day long, 
 
 And sing Thy praise. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 55 
 
 §anq xxto. 
 
 * ' Saul sent messengers to take David. w — v. 20. 
 
 Shortly after David came to Ramah he accompanied 
 Samuel to Naioth, a neighbouring school of the prophets 
 over which Samuel presided. The arrival of Saul's mes- 
 sengers must have caused the fugitive great alarm ; and 
 Psalm xxxvii. may express David's recollections of the 
 words of encouragement given to him by Samuel. In 
 v. 25 the prophet is represented as speaking of his long 
 experience of God's faithfulness and care for the right- 
 eous, and indeed the substance of the whole psalm is 
 contained in the words "Wait on Jehovah/ 7 a lesson 
 which left a deep impression on David's mind, as is shown 
 in this and many of his psalms. 
 
 Psalm xxxvii. 
 
 ET not displeasure fret thine heart 
 
 Because the wicked prosperous be; 
 Let envy from thy breast depart 
 
 When thou their high estate dost see ; 
 Cut down like grass they shall decay, 
 Like the green herb they pass away. 
 
 Thou in Jehovah's Name confide ; 
 
 Cease not the path of good to tread ; 
 So in the land thou shalt abide, 
 
 And verily thou shalt be fed. 
 Let joy in Him thy soul inspire, 
 And He will grant thy heart's desire 
 
56 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 Trust to Jehovah's care thy way, 
 
 And He will all thy doings bless ; 
 Thy hope upon His mercy stay, 
 
 And He will give thee great success; 
 
 6 He clear shall make thy truth as light, 
 Thy judgment as- the noonday bright. 
 
 7 Upon Jehovah firmly rest, 
 
 And patiently upon Him wait ; 
 Let no disquiet vex thy breast 
 
 Because of sinners' prosperous state ; 
 Fret not, although each scheme and deed 
 Of men ungodly doth succeed. 
 
 8 From anger cease, thy wrath restrain, 
 
 No envy keep thy heart within ; 
 Nor let displeasure there remain, 
 
 Lest thou at length be moved to sin. 
 g Destruction waits the wicked band, 
 While patient saints shall hold the land. 
 
 io For yet a little, of the race 
 
 Of godless men thou none shalt see ; 
 Yea, though thou seek their dwelling-place 
 With careful search, it shall not be. 
 
 1 1 Yet shall the meek the earth possess, 
 And plenteous peace their souls shall bless. 
 
 12 The wicked man doth lie in wait, 
 
 And counsel seek against the just ; 
 Gnashing his teeth with rage and hate 
 He plots to lay him in the dust. 
 
 13 Jehovah sees his end is nigh, 
 And laughs to scorn his jealousy. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 57 
 
 14 The godless men have bent their bow, 
 
 Their outdrawn sword-blades they display, 
 To lay the poor and needy low, 
 And those of upright life to slay ; 
 
 1 5 Broken shall be the bow and dart, 
 Their sword shall enter their own heart. 
 
 16 A little that the righteous hath 
 
 Is better than much sinners' gain ; 
 
 17 Jehovah guards him in his path 
 
 And breaks the ungodly's arms in twain. 
 He on His foes His wrath unfolds, 
 But all the righteous He upholds. 
 
 18 Jehovah watcheth o'er the pure, 
 
 He knows their days, doth them sustain; 
 Their heritage shall still endure, 
 And ever in the land remain ; 
 
 19 Through danger they shall safe be led, 
 And in the days of famine fed. 
 
 20 But wicked men shall pass away, 
 
 *As doth the pasture's glory fade ; 
 Jehovah shall His wrath display, 
 
 And low His enemies be laid ; 
 Yea, in His fire shall they consume 
 And vanish as of smoke the fume. 
 
 21 The sinner borrows of his friend, 
 
 And ne'er the borrowed goods repays ; 
 But righteous men are free to lend, 
 And merciful in all their ways ; 
 
 22 These He within the land will bless, 
 But whom He curseth dispossess. 
 
58 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 23 Jehovah doth a good man guide; 
 
 His way is pleasing in His eye ; 
 
 24 He never shall be cast aside, 
 
 For though he falleth help is nigh; 
 Though oft he falleth, he shall stand 
 Upholden by Jehovah's hand. 
 
 25 I have been young, and now am old, 
 
 Yet saw I ne'er the righteous left, 
 Nor e'er his seed in want and cold 
 Imploring bread, of friends bereft ; 
 
 26 The righteous helpeth the distressed, 
 And surely shall his seed be blessed. 
 
 27 Depart from evil, do the right, 
 
 And in the land for ever dwell ; 
 
 28 For judgment is our God's delight, 
 
 And they in virtue who excel 
 Shall alway find Jehovah nigh, 
 And on His care in peace rely. 
 
 But wrath aw r aits the godless band, 
 Whose seed shall perish for their sin ; 
 
 29 The righteous shall possess the land, 
 
 And gain a heritage therein ; 
 There shall they dwell in rest and peace, 
 And ever prosper and increase. 
 
 30 His mouth in wisdom doth excel, 
 
 Who in the righteous path doth walk ; 
 His tongue of judgment loves to tell, 
 And justice is in all his talk ; 
 
 31 The statutes of his God abide 
 Within his heart ; he shall not slide. 
 
DANGERS AND PERSECUTIONS. 59 
 
 32 The wicked watch and counsel take, 
 
 Intent the righteous man to slay ; 
 
 33 Jehovah will not him forsake, 
 
 Nor let his soul become their prey ; 
 He will not leave him in their hands 
 When at the judgment-seat he stands. 
 
 34 Wait on Jehovah, keep His way, 
 
 And He thy soul shall surely bless, 
 Shall greater honour on thee lay, 
 
 Until thou dost the land possess ; 
 When godless sinners are brought low 
 Thou shalt behold their overthrow. 
 
 35 In strength and glory I have seen 
 
 The wicked, like a bay-tree fair ; 
 
 36 He passed from where his power had been ; 
 
 I sought him, but he was not there. 
 
 37 Mark well the perfect man, nor cease 
 To watch the just ; his end is peace. 
 
 38 As for transgressors, they shall die ; 
 
 Destruction doth on sinners wait ; 
 They shall be rooted out, and lie 
 O'erwhelmed in one untimely fate ; 
 
 39 But from Jehovah, Whom they trust, 
 Is the salvation of the just. 
 
 He is their Strength in time of woe ; 
 
 40 He at their side to save shall stand ; 
 Yea His right arm shall help bestow, 
 
 And save them from the ungodly's hand : 
 Their foes shall all be overthrown, 
 Because they trust in Him alone. 
 
60 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xx. 
 
 §ong xxbi 
 
 " Thou .... shalt remain by the stone Ezel." — v. 19. 
 ' ' So David hid himself in the field. " — v. 24. 
 
 Although attempts to seize David had been hitherto 
 frustrated by the Holy Spirit, it was evident that, his 
 place of retreat being known to Saul, the shelter of 
 Naioth must be abandoned. But before going farther 
 away he ventured back to ascertain from Jonathan whether 
 any possibility of reconciliation remained. This seemed 
 not wholly out of the question, for, between his paroxysms 
 of rage, Saul still looked on David as one of his family, 
 whom he expected to gather round his table, according to 
 the religious custom, at the feast of the new moon, and it 
 was agreed between the brothers-in-law that the conduct 
 of the king, on missing David from his place, would indi- 
 cate his real feelings towards the fugitive. 
 
 Meanwhile David was to remain concealed beside a 
 well-known stone or cairn (the literal rendering being 
 "heap of stones"), until the third day, and we may 
 imagine the following to have been his evening prayer, in 
 his solitary hiding-place, for support, protection, and 
 guidance. 
 
 Psalm cxliii. 7 — 12. 
 
 HASTE, Jehovah, hear my cry ; 
 
 My heart doth fail ; 
 
 No more Thy Presence veil, 
 Lest I be like to them that die. 
 
BY THE " STONE EZEL." 6 1 
 
 8 Let me Thy loving-kindness hear 
 
 When dawns the day ; 
 Cause me to know Thy way, 
 For Thee I trust, for Thee I fear. 
 
 9 I lift my longing soul to Thee ; 
 
 Thy succour send, 
 And me from foes defend ; 
 To hide me unto Thee I flee. 
 
 10 Thy will O teach me to obey, 
 
 My God Thou art ; 
 Thy Spirit good impart, 
 *And lead me in an even way. 
 
 1 1 Me with Thy quickening Spirit bless 
 
 For Thy Name's sake ; 
 My soul from trouble take, 
 Jehovah, in Thy righteousness. 
 
 12 And of Thy mercy put to shame 
 
 And slay all those 
 My proud oppressive foes ; 
 For I Thy servant fear Thy Name. 
 
62 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §onq xxbii 
 
 " The Lord be with thee, as He hath beeii with my father." — v. 13. 
 " Go in peace." — v. 42. 
 
 Jonathan's endeavour to appease his father's wrath at 
 David's absence resulted in a frenzied attempt on his 
 own life, and he returned to his brother-in-law's hiding- 
 place, only for a long farewell embrace, and for renewed 
 vows of unchanging kindness. 
 
 This simple and beautiful song may perhaps have been 
 written by David in memory of the parting words of 
 himself and the friend who " loved him as his own soul." 
 
 Psalm cxxi. 
 David. 
 
 TO to the mountains high 
 Will lift mine eyes ; 
 
 *From whence shall help be nigh ? 
 From whence arise ? 
 
 2 E'en from Jehovah's love 
 
 Doth come mine aid, 
 
 Whose hand the heavens above, 
 
 And earth hath made. 
 
 Jonathan. 
 
 3 He will thy foot sustain, 
 
 Nor let it slide ; 
 He watchful will remain, 
 Thy Guard and Guide. 
 
BY THE " STONE EZEL." 63 
 
 4 Lo! He that Israel leads, 
 
 And doth him keep, 
 To slumber never needs ; 
 He will not sleep. 
 
 5 Jehovah keepeth thee, 
 
 By thee doth stand ; 
 Thy spreading shade is He 
 On thy right hand. 
 
 6 Thy head the sun by day 
 
 Shall never smite ; 
 Nor shall the moon's pale ray 
 Hurt thee by night. 
 
 7 Jehovah from all harm 
 
 Shall keep thee free ; 
 Preserved by His right arm 
 Thy soul shall be. 
 
 8 He shall preserve thy way 
 
 And go before, 
 To guard thee night and day 
 For evermore. 
 
64 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xxi. 
 §mtg xxbiti 
 
 "And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went 
 
 to Achish, the king of Gath. 
 li And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David, 
 
 the king of the land? Did they 7iot sing one to another of him in 
 
 dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten 
 
 thousands ? ' ' — vv. I o— 1 1 . 
 
 There being no safety for David in the dominions of 
 Saul, he resolved on the desperate step of seeking refuge 
 with the bitterest enemy of his country. Before doing so, 
 however, he paid that unfortunate visit to Nob, which, 
 through the instrumentality of the informer Doeg, was 
 the cause of Saul's massacre of its inhabitants. 
 
 Possibly by means of the sword of Goliath, which 
 David had brought from thence, the nobles of Philistia 
 recognized in the guest of Achish the slayer of their 
 champion, and tried to poison the mind of the king 
 against him. A rumour of David's high destiny appears, 
 moreover, to have reached as far as Gath, and fear and 
 hate were no doubt mingled with triumph in the insult- 
 ing laugh with which they beheld their dreaded enemy, 
 the expectant king of Israel, now an outcast, dependent 
 on the compassion of their sovereign. 
 
 Ps. lxx., which seems to be a fragment of Ps. xl., 
 may have been the prayer of David " to bring to remem- 
 brance " of his God his misery in this heathen land. 
 
THE EXILE. 65 
 
 Psalm lxx. 
 
 AKE haste, Jehovah, to mine aid ; 
 
 God, make haste to set me free ; 
 2 Confusion on their heads be laid 
 Whose hearts are set my fall to see ; 
 
 3 Let those be backward turned in shame 
 Who cry "aha," and mock my name. 
 
 4 Let all who seek Thy Name rejoice ; 
 
 And all who in Thy love abide 
 Say alway, with exulting voice, 
 
 " Let God our God be magnified." 
 
 5 But I am poor ; to help be near ; 
 O tarry not ; Jehovah, hear. 
 
66 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §cmg xxix. 
 
 "And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore 
 afraid" — v. 12. 
 
 Suspected by all around him, David must have been 
 oppressed with the necessity of weighing every word 
 before uttering it, lest he should endanger himself, or dis- 
 honour his God. The change between his position as a 
 member of the royal family and the idol of the nation, 
 while residing at the Court of Saul, to that of an exile 
 must have impressed deeply on his mind the lesson with 
 which he concludes the following sad strain. 
 
 Psalm xxxix. i — 5. 
 
 SAID, I will take heed 
 
 Whereto my ways may tend, 
 Lest they should lead my lips to sin,' 
 And lest my tongue offend. 
 
 As with a bridle strong 
 
 My mouth I will restrain ; 
 Whilst wicked men before me stand 
 
 From speech I will refrain. 
 
 2 I spake not with my tongue, 
 And as one dumb I stood ; 
 I held my peace, and silence kept, 
 Yea, silence e'en from good. 
 
THE EXILE. 67 
 
 3 Grief was within me stirred, 
 
 My heart then hotly burned ; 
 The fire was kindled as I mused, 
 And speech at length returned. 
 
 4 Make me to know mine end, 
 
 My length of days reveal ; 
 Jehovah, teach me what it is, 
 My frailty let me feel. 
 
 5 Lo, Thou hast made my days 
 
 No longer than a span ; 
 Mine age is nothing before Thee, 
 Nought is the age of man. 
 
 Though greatness he attain, 
 Man, I have surely known, 
 *At best estate is but a breath, 
 A fleeting breath alone. 
 
 F 2 
 
68 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §ong xxx. 
 
 u And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in 
 their hands" — v. 13. 
 
 The Hebrew title of Ps. lvi. implies that the Rabbins 
 believed David to have been imprisoned in Gath, and 
 the above-described expedient, to which he resorted, 
 supports this view. 
 
 The Psalm itself seems to have been written before he 
 was taken, but while he was fully aware of the machina- 
 tions of his enemies. It declares his sure confidence in 
 God, Who has already delivered him from death, and 
 Who will enable him to render in the sanctuary the 
 praises vowed in a heathen land. 
 
 Psalm lvi. 
 
 GOD, be merciful to me, 
 For man would my devourer be ; 
 Yea, to oppress me he doth fight ; 
 For blood he thirsteth day and night. 
 
 2 Mine adversaries day by day 
 Seek to obtain me for their prey ; 
 For they be many in the strife 
 
 *That proudly rise to take my life ; 
 
 3 And yet what time I am afraid 
 My trust on Thee is firmly stayed ; 
 
 4 In God His word I magnify, 
 Upon my God do I rely ; 
 
 I trust in Him, I will not fear ; 
 *What can flesh do ? my God is near. 
 
THE EXILE. 69 
 
 5 They all day long my words pervert, 
 Their thoughts are all to do me hurt ; 
 
 6 They meet together, mark my way, 
 And lie in wait my soul to slay. 
 
 7 Shall they through sin unpunished be ? 
 Let peoples fall 'neath wrath from Thee ! 
 
 8 Thou hast my wanderings numbered, 
 Thy bottle holds the tears I shed, 
 Thou dost upon my sorrows look, 
 Are they not written in Thy book ? 
 
 9 Whene'er I cry my foes shall flee, 
 For this I know, God fights for me. 
 
 10 In God His word I magnify, 
 I on Jehovah's word rely ; 
 
 1 1 In God I trust, I will not fear ; 
 *What can man do ; my God is near. 
 
 12 I by my vows to Thee am bound ; 
 O God, Thy praises I will sound, 
 
 13 For Thou hast kept me from the grave ; 
 *My feet Thou dost from falling save, 
 
 That I may walk in God's own sight, 
 And with the living see the light. 
 
JO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xxii. 
 
 §0ttg xxxi 
 
 "David therefore departed thence, and escaped." — v. I. 
 
 The Hebrew title of Ps. xxxiv. assigns it to the time 
 of David's departure from Gath, and the holy joy with 
 which it overflows could only have been expressed by 
 one who in his troubles had cried to the Lord in such 
 words as those of the preceding psalms. 
 
 A note in Stanley's " History of the Jewish Church " 
 mentions the escape of an Arab Chief from the Governor 
 of Acre by a stratagem similar to that of David. 
 
 Psalm xxxiv. 
 
 EHOVAH'S praise my mouth shall tell ; 
 It ever on my lips shall dwell : 
 2 My soul shall boast in Him ; the sad 
 Shall hear it, and their hearts be glad. 
 
 3 With me Jehovah magnify, 
 
 With me exalt His Name on high ; 
 
 4 I sought Him ; He an answer gave, 
 And from my terrors did me save. 
 
 5 They looked to Him ; their hearts were light ; 
 He put their shame and fear to flight. 
 
THE EXILE. J I 
 
 Jehovah heard the afflicted cry, 
 And saved him from his misery ; 
 Jehovah's Angel campeth near, 
 To save all them His Name who fear. 
 
 8 O taste and see Jehovah's grace, 
 
 How blest in Him their trust who place ! 
 
 9 Jehovah fear, ye saints of His ; 
 No want to them that fear Him is. 
 
 10 Though hungry lions lack their prey, 
 They nought shall want who Him obey. 
 
 ii O come to me, ye children, hear, 
 *Learn ye from me Jehovah's fear. 
 
 12 Dost thou desire long life to see, 
 And prosperous all thy days to be ? 
 
 1 3 Thy tongue from evil words refrain, 
 Thy lips from all deceit restrain. 
 
 14 Do good ; from ways of evil cease, 
 Love gentleness, and follow peace. 
 
 15 Beneath Jehovah's watchful eye 
 
 The righteous dwell ; He hears their cry : 
 
 16 Against the wicked is His face ; 
 
 He blots from out the earth their trace. 
 
 17 The righteous cry ; He hears their prayer, 
 And saves them out of all their care. 
 
 18 Jehovah contrite hearts will seek, 
 And bring salvation to the meek. 
 
 19 Though great the woes the just doth see, 
 Jehovah will his Saviour be. 
 
 20 He keepeth all his bones that none 
 Shall e'er be broken, no not one. 
 
72 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 21 But evil shall the godless slay, 
 Them shall misfortune bear away ; 
 And they who persecute the just 
 Shall lie forsaken in the dust. 
 
 22 Jehovah doth His servants save, 
 
 Yea, He redeems them from the grave ; 
 No ills on them who trust Him'wait, 
 Nor shall their house be desolate. 
 
THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. 73 
 
 §>0ttg xxxtt 
 
 " The cave Adullam" — v. I. 
 
 The cave of Adullam is believed to be identical 
 with an extensive cavern near the city of that name in 
 the lowlands of Judah. This retreat would be easily 
 reached from the Philistine border, and still more so 
 from Bethlehem, whence ere long David's family joined 
 him, as did many others, until his little band swelled to 
 the number of four hundred. 
 
 Ps. cxlii., which is entitled "A Prayer when he was 
 in the cave," may have been composed in the earlier part 
 of his abode there, after the first joyful sensation of free- 
 dom had given place to that of depressing loneliness, 
 before the arrival of his friends and followers. 
 
 Psalm cxlii. 
 
 TO Jehovah raised my prayer, 
 
 To Him my supplication made ; 
 2 Before Him I poured out my care, 
 My trouble laid. 
 
 3 *When I am overwhelmed with woe, 
 
 My path Thou knowest ; Thou art there ; 
 Hid in the way wherein I go 
 
 They lay a snare. 
 
74 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Lo, on my right hand there is none 
 
 To know me, nor to help supply, 
 None for my soul to care, not one ; 
 No refuge nigh. 
 
 5 Jehovah, I have cried to Thee, 
 
 Thou Who in life my portion art, 
 The Refuge whereunto may flee 
 In grief my heart. 
 
 6 Incline Thine ear unto my cry, 
 
 Low in the dust behold me laid ; 
 My foes are stronger far than I ; 
 O send Thine aid. 
 
 7 My soul from prison set Thou free, 
 
 That I to Thee may praise address ; 
 Then shall the just resort to me, 
 
 Whom Thou shalt bless. 
 
THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. 75 
 
 ^0ttg xxxxxx. 
 
 " And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold ; 
 depart, and get thee into the land of Judah." — v. 5. 
 
 David seems to have gone from Adullam to Mizpeh 
 of Moab, and, after placing his parents under the care of 
 the king of that country, to have removed to a stronghold 
 on the borders of the Dead Sea, afterwards spoken of as 
 the Cave of Engedi. Here he remained until enjoined 
 by the prophet to depart. This is the first mention of 
 Gad, who appears henceforth to have been David's faith- 
 ful counsellor through all his varied fortunes. The sug- 
 gestion of Ewald that he was of the school of Samuel is 
 pleasing and natural. We can well imagine the attach- 
 ment being formed at Naioth, whence the young prophet 
 would take this first opportunity of rejoining his friend. 
 
 In the following song (which may probably come next 
 in historical order, as it does in the Bible arrangement) 
 David seems to liken the gloom of his abode at Engedi 
 to the darkness of the grave, and to appeal to God in sad 
 and longing accents for deliverance. 
 
 Psalm cxliii. i — 6. 
 
 EHOVAH, my petitions hear, 
 
 To mine entreaties lend Thine ear ; 
 In faithfulness an answer send, 
 And in Thy righteousness attend. 
 
76 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Thy servant's sins from memory blot ; 
 
 into judgment enter not ; 
 
 For in Thy sight, when he is tried, 
 No living man is justified. 
 
 3 My life the persecuting foe 
 
 Down to the ground hath smitten low, 
 And made me dwell in darkness dread, 
 As those long numbered with the dead. 
 
 4 My spirit therefore is oppressed, 
 And overwhelmed within my breast ; 
 And, mourning o'er my sad estate, 
 My heart within is desolate. 
 
 5 I call to mind the olden days ; 
 
 1 meditate on all Thy ways ; 
 
 I muse, and strive to understand 
 The works of Thine almighty hand. 
 
 6 To Thee, in all mine anxious care, 
 
 I stretch my longing hands in prayer ; 
 I thirst for Thee — my soul doth cry — 
 As thirsts a land in summer dry. 
 
THE MASSACRE AT NOB. "JJ 
 
 §0itg xxxito. 
 
 " Then ansiuered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants 
 of Saul, and said, I sazv the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to 
 Ahimelech the son of A hit ub.^ — v. 9. 
 
 In obedience to the words of Gad, David had removed 
 to the forest of Hareth in the land of Judah. On hearing 
 this, Saul in a paroxysm of rage falsely accused Jonathan 
 of stirring up David to rebellion. Doeg, who was pre- 
 sent, then informed him of the assistance given to David 
 at Nob by Ahimelech. 
 
 The title of Ps. Hi. refers it to this occasion, without 
 explaining whether the "mighty man," against whom 
 David's righteous indignation is so strongly aroused, is 
 Saul or Doeg. It appears to me that the three portions 
 of which the Psalm is composed are, separately, more 
 applicable to Ahithophel than to either of these, although 
 the compiler may probably have had this occasion in 
 view when combining them into the following song. 
 
 Psalm lii. 
 
 MIGHTY man, in pride secure, 
 Why boast each evil plot ? 
 God's loving-kindnesses endure, 
 His goodness faileth not. 
 
 2 Thy tongue doth wickedness devise, 
 
 And cut like razor keen : 
 
 3 To righteousness preferring lies, 
 
 Thy choice hath evil been. 
 
78 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Devouring words to thee belong, 
 
 Thou lov'st of sin to speak ; 
 Deceitful tongue, to bring forth wrong 
 And mischief thou dost seek. 
 
 5 God also with His upraised hand 
 
 Shall bring thee to the ground, 
 Shall seize, and pluck thee from the land 
 Where living men are found. 
 
 6 The righteous this shall see and fear, 
 
 His judgments they shall praise ; 
 Triumph shall in their laugh appear 
 While thus their voice they raise — 
 
 7 " Lo ! this the man who turned aside 
 
 " From God, nor sought His aid ; 
 " But on his heaped-up wealth relied, 
 " Who sin his strength hath made." 
 
 8 But I am like an olive tree 
 
 In God's own House that grows ; 
 My trust in Him shall ever be 
 To me Who mercy shows. 
 
 9 For this I will proclaim Thee great, 
 
 And magnify Thy might, 
 And ever on Thy Name will wait, 
 Which is Thy saints' delight. 
 
THE MASSACRE AT NOB. 79 
 
 gang xxxb. 
 
 " And the king said to Doeg, Ttirti thou, and fall upon the priests. 
 And Doeg the Edomite itemed, and he fell upon the priests, a?id 
 slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did ivear a linen 
 ephod."—v. 1 8. 
 
 The actual object of his hatred being beyond his 
 reach, Saul gave vent to his insane fury by slaughtering 
 the priests who had befriended David. 
 
 Not one of his servants could be found to commit 
 this impious deed except Doeg, against whom, even 
 more than against his cruel and sacrilegious master, the 
 following petition was probably offered. 
 
 Psalm cxl. i — 3. 
 
 EHOVAH, from the evil man 
 Deliver me ; 
 From him who violence doth plan 
 My Saviour be ; 
 
 2 Who in their wicked hearts deceit 
 
 And mischief seek ; 
 Who day by day together meet 
 Of war to speak. 
 
 3 With tongues like serpents' sharp they deal 
 
 Mischief and woe ; 
 The adder's poison they conceal 
 Their lips below. 
 
8o THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §oitg xxxbi. 
 
 " Zfr //*#/ seeketh my life." — v. 23. 
 
 Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, the sole survivor of the 
 priest at Nob, fled to David, and received the assurance 
 of his protection. The particulars he brought of the 
 horrible massacre must have increased David's sense of 
 his own danger. The intense hatred, which had prompted 
 such dreadful vengeance on those who had rendered him 
 a trifling service, would surely pursue him with every 
 device that craft or violence could suggest. The follow- 
 ing is a short prayer for protection in such circumstances. 
 
 Psalm cxl. 4, 5. 
 
 EEP me, Jehovah, let Thine arm 
 
 Preserve Thy servant safe from harm, 
 Safe from the wicked foe ; 
 Guard me from men of blood and strife, 
 Whose purpose is to take my life, 
 My steps to overthrow. 
 
 5 The proud have laid a snare for me 
 And cords, my cause of fall to be, 
 
 Yea, they have spread a net ; 
 They cruelly beset my way, 
 Seeking to gain me for their prey ; 
 Their traps are round me set. 
 
KEILAH. 
 
 i Samuel xxiii. 
 §onq xxxbii 
 
 11 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines Jig ht against 
 Keilah, and they rob the thi'eshingfloors . Therefore David 
 enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these 
 Philistines ? " — vv. I, 2. 
 
 The city of Keilah was situated in the lowlands of Judah, 
 and in dangerous proximity to the Philistine border. 
 David, always eager to do battle in defence of his coun- 
 trymen, on hearing of its distress, applied to the Lord 
 for permission to smite these marauders. 
 
 His followers, wearied and dispirited, hung back with 
 fear, and in the following words David seems to encourage 
 them with the assurance that God will execute vengeance 
 on the heathen. Then, lifting the prayer of faith to God, 
 Who has promised success to his arms, he implores Him 
 to strike terror into the hearts of His foes. 
 
 Psalm ix. 17 — 20. 
 
 HE wicked shall be turned into hell, 
 
 With nations that from God have dared 
 to stray ; 
 
 18 The needy in His mind shall ever dwell, 
 Nor shall their expectation pass away. 
 
 19 Arise, Jehovah, let not man prevail, 
 
 O let the heathen now Thy judgments know ; 
 
 20 Put fear within their hearts, yea, make them 
 
 quail, 
 That they to be but men themselves may know. 
 
 G 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 xxxbiiu 
 
 " And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul 
 said, God hath delivered him into mine hand. " — v. 7. 
 
 David had been shielded in the battle at Keilah by his 
 God, Whose will he had inquired with earnest prayer 
 before entering on the expedition. In the following 
 song he prays for the defeat of the wicked devices of his 
 ungrateful king, to whose subjects he had just rendered 
 such signal service. 
 
 Psalm cxl. 6 — 8. 
 
 SAID unto Jehovah, 
 
 My God, my God Thou art ; 
 Jehovah, hear my pleading, 
 The crying of my heart. 
 
 7 *Thou, O my Lord Jehovah, 
 Hast in the battle spread, 
 
 Thou Strength of my salvation, 
 A covering on my head. 
 
 8 Let sinners' vain devices 
 Their purpose never win, 
 
 Lest they, by pride exalted, 
 Be strengthened in their sin. 
 
KEILAH. 83 
 
 ^0ttlJ xxxxx. 
 
 " Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men 
 into the hand of S anil And the Lord said, They will deliver 
 thee up 1." — v. 12. 
 
 Abiathar having brought the ephod with him, David 
 had now the privilege of obtaining from God Himself, 
 through His priest, guidance in all cases of doubt and 
 difficulty. 
 
 Doubtless the men of Keilah were profuse in their 
 expressions of praise and flattery to their deliverer, but 
 there must have been something suspicious in their 
 behaviour, which induced David to inquire of the Lord 
 whether they were worthy of trust. On receiving the 
 answer, he might well exclaim, " Help, Lord \ for the 
 godly man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail." Then, turning 
 his thoughts from the traitors within the city to Saul's 
 approach with such men as Doeg for his advisers, he 
 would cry, " The wicked walk on every side, when the 
 vilest men are exalted." 
 
 Psalm xii. 
 
 David. 
 
 EHOVAH, help ; the godly race 
 
 Have now become a feeble band ; 
 The faithful few who sought Thy Face 
 Have well-nigh perished from the land. 
 To speak of idle vanity, 
 
 His neighbour every one doth seek ; 
 With false and flattering lips they lie, 
 While with a double heart they speak. 
 G 2 
 
84 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Abiatliar. 
 
 3 The flattering lips, the tongue of pride, 
 
 Jehovah's wrath shall take away, 
 
 4 " Our tongues shall rule " who loud have cried, 
 
 "Tis ours to speak, we none obey." 
 
 5 " Now for the poor and needy's sake," 
 
 Jehovah saith, " I will arise, 
 " For him a refuge I will make, 
 
 "* " And grant the rest for which he sighs." 
 
 David. 
 
 6 Behold, Jehovah's words are pure 
 
 As silver in the furnace tried, 
 Which seven times doth the fire endure, 
 And thus from dross is purified. 
 
 7 Thou, O Jehovah, shalt provide 
 
 A safeguard from this evil race; 
 The wicked walk on every side, 
 When vilest men are high in place. 
 
KEILAH. 85 
 
 §onq xL 
 
 " The7i David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and 
 departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go" — v. 13. 
 
 The last words of this verse touchingly express the 
 fear and desolation of the unhappy wanderers, and 
 Psalm xiii. is singularly in unison with the description. 
 Yet, though pleading with God for relief from his distress, 
 David does not forget His late mercy in warning him of 
 his danger in Keilah. He had inquired of Jehovah 
 with sure trust, and now rejoices in the salvation which 
 has been granted to him. 
 
 Psalm xiii. 
 OW long wilt Thou forgetful be, 
 And far from me abide ? 
 Wilt Thou for ever turn from me ? 
 Thy Face for ever hide ? 
 
 2 How long shall I within my breast 
 Each day sad counsel take ? 
 
 How long shall I be sore oppressed 
 By foes who boasting make ? 
 
 3 Jehovah, hearken to my cries, 
 Consider when I weep ; 
 
 My God, O lighten Thou mine eyes, 
 Lest in the grave I sleep, 
 
 4 And lest mine enemy should say 
 " I o'er him have prevailed ;" 
 
 And they that trouble on me lay 
 Rejoice that I have failed. 
 
86 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 But as for me, my trust hath been 
 
 Upon Thy mercy stayed ; 
 On Thy salvation while I lean, 
 My heart shall glad be made. 
 
 6 Now to Jehovah I will sing, 
 
 And all His praise make known ; 
 
 Yea, I will praise my God and King, 
 
 Who plenteous love hath shown. 
 
THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. 8? 
 
 §on% xii 
 
 " And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained 
 in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph" — v. 14. 
 
 If Psalm xiii. was the first outburst of feeling of the 
 escaped fugitive, Psalm xxxi. is a longer prayer, which 
 appears to have been composed when he had found a 
 resting-place. 
 
 To David's mind, ever ready to soar upwards, the 
 mountainous fortresses of Ziph would be emblems of the 
 Great Rock, the Place of Defence to which he might 
 always flee. 
 
 Saul had thought to find him " shut in " in Keilah (see 
 v. 7 of chapter), but God, by warning him of his danger 
 had "shown him His marvellous kindness in a strong 
 city," and had " set his feet in a large room." Might not 
 this allude to some spacious cavern capable of containing 
 himself and his followers ? 
 
 In verses n and 13, David seems to refer to the fear 
 shown by the Keilites of continuing to entertain one 
 whose friendship would bring down on them the wrath of 
 the king. 
 
 Dean Stanley considers this Psalm to have been 
 composed in Keilah, to which strong fortress it is 
 undoubtedly full of allusions, but all these are in the 
 past tense, and v. 8 could hardly have been written 
 before the escape had been effected. 
 
 The varying tones of mournful pleading, brightening 
 hope, and at length of sure and joyful confidence pre- 
 sented by this beautiful Psalm make it peculiarly precious 
 to the afflicted soul. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm xxxi. 
 
 EHOVAH, all my trust 
 
 Is firmly fixed on Thee ; 
 Save me from shame ; in righteousness 
 Do Thou deliver me. 
 Bow down to me Thine ear ; 
 
 Deliver me with speed ; 
 Be Thou my House of sure Defence, 
 My Rock in time of need. 
 
 Thou art my Fortress strong, 
 
 The Rock where I abide ; 
 Then for Thy Name's sake lead me on, 
 
 And ever be my Guide. 
 
 draw me from the net 
 They privily have laid ; 
 
 For Thou alone art all my Strength ; 
 On Thee my hope is stayed. 
 
 Jehovah, I commend 
 
 My spirit unto Thee ; 
 For it is Thine, O God of truth ; 
 
 Thou hast redeemed me. 
 
 1 hate all those who love 
 
 Deceitful vanities ; 
 But on Jehovah's strength my trust 
 Unshaken ever lies. 
 
 7 In Thee I will rejoice, 
 
 Made by Thy mercy glad ; 
 For Thou hast thought on my distress, 
 And known my soul when sad. 
 
THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. 89 
 
 8 Thou hast not shut me up 
 
 With those who plots devise ; 
 Large is the room Thou giv'st my feet, 
 Safe from mine enemies. 
 
 9 Jehovah, pity me, 
 
 For troublous times return ; 
 My soul and body waste with care, 
 Mine eyes with weeping burn. 
 
 10 My life is spent with grief, 
 
 My years with sighs decay ; 
 My strength doth fail me through my sin, 
 My bones consume away. 
 
 1 1 My neighbours and my foes 
 
 Reproaches on me laid ; 
 E'en mine acquaintance from me fled, 
 To look on me afraid. 
 
 12 Forgotten, out of mind, 
 
 Like one of life bereft, 
 A broken vessel I am deemed, 
 To scorn and ruin left. 
 
 13 I heard their slanderous tongues ; 
 
 Fear was on every side, 
 While they to take away my life 
 With secret counsel tried. 
 
 14 Still did I trust in Thee, 
 
 On Thee did I rely ; 
 "Thou art my God ; Thou art my God," 
 This ever was my cry. 
 
90 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 15 My times are in Thine hand ; 
 
 Be Thou to succour nigh ; 
 Save me from them who persecute, 
 And from mine enemy. 
 
 16 Jehovah, make Thy Face 
 
 Upon Thy servant shine ; 
 And save me for Thy mercy's sake ; 
 O save me who am Thine. 
 
 17 Deliver me from shame, 
 
 To Thee hath been my cry ; 
 Confound the wicked in the grave, 
 Let them in silence lie. 
 
 18 O let the lying lips 
 
 Be silent in the dust, 
 Which, proudly and disdainfully, 
 Speak evil of the just. 
 
 19 How great Thy goodness is, 
 
 Laid up by Thee in store, 
 And wrought before the sons of men 
 For them who Thee adore ! 
 
 20 These, in Thy presence, Thou 
 
 *From plots of men shalt hide ; 
 In a pavilion they shall safe 
 From strife of tongues abide. 
 
 21 Blest be Jehovah's Name ! 
 
 Praise be to Him alone ! 
 Who in a city strong to me 
 
 Hath wondrous kindness shown. 
 
THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. 9 1 
 
 22 For in my haste I said, 
 
 " Thine eyes are turned aside ; " 
 Yet thou didst hearken to my prayer 
 When unto Thee I cried. 
 
 23 Ye saints, Jehovah love ; 
 
 The faithful He defends, 
 And on the proud who evil do 
 Their due reward He sends. 
 
 24 Be of good courage then ; 
 
 Strong shall your hearts be made, 
 All ye that in Jehovah hope ; 
 Whose trust on Him is stayed. 
 
92 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song xlii. 
 
 "And jfbnatkan SauPs son arose, and went to David into the wood, 
 and strengthened his hand in God." — v. 16. 
 
 Intercourse with a character like that of Jonathan, 
 pure and unworldly in the midst of a corrupt court, 
 gentle, brave, generous, and devoted in his duty to his 
 God, his father, and his friend, must indeed have 
 "strengthened David's hand in God." 
 
 It might surely have been after his covenant with 
 Jonathan that David sang of "the saints, the excellent, in 
 whom was all his delight." 
 
 To quote the words of Canon Perowne, Psalm xvi. is 
 " bright with a happiness which nothing earthly can 
 touch." 
 
 Psalm xvi. 
 
 GOD, preserve me, for my heart 
 
 In Thee doth trust ; my cry shall be, 
 
 2 My Lord Thou, O Jehovah, art, 
 *I have no other good but Thee. 
 
 3 Those who are righteous in Thy sight, 
 The saints upon the earth who dwell. 
 
 In them is ever my delight, 
 E'en those in virtue who excel. 
 
 4 Their sorrows shall be great who run 
 Another for their god to claim ; 
 
 Their offerings of blood I shun, 
 
 Nor shall my lips pronounce their name. 
 
STRENGTHENED IN GOD. 93 
 
 5 J ehovah's Self my portion is ; 
 
 Jehovah's Self my cup doth fill ; 
 The hand that holdeth me is His; 
 Thou all my lot maintainest still. 
 
 6 In places fair, in pleasant ground, 
 
 Behold the lines to me are cast ; 
 There mine inheritance is found, 
 
 There shall my days in peace be passed. 
 
 7 To bless Jehovah I will sing 
 
 Who counsel gave me from on high ; 
 My reins instruction to me bring 
 When in the night I wakeful lie. 
 
 8 Jehovah I before mine eye 
 
 Have alway set, my guide is He; 
 At my right hand He standeth nigh, 
 And therefore I unmoved shall be. 
 
 9 For this my heart with gladness swells ; 
 
 Filled with rejoicing is my breast ; 
 Its joyfulness my glory tells ; 
 My flesh in hope shall also rest. 
 
 10 Because my soul Thou wilt receive, 
 
 *And from the world unseen wilt save 
 Thine Holy One Thou wilt not leave 
 To see corruption in the grave. 
 
 1 1 Thou wilt to life my footsteps guide, 
 
 The pathway show and go before : 
 Pleasures at Thy right hand abide, 
 Fulness of joy for evermore. 
 
94 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 gtottg xlitt. 
 
 w Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not 
 David hide himself with us in strong holds in the woodt n — v. 19. 
 
 The title of Psalm liv. refers it to the treachery of the 
 Ziphites, but, as it ends with a thanksgiving for deliverance 
 from trouble, the second part is applicable only to the 
 circumstances mentioned in the concluding verses of 
 1 Sam. xxiii. , which relate that Saul was diverted from his 
 pursuit of David by the invasion of the Philistines. 
 
 I think, however, that the latter portion is a totally 
 distinct song composed for another occasion, for, although 
 delivered from present danger, David had not beheld the 
 punishment of his enemies, as is implied in v. 7. 
 
 I have therefore placed here the short and earnest 
 petition in the first part which alone appears to me to 
 have been written for this occasion. 
 
 Psalm liv. i — 3. 
 
 JO save me let Thy Xame be near ; 
 To judge, Thy power extend ; 
 2 O God, my prayer in mercy hear, 
 Vouchsafe Thine ear to lend. 
 
 3 For strangers up against me rise. 
 Oppressors seek their prey ; 
 They set not God before their eyes, 
 But strive my soul to slay. 
 
THE HILL OF HACHILAH. 95 
 
 .Strng xlib. 
 
 " And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord." — v. 21. 
 " See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he 
 hideth himself . . .- If he be in the land, I will search him out 
 throughout all the thousands of Judah." — v. 23. 
 
 Psalm x. may represent an interview of David with 
 Abiathar, through whom he would doubtless seek counsel 
 from God in this new danger. He seems to give a 
 detailed account of the conduct of Saul, describing him 
 in v. 3 as blessing " the covetous " (i. e. the Ziphites, who, 
 doubtless, expected a reward for their betrayal), and in 
 verses 8 and 9 as instituting a search corresponding 
 with the quotation given above. V. 15 is looked on 
 by Bishops Home, Horsley, and others, as a prediction, 
 and appears to be an answer to the preceding prayers. 
 The reassured tone of the concluding verses is thus 
 naturally accounted for. 
 
 Psalm x. 
 
 David. 
 
 HY, O Jehovah, dost Thou now 
 So far away from me abide ? 
 In time of trouble why dost Thou 
 Thy Presence hide ? 
 2 The wicked in his pride hath sought 
 To gain the needy for his prey ; 
 O let him in the snares be caught 
 That he doth lay. 
 
g6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 His boastings the desire express 
 
 Which in his heart he meditates 
 The covetous whom he doth bless 
 Jehovah hates. 
 
 4 *The wicked in his scorn hath cried, 
 
 "Will God to punish lift His rod ? " 
 *This is the sum of all his pride — 
 "There is no God." 
 
 5 *At all times prosperous are his ways ; 
 
 Thy judgments are above his sight ; 
 As for his foemen he displays 
 
 Scorn of their might. 
 
 6 " I shall by nought be moved," he cries 
 
 Within his heart, " for I am he 
 " To whom there no adversities 
 " Shall ever be." 
 
 7 His mouth in curses doth abound ; 
 
 Deceit and fraud within it lie ; 
 Under his tongue is mischief found 
 And vanity. 
 
 8 Hid in the villages he lies, 
 
 Lurking to slay the innocent ; 
 In secret 'gainst the poor his eyes 
 Are-alway bent. 
 
 9 He, like a lion in his lair, 
 
 To carry off the weak hath sought, 
 Waiting until within his snare 
 
 The poor are brought, 
 io *He croucheth as prepared to spring 
 On them he seeketh to devour, 
 *That he may thus the helpless bring 
 Within his power. 
 
THE HILL OF HACHILAH. 97 
 
 1 1 He in his secret heart doth say 
 
 " God hath forgotten ; surely He 
 " Hath turned from this His Face away ; 
 " He will not see." 
 
 Abiathar. 
 
 12 Lift up Thine Hand, Jehovah ; rise, 
 
 O God; in mind the humble bear ; 
 
 13 Why should they say who God despise 
 
 " Thou dost not care ? " 
 
 14 Lo, Thou hast seen it, for Thine eye 
 
 Beholds iniquity and wrongs ; 
 Yea, to requite it speedily 
 
 To Thee belongs. 
 In his affliction and distress 
 
 The poor commits himself to Thee ; 
 Thou Helper of the fatherless 
 Wilt ever be. 
 
 1 5 Break Thou the arm, the power repress 
 
 Of him of dark and evil mind ; 
 Yea, seek Thou out his wickedness, 
 Till none Thou find. 
 
 16 Jehovah reigns for evermore ; 
 
 As for the heathen, where are they ? 
 Gone from the land, their day is o'er 
 And passed away. 
 
 David. 
 
 17 Jehovah, Thou hast lent Thine ear, 
 
 And heard the crying of the meek ; 
 Thou wilt prepare their heart, and hear 
 When Thee they seek. 
 H 
 
98 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 8 Thou to the poor wilt give their right, 
 And ever judge the fatherless ; 
 That thus the earthly tyrant's might 
 No more oppress. 
 
THE WILDERNESS OF MAON. 99 
 
 Song xlb. 
 
 u And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul : but David and his 
 men were in the wilderness ofMaon, in the plain on the south of 
 Jeshimon." — v. 24. 
 
 David had descended from the hill of Hachilah when 
 he found himself betrayed by the Ziphites. 
 
 Psalm xi. may represent him, strong in faith and per- 
 haps guided by his inspired counsellors, as endeavouring 
 to allay the fears of the more timid of his followers. 
 Possibly David's familiarity with the neighbourhood of 
 the Dead Sea may account for his frequent allusions to 
 the descent of fire and brimstone on the wicked. 
 
 Psalm xi. 
 David. 
 
 Y heart doth on Jehovah rest ; 
 
 How to my soul then do ye say 
 "Like birds that seek their mountain nest, 
 " Flee far away." 
 
 Followers. 
 
 2 Behold, the wicked bend their bows, 
 They on the string prepare the dart, 
 With secret aim to shoot at those 
 Of upright heart. 
 
 H 2 
 
100 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 And if the pillars be o'erthrown, 
 
 What can the righteous man avail ? 
 If crushed be the foundation stone 
 His power must fail. 
 
 David. 
 
 4 Heaven is Jehovah's Throne on high ; 
 
 His Temple is His dwelling-place ; 
 His eyes behold, His eyelids try 
 All Adam's race. 
 
 5 He trieth in the furnace bright 
 
 The righteous who on Him do wait ; 
 Those who in violence delight 
 
 His soul doth hate. 
 
 6 Snares on the wicked He shall rain, 
 
 Brimstone, and fire, and storm shall send; 
 This is the cup that they shall drain ; 
 Yea, this their end. 
 
 7 Jehovah righteous is ; and He 
 
 In righteousness hath great delight ; 
 All those His countenance shall see 
 Who walk aright. 
 
DELIVERANCE. ioi 
 
 Song xM. 
 
 " Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take 
 them. But there ca?ne a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, 
 and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land? — v. 26, 27. 
 
 Hunted, as David was, and almost caught by his im- 
 placable foe, his position seemed hopeless, when a signal 
 and unexpected deliverance was provided for him and 
 his followers by this summons to Saul. 
 
 Psalm liv., of which the title is "A Psalm of David, 
 when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David 
 hide himself with us ? " was evidently intended by the 
 Compiler to refer to this occurrence. 
 
 Psalm liv. 
 
 BY Thy Name my Saviour be ; 
 *And by Thy strength uphold Thou me. 
 2 Vouchsafe, O God, my prayer to hear ; 
 And to my words incline Thine ear. 
 
 3 The men of violence and strife, 
 Oppressors, seek to take my life; 
 And strangers 'gainst my soul uprise, 
 Who set not God before their eyes. 
 
 4 Behold my God His help extends; 
 The Lord Himself is with my friends ; 
 
 5 He shall with ill my foes requite : 
 O in Thy truth destroy their might. 
 
102 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 6 A sacrifice, an offering free, 
 Jehovah, I will bring to Thee, 
 
 And to Thy Name a song will raise ; 
 For it is good. I Thee will praise. 
 
 7 He hath delivered me from grief; 
 And to my trouble brought relief ; 
 Yea, He hath granted to mine eyes 
 To triumph o'er mine enemies. 
 
THE CAVE OF ENGEDI. 103 
 
 i Samuel xxiv. 
 
 Song xMl 
 
 " And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the 
 Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the 
 wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen 
 men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon 
 the rocks of the wild goats. u — v. 1,2. 
 
 Psalm lvii., which by its Hebrew title is assigned to 
 " David when he fled from Saul in the cave/ 5 appears to 
 be composed of three distinct songs joined together by 
 the Compiler in order to form a sort of history of the 
 events related in this Chapter. The first is a cry for help 
 such as David may have used on perceiving the approach 
 of Saul's army. 
 
 Psalm lvii. i — 3. 
 
 OD, be merciful to me ; 
 
 Plenteous let Thy mercy be ; 
 For to Thee my spirit clings, 
 Hid beneath Thy sheltering wings ; 
 Let them shadow o'er me cast, 
 Till these troublous times be past. 
 
 2 I will call on God Most High, 
 Unto God my voice shall cry, 
 God Who granteth me success, 
 God Who doth my doings bless ; 
 
 3 When devouring foes upbraid 
 God from Heaven shall send His aid. 
 
104 THE LIKE 0F BAVID. 
 
 Song xluiii. 
 
 " He came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave ; and Saul 
 went in to coz'er his feet : and David and his men remained in 
 the sides of the cave. " — v. 3. 
 
 Such caverns as that here mentioned are by no means 
 uncommon in Palestine. They may contain one or more 
 chambers, but in either case a large band of men in the 
 darkness of the interior would be entirely concealed from 
 a person near the entrance, of whom, on the other hand, 
 they would have a full view. 
 
 In the second portion of the Psalm, David, while 
 anxiously watching the movements of the army, expresses 
 his continued confidence in God's mercy, even though 
 he espies his most inveterate enemies amongst the party 
 surrounding the king. 
 
 Suddenly, on seeing Saul leave them and approach the 
 cave alone, he bursts forth into a shout of triumph at the 
 thought that the persecutor is fallen into the trap in 
 which he had intended to enclose his victim. 
 
 Psalm lvii. 3 — 6. 
 
 OD His mercy shall extend ; 
 
 God His truth to me shall send. 
 4 With the lions I am cast — 
 Men who breathe a fiery blast : 
 Piercing arrows are their words, 
 Spears their teeth, their tongues are swords. 
 
THE CAVE OF ENGEDI. 
 
 5 God, be Thou exalted high, 
 Set Thyself above the sky ; 
 
 O'er the heavens exalt Thy Throne ; 
 Be o'er earth Thy glory shown. 
 
 6 They had laid for me a snare ; 
 They had bowed my soul with care ; 
 With a pit my fall they sought, 
 They themselves therein are caught. 
 
 105 
 
106 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song xlix. 
 
 u The men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord 
 said ttnto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, 
 that thou may est do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then 
 David arose, and cut off the skirt of SauVs robe privily.'''' — v. 4. 
 
 We gather from these words that God had in some 
 way promised to deliver Saul into David's power. The 
 narrative describes the generous forbearance with which 
 the exile used his opportunity, whilst prudently securing 
 ample proof of his loyalty. 
 
 The Compiler has concluded the Psalm with a song of 
 joy and gratitude such as David might have raised after 
 this remarkable occurrence, not being aware that it origi- 
 nally formed part of Ps. cviii. composed to celebrate the 
 defeat of the Syro-Ammonite confederacy — (See Intro- 
 duction, page xv.). 
 
 Psalm lvii. 7 — 11. 
 
 OD, to Thee my heart doth cling, 
 *I with harp will praises sing ; 
 
 8 Wake, my glory ; wake, my lute ; 
 Nor shalt thou, my harp, be mute ; 
 Harp and psaltery I will take, 
 *Dawn of morning to awake. 
 
 9 *'Mid the people will I sing, 
 Praises 'mid the nations bring ; 
 
 10 For Thy love to heaven ascends, 
 To the clouds Thy truth extends. 
 
 1 1 God, be Thou exalted high. 
 Set Thyself above the sky ; 
 O'er the heavens exalt Thy Throne, 
 Be o'er earth Thy glory shown. 
 
EXPOSTULATION. 107 
 
 Song I 
 
 "And David said to Saul, Wherefore hear est thou men's words, 
 
 saying. Behold, David seeketh thy hurt ? " — v. 9. 
 " The Lord judge between me and thee" — v. 12. 
 
 The remainder of the Chapter contains David's affect- 
 ing expostulation with his father-in-law, which for a time 
 overcame even the stony heart of Saul. 
 
 The first portion of Ps. vii. appears to be a recapitula- 
 tion of this assertion of his innocence laid before the 
 Searcher of hearts, to Whose justice he had appealed. 
 
 PSALxM vii. 1 — 5. 
 
 Y God Jehovah, I on Thee rely; 
 
 O save, my life from persecutors' power ; 
 2 Lest, like a lion, when no help is nigh, 
 He rend my soul, he tear me, and devour. 
 
 3 My God Jehovah, if I this have done, 
 
 If these my hands in wickedness have shared, 
 
 4 If I have ill repaid the peaceful one, 
 
 (Yea, I my causeless enemy have spared). 
 
 5 Then let my foe with snares my soul surround, 
 
 With hate pursue, and take my life away ; 
 Yea, in his fury tread it to the ground, 
 And in the dust of earth mine honour lay. 
 
 ^^r^^ 
 
108 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xxv. 
 
 Song It. 
 
 11 Nabal is his name, and folly is with him" — v. 25. 
 
 The districts of Maori and Carmel (which latter must 
 not be confounded with the distant mountain of that 
 name) were situated to the south of Ziph, and again 
 beyond these was the wilderness of Paran, whither David 
 and his men had removed soon after the former's tempo- 
 rary reconciliation with Saul. 
 
 To this unappropriated pasture-land Nabal sent his. 
 flocks, a common custom, which, however, exposed them 
 to considerable danger from attacks of wandering 
 marauders. 
 
 The protection afforded by David and his well-disci- 
 plined band would, by one less churlish and perverse than 
 Nabal, have been highly valued, and repaid by a hand- 
 some present ; and David was naturally indignant at the 
 insulting reply called forth by his request for some recog- 
 nition of thqir services. 
 
 Nabal, both in name and conduct, may, I think, 
 have been represented by "the fool" denounced in 
 Ps. xiv. In almost every one of the first six verses 
 we may trace something applicable to him, such as the 
 shaming "of the counsel of the poor," by which designa- 
 tion David usually speaks of himself and his needy fellow 
 outcasts. 
 
NABAL. IO9 
 
 NabaPs utter meanness seems to David's excited mind 
 the climax of human wickedness, of which he has had 
 hateful experience in the bloodthirstiness of Saul, the in- 
 gratitude of the men of Keilah, and the treachery of the 
 Ziphites, so that he exclaims in the bitterness of his heart, 
 " There is none that doeth good, no, not one." 
 
 The last verse of this Psalm is generally considered to 
 be a liturgical addition, and is therefore omitted, as in- 
 appropriate to the life of David. 
 
 Psalm xiv. 
 David. 
 
 HERE is no God," within his heart 
 The fool hath whispered— "none." 
 They are corrupt in every part, 
 None doeth good — not one. 
 
 Jehovah out of Heaven above 
 Looked down on Adam's race, 
 
 To see if any truth did love, 
 If any sought His Face. 
 
 All are corrupt — all turned aside — 
 All vilest deeds have done ; 
 
 None will in righteousness abide — 
 None doeth good — not one. 
 
 Abiathar, speaking in Jehovah's Name. 
 
 4 Have they no knowledge — all who meet 
 Their wicked plots to frame ? 
 They who as bread My people eat, 
 Nor seek Jehovah's Name. 
 
IIO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 David, 
 
 5 There were they filled with dread and fear, 
 Where cause of fear was not ; 
 For God is to the righteous near, 
 His watchful care their lot. 
 
 6 What though the counsel of the meek 
 Ye thus have put to shame, 
 With trust he doth Jehovah seek, 
 His refuge is His Name. 
 
NABAL. 1 1 1 
 
 Song lit. 
 
 " The man was very great" — v. 2. 
 M The Lord smote Nab >al, that he died," — v. 38. 
 
 The following song is strikingly suitable to the circum- 
 stances of Nabal's life and death. 
 
 Psalm xlix. 16 — 20. 
 
 EAR not, though one be wealthy made, 
 
 In glory if his house increase ; 
 
 17 For, when he in the grave is laid, 
 
 His glory and his pomp shall cease ; 
 In death he nought shall take away, 
 He leaves behind his vain display. 
 
 18 In life though blessings on him flow 
 
 (Men praise thee if thou prosperous be), 
 
 19 Yet to his fathers he shall go, 
 
 And light his eye shall never see. 
 
 20 The fool that is to honour brought, 
 Like beasts that perish, is but nought 
 
112 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song liii. 
 
 M T/lc Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own 
 head." — v. 39. 
 
 This song, although not applying so entirely to Nabal 
 as the preceding one (for there is no reason to suppose 
 that he carried his meanness to the point of dishonesty), 
 may yet very possibly have been composed with reference 
 to him, the last clause especially being almost a repro- 
 duction of the verse above quoted. 
 
 Psalm lxii. 9 — 12. 
 
 URELY men of low degree 
 Lighter are than vanity ; 
 Others are, of station high, 
 In the balance weighed, a lie. 
 Vain are men of every state, 
 Less than vanity their weight. 
 
 10 In oppression put not trust, 
 Boast not in your gains unjust. 
 If increasing wealth ye get, 
 Cease your heart on it to set. 
 
 1 1 God hath spoken once the word — 
 Twice mine ears the voice have heard — 
 * God is mighty, God is strong, 
 11 Power and might to God belong." 
 
 12 Yea, Jehovah, Thou art kind ; 
 Man in Thee doth mercy find ; 
 Each shall have reward from Thee, 
 As Thine eye his work doth see. 
 
THE TRAITORS DENOUNCED. 113 
 
 i Samuel xxvi. 
 
 Song lit). 
 
 "And the Zip kites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David 
 hide himself in the hill of Hachilah ? " — v. I. 
 
 At the opening of this Chapter we find David again in 
 the district of the Ziphites, and the object of their 
 •renewed treachery. 
 
 The fiery indignation expressed in this Song may pro- 
 bably have been aroused by such repeated perfidy. 
 
 Psalm cxl. 9 — 13. 
 
 S for the head of those who seek 
 With ruin to encompass me, 
 O let the mischief that they speak 
 Its covering be. 
 
 10 Let burning coals upon them fall, 
 And fire descending from the skies, 
 
 The yawning pit devour them all, 
 No more to rise. 
 
 1 1 None shall on earth established see 
 The man by words of evil known ; 
 
 The violent shall surely be 
 
 By ill o'erthrown. 
 
 I 
 
114 
 
 12 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 The cause of him that suffers wrong 
 
 I know Jehovah will maintain ; 
 From Him protection from the strong 
 The poor shall gain. 
 
 i j Those who in righteousness delight 
 
 Their thanks unto Thy Name shall give, 
 And all the upright in Thy sight 
 Shall ever live. 
 
APPROACHING FOES. 
 
 II: 
 
 Song lb. 
 
 u Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having 
 three thousand chosen men of Israel with him." — v. 2. 
 
 Again surrounded by foes, and probably vexed by the 
 reproaches of despairing followers, David may have laid his 
 troubles before God in this song. 
 
 Psalm hi. i — 2. 
 
 EHOVAH, how mine enemies, 
 And those against me who arise, 
 In numbers grow before mine eyes ! 
 
 2 They many are who raise the cry, 
 u God surely is no longer nigh 
 " To help him in his misery." 
 
 I 2 
 
Il6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song M. 
 
 "Destroy him not : for who can stretch forth his hand against the 
 Lord^s anointed, and be guiltless?" — v. 9. 
 
 We now come to a daring exploit of David, who, 
 accompanied by his nephew Abishai, went by night to 
 the enemy's camp and carried cff the spear and cruse of 
 the sleeping king, as proofs that Saul's life had been a 
 second time at his mercy, and spared by him. 
 
 The following portion of Psalm iv. contains a rebuke 
 somewhat similar in character to that in which David 
 admonished his companion, whose impatience would 
 have led him into the sin of regicide. 
 
 Psalm iv. 3 — 4. 
 
 NOW this, Jehovah sets apart 
 The godly for His own, 
 And when to Him I lift my heart 
 He hears me from His Throne. 
 
 4 Then stand in awe, nor dare to sin, 
 Let fear your bosom fill ; 
 Upon your bed, your heart within, 
 O commune, and be still. 
 
THE SPEAR AND CRUSE OF SAUL. 117 
 
 Song Ibii. 
 
 " The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faith- 
 fulness." — v. 23. 
 
 The incident which we are now considering bears a 
 remarkable resemblance to the previous occurrence in the 
 cave of Engedi. A like opportunity naturally called forth 
 a similar line of conduct in the generous, yet prudent, 
 outlaw, and the mad and miserable king seems always to 
 have been touched by the unexpected sound of the voice 
 he had once loved to hear. David, however, would recog- 
 nize in the momentary softening of the heart of Saul an 
 express answer to his prayers, and in this song he speaks 
 of such an answer as a proof of his innocence. 
 
 Psalm lxvi. 16 — 20. 
 
 OME and hearken, come and hear, 
 Ye the Name of God who fear ; 
 Come to me, and be ye taught 
 What for me His Hand hath wrought. 
 
 17 I to Him my voice upraised, 
 With my tongue my God I praised. 
 
 18 If my heart had purposed sin, 
 I had failed His ear to win ; 
 
 19 But my God my prayer hath heard, 
 He hath hearkened to my word. 
 
 20 Blessed be God Who, when I cried, 
 Hath not cast my prayer aside, 
 Hath not turned away His Face, 
 Nor withdrawn from me His grace. 
 
I IS THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Samuel xxvil 
 §ong torn. 
 
 " David dwelt with Achish at Gat A, he and his men, every man with 
 his household. " — v. 3. 
 
 Placingno confidence in the continuance of Saul's kindly 
 feeling, David again threw himself on the protection of 
 Achish, who appears never to have shared in the enmity 
 of his nobles when David was a solitary outcast in Gath. 
 In this second visit, however, with his numerous band 
 David undoubtedly led a very different life, and his 
 danger may have been of another kind. He may have 
 been expected to join in the idolatrous feasts of his hosts, 
 and in v. 4 of the following Psalm he seems to pray for 
 strength against such a temptation. Probably in v. 5 
 he entreats that Gad and Abiathar may prove faithful 
 monitors if he should show signs of yielding. V. 6 is 
 very obscure, but may possibly allude to the disappoint- 
 ment of the great men who had accompanied Saul, when 
 they perceived the reconciliation effected by David's 
 gentle remonstrance ; and in v. 7 there may be an 
 allusion to the massacre at Nob. 
 
 Psalm cxli. 
 
 ITH Thee, Jehovah, do I plead, 
 Make haste to help me in my need, 
 And when I cry vouchsafe to heed. 
 
 2 O let my prayer as incense rise, 
 My lifted hands before Thine eyes 
 Become an evening sacrifice. 
 
AMONG THE PHILISTINES. 1 19 
 
 3 Keep of my lips the door with care, 
 Make me of idle words beware, 
 Nor e'en to think of evil dare. 
 
 4 From paths of sin O keep my feet, 
 Nor let me evil doers meet, 
 
 And let me not their dainties eat. 
 
 5 Nay rather let a righteous friend 
 In kindness chastisement extend, 
 And give reproof when I offend. 
 
 *This as a precious oil shall be, 
 *It shall not be refused by me ; 
 *I meet their wrongs by prayer to Thee. 
 
 6 All they who are as judges known 
 *As from a rock are overthrown, 
 *And they my words as welcome own, 
 
 7 Our bones beside the grave are found, 
 Scattered abroad and spread around 
 *As when one plougheth up the ground. 
 
 8 *Jehovah, Lord, I lift mine eyes 
 To Thee on Whom my soul relies; 
 Forsake me not, but hear my cries. 
 
 9 Keep me in safety from the net 
 Of wicked men for mischief met, 
 Who for my feet their traps have set. 
 
 10 Let sinners perish in the snare 
 
 Which their own hands with craft prepare ; 
 But let not me their ruin share. 
 
120 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song lix. 
 
 11 The time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a 
 full yeaj^ and four months" —v. 7. 
 
 Probably to avoid the temptations alluded to in the 
 foregoing Psalm, as well as fearing the renewed jealousy 
 of the courtiers, David asked from Achish permission to 
 retire to some country city. Ziklag was allotted to him, 
 and we may imagine how long and dreary the period of 
 his sojourn there must have appeared to the exile. From 
 this place on the border-land he may have raised his cry 
 to God in such words as the following. 
 
 Psalm lxi. i — 4. 
 
 GOD, my cry vouchsafe to hear, 
 
 To this my mournful prayer attend. 
 2 When, overwhelmed with grief and fear, 
 I cry to Thee from earth's far end, 
 *Up the high rock, my Hope in need, 
 Higher than I, do Thou me lead. 
 
 For Thou hast ever been to me 
 A Refuge in the time of woe ; 
 A Tower of Strength I found in Thee, 
 In Thee a Refuge from the foe. 
 . Beneath Thy wings I will abide, 
 And in Thy tabernacle hide. 
 
THE BURNING OF ZIKLAG. 121 
 
 i Samuel xxx. 
 Sang Ix. 
 
 "Behold, it was burned 'with fire; and their wives, and their sons, 
 and their daughters, were taken captives." — v. 3. 
 
 The latter part of Chapter xxvii. gives an account of 
 the bloody raids made by David and his followers on the 
 Amalekites and on other old inhabitants of Canaan, 
 friends of the Philistines. 
 
 David may have considered that, as the anointed of 
 Jehovah, he was right in carrying out the command given 
 to Saul (1 Samuel xv. 3), whose disobedience to it had 
 been punished by the forfeiture of his crown. But the 
 deception practised on Achish by one living under his 
 protection cannot be justified. 
 
 The nobles of Gath were, with good reason, more 
 suspicious of his conduct than the king, and, owing to 
 their representations, David and his men were sent back 
 from the Philistine army when on its march to meet Saul 
 on the fatal field of Gilboa. The verse quoted above 
 describes the state in which they found Ziklag on their 
 return. 
 
 In the first agony of the discovery his followers laid all 
 the blame on David (whose murderous attacks had been 
 the cause cff this retaliation), and they even " spake of 
 stoning him." 
 
 The following mournful complaint expresses a bitter- 
 ness of heart such as David must have felt in this 
 moment of seemingly hopeless distress. 
 
I 22 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm lxxxix. 46 — 48. 
 
 OW long wilt Thou Thyself, Jehovah, hide ? 
 
 Shall I Thy wrath for ever burning find? 
 
 47 Short is the time that I may here abide ; 
 
 O why hast Thou in vain made all 
 
 mankind ? 
 
 48 What man who liveth shall escape the grave ? 
 
 Who from the hand of death his soul can save ? 
 
THE SPOILERS SPOILED. 123 
 
 2 Samuel i. 
 
 Song Ixx. 
 
 When David was returned from the slaughter of 'the Amalekites, and 
 David had abode two days in Ziklag ; it came even to pass on the 
 third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul 
 with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head." — v. I, 2. 
 "And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many 
 of the people also are fallen and dead ; and Saul and Jonathan 
 his son are dead also." — v. 4. 
 
 David's despair was quickly put to flight by the un- 
 failing remedy. 
 
 He " enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after 
 this troop? . . . and He answered him, Pursue." The 
 result was the recovery of all that the Amalekites had 
 taken away. 
 
 The joy of the triumphant band was, however, of short 
 duration, for on the third day after their return to Ziklag 
 arrived the disastrous tidings from the field of Gilboa. 
 
 Ps. xliv. is not assigned to David, and may have been 
 formed by the Compiler with reference to these events 
 out of two poems believed to have been composed by 
 different authors. — (See Introduction, page xxi.) The 
 first part of the Psalm, which has already been introduced 
 (see page 19), is a song of praise, such as David and his 
 men may have been singing when their triumph was sud- 
 denly changed to a wail over the disgrace of their country 
 and the death of their king. 
 
124 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm xliv. 
 David and Soldiers, 
 
 GOD, our ears were early taught, 
 Our forefathers have told, 
 What mighty works by Thee were wrought 
 In time of old. 
 
 2 Nations were driven from the land, 
 
 And they therein were led ; 
 The heathen perished by Thine Hand 
 
 *That they might spread. 
 
 3 For not their weapon in the fight 
 
 Possession did obtain, 
 Nor did their own strong arm and might 
 The victory gain. 
 
 But Thy right Hand, Thine Arm alone, 
 
 The light of Thine own Face ; 
 Because by Thee was favour shown 
 To Israel's race. 
 
 David. 
 
 4 O God, O Thou Who art my King, 
 
 My God, give Thy command ; 
 *To Jacob full salvation bring 
 
 With Thy right Hand. 
 
 5 Cast down shall be our enemies, 
 
 By Thee when we are led ; 
 Through Thee on those who 'gainst us rise 
 Our feet shall tread. 
 
THE BATTLE OF GILBOA. 1 25 
 
 6 No power to save my sword may claim, 
 
 I trust not in my bow ; 
 
 7 Nay, Thou hast saved us, Thou to shame 
 
 Hast put the foe. 
 
 David and Soldiers, 
 
 8 In God we glory all day long, 
 
 And shouts of triumph raise ; 
 And we Thy Name in joyful song 
 Will ever praise. 
 
 Arrival of the Messenger from Gil boa. 
 
 9 But Thou hast cast us off, and made 
 
 Confusion on us light ; 
 Nor goest forth our hosts to aid 
 To win the fight. 
 
 10 Thou makest us our backs to turn, 
 
 And flee on battle plain ; 
 And they whose hearts with hatred burn 
 Our spoils obtain. 
 
 1 1 By Thee, as sheep for food, we are 
 
 Delivered for a prey, 
 Among the heathen scattered far, 
 And cast away. 
 
 12 Thy people Thou dost sell for nought, 
 
 Their price as nought is found ; 
 
 13 To be a scorn is Israel brought 
 
 To those around. 
 
126 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 14 A byword for our heathen foes 
 
 By Thee is made our name, 
 A shaking of the head to those 
 
 Who seek our shame. 
 
 David. 
 
 15 Mine eyes confusion and disgrace 
 
 Before me daily see ; 
 Shame that is ever on my face 
 
 Hath covered me ; 
 
 16 Because of him who blasphemy 
 
 And foul reproaches speaks, 
 Because the enemy is nigh 
 
 And vengeance seeks. 
 
 David and Soldiers. 
 
 17 All this is come on us, and yet 
 
 Our refuge Thee we make ; 
 Nor do Thy covenant forget, 
 
 Nor falsely break. 
 
 18 'Gainst Thee our heart doth not rebel, 
 
 From Thee we have not strayed, 
 
 19 *That crushed we lie where dragons dwell 
 
 In death's dark shade. 
 
 20 Our God forgetting had we sought 
 
 A strange god ours to be, 
 
 21 Would God not search this out ? each thought 
 
 His eye doth see. 
 
THE BATTLE OF GILBOA. 127 
 
 22 Yea, we for Thy sake all the day 
 
 Are numbered with the dead ; 
 Like sheep to slaughter led away 
 Our blood is shed. 
 
 23 Awake, O why dost Thou delay ? 
 
 In sleep why close Thine eyes ? 
 Cast us not utterly away ; 
 
 O Lord, arise. 
 
 24 Why turnest Thou away Thy Face ? 
 
 Thy wrath why dost Thou show, 
 Forgetful of our sore distress, 
 
 Our grievous woe ? 
 
 25 Our soul is bowed to earth with grief, 
 
 In dust our body lies ; 
 
 26 O in Thy mercy send relief, 
 
 To save arise. 
 
128 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song kit. 
 
 " And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and 
 Jonathan his son." — v. 17. 
 
 The grief of David on receiving the melancholy tidings 
 from Gilboa was expressed in the last song. It was, 
 however, as an Israelite that he there lifted up his voice, 
 with those around him, in the wail which contrasts so 
 strikingly with the joyful commencement of Ps. xliv. 
 
 But David's own heart was wounded in its deepest and 
 tenderest part, and from his country's woes he turned to 
 pour forth his private grief. The lament over the early 
 death of Jonathan is unrivalled in its earnestness and 
 pathetic beauty. Scarcely less touching is the generosity 
 which, forgetting the persecutor in the father and the 
 king, will not separate in his heart and song those whom 
 death has not divided. 
 
 11 Samuel i. 19 — 27. 
 
 BEAUTY of our Israel, 
 
 Slain on thy mountains high, 
 Fallen are the brave and mighty, 
 The great dishonoured lie! 
 
 20 Let Askelon not hear it, 
 
 In Gath lift not your voice, 
 
 Lest base Philistia's daughters 
 
 O'er Israel's shame rejoice. 
 
 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, 
 
 No more let fruitful field, 
 Blest by soft dew and showers, 
 From you rich offerings yield. 
 
THE MOUNTAINS OF GILBOA. 1 29 
 
 The buckler of the valiant 
 On you was cast away ; 
 The shield of God's anointed 
 Was made the heathen's prey. 
 
 22 In battle with the mighty, 
 
 In warfare with the foe, 
 Saul's sword ne'er turned backward, 
 Nor Jonathan's true bow. 
 
 23 These, in their lives so lovely, 
 
 In death unparted lay ; 
 More swift were they than eagles, 
 More strong than lions they. 
 
 24 Weep, weep, O Israel's daughters, 
 
 Weep over Saul the brave, 
 Who clothed you in scarlet, 
 Who gold and jewels gave. 
 
 25 How fallen are the mighty 
 
 In thickest of the fight ! 
 O Jonathan, they slew thee 
 Upon thy mountain's height. 
 
 26 I weep for thee, my brother ; 
 
 My joy hath been in thee ; 
 Passing the love of women 
 Hath been thy love to me. 
 
 27 How fallen are the mighty! 
 
 How lie the bravest low ! 
 The sword and spear are perished, 
 And broken is the bow. 
 
130 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel il 
 Song Ixtii 
 
 " They dwelt in the cities of Hebron." — v. 3. 
 
 On the death of Saul David inquired of the Lord 
 whether he should go up to any of the cities of Judah 
 (his own tribe), and was directed to repair to Hebron, 
 the oldest city and the burial-place of the patriarchs. 
 He accordingly removed thither with his followers. 
 
 It seems almost superfluous to call attention to the 
 appropriateness to this occasion of the following thanks- 
 giving of persecuted wanderers who have found a place 
 of rest. 
 
 Psalm lxvl 8 — 15. 
 David, 
 
 BLESS our God, ye people, 
 To sing His praises meet ; 
 
 9 Our soul in life He holdeth, 
 And maketh firm our feet. 
 
 People. 
 
 10 For Thou, O God, hast proved us, 
 
 And hast as silver tried ; 
 
 1 1 Thou in the net hast placed us, 
 
 In sorrow to abide. 
 
RETURN TO HEBRON. 
 
 12 Thou madest men o'erride us ; 
 We fire and water passed ; 
 But to a wealthy country 
 Thou brourfitest us at last. 
 
 131 
 
 David. 
 
 13 Burnt offerings on Thine altar 
 
 I joyfully will lay ; 
 
 14 The vows I made in trouble 
 
 I now to Thee will pay. 
 
 15 The incense of burnt fatlings 
 
 And rams to Thee shall rise ; 
 Yea, bullocks I will offer 
 And £oats in sacrifice. 
 
 K 2 
 
132 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixib. 
 
 " They anointed David king over the house of yndah." — v. 4. 
 
 Ps. cxxxviii. seems to express David's feelings on this 
 occasion. 
 
 In his joyful exultation he does not forget Him Who 
 " had respect to the lowly " shepherd, heard and answered 
 the exile's cry, and, having " magnified His w r ord " in 
 bringing His anointed servant to the throne, will surely 
 " perfect n His work (w T hich is as yet incomplete, while 
 only Judah acknowledges David's sway), so that kings of 
 other lands may recognize the faithfulness and truth of 
 Jehovah. 
 
 Psalm cxxxviii. 
 
 Y heart a song of joy shall raise ; 
 
 Before the gods my tongue shall sing ; 
 2 Thy truth and mercy I will praise, 
 
 Toward Thy Temple worship bring : 
 For Thou Thy word dost set on high, 
 Thy Name o'er all dost magnify. 
 
 3 Thou to my cry didst lend Thine ear ; 
 
 My soul with strength Thou did'st endue ; 
 
 4 The kings of earth Thy word shall hear, 
 
 Their tongues Thy praises shall renew ; 
 
 5 They in Jehovah's ways shall cry, 
 " Great is Jehovah's majesty." 
 
THE FIRST ANOINTING. 1 33 
 
 6 Although Jehovah dwells on high, 
 
 Although He reigns in might above, 
 He to the meek is ever nigh, 
 
 He to the lowly shows His love, 
 But bids the proud afar to stay, 
 His Face from them He turns away. 
 
 7 What though I walk 'midst grief and woe, 
 
 Thou wilt my fainting heart sustain, 
 Thine Hand, outstretched upon the foe, 
 
 His burning fury shall restrain ; 
 Yea, Thy right Hand shall safety send, 
 Thine Arm Thy servant shall defend. 
 
 8 Jehovah's tender care for me 
 
 His work will perfect make and sure ; 
 Thy love, Jehovah, firm shall be, 
 
 Thy mercy ever shall endure ; 
 Forsake me not, nor leave undone 
 The work by Thine own Hands begun. 
 
134 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel in. 
 Song Ixb. 
 
 " And the king lamented over Abner, and said . . . " — v. 33. 
 
 The claim of David to the throne was not acknow- 
 ledged by the tribes situated on the east of the Jordan. 
 All these adhered to the family of Saul, whose eldest 
 surviving son, Ish-bosheth, was (at the instigation of 
 Abner, the first cousin of Saul and captain of the host) 
 chosen for their king, the seat of government being fixed 
 at Mahanaim. 
 
 After some years, however, in consequence of a private 
 quarrel with Ish-bosheth, Abner offered his powerful 
 support to David, and held a friendly conference with him 
 at Hebron. Everything being there arranged, Abner had 
 departed on a mission to bring all Israel to make a league 
 with David, when Joab returned victorious from battle, and 
 heard with rage and jealousy of the cordial reception which 
 had been granted to the slayer of his brother. By a mes- 
 sage sent without David's knowledge, he induced Abner 
 to turn back and then basely murdered him. 
 
 David took instant measures to express his heartfelt 
 indignation and sorrow. Sternly commanding the mur- 
 derer to join with him and all the people in the funeral 
 rites, he himself delivered a lament so earnest and 
 solemn, so free from all affectation, that not a doubt 
 remained in any mind of the king's perfect innocence in 
 the matter. 
 
THE BURIAL OF ABXER. 
 
 135 
 
 2 Samuel hi. 33 — 34. 
 
 S dies a fool didst thou, O Abner, die ? 
 34 Unshackled were thy hands, 
 Free were thy feet from bands ; 
 As one by malice slain, so thou dost lie. 
 
136 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel v. 
 
 §ottg Ixbi 
 
 11 All the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron" — v. 3. 
 
 The death of Abner destroyed the last hope of the 
 adherents of the house of Saul. Ish-bosheth was assas- 
 sinated, and his murderers received the just punishment 
 for their crime from David, whose favour they had hoped 
 to win. The leaders of Israel then resolved to put an end 
 to the civil war by acknowledging the king of Judah as 
 sovereign of the united tribes, and came to Hebron (as 
 related in the text above) to propose to anoint him in 
 that capacity. 
 
 The following Psalm, so abounding in thankfulness, 
 joy, and holy confidence, is admirably suited to the title 
 affixed to it in the Septuagint version, " Before the 
 Anointing." 
 
 Psalm xxvii. 
 
 EHOVAH is my Life and Light ; 
 
 Whom shall I dread when He is near ? 
 Jehovah is my Strength and Might ; 
 Whom shall I fear ? 
 
 2 The wicked, e'en my cruel foes, 
 
 Whose hearts with rage did 'gainst me swell, 
 When to devour me they arose, 
 Stumbled and fell. 
 
BEFORE THE SECOND ANOINTING. 1 37 
 
 3 Though hosts encamped against me lie, 
 
 Yet shall my heart be not afraid ; 
 Though loud arise the battle cry, 
 I trust His aid. 
 
 4 One thing hath been my heart's desire — 
 
 Jehovah's House my home to be, 
 That I may there His will inquire, 
 His beauty see. 
 
 5 In His pavilion I will hide, 
 
 Concealed by Him in time of woe ; 
 Yea, in His secret place abide, 
 Safe from the foe. 
 
 6 Set on a rock, now lifted high 
 
 Above the foes who round me came, 
 Glad gifts I bring and magnify 
 Jehovah's Name. 
 
 7 Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry, 
 
 In mercy to my voice attend, 
 And graciously to every sigh 
 An answer send. 
 
 8 " Seek ye My Face " when Thou didst say, 
 
 " Thee will I seek " my heart replied ; 
 Thy Face O turn not Thou away, 
 Nor longer hide. 
 
 9 Cast me not off in anger ; Thou 
 
 Didst help when trouble was my lot ; 
 O God of my salvation, now 
 Forsake me not. 
 

 138 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 io Father and mother may forsake ; 
 Then will Jehovah all supply : 
 
 1 1 Teach me, and plain Thy pathway make, 
 For foes are nigh. 
 
 12 Let not mine enemies prevail ; 
 False witnesses against me rise, 
 
 And wrongfully my life assail 
 With cruel lies. 
 
 J 3 Weary and faint my heart had been, 
 But for my trust that by mine eye 
 Jehovah's goodness should be seen 
 Before I die. 
 
 14 Wait on Jehovah ; wait thou still ; 
 
 Be strong ; O be thy courage great ; 
 Jehovah's strength thy heart shall fill ; 
 Still on Him wait. 
 
THE SECOND ANOINTING. 1 39 
 
 §onq IxbiL 
 
 " They anointed David king over Israel." — v. 3. 
 
 Amongst all the outpourings of adoration ^and gratitude 
 which swell the Book of Psalms, Psalm cxlv. is emphati- 
 cally entitled " David's Psalm of praise." It is indeed 
 worthy of the " man after God's own heart," and we can- 
 not imagine a more fitting moment for its inspiration than 
 this, when the prayer offered more than seven years 
 before (Psalm cxxxviii. 8 : page 133) was thus fulfilled. 
 Jehovah had " perfected His work " concerning His ser- 
 vant, and assuredly the praise of David's " God and King " 
 ascended to Heaven with the fragrance of the anointing 
 oil. 
 
 Psalm cxlv. 
 
 HEE will I bless, my God and King, 
 Thy praise I will for ever sing, 
 
 2 Each day shall thanks ascend ; 
 Yea, ever will I bless Thy Name : 
 3 Great is Jehovah, great His fame ; 
 His greatness knows no end, 
 
 4 Age shall to age Thy works unfold ; 
 By each Thy wonders shall be told, 
 
 Thy mighty power forthshown ; 
 
 5 I of Thy majesty will tell., 
 My tongue shall on Thy glory dwell, 
 
 Thy wondrous works make known. 
 
140 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 6 So shall mankind Thy might declare ; 
 
 7 With me they shall recall Thy care 
 
 And sing Thy righteousness. 
 
 8 Great pity doth Jehovah show ; 
 He gracious is, to anger slow, 
 
 Of mercies numberless. 
 
 9 To all Jehovah shows His love ; 
 His tender mercies from above 
 
 O'er all His works extend, 
 io Thy works, Jehovah, Thee shall praise ; 
 To Thee Thy saints their songs shall raise, 
 Their blessings shall ascend. 
 
 1 1 They in Thy kingdom shall delight ; 
 They shall be talking of Thy might, 
 
 12 That men Thy power may know ; 
 
 13 Thy kingdom shall for ever last, 
 And Thy dominion standeth fast 
 
 While endless ages flow. 
 
 14 Jehovah holdeth up the weak, 
 
 The bowed down His love doth seek, 
 He raiseth them that fall. 
 
 1 5 All wait on Thee with watchful eyes ; 
 
 16 Thy bounteous Hand their wants supplies, 
 
 With plenty filling all. 
 
 17 Righteous in every work and way 
 
 18 Jehovah is ; to those who pray 
 
 In truth He will be nigh : 
 
 19 He will the supplications hear 
 Of all His holy Name who fear, 
 
 And save them when they cry. 
 
THE SECOND ANOINTING. 141 
 
 20 All those who love Him He will keep. 
 But all the wicked He will sweep 
 
 From earth with judgment sore. 
 
 21 My mouth His praises shall proclaim ; 
 O let all creatures bless His Name 
 
 Both now and evermore ! 
 
142 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixbiit. 
 
 " David took the stronghold of Zion." — v. 7. 
 
 David was now acknowledged sovereign of the whole 
 kingdom, but one fortress still held out against him. 
 Although the lower town of Jerusalem was inhabited by 
 parts of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, the citadel of 
 Zion was in the possession of the Jebusites, a very warlike 
 portion of the old heathen inhabitants of the country. 
 
 Confident in its strength, its occupants declared that 
 the lame and blind would be sufficient to defend it, and 
 David, in his anxiety for its capture, offered to make him 
 who should be the first to scale the walls " captain/' or 
 leader of the army. This feat was accomplished by his 
 nephew Joab (1 Chron. xi. 6), and the following may 
 have been a song of triumph for this glorious conclusion 
 of the siege. 
 
 Psalm xlvii. i — 4. 
 
 ALL ye people, clap your hands, 
 
 To God with voice of triumph sing ; 
 
 2 Jehovah all the earth commands, 
 A terrible and mighty King. 
 
 I The people He to us subdues, 
 
 Beneath our feet doth nations place : 
 
 |. He our inheritance doth choose, 
 The excellence of Jacob's race. 
 
DAVID KING OVER ALL ISRAEL. ■ 1 43 
 
 Song \xxx. 
 
 li David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was 
 with him!* — v. 10. 
 
 At once perceiving the importance of his new acquisi- 
 tion, David determined to make it the capital of his 
 dominions. He fixed his residence in the fort, and com- 
 menced enlarging and beautifying the city. For the first 
 time the people of God were in undivided possession of 
 the promised land, and to David was this precious 
 heritage given. 
 
 The words of the following beautiful song are so per- 
 fectly in unison with the description of prosperity given 
 above that I have chosen it as appropriate to this period. 
 
 Psalm lxi. 5 — 8. 
 
 GOD, Thou hast vouchsafed my vows to 
 hear, 
 And given me to claim 
 The goodly heritage of those who fear 
 And reverence Thy Name. 
 
 6 Thy blessing to the king long life will give, 
 Which shall as ages last. 
 
 7 Let truth, that he before his God may live, 
 And mercy hold him fast. 
 
 8 So I, Thy Name to magnify, will raise 
 My voice from day to day ; 
 
 And daily shall my song resound Thy praise, 
 That I my vows may pay. 
 
144 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixx. 
 
 11 And there were yet sons and daughters bom to David P — v. 13. 
 
 The appropriateness of the following Psalm to the 
 birth of children to David in his new capital is too 
 obvious to need remark. 
 
 Psalm cxxviii. 
 
 LEST, surely blest, is he whose heart 
 Is to Jehovah near, 
 Who doth not from His ways depart, 
 But walks therein with fear. 
 
 2 For thou the labour of thine hands 
 
 Shalt eat, and happy be ; 
 Yea, thou shalt reap thy fertile lands ; 
 It shall be well with thee. 
 
 3 Thy wife shall, like a fruitful vine, 
 
 Adorn thy dwelling-place, 
 Children like olive plants be thine, 
 Sons shall thy table grace. 
 
 4 His bounteous love their cup shall fill 
 
 Who near Jehovah live ; 
 Jehovah shall from Zion's hill 
 To thee His blessing give. 
 
 5 Blest all thy days shall Salem be, 
 
 Within her joy shall dwell ; 
 
 6 Thy children's children thou shalt see, 
 
 And peace on Israel. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 14: 
 
 i Chronicles xiii. 
 Song Ixxi 
 
 " Let us bring again the Ark of our God to us." — v. 3. 
 
 The order of the narrative after the events already 
 commemorated is a little different in the Books of Samuel 
 and Chronicles, and will be more easily explained by 
 referring to the latter for a few Chapters. 
 
 It should, however, first be recalled to mind that just 
 before the death of Eli the Philistines had defeated the 
 Israelites in a great battle and had carried away the 
 Ark of God (1 Sam. iv.). The detention of the Ark 
 among the heathen was usually spoken of by the Hebrews 
 as " The Captivity." During the seven months that it 
 lasted God inflicted fearful judgments upon the captors, 
 on which account their nobles resolved to appease His 
 anger by giving up their dangerous trophy. Placing the 
 Ark on a new cart, they harnessed to it two milch kine 
 whose calves were shut up at home, and they were 
 amazed to behold these animals, contrary to all natural 
 instinct, take the straight road to the land of Judah. 
 The five princes of Philistia witnessed the miracle with 
 awe and wonder, and followed to see the result. We 
 are told that the men of Bethshemesh were reaping their 
 wheat when the Ark appeared in sight, and their surprise 
 and joy seem to be graphically commemorated in Psalm 
 cxxvi. The harvest which had been sown in tears must 
 indeed have been reaped in joy. The Ark was, however, 
 
 L 
 
146 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 soon afterwards removed to the house of Abinadab, a 
 Levite of Kirjath-jearim, where it remained until the 
 period in David's history at which we have now arrived. 
 
 The desire of the king and of all Israel to have this 
 sacred possession brought to their new capital is alluded 
 to in the text which I have selected as the heading of 
 this song, and appears to be compared in the Psalm with 
 the longing of the dwellers in the thirsty south for the 
 return of their mountain streams. 
 
 Psalm cxxvi. 
 
 ]HEN our captivity to turn. 
 
 And Israel's bondage to redeem, 
 Jehovah deigned, our hearts did burn 
 As in a dream. 
 
 2 Laughter was heard on every side, 
 
 The heathen wondrous things were taught ; 
 " Jehovah mighty things" they cried, 
 
 "For them hath wrought." 
 
 3 Yea, wondrous things Jehovah's might 
 
 For our sakes hath vouchsafed to show, 
 Whereof with gladness and delight 
 
 Our hearts o'erflow. 
 
 4 Jehovah, stretch once more Thine Hand, 
 
 Turn .our captivity again, 
 As rivers in the southern land 
 
 Return with rain. 
 
 5 Who sow in tears in joy shall reap, 
 
 6 Who mourning in the furrcw leaves 
 Good seed, shall not at harvest weep, 
 
 But bring his sheaves. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 147 
 
 Song Ixxti 
 
 " The thing was right in the eyes of all the people." — v. 4. 
 
 The neglected state of the Ark must have been a 
 cause of deep shame and sorrow to every pious heart in 
 Israel. The disturbed condition of the country from the 
 death of Eli until David was firmly settled on the throne 
 had rendered it impossible to find a suitable resting-place 
 for this most sacred treasure. 
 
 Now, however, when the blessing of peace was re- 
 stored to them, the people of God yearned after their 
 long lost privileges, and hailed with delight the proposal 
 to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. This short song seems 
 to express their joy on this occasion. 
 
 Psalm lxxxv. i — 2. 
 
 EHOVAH, Thou again hast sought 
 With loving grace Thy land, 
 And Jacob from his bondage brought, 
 
 Redeemed by Thy right Hand. 
 
 2 Thy wrath which on Thy people lay, 
 The guilt which reigned within, 
 
 Thou hast removed far away, 
 And covered all their sin. 
 
 L 2 
 
I48 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 ^flng ixxux. 
 
 " They carried the Ark of God in a nru) cart out of the house of 
 Abinadab." — v. 7. 
 
 We may suppose that, as soon as David had obtained 
 the ready assent of his subjects to accompany the Ark to 
 Jerusalem in a joyful as well as solemn procession, he 
 prepared a suitable service for the occasion. We cannot 
 now ascertain what songs were composed for it, but I 
 have adopted those that appear to me appropriate to 
 the various incidents of the removal, which was accom- 
 plished by two distinct journeys. Ps. lxviii., consisting of 
 four separate Songs, is generally believed to have been 
 used in the course of this double journey, and the first 
 part was probably sung when the procession set out, as 
 it commences with the very words which Moses had 
 employed during the wanderings of the Israelites, when- 
 ever the Ark of the Covenant set forward from its tem- 
 porary resting-place (Numbers x. 35). 
 
 I have remarked on the position of " Selah " (at the 
 end of v. 7) in the Introduction, pages xii and xiii. 
 
 Psalm lxviii. i — 6. 
 
 flET God arise, and let His foes 
 II 
 
 Confounded be ; 
 
 And, scattered by His arm, let those 
 
 That hate Him flee ; 
 
 2 As smoke that vanisheth from sight 
 
 By Thee let them be put to flight. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 149 
 
 Let sinners fall beneath His eye 
 
 In dire dismay, 
 Perish, as wax, when fire is nigh, 
 
 Doth melt away ; 
 
 3 But glad let all the righteous be ; 
 Let them rejoice exceedingly. 
 
 4 Sing unto God, uplift your song 
 
 His Name to praise, 
 *Who rides the desert sands along ; 
 
 *His highway raise ; 
 *Jah is His Name, uplift your voice; 
 Jah is His Name, in Him rejoice. 
 
 5 A Father to the fatherless, 
 
 The widows' Friend, 
 God will relieve their sore distress, 
 
 And comfort send ; 
 Yea, from His holy place will hear, 
 And save them out of all their fear. 
 
 6 He for the desolate and lone 
 
 A household makes ; 
 He those, who bound in fetters groan, 
 
 From prison takes ; 
 But those who heed not His command 
 • Shall dwell within a barren land. 
 
1 50 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 song txxio. 
 
 " David and all Israel played before God with all t/ieir might, and 
 with singing." — v. 8. 
 
 There is no recorded event to which Ps. xxxiii. is more 
 appropriate than to the removal of the Ark from the house 
 of Abinadab ; for not only do the harp and psaltery to 
 which it alludes coincide with the Bible narrative, but 
 the subject of the song is just what we should expect on 
 that occasion. Opening with a glorious burst of praise 
 of the Creator and Benefactor of the world, it proceeds 
 to extol that discriminating supervision of His creatures 
 of which the return of the Ark was so striking an instance. 
 The counsel of the heathen had by Him been made in- 
 effectual to deprive His chosen people of their sacred 
 treasure, and Jehovah was even then renewing the as- 
 surance of His covenant with Israel. Their king would 
 not trust in his armies, but in the knowledge that the 
 Lord was dwelling among them as their Help and Shield. 
 
 Psalm xxxiii. 
 
 E that righteous are, rejoice, 
 
 Shouts of joy and gladness raise ; 
 Praise Jehovah with your voice ; 
 Comely for the just is praise. 
 
 2 With the harp His praises sing, 
 Let the psaltery not be mute ; 
 Praises to Jehovah bring, 
 
 Praise Him on a ten-stringed lute. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. I 5 I 
 
 3 Sing to Him an anthem new, 
 
 Skilfully give forth the sound ; 
 
 4 For Jehovah's word is true, 
 
 All His works are faithful found. 
 
 5 Righteous judgment doth He love, 
 
 Earth is with His goodness bright ; 
 
 6 When He spake, the Heavens above 
 
 Sprung with all their hosts to light. 
 
 7 He doth gather as an heap 
 
 All the waters of the sea ; 
 He lays up the ocean deep 
 In a mighty treasury. 
 
 8 Let the earth fear Him alone ; 
 
 Let in awe the people stand ; 
 
 9 For He spake and it was done, 
 
 Fast it stood at His command. 
 
 10 Lo, Jehovah's wisdom brings 
 
 All the heathen's schemes to nought ; 
 He destroys the plots of kings ; 
 
 Vain He makes man's wisest thought. 
 
 1 1 All His counsel standeth fast, 
 
 Fixed for ever to endure ; 
 All His thoughts for ever last, 
 Through all ages firm and sure. 
 
 12 Those who on Jehovah rest, 
 
 Making Him their God alone, 
 Blest are they ; and they are blest 
 Whom He chooseth for His own. 
 
152 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 13 From His Throne in Heaven on high 
 
 Doth Jehovah see our race ; 
 
 14 Those who dwell on earth His eye 
 
 Watcheth from His dwelling-place. 
 
 15 By His wisdom He doth mould 
 
 All the hearts of men below ; 
 All their works He doth behold, 
 
 All their inmost thoughts doth know. 
 
 16 Not by greatness of his host 
 
 Doth a king his triumphs gain ; 
 Mighty men, of strength who boast, 
 Seek deliverance in vain. 
 
 17 Vain is horse's speed and pow r er 
 
 Life to save on battle-field ; 
 Vain his strength in danger's hour 
 From the foe to prove a shield. 
 
 18 Lo, Jehovah's watchful eye 
 
 Rests on them His Name who fear; 
 They who on their God rely 
 Find His mercy ever near. 
 
 19 He preserves their soul from death, 
 
 Feeds them with His bounteous Hand, 
 Still maintains their failing breath, 
 E'en when famines waste the land. 
 
 20 Waiting doth our soul abide 
 
 Till Jehovah be revealed ; 
 He will surely help provide, 
 He is our Defence and Shield. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 
 
 153 
 
 21 Trust upon His Name we place, 
 
 Glad in Him our hearts shall be 
 
 22 O Jehovah, let Thy grace 
 
 Rest on us who hope in Thee. 
 
154 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixxb. 
 
 "c T zza put forth his hand to hold the Ark ; for the oxen stumbled." — v. 9. 
 
 The procession had advanced with demonstrations of 
 joy, such as those recorded in the foregoing Psalms, as far 
 as the threshing-floor of Chidon or Nachon, when it 
 was suddenly overtaken (so says the tradition) by a most 
 terrible thunderstorm. The history informs us that the 
 oxen (probably either through alarm or owing to the 
 slippery state of the road) stumbled, and Uzza, one of the 
 sons of Abinadab and one of the drivers of the cart, took 
 hold of the Ark to save it from falling. This hasty act was 
 the climax of that want of due reverence and conformity 
 to God's directions as to the removal of the Ark which 
 characterized the whole arrangement. In Numbers iv. 
 15 we read that, when the sons of Aaron had carefully 
 covered the Ark, the sons of Kohath were to bear it, 
 but " they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die." 
 All this had evidently been overlooked, and probably the 
 storm with its attendant catastrophe was the mark of 
 God's displeasure, for Uzza was immediately struck dead, 
 killed, as is supposed, by a flash of lightning. The con- 
 sternation which ensued made it impossible for the pro- 
 cession to go further. David therefore relinquished for 
 the present his design of bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, 
 and deposited it in the neighbouring house of Obed-edom, 
 there to wait till the anger of the Lord should be appeased. 
 The awful circumstances attending the death of Uzza 
 were possibly in David's memory when he composed the 
 magnificent description of a storm which is found in 
 Psalm xxix. 
 
FIRST REMOVAL OF THE ARK. 1 55 
 
 Psalm xxix. 
 
 IVE to Jehovah, ye on high, 
 
 Ye who in might and power excel, 
 Give to Jehovah majesty, 
 
 Extol His strength, His glory tell. 
 
 2 Give to Jehovah glory due, 
 
 The greatness of His Name confess ; 
 Give to Jehovah homage true, 
 *And worship Him in holy dress. 
 
 3 Jehovah speaks in Ocean's roar, 
 
 The God of glory thundereth ; 
 The waters, when they lash the shore, 
 Are driven by Jehovah's breath. 
 
 4 Jehovah's voice is full of might ; 
 
 His voice in power is heard on high ; 
 Jehovah speaketh from the height ; 
 His voice is full of majesty. 
 
 5 Jehovah's voice the cedars breaks, 
 
 The pride of Lebanon lays low ; 
 Jehovah's voice the mountains shakes ; 
 That voice, that mighty voice they know. 
 
 6 As a young unicorn doth leap, 
 
 Springs Lebanon that voice to hear ; 
 His place no more may Sirion keep, 
 Trembling to feel Jehovah near. 
 
156 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 7 Jehovah's voice the flames of fire 
 
 Doth from the thunder-cloud divide, 
 
 8 And when that voice is heard in ire 
 
 The desert shakes on every side. 
 
 Kadesh, thy wilderness doth quake ; 
 
 9 The fear-struck hinds bring forth their 
 
 young; 
 His voice the forest depths doth shake ; 
 His glory in His House is sung. 
 
 10 Throned o'er the flood Jehovah reigns, 
 
 A King Whose rule shall never cease ; 
 
 1 1 His might His people's strength maintains, 
 
 His blessing gives His people peace. 
 
BATTLE OF BAAL-PERAZIM. 157 
 
 i Chronicles xiv. 
 §mtg Ixxbh 
 
 " When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all 
 Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. " — v. 8. 
 
 Perhaps the news of David's failure in the attempt to 
 carry the Ark to his new capital may have inspired the 
 Philistines with the idea that this was a favourable oppor- 
 tunity for an invasion. They may have imagined that 
 the God of Israel was opposed to the new king, and 
 would no longer protect his people. " Where is now 
 their God ?" would be their exulting inquiry. It found a 
 speedy answer ; for David, having asked counsel of the 
 Lord, met and defeated them at Baal-perazim, and burned 
 the images which in their flight they had abandoned. 
 This victory appears to be the subject of Psalm ex v. 
 
 Psalm cxv. 
 David. 
 
 SOT unto us the glory be, 
 
 The praise, Jehovah, be to Thee ; 
 O let Thy Name the glory take, 
 Yea, for Thy truth and mercy's sake. 
 
 2 O wherefore should the heathen say 
 
 u Where now is He to whom they pray ?" 
 
 3 Our God in highest Heaven doth dwell ; 
 And He hath done what pleased Him well. 
 
158 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Their gold and silver gods are nought ; 
 Idols are they which men have wrought; 
 
 5 Mouths have they which no speech can find ; 
 Deaf are their ears ; their eyes are blind ; 
 
 6 Noses that smell not they possess ; 
 Their throats no language can express ; 
 
 7 Hands have they — hands that useless prove; 
 And feet that have no power to move ; 
 
 8 Like them are those that have them made ; 
 Like them are all that trust their aid. 
 
 Priest. 
 
 9 But thou, O Israel's chosen race, 
 Thy trust upon Jehovah place ; 
 Trust thou in Him ; on battle-field 
 He is their Helper and their Shield. 
 
 10 O Aaron's house, in Him confide; 
 Trusting Jehovah still abide; 
 
 He doth His succour to them yield; 
 He is their Helper and their Shield. 
 
 1 1 All ye Jehovah's Name who fear, 
 
 To Him with trusting hearts draw near ; 
 He hath His saving power revealed ; 
 He is their Helper and their Shield. 
 
 12 Jehovah hath us borne in mind ; 
 Joy in His blessing we shall find ; 
 He will to Israel blessings send, 
 
 To Aaron's house His grace extend. 
 
 13 His blessing upon them shall wait 
 Who fear Jehovah, small and great. 
 
BATTLE OF BAAL-PERAZIM. I 59 
 
 14 You and your children shall not cease, 
 Blest by Jehovah, to increase. 
 
 15 Jehovah, Heaven and Earth Who made, 
 His blessing upon you hath laid. 
 
 Chorus, 
 
 16 The Heavens He makes His dwelling-place, 
 But earth He gives to Adam's race. 
 
 17 The dead sing not Jehovah's praise, 
 Nor those in silence songs upraise ; 
 
 18 But we Jehovah will adore. 
 Praise ye Jehovah evermore. 
 
l6o THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixxbii 
 
 * ( God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. " — v. 1 5. 
 
 " The Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad 
 in the valley. Therefore David enquired again of God ; 
 and God said unto him, Go not up after them ; turn 
 away from them, and come upon them over against the 
 mulberry-trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a 
 sound of going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that 
 then thou shalt go out to battle." 
 
 Such is the context to the verse which I have chosen 
 as a fitting introduction to the following song. What 
 miraculous interposition may have caused the mysterious 
 sound, is not explained. It has been thought that, as the 
 chariots and horsemen of Heaven were revealed to the 
 eye of Elisha (2 Kings vi. 17), so was David permitted to 
 hear the going forth of the celestial army to prove to 
 the enemies of God how terrible are His works and 
 how great is His power. The first part of Psalm lxvi. 
 may refer to the defeat of the Philistines on this occasion. 
 
 Psalm lxvi. i — 4. 
 
 AKE to God a joyful noise, 
 
 All ye lands, your voices raise, 
 2 Sing the honour of His Name, 
 
 Sing, and glorious make His praise. 
 
 3 Say to God, " How terrible 
 
 " In Thy mighty works art Thou ! 
 " Through the greatness of Thy power 
 " Shall Thy foes submissive bow. 
 
THE SOUND IN THE TREES. 
 
 161 
 
 4 " All the earth shall worship Thee, 
 " All in song Thy praise proclaim, 
 " All before Thee bow the knee, 
 " All shall sing unto Thy Name." 
 
 M 
 
1 62 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §toiuj bcxtmi 
 
 u The fame of David rcent out into all lands ; and the LORD brought 
 the fear of him upon all nations." — v. 17. 
 
 Psalm cxliv. is generally admitted to be composite, the 
 original song ending with the refrain at the end of 
 verse 1 1. Delitzsch suggests that it may have been written 
 in reference to the conquest of Goliath, to which in many 
 respects it is suitable ; but the words in verse 2 " sub- 
 dueth my people that is under me " are strongly against 
 placing it before David's accession to the throne. It 
 may have been composed in three distinct portions, the 
 second (beginning with " A new song," verse 9, and 
 ending with the second refrain, verse 11,) having been 
 added by David to celebrate a new victory, and the last 
 part appended by him afterwards. 
 
 Whatever may have been the period of the composi- 
 tion either of the original song or of the later additions, 
 in its present form it is extremely suitable to the time of 
 victorious peace, described above, whilst the Philis- 
 tines, though in a measure crushed, still remained to be 
 a source of anxiety. 
 
 Psalm cxliv. 
 David. 
 
 LEST be Jehovah, blest His Name, 
 My Rock of strength, my Alight, 
 He Who doth teach my hands to war, 
 My fingers train to fight ; 
 
THE GIVER OF VICTORY. 163 
 
 2 He Who my Loving-kindness is, 
 
 My Fortress, Saviour, Tower, 
 My Shield, my Refuge, Who subdues 
 My people to my power. 
 
 3 Jehovah, what is man, that Thou 
 
 Should'st deign on him to look ? 
 Or what the son of man, that he 
 Be written in Thy book ? 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 4 Man is a thing of vanity, 
 
 "*Yea, even as a breath ; 
 Like to a shadow are his days 
 That quickly vanisheth. 
 
 David. 
 
 5 Jehovah, bow Thy Heavens, come down, 
 
 Descend Thou from the skies ; 
 Touch Thou the mountains, and behold 
 Their smoke in clouds shall rise. 
 
 6 Cast forth Thy lightning ; then o'erthrown 
 
 And scattered they shall lie ; 
 Shoot out the arrows from Thy bow, 
 And stricken they shall die. 
 
 7 Send down Thy judgments from above, 
 
 Let none before Thee stand ; 
 O save me from the waterflood, 
 And from the stranger's hand. 
 M 2 
 
164 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 8 Whose mouth doth speak of vanity, 
 Whose words with lies abound ; 
 In whose right hand doth falsehood dwell, 
 And wickedness is found. 
 
 David. 
 
 9 A new and joyful song to Thee 
 My voice, O God, shall raise ; 
 Upon a ten-stringed psaltery 
 Will I resound Thy praise. 
 
 10 His outstretched Arm the victory 
 
 Doth unto kings afford, 
 Who doth His servant David's life 
 Deliver from the sword. 
 
 1 1 O rescue and deliver me, 
 
 Let none before me stand ; 
 Save from the sons of aliens, 
 And from the stranger's hand. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Whose mouth doth speak of vanity, 
 Whose words with lies abound ; 
 
 In whose right hand doth falsehood dwell, 
 And wickedness is found. 
 
THE GIVER OF VICTORY. 165 
 
 David. 
 
 12 That all our sons may in their youth 
 
 Like well-trained plants be grown, 
 Each daughter like a beautiful 
 And polished corner stone. 
 
 13 That all our garners may be full, 
 
 With stores of plenty crowned, 
 In tens of thousands that our sheep 
 *May in our fields abound. 
 
 14 *That laden be our oxen strong, 
 
 No breach be in our wall, 
 No sallying forth be from our gates, 
 *Nor heard the battle-call. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 1 5 Blest is the people, surely blest, 
 To whom such peace is known ; 
 Blest they whose God Jehovah is, 
 Whose God is He alone, 
 
1 66 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Chronicles xv. 
 
 ''David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place 
 for the Ark of God, and pitched for it a tent." — v. I. 
 
 David's increasing greatness only added to the one 
 longing desire which he had cherished from his youth 
 upwards, viz. that he might dwell close to the House of 
 the Lord, and spend much of his time within its courts. 
 No sooner, then, had he obtained a little respite from the 
 attacks of his heathen neighbours than he set about pre- 
 paring a fit place for the reception of the Ark, determining 
 to make a second attempt to bring it to Jerusalem with 
 every mark of honour and reverence. 
 
 We cannot doubt that, while building and embellishing 
 his city, his prevailing thought was of the loving-kindness 
 of his God, and although Psalm xlviii. is not ascribed to 
 David (see Introduction, page xxi), the latter part may ex- 
 press the feelings with which he prepared the Tabernacle 
 and gazed on the rising palaces of Zion. 
 
 The word Temple is often used to denote the Sanctuary. 
 
 Psalm xlviii. 9 — 14. 
 
 ITHIN Thy Temple's courts we trod, 
 
 And thought upon Thy gracious ways ; 
 10 According to Thy Name, O God, 
 
 So is to earth's far ends Thy praise; 
 Beside Thee righteousness doth stand, 
 And justice filleth Thy right Hand. 
 
THE TEMPLE AND TOWERS OF ZION. 167 
 
 11 Let Zion's holy mount rejoice, 
 
 And Juclah's daughters lift their voice. 
 Because Thy judgments fill the land. 
 
 12 Round Zion go, about her walk, 
 
 And all her towers and bulwarks tell ; 
 
 13 Mark them, and be of them your talk, 
 
 Her palaces consider well, 
 That all her glory ye may see, 
 And show to your posterity. 
 
 14 *For such is God, for ever sure, 
 Our God for ever to endure, 
 
 He Who our Guide till death will be. 
 
1 68 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §ong box. 
 
 " Sanctify yourselves, .... that ye may bring up the Ark of the 
 LORD God of Israel unto t/u place that I have prepared for it. 
 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a 
 breach upon us, for that 7ce sought Him not after the due order." 
 
 VV. 12, I3. 
 
 Three months had passed away since the death of 
 Uzza, and David heard that God had blessed the house 
 of Obed-edom on account of its sacred charge. He 
 therefore trusted that Jehovah had graciously pardoned 
 the irreverence which had so greatly aroused His anger, 
 and would grant success to a second attempt to bring 
 the Ark to Jerusalem. 
 
 Warned, however, by the former failure, he determined 
 that no carelessness on his part should again mar the 
 undertaking. Remembering that none ought to carry 
 the Ark but the Levites, he called for them with the 
 priests, and admonished them in the above words with 
 regard to their holy office. 
 
 Psalm lxxxv. may have been compiled with reference 
 to this occasion from two songs by different authors. 
 (See Introduction, page xxi.) 
 
 Psalm lxxxv. 
 
 David. 
 
 ROUGHT back is Jacob's bondage now; 
 Jehovah, Thou Thy land dost bless ; 
 2 Forgiven is our sin, and Thou 
 
 Hast covered all our wickedness. 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. 169 
 
 3 Thine indignation is no more, 
 
 No longer dost Thou wrath display ; 
 Yea, all Thine anger now is o'er, 
 The fierceness of it turned away. 
 
 4 O God of our salvation, turn, 
 
 Turn us, and make Thine anger cease; 
 
 5 Shall Thy displeasure alway burn ? 
 
 Thy wrath from age to age increase ? 
 
 6 O wilt Thou not new life bestow, 
 
 That we may now rejoice in Thee ? 
 
 7 Thy mercy, O Jehovah, show, 
 
 And let us Thy salvation see. 
 
 {To Abiathar.) 
 
 8 To hear Jehovah's words I seek ; 
 
 What God doth say I fain would learn ; 
 He to His people peace will speak, 
 But let them not to sin return. 
 
 Abiathar. 
 
 9 Salvation to His saints is near, 
 
 That glory this our land may grace ; 
 
 10 Mercy and truth combined appear, 
 
 And righteousness doth peace embrace. 
 
 1 1 Springing from earth shall truth arise, 
 
 And with its fruits the earth shall crown 
 And from the Throne above the skies 
 Shall righteousness on man look down. 
 
170 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 12 Jehovah shall His goodness show, 
 
 And make our land her fruits provide ; 
 
 13 Before Him righteousness shall go, 
 
 *And follow where His footsteps guide. 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. 171 
 
 " So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, 
 went to bring tip the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of the 
 house oj Obed-edom with joy ." — v. 25. 
 
 All preparations having been made and the procession 
 arranged in its proper order, the Levites raised the Ark 
 upon their shoulders, and the following blessing, corre- 
 sponding with that appointed in Numbers vi. 24 — 26, 
 may have been sung. 
 
 Psalm lxvii. i. 
 
 OD to us His mercy show, 
 
 Bless His servants with His grace, 
 Tokens of His love bestow, 
 
 Cause to shine on us His Face. 
 
1/2 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixxxti. 
 
 11 And it came to pass, when God helped the Lrjites that bare the Ark 
 of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered sruen bullocks and 
 seven rams." — v. 26. 
 
 We learn from the account in 2 Sam. vi. that they had 
 only proceeded the short distance of about six paces 
 (just sufficient to allow of the blessing being sung), when 
 a halt was made for the above-named sacrifices, after 
 which the march would doubtless be resumed, and the 
 Song which forms the second portion of Psalm lxvii. may 
 have been sung by the whole assembly. 
 
 This Song is apparently a fragment, and no name is 
 prefixed to the Psalm. (See Introduction, page xxi.) 
 
 Psalm lxvii. 2 — 4. 
 
 LET Thy way on earth be known, 
 Thy saving health to all men shown ; 
 
 3 Their voices let the people raise, 
 Let all the people sing Thy praise. 
 
 4 O let the nations joyful be, 
 With gladness let them sing to Thee ; 
 For Thou shalt righteous judgment give, 
 And govern all on earth that live. 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. 173 
 
 §an% Ixxxiii. 
 
 " Thus all Israel brought up the Ark of the covenant of the 
 LORD."— v. 28. 
 
 Although some Commentators think that the first part 
 of Psalm xxiv. was not composed for this procession, it 
 seems to me peculiarly appropriate to its arrival at the 
 foot of the hill leading to the city gates. 
 
 The Creator of all the earth had vouchsafed to choose 
 Zion for His abode, and, before the ascent of that 
 henceforth holy mountain, the question would reverently 
 be asked, "Who is worthy to go up?" The answer 
 shows how high was the standard of purity required, but 
 those who now approached were truly seeking their God, 
 and might therefore proceed in the full assurance of His 
 blessing and of that gift of righteousness which they 
 desired. 
 
 Psalm xxiv. i — 6. 
 
 Chorus. 
 HE earth and all the fulness 
 
 Of earth Jehovah's is ; 
 The world to Him belongeth, 
 The dwellers there are His. 
 
 2 By Him it hath been founded, 
 And raised above the sea ; 
 Upon the floods established, 
 It stands by His decree. 
 
74 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Single Voice. 
 
 3 Who shall ascend the mountain 
 
 Where shines Jehovah's Face ? 
 Or who shall stand rejoicing 
 Within His Holy Place ? 
 
 Another Voice, 
 
 4 He that clean hands possesseth 
 
 And heart unstained by spot, 
 Who vanity ne'er seeketh, 
 Who falsely sweareth not. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 5 The favour of Jehovah 
 
 That man shall surely bless ; 
 The God of His salvation 
 Shall give him righteousness. 
 
 6 This is the generation, 
 
 Yea, this the chosen race, 
 That seek, O God of Jacob, 
 With faithful hearts Thy Face. 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. IJ$ 
 
 Song Ixxxib. 
 
 " With shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, 
 and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps " — 
 v. 28. 
 
 Such a song as that which forms the conclusion of 
 Psalm lxviii. must have accompanied these overflowing 
 demonstrations of joy, while " David danced before the 
 Lord with all his might/' wearing, instead of his royal 
 robes, the linen ephod which so offended Michal's sense 
 of dignity. # 
 
 The position of the Selah after verse 32 in the middle 
 of a sentence would alone render it probable that this 
 Song is a fragment of another poem, but there are other 
 reasons for forming this conclusion. (See Introduction, 
 p. xiii.*) 
 
 Psalm lxviii. 33 — 35. 
 
 O Him, the Heavens of Heavens Who rides, 
 Loud praises sing, 
 *To Hirn Who from of old abides 
 A glorious King ; 
 His voice He sendeth from on high 
 A voice of might and majesty. 
 
 34 Praise Israel's' Strength, Who in the height 
 Hath made His Throne, 
 
 35 From out Thy Holy Place Thy might, 
 O God, is shown ; 
 
 Yea, Israel's God to power hath raised 
 His chosen people. God be praised. 
 
1/6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 gong Ixxxb. 
 
 u T/ie Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came to t)u city of 
 David"— v. 29. 
 
 The following glorious and prophetic Song may have 
 been sung in parts at the gates when the Ark entered the 
 city. 
 
 We know that the Ark was sometimes carried to battle 
 with the army ; and it is probable that the processional 
 hymn used on its return was always interrupted at the city 
 gates by this dialogue, and was resumed as soon as the 
 Ark and its attendants had passed through them. This 
 would account for the musical notice (Selah) at the end. 
 (See Introduction, p. xix.) 
 
 Psalm xxiv. 7 — 10. 
 
 Single Voice. 
 PLIFT your heads, ye portals, 
 *Uplift, ye ancient gates ; 
 Behold, the King of Glory 
 To come within you waits. 
 
 Another Voice. 
 8 Who is this King of Glory ? 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 This title doth belong 
 To Him in battle mighty, 
 Jehovah, great and strong. 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. 177 
 
 Single Voice. 
 
 9 Uplift your heads, ye portals, 
 ^Uplift, ye ancient gates ; 
 Behold, the King of Glory 
 To come -within you waits. 
 
 Another Voice. 
 
 10 Who is this King of Glory ? 
 This title who doth bring ? 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 The Lord of Hosts, Jehovah, 
 He is of Glory King. 
 
I/S THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song Ixxxbi. 
 
 " Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king 
 David dancing and playing" — v. 29. 
 
 Michal appears to have seen the procession when it 
 halted at David's house, and when probably Psalm xv. 
 was being sung, for we may imagine that the king, whose 
 lifelong object it had been to fit himself for the privilege 
 now so near at hand, had arranged that this Psalm should 
 come in at the place where its salutary admonition would 
 most especially apply to himself. It is generally admitted 
 that Psalm xv. was composed for the removal of the Ark 
 to Mount Zion, and this is perhaps the strongest argu- 
 ment against the first portion of Psalm xxiv. (see Song 
 lxxxiii.) forming part of the processional service. The 
 two songs, however, are suited to different stages of the 
 journey, and allude to different privileges — Psalm xxiv. 
 inquiring who is worthy to ascend the holy hill and enter 
 the Tabernacle, Psalm xv. asking who, yet more blessed, 
 shall be permitted constantly to dwell therein. The same 
 qualities are required in both cases, but in the latter they 
 are more fully dwelt upon. 
 
 Psalm xv. 
 
 HO, O Jehovah, shall abide 
 
 Within the Tent that Thou hast blest ? 
 For whom wilt Thou a home provide, 
 Upon Thy holy hill a rest ? 
 
JOURNEY OF THE ARK TO ZION. 1 79 
 
 2 He who a godly life doth lead, 
 
 The man who righteousness doth seek, 
 He who is pure in thought and deed, 
 
 And from his heart the truth doth speak. 
 
 3 Whose tongue doth no man falsely blame, 
 
 To others who no ill hath wrought, 
 
 Nor hath to wound his neighbour's fame 
 
 With slander and reproaches sought. 
 
 4 He in whose eyes the evil ways 
 
 Of wicked men do vile appear, 
 Who giveth honour due and praise 
 To those Jehovah's Name who fear. 
 
 Who, to his neighbour if he swear, 
 
 His covenant will not forsake, 
 Yea, rather hurt and loss will bear 
 
 Than any solemn promise break. 
 
 5 On usury who hath not lent, 
 
 Nor wronged the innocent for gain ; 
 To him shall saving help be sent, 
 Unmoved he ever shall remain. 
 
 N 2 
 
I SO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Chronicles xvi. 
 §onq Lxxxbii. 
 
 " So they brought the Ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent 
 that David had pitched for it. " — v. I . 
 
 We may now imagine the march resumed. The Ark of 
 God is at length ascending the hill of Zion after its sad 
 captivity among the heathen and its long detention from 
 its destined home, all so suggestive of the past history of 
 God's chosen people. 
 
 The following magnificent hymn may be appropriately 
 placed in this last stage of the journey. 
 
 Psalm lxviii. 7 — 19. 
 
 GOD, when through the desert Thou 
 
 Didst lead our race, 
 8 Earth shook, the very heavens did bow 
 Before Thy Face ; 
 E'en Sinai's mount was moved with fear, 
 For God, e'en Israel's God, was near. 
 
 9 O God, Thou sendedst from the sky 
 A plenteous rain, 
 Thine heritage, when parched and dry, 
 To cheer again. 
 10 Thine own have dwelt in safety there ; 
 Thy love did for the poor prepare. 
 
ASCENDING THE HILL. l8l 
 
 1 1 *The Lord doth give the word ; to bear 
 
 The tidings far, 
 *An host of women's songs declare 
 *" We victors are." 
 
 12 *Kings with their hosts shall flee, shall flee ; 
 Shared in the tent the spoil shall be. 
 
 1 3 Although among the pots ye lay, 
 
 Defiled and sad, 
 Ye shall be seen in new array, 
 
 With honour clad, 
 As doves their silver wings unfold, 
 With feathers bright like burnished gold. 
 
 14 *When kings the Almighty doth o'erthrow 
 
 And put to flight, 
 
 "*Then is it even as is snow 
 
 In Salmon white. 
 
 15 High is of Bashan's mount the crest, 
 High is the hill which God hath blest. 
 
 16 Why leap ye ? why with envy swell, 
 
 Ye lofty hills ? 
 This hill, where God delights to dwell, 
 
 His Presence fills ; 
 For ever upon Zion's side 
 Jehovah's glory will abide. 
 
 17 Thousands of chariots of light 
 
 To God belong ; 
 Thousands of Angels, armed for fight, 
 
 Around Him throng ; 
 Jehovah is among them found, 
 E'en as in Sinai's holy ground. 
 
1 82 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 8 Thou hast gone up and captive made 
 
 *A captive band ; 
 *Gifts at Thy footstool men have laid 
 
 From every land ; 
 Yea, that, although they did rebel, 
 Jehovah God might with them dwell. 
 
 19 Blest be the Lord, our Strength, our Stay ; 
 
 His praise proclaim 
 *Who bears our burden day by day ; 
 
 Blest be His Name ; 
 All power from harm to keep is His, 
 Who God of our salvation is. 
 
AT THE SA^ T CTUARY. 1 83 
 
 Song Ixxxbiit. 
 
 " He dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one 
 a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine." 
 —v. 3. 
 
 After inaugurating the new Tabernacle with burnt sacri- 
 fices and peace-offerings, David, as related above, dis- 
 pensed to all the people the means of celebrating the 
 joyful occasion with an abundant feast. This exultant 
 hymn of praise to the Giver of all good things may have 
 been sung during the distribution. The whole Psalm was 
 afterwards a harvest hymn. 
 
 Psalm lxvii. 5 — 7. 
 
 |ET the people praises sing, 
 
 ^Praise to Thee, O God, address ; 
 6 Then shall earth her increase bring, 
 Then our God His own shall bless 
 7 God shall bless us ; far and near 
 Him the ends of earth shall fear. 
 
184 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §<mg Ixxxix. 
 
 11 On that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into 
 the hand of Asaph and his brethren" — v. 7. 
 
 1 have written this long Psalm (portions of which are 
 found, with a few alterations, in Psalms cv., xcvi., and 
 cvi.) in three different metres, to avoid monotony. 
 
 1 Chronicles xvi. 8 — 36. 
 
 IVE thanks unto Jehovah, 
 
 And call upon His Name ; 
 His deeds among the people, 
 His mighty deeds, proclaim. 
 
 9 Lift high to Him your voices, 
 Sing anthems to His praise, 
 And let your talk be ever 
 Of all His works and ways. 
 
 10 Let all who seek Jehovah 
 Their tongues in praise employ ; 
 
 His Name shall be your glory, 
 And fill your hearts with joy. 
 
 1 1 O seek ye then Jehovah, 
 And strength from Him implore; 
 
 Seek of His Face the favour, 
 O seek it evermore. 
 
AT THE SANCTUARY. 1 85 
 
 12 His mighty works remember, 
 
 The wonders of His hand ; 
 Remember every judgment, 
 Each law, and each command ; 
 
 13 Of Israel His servant 
 
 O ye who are the seed, 
 Ye chosen sons of Jacob, 
 
 Whom He vouchsafes to lead. 
 
 14 He is our God Jehovah ; 
 
 To earth's far distant ends 
 He sendeth forth His judgments, 
 His righteousness extends. 
 
 15 *His covenant He remembers, 
 
 The word He did ordain 
 To thousand generations 
 Unbroken to remain — 
 
 16 The word He gave to Abrah'm, 
 
 To Isaac which He swore, 
 
 17 And hath confirmed to Jacob, 
 
 A law for evermore — 
 
 18 The covenant thus spoken, 
 
 " I give this land to thee, 
 " This fruitful land of Canaan, 
 " Your heritage to be ;" 
 
 19 When ye were few in number, 
 
 A small and feeble race, 
 And in the land were strangers, 
 Without a dwelling-place. 
 
1 86 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 20 From nation on to nation 
 
 When He His people sent, 
 From kingdom on to kingdom 
 When journeying they went ; 
 
 21 He suffered none to wrong them, 
 
 Nor ought from them to take ; 
 He even kings reproved 
 And princes for their sake ; 
 
 22 " Against My chosen people 
 
 " Uplift no hostile arm ; 
 "Nor touch ye Mine anointed, 
 "Nor do my prophets harm." 
 
 23 Sing, sing ye praises to Jehovah, 
 
 Sing, all the earth, uplift the voice ; 
 Show forth with gladness His salvation ; 
 From day to day in Him rejoice. 
 
 24 Among the heathen sing His glory, 
 
 To them His majesty declare ; 
 Among all nations tell His wonders, 
 His mighty works proclaim ye there. 
 
 25 For He is greatly to be praised, 
 
 No God like Him is to be feared ; 
 
 26 The peoples' gods they are but idols ; 
 
 Jehovah spake — The heavens appeared. 
 
 27 Glory and strength are in His Presence, 
 
 Gladness and honour in His Place. 
 
 28 Ascribe ye glory to Jehovah 
 
 And strength, all ye of every race. 
 
AT THE SANCTUARY. 1 87 
 
 29 Give ye unto His Name its glory, 
 
 With offerings His altar crown, 
 And come before Him ; when ye worship, 
 *In holy vestments bow ye down. 
 
 30 Fear ye in all the earth before Him ; 
 
 The world itself shall stable be ; 
 It shall not move from its foundation, 
 Fixed firmly there by His decree. 
 
 31 O let the heavens be glad and joyful, 
 
 And let the earth rejoice and sing ; 
 And let them say among the nations 
 "Jehovah reigneth — He is King." 
 
 32 Let ocean roar, and all its fulness, 
 
 The fields with gladness clad appear ; 
 
 33 Sing out, ye trees, Jehovah cometh — 
 
 The Judge of all the earth is near. 
 
 34 O give thanks unto Jehovah, 
 
 Give ye thanks, for He is good ; 
 For His mercy still endureth, 
 Firm as it hath ever stood. 
 
 35 Say ye, " God of our salvation, 
 
 " Save us, us together bring ; 
 " From the heathen us deliver, 
 
 " Thanks to Thee and praise to sing." 
 
 36 Blessed ever be Jehovah, 
 
 Let our songs to Him be raised ; 
 Jacob's God be blessed for ever, 
 Israel's God for ever praised. 
 
iSS 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §ong XL 
 
 1 ' Hi left there before the Ark of the Covenant of the L ORD Asaph and 
 his brethren, to minister." — v. 37. 
 
 Psalm cxxxiv. may express the mutual farewell bless- 
 ings of the king and priests when David left the Taber- 
 nacle. 
 
 Psalm cxxxiv. 
 
 David. 
 
 O, bless ye Jehovah, 
 Ye servants of His, 
 By night to stand waiting 
 Whose office it is. 
 
 2 Your hands lift in worship 
 
 In this holy place, 
 And bless ye Jehovah, 
 While seeking His Face. 
 
 Priests. 
 
 3 Jehovah, the heavens 
 
 And earth Who hath made, 
 Send blessing from Zion 
 On thee to be laid. 
 
RETURN OF THE PROCESSION. 1 89 
 
 Song xci. 
 
 " All the people departed."— v. 43. 
 
 The third part of Psalm lxviii. forms a parallel song to 
 the second, each consisting of thirteen verses ending with 
 a doxology ; and as the earlier portion appeared suitable 
 to the march -up the hill to the Tabernacle, so does the 
 later part seem applicable to the return down the hill on 
 leaving it. 
 
 Before describing the magnificent ceremony which had 
 just taken place, the history of the Israelites is alluded to 
 again, and as the former song foretold the universal bless- 
 ings which should proceed from Zion, even " for the 
 rebellious/' so this one declares that the heathen shall 
 stretch out their hands unto God, and all the kingdoms 
 of the earth sing praises to Him. 
 
 Psalm lxviii. 20 — 32. 
 
 jUR God, the God Who saveth, is 
 The Lord alone ; 
 The Arm that brings from death is His, 
 Jehovah's own. 
 
 21 But God shall wound His foemen's head, 
 Who will not cease in sin to tread. 
 
 22 The Lord hath said " From Bashan's land 
 " I will restore ; 
 
 " E'en from the sea shall My right Hand 
 " Bring back once more ; 
 
 23 " That thou may'st wash thy foot in blood, 
 " And that thy dogs may lap the flood." 
 
190 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 24 They saw Thee to Thy dwelling go, 
 
 My God and King ; 
 
 25 First, songs of praise were heard to flow 
 
 From those who sing ; 
 Then damsels on the timbrels played, 
 Where instruments loud music made. 
 
 26 O bless ye God amid the throng, 
 
 Lift high your voice ; 
 E'en to the Lord upraise your song, 
 
 In Him rejoice ; 
 Join ye, the stream of praise to swell, 
 Ye from the fount of Israel. 
 
 27 *There Benjamin, the youngest, held 
 
 *The ruler's place ; 
 ^Chiefs and their bands the concourse swelled 
 
 Of Judah's race ; 
 Zabulon's leaders followed nigh, 
 And princes then of Naphtali. 
 
 28 Thy God, O Israel, to Thee 
 
 Thy strength hath brought ; 
 O God, let that established be 
 Which Thou hast wrought. 
 
 29 *Let kings in Salem tribute pay, 
 And on Thine altar offerings lay. 
 
 30 *The beast that dwelleth in the reed, 
 
 *Proud Egypt's might, 
 *Princes, and people whom they lead, 
 
 Put Thou to flight ; 
 That they to Thee may tribute bring, 
 And humbly make their offering. 
 
RETURN OF THE PROCESSION. 
 
 191 
 
 31 Princes shall be from Pharoah's lands 
 
 Assembled there ; 
 And Cush shall soon stretch out his hands 
 To God in prayer. 
 
 32 Sing unto God, all kingdoms, sing, 
 Sing praises to the Lord our King. 
 
192 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song xcii 
 
 11 David returned to bless his house" — v. 43. 
 
 The procession appears to have escorted David to his 
 house, and then to have separated, doubtless with one 
 last song of praise. It would be difficult to conceive a 
 more appropriate occasion for the following Song, or a 
 more magnificent conclusion to the services of the day. 
 
 The last verse, however, which might seem to allude 
 to the golden shields which David afterwards took 
 from Hadadezer, king of Zobah, may have led the 
 Compiler of Psalm xlvii. to believe that this Song was 
 composed at the time of the removal of the Ark to 
 the Temple of Solomon, when probably the whole of 
 the Psalm was sung together. The uncertainty as to 
 the date of one portion would account for the Psalm 
 having no special ascription. (Introduction, p. xxi.) 
 
 Psalm xlvii. 5 — 9. 
 
 OD with a shout is gone on high, 
 
 Jehovah with the trumpet's voice ; 
 6 Sing praises God to magnify, 
 
 Sing praises, in our King rejoice ; 
 
 7 For God of all the earth is King ; 
 *His praise with skilful music sing. 
 
 8 God o'er the heathen rule doth bear ; 
 He sitteth on His holy Throne ; 
 
 9 Princes of those are gathered there 
 Whom Abrah'm's God hath made His own ; 
 
 For lo, the shields of earth are His ; 
 Greatly our God exalted is. 
 
AT REST FROM HIS ENEMIES. 1 93 
 
 2 Samuel vii. 
 §ong xtiii: 
 
 " The k'uig sat in his house, and the LORD had given hint rest round 
 about fro7?i all his ene?/^." — v. I. 
 
 We may now return to the Second Book of Samuel to 
 continue the history. 
 
 After long years of danger and difficulty, followed by 
 excitement and labour in the arrangement of public 
 affairs, David at length had " rest/' Not one amongst 
 the many outpourings of his grateful heart which have 
 been handed down to us is so completely in keeping with 
 the verse above quoted as that beautiful Psalm which is 
 universally attributed to the shepherd king, though Com- 
 mentators differ much with regard to the period of its 
 composition. It appears scarcely necessary to enter into 
 details with regard to my reasons for placing it here, when 
 David was probably reflecting on the many mercies of 
 his past life. 
 
 Psalm xxiii. 
 
 EHOVAH'S Self my Shepherd is ; 
 I shall not need ; 
 2 To pastures green, by waters still, 
 He doth me lead. 
 
 3 He doth restore my soul ; my Guide 
 Himself doth make 
 Within the paths of righteousness 
 For His Name's sake. 
 
 O 
 
194 TH E LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Yea, though I tread the darksome vale, 
 
 And Death be near, 
 Although I through the shadows pass, 
 I will not fear ; 
 
 For Thou art with me ; at my side 
 
 I still have Thee ; 
 Thy rod, Thy guiding rod, and staff, 
 
 They comfort me. 
 
 5 Thou dost a table for me spread 
 
 Before my foes ; 
 My head with oil Thou dost anoint ; 
 My cup o'erflows. 
 
 6 Thy lovingkindness all my life 
 
 Shall follow me ; 
 Jehovah's House for evermore 
 My home shall be. 
 
 ^ 
 
THE GLORIOUS PROMISE. 195 
 
 §ong xtib. 
 
 "And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came 
 unto Nathan" — v. 4. 
 
 David's active mind could not long be satisfied without 
 work in the service of his God. In the early part of this 
 Chapter we find him contemplating the erection of a 
 Temple so magnificent as to form a fitting abode for the 
 Ark of God. The prophet Nathan at first encouraged 
 his aspirations, but returned on the following day with a 
 message from the Lord forbidding the undertaking. The 
 king's disappointment, however, was soothed by an 
 assurance of continued favour and a promise that his 
 wishes should be carried out by his son — a promise which 
 also pointed to One far greater than Solomon, of Whose 
 Throne that of David was but the type and shadow. 
 
 The first part of Psalm lxxxix., ascribed to Ethan the 
 Ezrahite (one of the leaders of David's choir), appears to 
 be a Song of thankfulness for the glorious promise re- 
 vealed to Nathan. 
 
 Psalm lxxxix. i — 4. 
 David. 
 
 O sing the mercies of Jehovah 
 My song shall ever flow ; 
 My mouth to every generation 
 Thy faithfulness shall show ; 
 O 2 
 
196 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 For u Mercy," I have said, u for ever 
 " Shall builded be by Thee ; 
 " Thy truth within the very Heavens 
 " Established shall be." 
 
 Nathan. 
 
 3 For I Myself have with My chosen 
 
 A covenant prepared ; 
 And have unto My servant David 
 With solemn oath declared, 
 
 4 "Thy seed I firmly will establish 
 
 " For ever as Mine Own, 
 "And build throughout all generations 
 " Immovable thy throne." 
 
THE GLORIOUS PROMISE. 197 
 
 §attg xtb. 
 
 " I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity , 
 I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of 
 the children of men : but my mercy shall not depart away from 
 him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And 
 thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever," — 
 vv. 14 — 16. 
 
 The word of the Lord, communicated to David by 
 the mouth of Nathan, appears to be recapitulated in vv. 
 19 — 37 of Psalm lxxxix., which is ascribed to Ethan the 
 Ezrahite. Possibly it was repeated to David by the two 
 High Priests when he went to the Sanctuary for the 
 purpose of prayer and praise, and when Ethan, who was 
 a member of the choir, may have been present. 
 
 Psalm lxxxix. 5 — 37. 
 David. 
 
 [HE Heavens, O Jehovah, 
 
 *Thy wondrousness shall praise ; 
 Assembled saints their voices 
 To laud Thy truth shall raise. 
 
 6 In Heaven with Jehovah 
 
 What name can be compared ? 
 By whom among the angels 
 His majesty be shared ? 
 
193 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 7 God in the saints' assembly- 
 
 Is greatly held in fear, 
 And had by all in reverence 
 Around Him who appear. 
 
 8 O God of Hosts, Jehovah, 
 
 Who like to Thee is strong ? 
 The faithfulness surrounds Thee 
 That doth to Thee belong. 
 
 9 Thou rulest in its fury 
 
 The raging of the sea ; 
 The waves thereof arising 
 Are quieted by Thee. 
 
 io Thou hast subdued Egypt, 
 As one that lieth slain ; 
 O'erthrown by Thee and scattered 
 Thine enemies remain. 
 
 1 1 Thine are the heavens above us ; 
 
 Thine is the earth below ; 
 The world and all its fulness 
 Do Thee their Founder know. 
 
 12 The North Thou hast created, 
 
 Thine Hand the South did frame, 
 Tabor and Hermon's mountain 
 Are joyful in Thy Name. 
 
 1 3 To Thee all power belongeth, 
 
 Thine Arm doth might command, 
 Strength in Thine Hand abideth, 
 And high is Thy right Hand. 
 
THE GLORIOUS PROMISE. 199 
 
 14 Thy Throne is set on judgment, 
 
 On justice is its place ; 
 And truth and tender mercy- 
 Shall go before Thy Face. 
 
 1 5 Yea, blessed is the people 
 
 The joyful sound who know ; 
 Thy countenance, Jehovah, 
 Shall light them as they go. 
 
 16 All day Thy Name extolling 
 
 They shall uplift their voice ; 
 Thy righteousness their glory, 
 In Thee they shall rejoice. 
 
 17 For Thou their strength art ever, 
 
 The glory of their might ; 
 Our horns shall be exalted 
 With favour in Thy sight. 
 
 18 Jehovah is our buckler, 
 
 Who safety doth us bring ; 
 The Holy One of Israel, 
 Jehovah is our King. 
 
 Zadok. 
 
 19 Thy will to Thy beloved 
 In vision was displayed, 
 Thou saidst, " Upon the mighty 
 " I surely help have laid ; 
 
200 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 44 Exalted from the people 
 " My chosen I have led ; 
 
 20 " With oil I have anointed 
 
 " My servant David's head. 
 
 21 " Mine Hand shall him establish, 
 
 " And, strengthened by Mine Arm, 
 
 22 " The wicked shall not hurt him, 
 
 " No foe shall do him harm. 
 
 23 " Before him shall be smitten 
 
 "All those who bear him hate ; 
 
 24 " But through My faith and mercy 
 
 (i His glory shall be great. 
 
 25 " His powerful dominion 
 
 " Shall reach unto the sea ; 
 " Extended to the rivers 
 44 His government shall be ; 
 
 26 " His cry to Me ascending, 
 
 " He thus shall lift his heart, 
 " i My God, my Rock, my Father, 
 44 4 Thou my Salvation art/ 
 
 27 <; Him will I make My firstborn, 
 
 " All kings of earth above ; 
 
 28 " Ne'er break with him My covenant, 
 
 " But keep for him My love. 
 
 29 t€ His seed, by Me established, 
 
 44 For ever shall endure ; 
 " And as the days of Heaven 
 " His kingdom shall be sure.'' 
 
THE GLORIOUS PROMISE. 201 
 
 A biatliar. 
 
 30 " But if his faithless children 
 
 " My holy laws forsake, 
 " And walk not in My judgments, 
 " And My commandments break, 
 
 31 "If they profane My statutes, 
 
 " Forgetful of their God, 
 
 32 " My answer shall be scourging, 
 
 "Their punishment the rod." 
 
 Zadok. 
 
 33 "And yet My lovingkindness 
 
 " From him I will not take ; 
 
 34 " The word that I have spoken 
 
 " I surely will not break. 
 
 35 " My covenant is certain, 
 
 " My truth shall never fail ; 
 
 "Myself have sworn to David ; 
 
 " That oath shall him avail. 
 
 36 " His seed shall dwell for ever, 
 
 " As sun and moon endure ; 
 
 37 " And, as a faithful witness 
 
 " In Heaven, his throne be sure." 
 
202 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Smtg xcbi 
 
 " Therefore now let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant % 
 that it may continue for ever before Thee: for Thou, Lord 
 God, hast spoken it." — v. 29. 
 
 In the Bible history which describes the removal of the 
 Ark we see David assuming all the priestly offices ; for 
 he not only composed the psalmody and arranged the 
 order of the sacred processions, but, having exchanged 
 his royal robe for a linen ephod, he led the people to 
 the Sanctuary, and there, even in the presence of 
 Abiathar and Zadok, offered the sacrifices and gave 
 the sacerdotal blessing. In all these respects he was 
 a type of that great High Priest for ever, not of 
 Aaron's line but after the order of Melchizedek, spoken 
 of in after-times by Isaiah as coming from Bozrah with 
 garments dyed in blood, a mighty Conqueror, Who ap- 
 peared to David's prophetic eye as terrible in His wrath, 
 striking down kings, and judging the heathen. It was 
 through that Great Descendant that David's house was to 
 continue for ever before the Lord. 
 
 Psalm ex., supposed to have been written about this 
 time, forms a suitable link between the priestly functions, 
 already alluded to, and the wars on which David was 
 about to enter. 
 
 Psalm ex. 
 
 JEHOVAH spake — To Thee, my Lord, 
 He, Jehovah, spake the word, 
 " On My right Hand shall be Thy Seat 
 " Till Thy foes are 'neath Thy feet." 
 
THE GLORIOUS PROMISE. 20j 
 
 2 Jehovah shall, from Zion's height, 
 
 Send the sceptre of Thy might ; 
 When rebels shall against Thee rise, 
 Rule Thou 'midst Thine enemies. 
 
 3 *Thy people in Thy battle day 
 
 Willingly shall Thee obey, 
 *Themselves to offer to Thee glad, 
 
 *A11 in holy vestments clad. 
 *Thy youths are like the dewdrops drawn 
 
 From the womb of morning's dawn. 
 
 4 Jehovah's Self hath sworn, and He 
 
 Changeth not ; it sure shall be ; 
 " A Priesthood is for ever Thine 
 
 "Of the king of Salem's line ; 
 " The endless order Thou shalt hold 
 
 " Of Melchizedek of old." 
 
 5 The Lord, Who standeth on Thy right, 
 
 Kings shall in His anger smite ; 
 
 6 The Judge of heathens He shall be ; 
 
 They His punishments shall see ; 
 Of nations He shall wound the head, 
 Filling divers lands with dead. 
 
 7 From out the brook beside the way 
 
 He shall drink, His thirst to stay, 
 
 As onward He His course doth tread ; 
 
 Therefore shall He lift His Head. 
 
204 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel viii. 
 §ong xcbii 
 
 1 ' David took Afetheg-am mah out of the hand of the Philistines. A nd 
 he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them 
 doivn to the ground ; ruen with two lines measured he to put to 
 death, and with one full line to keep alive" — vv. I — 2. 
 
 Two victories over the Philistines have been already 
 noticed ; a third war soon followed, which ended in their 
 complete subjugation. David's next conquest was the 
 kingdom of Moab, to which he had sent his family for pro- 
 tection from the pursuit of Saul. It has been conjectured 
 that the king had abused his trust and put David's aged 
 parents to death ; but from the nature of the retribution 
 recorded above it would seem that the aggression was on 
 the part of the nation at large, or at least of one portion 
 of it, on whom David executed signal and bloody ven- 
 geance. It is generally understood that two-thirds of 
 the Moabites were massacred, but Dr. Chandler, in his 
 " Life of David," suggests a far more credible interpreta- 
 tion, founded on comparison with other passages of Scrip- 
 ture. He supposes that David, having conquered Moab, 
 ordered a survey of the country, and levelled the 
 strongest cities with the ground, and that he then measured 
 out two tracts, one for death, and " the fulness of a line," 
 a far larger division, to keep alive, and made the whole 
 nation tributary. 
 
 David may probably allude to his having bathed his 
 hands in the blood of the Moabites when he figures their 
 land as the basin wherein he washed. (See Psalms lx. 8, 
 and cviii. 9. Pages 212 and 215.) 
 
JUDGMENT ON THE HEATHEN. 205 
 
 Ps. ix. may refer to these wars ; vv. 5, 6, to the taking 
 of Metheg-ammah, viz., Gath and her daughter towns 
 (1 Chron. xviii. 1), and to the casting down of the cities 
 of Moab. In verse 12 there may possibly be an allusion 
 to the punishment inflicted for the murder of David's 
 family. 
 
 Psalm ix. 
 
 David to Jehovah. 
 
 j|0 Thee, Jehovah, I will raise 
 
 With all my heart my song ; 
 My lips Thy wondrous deeds shall praise, 
 My tongue the strain prolong ; 
 
 2 In Thee, Most High, I will rejoice, 
 
 And praise Thy Name with heart and voice. 
 
 3 My foes, turned backward by Thy might, 
 
 Shall at Thy Presence fall ; 
 
 4 Thou hast maintained my cause and right, 
 
 As Judge enthroned o'er all 
 
 5 The heathen Thou hast put to shame, 
 And blotted from the earth their name. 
 
 Priest to David. 
 
 6 The foe now desolate is made, 
 
 For ever overthrown ; 
 Cities in ruin thou hast laid, 
 
 Their names no more are known. 
 
 7 Jehovah ever shall endure ; 
 
 His Throne for judgment standeth sure. 
 
206 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 8 All nations of the world shall stand 
 
 Before His Judgment Seat ; 
 Justice and equity His Hand 
 Shall to the people mete. 
 
 9 Jehovah will a Refuge be, 
 
 Whereto the oppressed in grief may flee. 
 
 David to Jehovah. 
 
 10 And they who know Thy holy Name 
 
 Will put their trust in Thee ; 
 When from Thy mercy help they claim, 
 
 Thou wilt their Succour be ; 
 For Thou hast never left to fall 
 Those who on Thee, Jehovah, call. 
 
 To the Congregation. 
 
 1 1 Praise ye Jehovah Who doth dwell 
 
 In Zion's holy place ; 
 His doings to the people tell ; 
 Declare His boundless grace. 
 
 12 He, Who for blood doth vengeance take, 
 Granteth the prayer the poor doth make. 
 
 To Jehovah. 
 
 13 Have mercy, O Jehovah, see 
 
 My trouble from men's hate, 
 Thou Who from death doth set me free, 
 And lift me from his gate, 
 
 14 In Zion's gates to raise my voice, 
 In Thy salvation to rejoice. 
 
JUDGMENT ON THE HEATHEN. 20J 
 
 Priest. 
 
 15 The heathen are to ruin brought, 
 
 Sunk in the pit they made ; 
 Their foot within the net is caught, 
 Which privily they laid. 
 
 16 Jehovah is by judgment known ; 
 Sinners by sin are overthrown. 
 
 17 The wicked, those who God forget, 
 
 Shall all be turned to hell. 
 
 18 Those in His memory He will set 
 
 Who now forgotten dwell ; 
 The poor who on His promise rest 
 Shall find their expectation blest. 
 
 AIL 
 
 19 Arise, Jehovah, in Thy might, 
 
 And let not man prevail ; 
 On heathens let Thy judgments light ; 
 
 20 Let fear their hearts assail ; 
 That nations may Thy terrors see, 
 And know themselves but men to be. 
 
20S THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 gkmg xcbiit. 
 
 li David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as 
 he went to recoz'er his border at the river Euphrates" — v. 3. 
 
 Zobah was a district of Syria, which in the time of 
 Saul had been governed by several chieftains, but was 
 now under the rule of a single sovereign ; who invaded a 
 territory which appears to have formed part of David's 
 dominion. David would no doubt repair to the Taber- 
 nacle to offer sacrifices and implore the Divine aid 
 before starting on the campaign, and the following Song 
 may have been the blessing of the priest on this occa- 
 sion. 
 
 Psalm xx. i — 3. 
 
 jlEHOVAH thy petition hear, 
 
 When troubles compass thee around ; 
 The Name of Jacob's God be near, 
 To be thy sure Defender found ; 
 
 2 Send from the Holy Place His aid, 
 
 And strengthen thee from Zion's height ; 
 
 3 Remember all thine offerings made, 
 
 And in Thy sacrifice delight. 
 
 ^m^ 
 
THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY. 209 
 
 §oitg xcix. 
 
 " David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred 
 horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen" — v. 4. 
 
 This brilliant victory was the more remarkable because 
 there was no cavalry in the army of the Israelites. The 
 use of horses had been forbidden by Moses, and David 
 was too conscientious to avail himself even of those 
 which he had taken in battle, but would trust in 
 Jehovah's strength alone. This Song of praise may 
 follow the preceding blessing most appropriately, and 
 together they reveal the secret of David's success. 
 
 Psalm xxi. i — 2. 
 
 HE king, exulting in Thy might, 
 Jehovah, greatly shall rejoice, 
 In Thy salvation shall delight, 
 And lift to Thee his voice. 
 
 2 For Thou to him didst favour show, 
 And didst his heart's desire supply, 
 His lips' request on him bestow, 
 Nor didst his prayer deny. 
 
2IO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §ong r. 
 
 11 The Syrians of Damascus ca??ie to succour Hadadezer" — v. 5. 
 
 The triumph of the Israelites was checked by the news 
 that their defeated enemy had been reinforced by a large 
 army of Syrian allies. 
 
 The Hebrew title of Ps. lx. does not coincide with the 
 account of any recorded battle (see Introduction, p. xviii.), 
 but the first part was probably composed with reference 
 to one of the series of which an outline is given in this 
 Chapter. 
 
 From the triumphant tone which appears in the second 
 portion of the Psalm, as compared with the depression 
 of spirits exhibited in the first part, we may suppose 
 that the first part expresses the alarm caused by an 
 invasion (perhaps that referred to in the text above), 
 and that the other celebrates a victory. 
 
 Psalm lx. i — 4. 
 
 GOD, Thou hast us cast aside, 
 
 Hotly doth Thy displeasure burn ; 
 Thou hast dispersed us far and wide ; 
 Return to us again, return. 
 
 2 The trembling land is sore afraid ; 
 
 Thou hast it broken ; it doth quake ; 
 O heal the breaches Thou hast made, 
 Heal them, O God, for it doth shake. 
 
THE ENEMY REINFORCED. 211 
 
 3 Hard things Thou hast Thy people shown, 
 
 Hard things to those Thou callest Thine ; 
 Beneath Thy heavy Hand we groan ; 
 We drink astonishment as wine. 
 
 4 Thy gracious Hand a banner gave 
 
 To them Thy holy Name who fear ; 
 O for the truth's sake let it wave 
 On battle-field our hearts to cheer. 
 
 P 2 
 
2 12 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5*0 ng ci. 
 
 " David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.''' — v. 5. 
 
 The second part of Psalm lx., which is a portion of 
 Psalm cviii., was probably added to the first part in 
 reference to the result of the battle, in anticipation of 
 which the first part was written. (See Introduction, 
 pages xv — xix ) 
 
 In regard to the figure by which Moab's condition 
 is described in v. 8, see Preface to Song 97. 
 
 Psalm lx. 5 — 12. 
 
 David. 
 
 HAT they on whom is set Thy love 
 From foemen may delivered be, 
 Save with Thy right Hand from above, 
 And answer when I call on Thee. 
 
 6 God in His Holiness declared ; 
 
 My heart shall therefore joyful be ; 
 The vale of Succoth shall be shared, 
 And Shechem meted out by me. 
 
 7 Xow Gilead's hosts by me are led, 
 
 And mine is all Manasseh's land ; 
 *My helmet Ephraim guards my head, 
 *My sceptre Judah gives command. 
 
 Moab my washbowl I have made ; 
 
 O'er Edom I my shoe will cast ; 
 ♦Philistia, I have might displayed, 
 
 *The cry thou raisest long shall last. 
 
AFTER THE BATTLE. 213 
 
 9 What captain through the walls will break 
 
 To humble the strong city's pride ? 
 Who will the place of leader take ? 
 Who into Edom be my guide ? 
 
 Soldiers. 
 
 10 *0 God, Thou hast not castaway, 
 
 Nor made us to our foes to yield, 
 
 O God, wilt Thou not might display, 
 
 And lead our armies to the field ? 
 
 1 1 In time of trouble send Thine aid, 
 
 For vain the help of man is found. 
 
 12 Through God our hearts are valiant made ; 
 
 Our foes He treadeth to the ground. 
 
!I4 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song tii. 
 
 "David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the 
 Syrians in the valley of salt \ being eighteen thousand men.'''' — 
 v. 13. 
 
 Psalm cviii. is generally supposed to refer to this vic- 
 tory. It is the whole Psalm of which the last Song is a 
 fragment. (See Introduction, pages xv and xvi.) 
 
 Psalm cviii. 
 
 David. 
 
 GOD, a steadfast heart I bring ; 
 A song to Thee I will upraise, 
 And with my glory I will sing, 
 And Thee will praise. 
 
 2 Awake, my harp, glad music make, 
 
 And thou, my psaltery, tribute pay ; 
 *My song of gladness shall awake 
 The dawn of day. 
 
 3 Amongst the people I will sing, 
 
 Amongst the nations lift my voice, 
 To Thee, Jehovah, praise will bring, 
 In Thee rejoice. 
 
THE VALLEY OF SALT. 21 S 
 
 4 For great Thy mercy is, Thy love 
 
 Beyond the highest heavens ascends, 
 And even to the clouds above 
 Thy truth extends. 
 
 5 Exalt, O God, Thy glorious Name, 
 
 Exalt Thy praise above the sky ; 
 Thy glory o'er the earth proclaim, 
 And set on high. 
 
 6 Save Thy beloved in danger's hour, 
 
 Yea, let Thy right Hand set them free ; 
 O save them by Thy mighty power, 
 And answer me. 
 
 7 God, where His Presence doth abide, 
 
 Hath spoken ; His decree I hail ; 
 With joy I Shechem will divide 
 And Succoth's vale. 
 
 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh mine ; 
 
 ^Defence my helmet Ephraim yields ; 
 *And as a sceptre Judah's line 
 My right hand wields. 
 
 9 Moab is made my washbowl base ; 
 
 O'er Edom I will cast my shoe ; 
 Philistia's sons before my face 
 Shall homage do. 
 
 io Who will the strong-built city take ? 
 Who will for me its walls o'erthrow ? 
 Or who will, Edom's pride to break, 
 Before me go ? 
 
2l6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Soldiers. 
 
 1 1 O God, Thou hast not cast away 
 
 Thy people ; wilt Thou not again 
 
 12 Lead forth our hosts ? Thy help display ; 
 
 Man's help is vain. 
 
 13 Through God, the God in Whom we trust, 
 
 We, valiant made, no ill shall dread, 
 For He it is that in the dust, 
 Our foes shall tread. 
 
THE RULERS GUIDE. 2\y 
 
 gtottg an. 
 
 "David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. " — v. 1 5. 
 
 David probably added the second part of Psalm xix. 
 to the first portion at a time when he was making a 
 diligent study of the Mosaic law in order that he might 
 rule his people justly. 
 
 There is a marked difference in the style of composi- 
 tion of the two parts. The earlier exhibits the ardent 
 piety of the young shepherd delighting in the works of 
 the God of all Creation, while the later contains the 
 reflections of the tried servant of Jehovah dwelling on 
 the laws given to His chosen people, and then, as has 
 been before remarked in the preface to the first part 
 (Song ii.), there is a corresponding change in the title 
 by which he designates the Almighty. 
 
 Psalm xix. 7 — 14. 
 
 EHOVAH'S law is undefiled, 
 Restoring souls to sin beguiled ; 
 Jehovah's ordinance is sure, 
 And His commandment ahvay pure ; 
 
 8 The simple heart it maketh wise, 
 And light imparteth to the eyes ; 
 The statutes He hath made are right, 
 And fill the heart with pure delight. 
 
 9 Clean of Jehovah is the fear, 
 And everlasting shall appear ; 
 
2l8 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Holy and righteous is His word ; 
 In all His judgments truth is heard ; 
 
 10 Than finest gold more precious far, 
 Than honeycomb they sweeter are ; 
 
 1 1 They are Thy servant's guide and guard ; 
 In keeping them is great reward. 
 
 1 2 By whom are his own errors seen ? 
 From secret faults O make me clean, 
 
 13 And keep me from presumptuous sin, 
 Lest o'er me it dominion win; 
 
 So shall I still be undefiled, 
 
 Nor to the great offence beguiled. 
 
 14 O let my words acceptance gain, 
 
 And all my thoughts Thy praise obtain ; 
 My Rock, Jehovah, keep my heart, 
 O Thou Who my Redeemer art. 
 
A king's resolutions. 
 
 219 
 
 §onq til). 
 
 1 ' David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. " — v. 15. 
 
 The last Song explains the source whence David 
 derived that high standard of virtue which in Ps. ci. he 
 expresses his determination to maintain in his court and 
 household. It seems to give weight to the Mussulman 
 tradition that his Ethiopian slave, being asked how he 
 had obtained so much influence with the king, replied, 
 " By always speaking the truth, by always keeping my 
 word, and by never meddling in matters that do not 
 concern me." — Luther called this Psalm David's mirror 
 of a monarch, and it was so greatly esteemed by one of 
 the German princes that he sent a copy of it as a stern 
 rebuke to a minister whom he suspected of dishonesty. 
 
 Psalm ci. 
 
 ERCY and judgment I will praise ; 
 Of them my tongue shall sing; 
 Jehovah, I my voice will raise, 
 And songs of gladness bring. 
 
 2 From wisdom I will ne'er depart : 
 
 When wilt Thou come to me ? 
 A holy walk and perfect heart 
 Within my house shall be. 
 
 3 Nought evil shall with me abide, 
 
 Nought vile mine eyes shall grieve ; 
 The work of them that turn aside 
 To me shall never cleave. 
 
2,20 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Far be from me the fro ward heart, 
 
 I shun the mind impure ; 
 
 5 I bid the slanderer depart, 
 
 Nor will the proud endure. 
 
 6 Upon the faithful in the land 
 
 I look, with me to live ; 
 The upright shall before me stand, 
 And service to me give. 
 
 7 Whoe'er doth in deceit delight 
 
 With me shall never dwell ; 
 Nor shall he tarry in my sight 
 Who dareth lies to tell. 
 
 8 No evil-doer shall remain, 
 
 None rest the land within ; 
 Jehovah's city shall contain 
 None that delight in sin. 
 
FAMINE AND MOURNING. 221 
 
 2 Samuel xxi. 
 
 Sang tb. 
 
 There was a famine in the days of David T- 
 
 -v. I. 
 
 There is no Psalm apparently applicable to the ninth 
 Chapter, which relates the anxiety of David to show kind- 
 ness to the family of Saul and his discovery, through 
 Ziba, of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, on whom he 
 heaped riches and favours with a liberal hand. 
 
 After this there is some difficulty in tracing the course 
 of the history ; but internal evidence is strongly on the 
 side of those Commentators who place the events recorded 
 in Chapters xxi, and xxii. next in order to the elevation of 
 Mephibosheth. 
 
 The following Song, written during some long and 
 grievous chastening, may be applied to the terrible 
 famine which year after year consumed the people and 
 grieved the heart of David. 
 
 Psalm lxxvii. 4—9. 
 
 HOU dost my weary eyelids waking hold ; 
 
 So troubled am I that no words I find ; 
 
 5 I have considered all the days of old ; 
 
 The years of ancient times I call to mind . 
 
 6 Throughout the night upon my song I dwell ; 
 
 I commune with my heart and search it well. 
 
inn, LifL \jr uavil/. 
 
 7 O will the Lord away for ever cast ? 
 
 Will He no longer favour to us show ? 
 
 8 And hath His love away for ever passed, 
 
 His promise failed, His mercy ceased to 
 flow ? 
 
 9 Hath God forgotten to bestow His grace, 
 Shut up His love, and hid in wrath His Face ? 
 
FAMINE AND MOURNING. 223 
 
 §ong cbi. 
 
 " Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her 
 upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped 
 upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air 
 to rest 011 ihe?n by day, nor the beasts of the field by night" — v. io. 
 
 We are told that David, having inquired of the Lord 
 as to the cause of the famine referred to in the last 
 Song, was informed that it was sent as a punishment for 
 Saul's slaughter of trie Gibeonites. It is not known when 
 this slaughter took place; but it is supposed that the 
 Gibeonites were the inhabitants of the priestly city of 
 Nob, whom Saul slew with the priests on account of 
 Ahimelech's kindness to David. David, in compliance 
 with the demands of the Gibeonites, delivered up to them 
 seven members of the family of Saul, who were " hanged 
 in the hill before the Lord ... in the beginning of 
 barley harvest." There the dead bodies were guarded 
 by Rizpah, the mother of two of the victims, as recorded 
 above ; and the utter desolation expressed in the follow- 
 ing cry is touchingly in unison with the account of her 
 watching night and day over her dead. 
 
 Psalm lxxxviii. i — 7. 
 
 EHOVAH, God of my salvation, . 
 
 I day and night have cried to Thee ; 
 
 2 O hearken to my supplication, 
 
 To this my cry attentive be ; 
 
 3 My soul is full of grief and fear, 
 My life unto the grave draws near. 
 
224 THE L1FE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 For I am counted with the dying, 
 
 With them who to the pit must go ; 
 Feeble and faint behold me lying, 
 
 Like one whose strength is waxen low ; 
 
 5 *Left with the dead, and like the slain 
 Who in the silent grave remain. 
 
 Like those forgotten Thou hast made me, 
 Cut off by Thee in death who sleep ; 
 
 6 Thou in the lowest pit hast laid me, 
 
 In darkness, in the silent deep. 
 Thy wrath lies hard upon my soul, 
 The waves of sorrow o'er me roll. 
 
FAMINE AND MOURNING. 
 
 §ong tbii. 
 
 " The bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country 
 of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father ." —v . 14. 
 
 There can be little doubt but that the destruction of so 
 many members of Saul's family, in order to gratify the 
 Gibeonites, excited great indignation among the partisans 
 of the late dynasty. It was true that David had not 
 acted without consulting the Lord as to what was his 
 duty, and that out of affection for Jonathan he had spared 
 his descendants (one of whom might have become at any 
 time a dangerous claimant of the crown), preferring to 
 sacrifice the far less important children of Rizpah and 
 Michal ; yet still it may have been with a view to allay 
 the irritation which had arisen among his subjects that 
 David brought the bones of Saul and Jonathan from 
 Jabesh-Gilead at this time, and gave them an honourable 
 burial in the sepulchre of their family together with the 
 victims of the Gibeonites. 
 
 Although the following composite Psalm is not assigned 
 to any particular event, it may perhaps express the sorrow- 
 which David would naturally have felt at this time of 
 general trouble and mourning, and his thankful con- 
 fidence in God, Who had promised to establish him on 
 the throne. 
 
226 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm lxi. 
 David. 
 
 GOD, unto my cry attend ; 
 
 Thine ear to my petition lend ; 
 2 From earth's far ends I cry to Thee 
 When sorrow hath o'erwhelmed me. 
 *0 lead me up the Rock too high, 
 A Rock that higher is than I. 
 
 3 My Shelter Thou in time of fear, 
 
 My Tower of strength when foes were near, 
 
 4 Within Thy Tent I will abide, 
 Beneath Thy shadowing wings will hide ; 
 
 5 For Thou, O God, my vows hast heard, 
 Thou hast fulfilled Thy promised word, 
 That I the heritage should claim 
 
 Of those that fear Thy holy Name. 
 
 Abiathar. 
 
 6 To David's life Thy grace shall add 
 Days unto days, and make him glad ; 
 
 7 His throne, before his God secure, 
 Through countless ages shall endure. 
 Thy truth prepare, Thy mercy send. 
 Thine own anointed to defend. 
 
 David. 
 
 8 So will I sing Thy praise, and pay 
 My vows to Thee from day to day. 
 
THE PRAYER ACCEPTED. 
 
 227 
 
 Smtg j;bui 
 
 " And after thai God was intreated for the land" — v. 14. 
 
 David had now done all in his power, first, to appease 
 the anger of Jehovah at a flagrant breach on the part of 
 Saul of a solemn national treaty, secondly, to give satis- 
 faction to the Gibeonites for the wrongs inflicted on their 
 countrymen, and, lastly, to convince the adherents of 
 the late family that he was obeying the will of Jehovah, 
 without any wish to avenge the injuries which he had 
 himself experienced at the hands of Saul. He might, 
 therefore, confidently hope that God would now hear his 
 prayers, and restore peace and prosperity to his kingdom. 
 
 Psalm xxxii. 6 — 7. 
 
 OR this, while still Thou may'st be found, 
 To Thee the godly man shall lift his cry ; 
 Then surely, when the floods abound, 
 The swelling waves to him shall not 
 come nigh. 
 
 7 Thou art my place wherein to hide, 
 
 Thou shalt preserve me in the time of woe, 
 And compass me on every side 
 
 With songs my great deliverance that forth- 
 show. 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel xxii. 
 
 .bong ax. 
 
 " David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that 
 the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, 
 and out of the hand of Saul. " — v. I . 
 
 The last Chapter (xxi.), after giving an account of the 
 famine and of the burial of the bones of Saul and 
 Jonathan, concludes with a brief narrative of the exploits 
 of David's valiant captains in the wars with the Philistines. 
 
 Chapter xxii. contains perhaps one of the grandest 
 poems of the greatest of poets, which is almost identical 
 with Psalm xviii. It appears to consist of two parts, 
 written at different times but joined by the author him- 
 self. In the first part of the Ps., viz. vv. i — 24 (or in 
 2 Sam. xxii. vv. 1 — 25), there is a glorious description of 
 a thunderstorm. It has been thought that the drought, 
 which caused the three years' famine in the land of 
 Israel, ended in a violent tempest which, in the 
 opinion of Bishop Horsley, H. Home, and others, is 
 commemorated in Ps. xxix., but to which Ps. xviii. 
 appears far more applicable, inasmuch as many suppli- 
 cations must have been offered for deliverance from the 
 drought, and the storm here described was evidently 
 sent in answer to prayer (see v. 6). There can be no 
 doubt that in this grand composition David drew on his 
 recollection of those convulsions of nature which he had 
 
PRAISE. 229 
 
 witnessed in his wanderings during Saul's persecution, 
 and that these thoughts would bring forcibly to his mind 
 the merciful deliverances he had experienced. 
 
 At v. 25 there is a great alteration in the subject of 
 the poem, and between this point and the conclusion 
 there are several changes of the personal pronouns. It is, 
 therefore, not improbable that the two parts of the Psalm 
 were composed at different times, and that the latter 
 part was intended for two voices. 
 
 Psalm xviii. 
 
 HEE will I love, Jehovah, Thee, 
 
 2 My Strength, my Rock, my Shield ; 
 Jehovah will my Saviour be 
 From foemen in the field ; 
 In Him I trust in danger's hour ; 
 He my Salvation is, my Tower. 
 
 3 Upon Jehovah I will cry 
 
 Who worthy is of praise ; 
 My voice in prayer to Him on high 
 
 For succour I will raise ; 
 So, when mine enemies are near, 
 I shall be saved ; I will not fear. 
 
 4 *The bands of death were on me laid, 
 
 And compassed me around ; 
 Ungodliness made me afraid, 
 Its floods were all unbound ; 
 
 5 The sorrows of the grave were there, 
 And Death enclosed me in his snare. 
 
230 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 6 With sorrow when my heart was stirred, 
 
 I called on God to save ; 
 Jehovah from His Temple heard, 
 
 My God an answer gave ; 
 He to my cry for help was near, 
 It entered even to His ear. 
 
 7 When He in His displeasure turned, 
 
 Earth trembled at His look ; 
 Because His indignation burned, 
 
 The hills' foundations shook ; 
 When He was wrath, before His Face 
 Each mountain trembled to its base. 
 
 8 Behold from out His nostrils smoke 
 
 In clouds o'ershadowing came ; 
 Fire from His mouth devouring broke, 
 Coals kindled at the flame ; 
 
 9 He bowed the Heavens, He left His Seat, 
 And darkness was beneath His feet. 
 
 10 He rode upon the Cherubim, 
 On Cherubim did fly ; 
 The winds their wings to carry Him 
 Spread out exultingly ; 
 ii And, lest His brightness be displayed, 
 His secret place He darkness made. 
 
 Yea, His pavilion there He set ; 
 
 Thick clouds were o'er it spread ; 
 Around His tent dark waters met, 
 
 Mists were His covering dread ; 
 12 The clouds from His bright Presence passed, 
 Hailstones and fire to earth were cast. 
 
PRAISE. 231 
 
 13 Jehovah spake — the heavens did rain 
 
 Hailstones with thunder dire ; 
 
 The Highest gave His voice — again 
 
 Burst forth the storm and fire : 
 
 14 He sent His arrows, and they fled ; 
 
 He shot His lightnings — they were dead. 
 
 15 The waters' channels were descried, 
 
 The world's foundations shown ; 
 For, lo, Jehovah's voice did chide 
 
 And make His anger known ; 
 Forth from His nostrils breath was cast, 
 Earth quaked and trembled at the blast. 
 
 16 When many waters o'er me rose, 
 
 He drew me from the wave ; 
 
 17 When round me gathered strong my foes, 
 
 His Arm was near to save ; 
 For they who bore me cruel hate 
 Were many, and their strength was great. 
 
 18 About me, in my day of woe, 
 
 In anger fierce they lay ; 
 In vain to hurt me pressed the foe, 
 Jehovah was my Stay ; 
 
 19 He brought me forth, He set me free, 
 Jehovah had delight in me. 
 
 20 My dealing, righteous in His sight, 
 
 Jehovah did repay, 
 The cleanness of my hands requite, 
 And mark my perfect way ; 
 
 21 For I His path did ever take, 
 Nor wickedly my God forsake. 
 
232 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 22 For all His laws were my delight, 
 
 All my obedience gained, 
 
 23 While, uncorrupted in His sight, 
 
 My soul from sin abstained ; 
 
 24 Therefore did He with favour bless 
 My spotless hands and righteousness. 
 
 {The remainder seems to be intended for two Voices.) 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 25 The merciful Thy mercy know ; 
 
 The just Thy justice learn ; 
 
 26 Thou to the pure dost pureness show ; 
 
 To rebels Thou art stern ; 
 
 27 For Thou wilt save the afflicted soul, 
 But haughty looks Thou wilt control. 
 
 28 Jehovah, Thou my lamp wilt light, 
 
 My Comforter wilt be ; 
 My God shall make my darkness bright, 
 My only Guide is He ; 
 
 29 A host of men before me fall, 
 And by my God I leap a wall. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 30 The way of God is perfect, just ; 
 
 Jehovah's word is tried ; 
 A Shield He is to all that trust, 
 And in His strength confide ; 
 
 31 Who, save Jehovah, God can be ? 
 Who is a Rock ? what God but He ? 
 
PRAISE. 233 
 
 32 The God that girdeth me with might, 
 
 And makes my goings straight, 
 
 33 My feet like hinds He maketh light, 
 
 And gives me high estate ; 
 
 34 My hands to war He strong doth make, 
 Mine arms a bow of steel to break. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 35 In Thy salvation safe I stand, 
 
 Thy shield my head above, 
 Upholden by Thy strong right Hand, 
 Made mighty by Thy love. 
 
 36 Thou, lest my feet therein should slide, 
 Hast made the path before me wide. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 37 So with mine enemies in view 
 
 I did not turn again, 
 But onward did my foes pursue, 
 Until they all were slain ; 
 
 38 Wounded, no more to rise, they die ; 
 Trodden beneath my feet they lie. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 39 Girt with Thy strength I fearless go 
 
 To seek the battle-field ; 
 For Thou didst lay my foemen low, 
 And guard me with Thy shield ; 
 
 40 *Thou mad'st mine enemies to flee ; 
 Destroyed are they that hated me. 
 
234 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 41 They cried, but there was no man nigh, 
 
 None could to save avail ; 
 E'en to Jehovah did they cry, 
 He answered not their wail ; 
 
 42 Thus I my foes like clay did grind 
 Small as the dust before the wind. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 43 When many did my power withstand, 
 
 Thou help to me didst send, 
 And o'er the heathen's distant land 
 
 Hast made my rule extend ; 
 A people whom I have not known 
 Shall conquered bow before my throne. 
 
 44 As soon as they shall hear my name, 
 
 They shall my will obey ; 
 From strangers homage I will claim, 
 And make them own my sway ; 
 
 45 The trembling aliens then shall fade, 
 And from their coverts be afraid. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 46 Jehovah liveth — I will bless 
 
 Tne Rock on Whom I lean, 
 And praise my God Who in distress 
 Hath my Salvation been, 
 
 47 The God for me that vengeance finds, 
 And to my yoke the people binds. 
 
PRAISE. 235 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 48 He saves me from mine enemies, 
 
 Yea, Thou deliverest me; 
 From men who 'gainst me fiercely rise 
 I am preserved by Thee ; 
 
 49 Jehovah, I my voice will raise 
 Among the heathen Thee to praise. 
 
 Both Voices. 
 
 50 Jehovah will deliverance bring 
 
 To Him who wears the crown, 
 And on His own anointed king 
 
 Will send His blessing down, 
 Yea, evermore bestow His grace, 
 On David and on David's race. 
 
236 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel x. 
 
 §ong ex. 
 
 " The children of Amnion sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehab ^ 
 and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot??ie?i, and of king 
 Maacah a thousand men i and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men." 
 —v. 6. 
 
 We now return to Chapter x,, which appears to follow 
 next in chronological order. We there learn that David 
 sent an embassy to Hanun, the king of Ammon, to 
 condole with him on the death of his father, from whom 
 he (David) had received some kindness not recorded in 
 the history. Hanun, however, at the instigation of his 
 courtiers, suspected the ambassadors of being spies, and 
 treated them with intolerable insults. Fearing the indigna- 
 tion which would naturally be aroused by such conduct, he 
 hired a powerful army, consisting of Syrians and others, 
 to aid him in repelling the attack which he anticipated ; 
 and David may have composed Psalm ii. on hearing of 
 the gathering together of the united forces. 
 
 He probably intended the figurative expressions of the 
 East, which we find in this Psalm, to apply to himself 
 only ; but he was doubtless inspired by the Holy Spirit 
 to utter language which both Jewish and Christian Com- 
 mentators admit to be far more applicable to the Messiah. 
 
 Psalm ii. 
 
 HY fiercely rage the heathen ? 
 
 Why vain attempts devise ? 
 2 The kings of earth take counsel, 
 
 Rulers for battle rise ; 
 
THE CONFEDERATE KINGS. 237 
 
 They plots against Jehovah 
 And His anointed lay, 
 
 3 " Break we their bands asunder, 
 
 " Cast we their cords away." 
 
 4 He Who is throned in Heaven 
 
 , • Shall mock the empty boast ; 
 Jehovah in derision 
 
 Shall have the rebel host. 
 
 5 Then shall He speak in anger, 
 
 And fear upon them bring ; 
 
 6 " Yet on My hill of Zion 
 
 " Have I set up My King." 
 
 7 'Tis mine to be proclaiming 
 
 Jehovah's firm decree ; 
 " This day, My Son beloved, 
 " Have I begotten Thee. 
 
 8 " Ask, and behold the heathen 
 
 " Thine heritage I make ; 
 " Ask, and earth's utmost borders 
 " For Thy possession take. 
 
 9 " Thou shalt with iron sceptre 
 
 " Thy might on them display, 
 " And dash them all in pieces 
 " Like potter's work of clay." 
 
 10 *And now, ye kings, learn wisdom ; 
 
 Ye judges, counsel hear ; 
 
 1 1 With trembling serve Jehovah, 
 
 Rejoice with holy fear. 
 
218 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 12 *Kiss ye the Son, with pureness 
 To Him your homage pay, 
 Lest, if ye stir His anger, 
 Ye perish from the way. 
 
 *For, in a little kindled, 
 
 Soon doth His anger burn ; 
 
 Thrice blessed are the people 
 That trusting to Him turn. 
 
THE SOURCE OF COURAGE. 239 
 
 Song cxx. 
 
 "Be of good courage, and let us play the 7?ien for our people, and for 
 the cities of our God." — v. 12. 
 
 To oppose the allies alluded to in the last Song a large 
 army was collected under the command of Joab, who 
 divided it into two bands, one of which he entrusted to his 
 brother Abishai, addressing him in the above encouraging 
 words, well calculated to strengthen the hearts both of 
 the leaders and of the soldiers before whom they were 
 probably spoken. 
 
 The following Song is peculiarly in unison with these 
 noble sentiments. 
 
 Psalm xlvi. 1—3. 
 
 OD is to us a Refuge, 
 
 Our Place of Strength is made, 
 And in the time of trouble 
 * A very certain Aid. 
 
 2 Our hearts then shall not tremble, 
 *Though Earth should changed be, 
 
 Though mountains be removed, 
 And carried to the sea ; 
 
 3 Although the sea be troubled 
 And dash against the shore, 
 
 Although it shake the mountains, 
 Although its waters roar. 
 
240 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 §mu) exit. 
 
 "And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together ■." — v. 17. 
 
 The result of the battle was a great victory for Israel. 
 Syrians as well as Ammonites fled before them. Soon, 
 however, the undaunted Hadarezer, the Syrian king of 
 Zobah, who had been one of the allies of the Ammonites, 
 and had more than once already been defeated by David 
 (2 Sam. viii.), assembled a fresh army headed by the most 
 renowned general of Syria. This was the news that 
 caused David to gather all Israel together. We may 
 well suppose that he addressed them with an assurance 
 of his perfect trust in the Rock of his Strength, admonish- 
 ing them that, if they would pour out their hearts before 
 God and invoke His aid, they would find Him to be 
 their certain Refuge. 
 
 Psalm lxii. 5— 8. 
 
 TAIT thou, my soul, on God alone ; 
 
 Fixed on my God my trust shall be ; 
 God hath to me salvation shown ; 
 6 My Rock, my sure Defence is He ; 
 
 His Arm hath mine upholder proved, 
 Therefore I shall not be removed. 
 
 God my Salvation is, my T boast, 
 
 A Rock of Strength in Him I know ; 
 
 O trust in Him, ye Israel's host, 
 In time of joy, in time of woe ; 
 
 Pour out your hearts before His Throne ; 
 
 God is a Refuge for His own. 
 
HE MAKETH WARS TO CEASE. 24 1 
 
 Sung cxiii. 
 
 "And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that 
 they were s??iitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and 
 served the?n ." — v. 19. 
 
 The sure Strength of Israel did not fail His people in 
 their need. This triumph was even more splendid than 
 the preceding victory; forty thousand horsemen with their 
 captain fell before David's conquering host ; the men of 
 seven hundred chariots were also slain, and the chariots 
 themselves were probably captured and burnt as being 
 useless (see Preface to Songxcix.); the leaders of the enemy 
 tendered their submission ; and thus for a time at least war 
 was made to cease in the land. 
 
 Psalm xlvi. 8 — n. 
 
 OME, behold the works of God 
 
 Making desolations, 
 9 Staying war throughout the earth, 
 
 Giving peace to nations. 
 
 He in sunder cuts the spear ; 
 
 Yea, the bow He breaketh ; 
 Fuel for the burning flame 
 
 He the chariot maketh. 
 
 10 " Know that I am God ; be still ; 
 "All shall homage pay Me ; 
 " Heathens shall exalt My Name ; 
 " All the earth obey Me." 
 
 R 
 
242 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 1 On our side Jehovah stands, 
 He Who hath all power ; 
 With us is the Lord of Hosts, 
 Jacob's God our Tower. 
 
THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY. 243 
 
 §0ng oub. 
 
 u So the Syrians feared to help the children of Amnion any more." — 
 v. 19. 
 
 The last Song may have been an outburst of exultation and 
 gratitude in the remembrance of the burning chariots and 
 broken spears of the enemy. This calmer hymn of praise 
 seems more applicable to the conclusion of the cam- 
 paign, when David reviewed at leisure the terrible dangers 
 through which his people had been preserved. 
 
 Psalm cxxiv. 
 
 EHOVAH was our Helper, 
 Now Israel may say, 
 2 Jehovah was our Helper 
 When foes were in array ; 
 
 3 Or they had soon consumed us, 
 
 Whose wrath knew no control ; 
 
 4 The waters had o'erwhelmed us, 
 
 The stream gone o'er our soul. 
 
 5 Yea, o'er us high had risen 
 
 The waves of wrath and pride ; 
 Our souls had sunk beneath them, 
 And perished in the tide. 
 
 6 But blessed be Jehovah, 
 
 Who did His might display, 
 Through Whom we are not given 
 To foemen for a prey. 
 R 2 
 
244 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 7 Like bird from snare of fowler, 
 Escaped from death are we ; 
 Behold, the snare is broken, 
 And we are safe and free. 
 
 8 Our help is in Jehovah, 
 
 Our hope is in His Name, 
 In Him Who made the heavens, 
 In Him Who earth did frame. 
 
THE SIEGE OF RABBAH. 245 
 
 2 Samuel xi. 
 Song cxk 
 
 " David sent yoab, and his servants with him, and all Israel ; and 
 they destroyed the children of Ai?imon i and besieged Rabbah." — 
 v. I. 
 
 Although the king of Syria and his tributaries had 
 given up all warlike intentions against Israel, David, 
 having probably ascertained that Hanun, king of Am- 
 nion, was preparing for a renewed attack, resolved to be 
 before him in the field. Before entering upon the cam- 
 paign the offerings and sacrifices, with which he had no 
 doubt previously prepared for battle, would be repeated, 
 and the blessing of the Priest would naturally be asked 
 for before each expedition. 
 
 Psalm xx. appears to consist of two separate songs, of 
 which the first has already been introduced. — (See Song 
 xcviii.). The second is a much longer song, added to 
 the first by the Compiler, and the whole Psalm, thus 
 composed, seems very suitable to this occasion. 
 
 Psalm xx. 
 Priest. 
 
 EHOVAH hear Thee in the day 
 
 When woes abound ; 
 The Name of Jacob's God thy Stay 
 
 And Shield be found ; 
 
?46 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Send from the Holy Place His might 
 
 And thee defend ; 
 And from His chosen Zion's height 
 Strength to thee lend. 
 
 3 Thy gifts may He remember still 
 
 Hallowed by fire ; 
 
 4 The counsel of thy mind fulfil, 
 
 Thy heart's desire. 
 
 People. 
 
 5 For His salvation with our voice 
 
 We God will praise, 
 And, while Ave in His Name rejoice, 
 Our banners raise. 
 
 Jehovah from His holy hill 
 
 His ear incline ; 
 Jehovah bless thee, and fulfil 
 
 Each prayer of thine. 
 
 David. 
 
 6 Jehovah, now I know, from harm 
 
 Will save the king ; 
 From out His holy Heaven His Arm 
 
 Shall safety bring. 
 
 People. 
 
 7 In chariots and horses' might 
 
 While some rely, 
 We will remember in the fight 
 Our God Most High. 
 
THE SIEGE OF RABBAH. 
 
 ^47 
 
 8 They are brought down, and by His Hand 
 
 Subjected yield; 
 But we are risen, and upright stand 
 On battle field. 
 
 9 *Save, O Jehovah, save the king, 
 
 Long may he live. 
 Jehovah, to the prayer we bring 
 An answer give. 
 
248 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel xii. 
 
 Song cxbi 
 
 " / have sinned against the L ORD. " — v. 13. 
 
 We pass over in silence the humiliating story recorded 
 in the remainder of the last Chapter. Chapter xii. opens 
 with the well-known parable of Nathan which brought 
 conviction to the sinner's conscience. The bitterness of 
 his repentance is told in Psalm li., which does not re- 
 quire the confirmation of the Hebrew title to affix it 
 without a question to this dark period. To the fall of 
 David we owe that prayer which has been the help and 
 comfort of the penitent in every subsequent age. The 
 latter verses of the Psalm show that a ray of hope had 
 dawned on his heart, and he ventures to pray for a 
 blessing on his people and city, trusting that those 
 sacrifices and burnt offerings, which of themselves could 
 avail nothing, might, when combined with a broken and 
 contrite spirit, be accepted by the Most High. 
 
 This appears to me to be a sufficient explanation of 
 the two last verses which Perowne and some other Com- 
 mentators suppose to have been added at a much later 
 date. 
 
 Psalm li. 
 
 O me, O God, Thy mercy show, 
 Thy lovingkindness let me know, 
 And pardon for my sins bestow. 
 
THE PENITENT. 249 
 
 2 Wash me, and make me pure and clean, 
 My guilt as though it had not been, 
 E'en by Thine eye no longer seen. 
 
 3 For I my grievous sins confess, 
 And day by day my wickedness 
 My mourning spirit doth oppress. 
 
 4 For I have sinned 'gainst Thee alone, 
 And in Thy sight this evil done ; 
 Thou art the Just and Righteous One. 
 
 5 Behold, my mother's womb within 
 My members all were formed in sin ; 
 So early did my guilt begin. 
 
 6 But Thou dost inward truth require ; 
 Thou shalt in secret me inspire 
 With wisdom such as I desire. 
 
 7 Purge me with hyssop ; cleanse Thou me ; 
 Wash me ; and, purified by Thee, 
 
 I whiter than the snow shall be. 
 
 8 Gladness and joy make me to hear ; 
 
 The bones which Thou hast broken cheer, 
 That they rejoicing may appear. 
 
 9 Upon my sins no longer look ; 
 Although Thy statutes I forsook, 
 Blot my transgressions from Thy book. 
 
 10 Grant me a spotless heart to win, 
 A spirit right, renewed within, 
 And free from every taint of sin. 
 
250 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 11 O let me still to Thee be near ; 
 My soul still let Thy spirit cheer 
 With holy thoughts and godly fear. 
 
 12 Thy saving joy to me restore ; 
 With Thy free spirit, as of yore, 
 Uphold me, that I fall no more. 
 
 13 Then to transgressors I will preach 
 The lessons which Thy statutes teach, 
 Till sinners' hearts conversion reach. 
 
 14 O God of my salvation, take 
 Blood-guiltiness from me, and make 
 My tongue loud songs of praise to wake. 
 
 15 Lord, open Thou my lips in praise ; 
 My mouth shall then a song upraise, 
 And show forth all Thy righteous ways. 
 
 16 No sacrifice dost Thou demand, 
 Or I would by Thine altar stand, 
 And offer it with willing hand. 
 
 17 The sacrifice of God implies 
 
 A contrite heart that broken lies ; 
 This, Thou, O God, wilt not despise. 
 
 18 From Thee let Zion favour gain ; 
 
 Build Salem's walls, her strength maintain, 
 That there prosperity may reign. 
 
 19 They who in righteousness delight 
 Shall offer then on Zion's height 
 Burnt offerings pleasing in Thy sight. 
 
THE SIN FORGIVEN. 
 
 251 
 
 Song cxbii 
 
 ' ' The L ORD also hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die. " — v. 1 3. 
 
 God, Who knows the secrets of all hearts, saw that 
 David's repentance was sincere, and commissioned his 
 servant Nathan to reverse the sentence which the king's 
 own lips had pronounced, " The man that hath done 
 this thing shall surely die." 
 
 David's gratitude for this mercy seems to be expressed 
 in the following short Song. 
 
 Psalm xxxii. 5. 
 
 EFORE Thee all my sins I laid, 
 I have not hid my wickedness, 
 I said, " Excuse shall none be made, 
 " I my transgressions will confess ;" 
 And Thou didst hearken to my cry, 
 And pardon mine iniquity. 
 
252 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song o;biii. 
 
 "And the LORD struck the child .... and it was very sick ." — 
 v. 15. 
 
 " David therefore besotight God for the child." — v. 16. 
 
 Although God had spared the life of his repentant 
 servant, yet He did not see fit to withhold all chastise- 
 ment from him, and the child which had been born 
 unto him, and whom he had probably intended for his 
 heir, was seized with a mortal sickness. 
 
 David had uttered no word in deprecation of his 
 punishment when it was foretold to him by the prophet 
 Nathan, but had meekly submitted to his sentence, 
 because it came from the Lord. He felt that it was 
 deserved, for his grievous sin had brought dishonour on 
 his God and the reproach of fools upon himself. Now 
 however, that the sickness of his child was increasing, 
 he could no longer refrain from beseeching that the 
 stroke which had been laid upon him might even yet be 
 removed. 
 
 Psalm xxxix. 6 — 11. 
 
 AN only in a shadow walks, 
 *Is troubled for a breath ; 
 He hoards, but knows not who shall have 
 The heaps he gathereth. 
 7 What wait I for, Jehovah, now ? 
 I trust in Thee ; my Hope art Thou. 
 
CHASTISEMENT. 253 
 
 8 Deliver me from all my sins, 
 
 Let fools reproach not me ; 
 
 9 I silence kept ; no word I spake, 
 
 For it was done by Thee ; 
 
 10 Thy stroke no longer on me lay ; 
 Beneath Thine Hand I waste away. 
 
 1 1 When with rebukes Thou chastenest man, 
 
 And punishest his sin, 
 Thou mak'st his beauty to consume 
 
 As frets a moth within ; 
 His glory surely vanisheth, 
 *For all men only are a breath. 
 
254 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song zxxx. 
 
 " Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast 
 done ? thou didst fast and iveep for the child, while it was alive ; 
 but when the child was dead, thou didst ?'ise and eat bread.*' — v. 2 1 . 
 
 The reply to this question cannot be strictly regarded 
 as a song ; but yet it is so full of poetry, beauty, and 
 pathos, and so illustrative of David's character, that this 
 volume would hardly seem to be complete without it. 
 It displays that marvellous combination of tenderness, 
 fortitude, resignation, and faith, which, even in his dark 
 hour of humiliation, makes this erring servant of God 
 the object of our love and admiration. 
 
 2 Samuel xii. 22 — 23, 
 
 HILE yet the child alive remained, 
 
 Ere the last hope had passed away, 
 I wept, yea, I from food refrained ; 
 
 For, "Who can tell," my heart would say, 
 " If God will gracious be and give 
 " An answer that the child may live." 
 
 23 But now his spirit hence hath passed, 
 Now he is dead — to weep were vain ; 
 
 Now to what purpose should I fast ? 
 For can I bring him back again ? 
 
 Nay, I shall go to him, but he 
 
 Shall not return again to me. 
 
THE BIRTH OF SOLOMON. 255 
 
 Song txx. 
 
 " He called his name Solomott ; and the LORD loved him" — v. 24. 
 
 The next events related in this Chapter are the birth 
 and naming of that child who was to succeed David on 
 the throne, and the fame of whose wisdom and mag- 
 nificence was to extend to the ends of the earth, and to 
 last as long as the world should endure. 
 
 Psalm cxxvii. bears the title of " A Song of degrees 
 for Solomon," and may have been composed at the time 
 of his birth or circumcision. 
 
 Psalm cxxvii. 
 
 XCEPT the house Jehovah buildeth, 
 In vain the builders labour take ; 
 Except Jehovah keep the city, 
 In vain doth there the watchman wake; 
 
 2 In vain ye haste to rise up early, 
 In vain your midnight watch ye keep, 
 
 And eat the bread of care and sorrow ; 
 *His loved God blesseth e'en in sleep. 
 
 3 The heritage Jehovah sendeth 
 Is children ; His reward are they : 
 
 4 E'en like the arrows of the mighty, 
 Sons of thy youth shall be thy stay. 
 
 5 Blest he whose quiver thus aboundeth ; 
 No shame upon that man shall wait 
 
 When face to face he foemen meeteth, 
 And speaketh with them in the gate. 
 
256 . THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxL 
 
 11 He took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was 
 a talent of gold with the precious stones : a?idit was set on David's 
 head." — v. 30. 
 
 One more flickering ray of brightness gilds the path 
 of David, henceforth to be clouded at every turn by the 
 consequences of his sin. The blessing on his arms, im- 
 plored in Psalm xx. (Song cxv.) before the departure of 
 the expedition against Ammon, had been granted. 
 Rabbah had fallen, and her crown of pure gold had 
 been set on the head of David. 
 
 The concluding verse of the Chapter would appear to 
 imply that this triumph was attended with cruelties then 
 commonly practised by those Eastern nations, and it is 
 possible that such may be referred to in vv. 8 — 10 of 
 the following Psalm. This idea, however, appears in- 
 credible w T hen we read in Chap. xvii. 27, that Shobi, the 
 son of Nahash of Rabbah, of the children of Ammon, and 
 brother of the dethroned king, vied with Barzillai in show- 
 ing kindness to David when a fugitive during Absalom's 
 rebellion. Dr. Chandler considers that a more correct 
 translation of the last verse of 2 Samuel xii. and the parallel 
 passage in 1 Chronicles xx. would imply that David made 
 the captives of Rabbah to cut with cutting instruments and 
 to work in the mines and brick-kilns ; and this view is 
 strengthened by the Arabic version, which says that he 
 bound them all with chains, killing none. In short, he 
 probably reduced them, as Joshua reduced the Gibeonites 
 in former times, to the lowest state of slavery. I am, 
 therefore, of opinion that vv. 8 — 10 of Psalm xxi., to 
 
THE FALL OF RABBATI. 
 
 257 
 
 which I have alluded, and which are in the future tense, 
 only express in a strong figure that God will continue to 
 bless the arms of David and utterly overthrow his 
 enemies, as had just been the case in regard to the 
 people of Rabbah, 
 
 Both this Psalm (xxi.) and Psalm xx. appear to consist 
 of two parts, the first of which has, in each case, been 
 introduced in 2 Samuel viii. In each case also a longer 
 song has been added by the Compiler to the first part, 
 and the whole of the two Psalms, thus formed, seem 
 respectively very suitable, the one to the commencement, 
 and the other to the conclusion, of the expedition against 
 Rabbah. 
 
 Psalm xxi. 
 
 David. 
 
 HE king shall in Thy strength rejoice, 
 To Thee, Jehovah, lift his voice, 
 In Thy salvation glad ; 
 
 2 His heart's desire Thou hast supplied, 
 His lips' request hast not denied, 
 
 But him with joy hast clad ; 
 
 3 For Thou preventest him with love 
 And plenteous blessings from above. 
 
 Him with Thy favour Thou dost grace, 
 And on his head a crown dost place, 
 A crown of purest gold ; 
 
 4 Life which he asked Thy goodness gave, 
 And length of days ; him Thou dost save 
 
 And with Thy might uphold ; 
 His length of days, in glory passed, 
 Shall ever and for ever last. 
 
>58 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 His honour and renown are great ; 
 His majesty and high estate 
 
 On Thy salvation rest ; 
 Thou on his head shalt worship lay, 
 And give him majesty and sway ; 
 
 6 In Thee he shall be blest ; 
 Thy countenance his joy shall be, 
 His heart exceeding glad in Thee. 
 
 7 The king doth on his God rely, 
 
 And through the grace of the Most High 
 He shall not be removed. 
 
 People. 
 
 8 & 9 Thy right hand shall find out thy foes, 
 And as a fiery oven make those 
 
 Who have thy haters proved ; 
 Jehovah these in wrath shall slay, 
 They shall of fire become the prey. 
 
 io Destroyed by thee shall be their fruit, 
 Which from the earth thou shalt uproot, 
 And from mankind their seed; 
 
 1 1 For evil they against thee plot, 
 But all their power availeth not 
 
 To carry out the deed. 
 
 12 For this they shall be put to flight 
 When thou dost draw thy bow of might. 
 
 All. 
 
 13 Jehovah, set Thyself on high, 
 Exalt Thy glorious majesty, 
 
THE FALL OF RABBAH. 
 
 259 
 
 And in Thy strength arise ; 
 So will we sing with heart and voice, 
 And ever in Thy Name rejoice, 
 
 Whose glory fills the skies ; 
 Yea, songs of gladness we will raise, 
 Thy boundless power and might to praise. 
 
 S 2 
 
260 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel xv. 
 
 $ong cxxii 
 
 " There came a messenger to David, saying. The hearts of the men 
 of Israel are after Absalom. " — v. 1 3. 
 
 We have now arrived at a period in which another 
 great change took place in the history of David, and 
 we are again to see him a wanderer and an exile 
 
 The Lord, Who had spared his life, saw fit to permit 
 him to be punished by the misery and crimes produced 
 in his family through the indulgence of the same evil 
 passions which had caused his own sin ; and his poems 
 show that he fully realized the connexion between his 
 fall and his subsequent troubles. 
 
 Passing over the miserable events recorded in 2 Samuel 
 xiii. and xiv., the next Song (Psalm vi.) seems to refer 
 to the day on which David heard of Absalom's rebellion. 
 It has been conjectured that he was prevented by illness 
 from paying his usual attention to public business, and 
 that the general dissatisfaction arising from this and 
 other causes may have suggested to his favourite son, 
 Absalom, the project of dethroning his father. Having 
 by a long course of ostentation and flattery ingratiated 
 himself with the people, Absalom, under a false pre- 
 text, obtained leave from the king to retire to Hebron, 
 where he set up the standard of revolt. His adviser 
 was Ahithophel, the king's most intimate friend and 
 trusted counsellor, who was, however, in secret (as may 
 be gathered from the Psalms which are supposed to 
 
THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 26 1 
 
 apply to him) David's bitter foe. His enmity was pro- 
 bably caused by the wrongs of Bathsheba, for it is 
 generally thought that Ahithophel was her grandfather. 
 David was overwhelmed with terror and distress on 
 receiving the news of the rebellion, and gave directions 
 for immediate flight. 
 
 The night of weeping described in the following Psalm 
 may not improbably have been that occasioned by the 
 heart-breaking tidings of this day. 
 
 Psalm vi. 
 EHOVAH, in Thy wrath rebuke no more, 
 
 Make me no more Thy chastening Hand 
 to feel ; 
 
 2 *I pine away ; on me Thy mercy pour ; 
 
 My bones are vexed; O hasten Thou to heal ; 
 
 3 My soul is also vexed ; my foes are strong ; 
 But Thou, Jehovah, O how long ! how long ! 
 
 4 Return, Jehoyah, and deliver me ; 
 
 O for Thy mercy's sake return to save ; 
 
 5 In death there no remembrance is of Thee ; 
 
 Thou art forgotten in the silent grave ; 
 Who from the tomb to Thee shall raise his voice? 
 Who give Thee thanks ? Who there in Thee 
 rejoice ? 
 
 6 1 am weary ; wearily I groan ; 
 
 All night my couch I water with my tears ; 
 And, while I make my bed to swim, I moan, 
 Oppressed with doubts, overwhelmed with 
 anxious fears; 
 
 7 Consumed with grief and sorrow are mine eyes, 
 And waxen old ; for foes against me rise. 
 
:62 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 8 All ye that evil do, from me away ; 
 
 Jehovah sees me weep, He hears my sigh ; 
 
 9 Jehovah hearkens when to Him I pray ; 
 
 Jehovah hears, and will receive my cry. 
 io My foes dismayed shall be and vexed sore, 
 Turned backwards and with shame be covered 
 o'er. 
 
THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 263 
 
 Song cxxiti 
 
 " The king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a 
 place that was far off." — v. 17. 
 
 It was apparently on the morning after David received 
 intelligence of the insurrection that he quitted Jerusalem 
 with all his household except ten concubines. It was 
 a sad as well as an eventful flight, of which nearly every 
 occurrence has been recorded in history, and seems to 
 be alluded to in song. The first halt was at a place 
 called "The Far House," where David may have expressed 
 his strengthened faith in the words which form the first 
 part of Psalm lxii. To these verses the Compiler seems 
 to have added two other songs already applied (see Songs 
 liii. and cxii.), and the whole of the composite Psalm 
 may be appropriately introduced here. 
 
 Psalm lxii. 
 
 |NLY in God my soul is still, 
 
 For He hath my Salvation proved ; 
 
 2 He is my Rock, my Guard from ill ; 
 
 I shall not now be greatly moved. 
 
 3 How long will ye with bitter hate 
 Devise to cause a man to fall ? 
 Destruction dire shall be your fate, 
 Like tottering fence or broken wall. 
 
 \ Only to cast him down they seek ; 
 They alway turn from truth aside ; 
 Though with their mouth they blessings speak, 
 Yet curses inwardly they hide. 
 
264 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 5 Only in God, my soul, be still, 
 
 He is my Hope, unfailing proved, 
 
 6 My Rock, my Guard from every ill, 
 
 My Tower; I shall not now be moved. 
 
 7 In God is my salvation, He 
 
 My Glory is, and Righteousness ; 
 Rock of my strength He still will be ; 
 God is my Refuge in distress. 
 
 8 Trust Him at all times ; trust His grace ; 
 
 Pour out your hearts before His Throne ; 
 Your trust in Him, ye people, place ; 
 God is our Refuge, God alone. 
 
 9 *Only a breath are Adam's race, 
 
 The sons of men are but a lie ; 
 In balance weighed, whate'er their place, 
 They lighter are than vanity. 
 
 10 From trusting in oppression cease ; 
 In robbery become not vain ; 
 If riches grow, if wealth increase, 
 Set not your heart upon your gain. 
 
 1 1 God once hath spoken ; this I heard, 
 
 That power and strength to God belong ; 
 He spake, and twice I heard the word, 
 That God is mighty, God is strong. 
 
 12 And Thee, O Lord, in Heaven Thy Seat 
 .Mercy and loving-grace surround ; 
 For Thou to every man dost mete 
 According as his work is found. 
 
THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 
 
 265 
 
 Song cxxib, 
 
 " I go ivhither I may." — v. 20. 
 
 David and his followers left " The Far House" attended 
 by his faithful body-guard. Calling to him Ittai of Gath, 
 their captain, he bade him return with his companions, 
 and offer his services to the new king, instead of adhering 
 to the fortunes of one who, like himself, was now an 
 exile, and knew not whither he should go. 
 
 The bitterness of David's heart at this time may have 
 been pathetically summed up in 
 
 Psalm xxxix. 12 — 13. 
 
 Y prayer do Thou, Jehovah, hear, 
 To this my cry incline Thine ear, 
 
 And to my tears an answer give ; 
 
 For I a stranger am with Thee, 
 
 As were my fathers wont to be, 
 
 And as a sojourner I live. 
 
 1 3 O spare me, strength to me restore, 
 
 Ere hence I go, and be no more. 
 
266 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxb. 
 
 '''David went tip by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went 
 tip." — v. 30. 
 
 Ittai was far too loyal and brave a subject to listen to 
 the proposal of returning, and the whole company passed 
 over the brook Kidron, weeping and lamenting. Then 
 David, with pious and touching words, sent back the Ark 
 of God, which appears to have accompanied him, under 
 the care of Zadok and Abiathar and their two sons, 
 charging them to furnish him with tidings of what was 
 passing in the city. After the departure of the Ark the 
 sorrowful party proceeded on their ascent of Mount 
 Olivet. The grief of the fugitives is graphically described 
 in the history. The king led the way weeping, and had 
 his head covered, and went barefoot ; and all the people 
 covered every man his head, and went up weeping. 
 
 How pathetically are these incidents brought to our 
 minds by the last part of Psalm lxxxix.! 
 
 V. 52, being the ascription of praise at the end of the 
 third Book of the Psalter, does not form part of the 
 Song. 
 
 Psalm lxxxix. 49 — 51. 
 
 ORD, where are now Thy kindnesses of old ? 
 Where is the tender love that Thou did'st 
 bear ? 
 The mercy Thou to David did'st unfold, 
 
 And in Thy faithfulness to him did'st swear ? 
 
THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM. 267 
 
 50 Lord, the reproaches to remembrance call, 
 
 The foul reproaches on Thy servants laid, 
 How in my bosom I do bear them all, 
 
 When with their taunts the mighty men up- 
 braid ; 
 
 5 1 Wherewith Thine enemies against Thee bring 
 
 Rebukes, Jehovah, and their taunts renew ; 
 
 Wherewith the steps of Thine anointed king 
 
 With slanders and reproaches they pursue. 
 
268 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxbi 
 
 " One told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirator 
 Absalom' 3 — v. 31. 
 
 This was an unexpected blow to David, and indigna- 
 tion, such as this information would excite, is strongly 
 expressed in the first part of Ps. lii., which may, therefore, 
 refer to this occasion, although the whole composite 
 Psalm, consisting apparently of three separate songs, is 
 assigned by the Hebrew title to the announcement to 
 Saul by Doeg of David's visit to Nob. (See Song 
 xxxiv). 
 
 Psalm lii. t — 3. 
 
 MIGHTY man, why dost thou in thy pride 
 Boast that thine evil counsels shall avail? 
 Our God His goodness hath not turned 
 aside, 
 His mercies never fail. 
 
 2 Thy tongue destruction alway doth devise, 
 
 And, as a razor sharp, doth mischief seek ; 
 
 3 Thou lovest evil more than good, and lies 
 
 Than righteousness to speak. 
 
AHITHOPHEL. 269 
 
 Song cxxbii 
 
 " David said, O LORD, I pray Thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel 
 into foolish ness. ' ' — v. 3 1 . 
 
 Psalm lv. consists of three songs, two of which I have 
 assigned to other occasions. The terrible denunciations 
 contained in it, like those of Psalm cix., are generally 
 looked upon as directed against Ahithophel. Both 
 Psalms appear to be intended for two singers, one of 
 whom takes the plaintive, the other the stern expressions ; 
 but, if the two Psalms are compared, a remarkable con- 
 trast will be perceived. 
 
 In Ps. lv. a former friend, from whom some injury has 
 been received, is spoken of pathetically by the plaintive 
 singer, who may perhaps express the feelings of David 
 towards Ahithophel before he had learnt the extent of his 
 treachery, while the other singer (representing one of 
 David's followers) denounces all the conspirators, and 
 especially Ahithophel, in much stronger language. In 
 Psalm cix., however, the parts of the singers are reversed, 
 for there the enmity of the confederates is but lightly 
 touched on by the plaintive voice in comparison with the 
 dreadful imprecations hurled by the other against the 
 principal traitor, a change of tone which might be ex- 
 pected after David had heard how detestable had been 
 that counsel of Ahithophel which he had feared. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm lv. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 1URN not Thy Face, my God, away, 
 
 But let my pleadings reach Thine ears 
 2 Attend and hear me when I pray ; 
 I groan in my complaint with tears ; 
 
 3 Because the foeman's voice is heard, 
 
 Because the wicked me oppress ; 
 For wrath and hate are in them stirred ; 
 They cast upon me wickedness. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 4 My heart is sore within my breast ; 
 
 Death seems with all its terrors near ; 
 
 5 My soul w T ith horror is distressed, 
 
 With trembling overwhelmed and fear. 
 
 6 "O-that I had the wings" (I cried) 
 
 " That bear the dove to reach her nest ! 
 
 7 " For then far off I would abide, 
 
 " And in the desert be at rest." 
 
 8 I would escape in danger's hour, 
 
 And shelter seek from stormy wind ; 
 And from the raging tempest's power 
 A place of safety I would find. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 9 O let their tongues divided be ; 
 
 Jehovah, bring their words to nought ; 
 For strife it hath been mine to see 
 And wrong within the city wrought. 
 
AHITHOPHEL. 271 
 
 10 Both day and night they go around, 
 
 And on the city's walls they meet ; 
 
 1 1 Deceit and wickedness abound, 
 
 Sorrow and woe fill every street. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 1 2 For it was not an open foe 
 
 That heaped reproaches on my name ; 
 Then I had borne the heavy blow, 
 I had not sunk beneath the shame. 
 
 If it mine enemy had been 
 
 That rose against me in his pride, 
 
 Then had I sought a place unseen, 
 Where I might from him safely hide. 
 
 13 But it was thou, my guide of old, 
 
 Mine equal, my familiar friend ; 
 
 14 Sweet counsel we were wont to hold, 
 
 God's House together to attend. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 1 5 Let sudden death upon them fall, 
 
 And let them go down quick to hell, 
 For wickedness pollutes them all, 
 And sin is found where'er they dwell. 
 
 Second Voice, 
 
 16 When unto God my prayers arise, 
 
 Jehovah saves me from my fear ; 
 
 17 At evening, morn, and noon, my cries 
 S hall loud ascend, and He will hear. 
 
-'/- 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 8 He hath redeemed my soul in peace 
 
 When hotly pressed on me the foes ; 
 He made the shout of battle cease, 
 Because against me many rose. 
 
 First Voice, 
 
 19 This God shall hear, this God shall know, 
 
 Yea, He shall answer speedily ; 
 God shall afflict and bring them low, 
 He from of old enthroned on high. 
 
 Because unchanged remains their lot, 
 And loss and trouble come not near, 
 
 The Name of God they honour not, 
 Nay, God Himself they will not fear. 
 
 Stroud Voice. 
 
 20 On him his treacherous hands he laid 
 
 With whom he was at peace before, 
 He broke the covenant he made, 
 Nor kept the solemn oath he swore. 
 
 21 While burning hate within him glowed, 
 
 Softer than butter were his words ; 
 More smoothly e'en than oil they flowed, 
 Yet were they all as blades of swords. 
 
 Both Voices. 
 
 22 Thy burden to Jehovah take, 
 
 He shall sustain and strengthen thee ; 
 The righteous He will ne'er forsake, 
 Nor suffer him cast down to be. 
 
AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 273 
 
 23 But sinners Thou, O God, shalt slay ; 
 The bloodthirsty deceitful race 
 Untimely death shall take away ; 
 But I in Thee my trust will place. 
 
2/4 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxtmt. 
 
 " David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God.'' 
 v. 32. 
 
 It would seem that there was an altar on the summit 
 of Mount Olivet to which David was perhaps in the 
 habit of repairing to worship God, as he did on the 
 present occasion. The Syriac argument of Psalm xxvi. 
 is " Of David when his friend (Ahithophel) left him, 
 and he was in exile ;" and this seems the most appro- 
 priate place for its introduction. 
 
 Psalm xxvi. , 
 
 LET my cause by Thee be proved, 
 Jehovah, I have walked aright ; 
 *I waver, not, nor shall be moved ; 
 My trust is in Jehovah's might. 
 
 2 Jehovah, try mine inmost breast ; 
 
 *My reins, my heart, O make Thou clean 
 
 3 I on Thy loving-kindness rest, 
 
 And in Thy truth my walk hath been. 
 
 4 I never with the vain have dwelt, 
 
 I hate all those who love deceit, 
 
 5 With wicked men I have not dealt, 
 
 And will not evil doers meet. 
 
 6 I wash my hands in innocence ; 
 
 So to Thine altar will I go, 
 
 7 That I may give Thee thanks from thence, 
 
 And all Thy wondrous doings show. 
 
THE ALTAR. 
 
 275 
 
 8 Jehovah, I Thy dwelling-place, 
 
 Thine holy House, have loved well, 
 Which with Thy Presence Thou dost grace, 
 And where Thy glory deigns to dwell 
 
 9 My soul with sinners gather not, 
 
 Who wickedness will do for gain ; 
 
 10 Cast not with evil men my lot, 
 
 Whose hands the price of blood obtain. 
 
 1 1 But I the paths of righteousness 
 
 In mine integrity will tread ; 
 Redeem me ; with Thy favour bless, 
 And pour down mercy on my head. 
 
 1 2 My foot doth stand on even ground ; 
 
 I, where Thy saints their voices raise, 
 Among the congregation found, 
 Jehovah's holy Name will praise. 
 
 T 2 
 
2/6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 ^ong cxxix. 
 
 '* Behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, 
 and earth upon his head.''' — v. 32. 
 
 The sympathy of this loyal subject was most cheering 
 to the desponding king ; for Hushai was not only dis- 
 tinguished for his wisdom, but held that high and con- 
 fidential office in the council which was designated by 
 the title of " the king's friend." Hoping that he might 
 be able to defeat the dangerous advice of Ahithophel, 
 David determined to send him back to Jerusalem for 
 that purpose. 
 
 In the first part of the following Song (Psalm xxviii.) 
 David may allude to the prayer which he had just offered 
 at the altar, to which, in vv. 6, 7, he appears to recognize 
 an answer in the arrival of Hushai. 
 
 Psalm xxviii. 
 David. 
 
 Y Rock, no more Thy voice refrain, 
 Jehovah, hear my cry ; 
 Lest, if Thou silent still remain, 
 I be like those that die. 
 
 2 O to my prayer attentive be, 
 Let it an answer meet, 
 When I uplift my hands to Thee, 
 Towards Thy Mercy Seat 
 
HUSHAI. 277 
 
 3 Pluck me not hence with those who seek 
 
 Ungodliness and sin, 
 Who to their neighbours friendly speak, 
 While mischief lurks within. 
 
 4 Give them according to their deeds, 
 
 Their wickedness repay, 
 Nor let what from their hands proceeds 
 Unpunished pass away. 
 
 Hushai. 
 
 5 Because they turn their hearts aside 
 
 From all His works and ways, 
 Jehovah shall bring down their pride, 
 Their horn He shall not raise. 
 
 David. 
 
 6 Blest be Jehovah ; to my cry 
 
 He doth an answer yield ; 
 
 7 Upon Jehovah I rely, 
 
 He is my Strength and Shield. 
 
 I trusted Him, He sent His aid, 
 
 In Him I safety found ; 
 Exultant now my heart is made, 
 
 My songs His praise resound. 
 
 Hushai. 
 
 8 *His strength is in Jehovah's power, 
 
 Salvation He doth bring ; 
 He is the Fortress, He the Tower, 
 Of His anointed king. 
 
278 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 The whole Assembly. 
 
 9 O save Thy people, Jacob's seed ; 
 With blessing fill their cup ; 
 Cease not Thine heritage to feed, 
 And ever lift them up. 
 
THE REBELS. 279 
 
 §cng cxxx. 
 
 " Absalom came into Jerusalem" — v. 37. 
 
 Psalm lxix. is supposed by all the old Commentators 
 to refer to the time of David's flight from Absalom, and 
 may express his feelings after the departure of Hushai. 
 His thoughts would then naturally return to the treachery 
 of Ahithophel, the undeserved enmity of many of the 
 rebels, and the ingratitude of part of his own family, to 
 which he may specially allude in ver. 8. The first por- 
 tion of the Psalm (vv. 1 — 29) is written in a strain of 
 deep despondency, whilst the last part (vv. 30 — 36) is 
 exultant. These last verses were probably added by 
 David after his return to Jerusalem, and will be intro- 
 duced in that part of his history. Its Hebrew title may 
 be taken as a sufficient refutation of the opinion of several 
 modern Commentators that this Psalm is of later date than 
 the age of David ; but the maledictions contained in 
 vv. 22 — 28 are so inconsistent with David's tender love 
 for Absalom, and his forgiveness of Amasa, whom, on 
 recovering his kingdom, he appointed captain of the host, 
 passing over both Joab and Abishai, that they suggest 
 the possibility of their having been interpolated into this 
 Psalm from some other poem. 
 
 Psalm lxix. i — 29. 
 
 AVE me, O God, in mercy save, 
 
 The floods are come into my soul, 
 Around me higher swells the wave, 
 The waters roll. 
 
280 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Here, where no standing place is found, 
 
 I sink into the mire below ; 
 Deep waters compass me around, 
 And floods o'erflow. 
 
 3 Weary of cries my throat is dry ; 
 
 With watching long mine eyes are dim ; 
 While, till my God will hear my cry, 
 I wait for Him. 
 
 4 More than the hairs upon my head 
 
 Are they who bear me causeless hate ; 
 They who my guiltless blood would shed 
 Are strong and great. 
 
 Though I have taken not away, 
 
 Though robbery is to me unknown, 
 That which is mine I must repay, 
 Restore mine own. 
 
 5 To Thee my folly is revealed, 
 
 My trespasses before Thee lie ; 
 God, my sin is unconcealed 
 Beneath Thine eye. 
 
 6 O God of Hosts, O Israel's Lord, 
 
 Let none for my sake suffer shame 
 Who wait on Thee, who trust Thy word, 
 And fear Thy Name. 
 
 7 For Thy sake shame o'erspreads my face, 
 
 For Thee reproach 'is on me laid ; 
 
 8 My mother's sons, my kindred race, 
 
 Are strangers made. 
 
THE REBELS. 28 I 
 
 9 For burning zeal hath me inflamed 
 Thine House in honour held to see, 
 And the rebukes against Thee aimed 
 Are fallen on me. 
 
 10 I grieved my soul with fasts and tears, 
 
 And that was turned to my shame ; 
 
 1 1 I sackcloth wore, and for their jeers 
 
 A mark became. 
 
 12 All they who sit within the gate 
 
 Make me their talk, to do me wrong ; 
 Of drunkards is my sad estate 
 Become the song. 
 
 13 But I to Thee, Jehovah, cry, 
 
 When Thou dost lend a willing ear ; 
 In Thy salvation's truth be nigh, 
 In mercy hear. 
 
 14 Raise from the mire my sinking soul, 
 
 And save me from mine enemies ; 
 The whelming waterfloods control, 
 When fast they rise. 
 
 1 5 Save, when the water overflows, 
 
 Lest swallowed by the deep I be ; 
 Let not the pit of darkness close 
 Her mouth on me. 
 
 16 Hear me, Jehovah, when I plead ; 
 
 Thy loving-kindness maketh glad ; 
 
 17 Hide not Thy Face ; O hear with speed, 
 
 For I am sad. 
 
282 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 8 To me in my distress draw near, 
 
 And for my soul a ransom give ; 
 Redeem me from the foes I fear, 
 That I may live. 
 
 19 Thou knowest my disgrace and shame, 
 
 Each foul reproach, each cruel slight ; 
 The foes who at my ruin aim 
 Are in Thy sight. 
 
 20 My heart is full of heaviness, 
 
 Reproaches compass me around ; 
 I looked for comfort in distress, 
 But none I found. 
 
 2 1 When crushed with woe they saw me sink, 
 
 Bitter was that they brought for meat ; 
 They gave me vinegar to drink, 
 And gall to eat. 
 
 22 *When they secure appear to be, 
 
 A snare and trap their table make ; 
 
 23 Cause Thou their eyes no light to see, 
 
 Their limbs to shake. 
 
 24 Let Thy displeasure on them wait, 
 
 And be Thy wrath upon them sent ; 
 
 25 Their dwelling make Thou desolate, 
 
 And void their tent. 
 
 26 For persecuting words they speak 
 
 Of him whom Thou hast smitten sore ; 
 Thy wounded ones their talk doth seek 
 To grieve yet more. 
 
THE REBELS. 283 
 
 27 Make their offences numberless, 
 
 And add Thou sin unto their sin ; 
 Let them not share Thy righteousness, 
 Nor come therein. 
 
 28 Their names do Thou for ever blot 
 
 From out the book of them that live ; 
 Among the righteous write them not, 
 Nor portion give, 
 
 29 But I, O God, am poor and sad, 
 
 Sorrow doth heavy on me lie ; 
 Let Thy salvation make me glad, 
 And set me high. 
 
254 THE LIFE OF DAVID 
 
 2 Samuel xvi. 
 Song cxxxi 
 
 " Let him curse ; for the LORD hath bidden him"— v. II. 
 
 The next incident recorded is the arrival of Ziba with 
 a supply of provisions and the report of his master's 
 conduct which elicited David's hasty transfer of Mephib- 
 osheth's property to Ziba. At Bahurim, a short distance 
 further on, the party encountered Shimei, a Benjamite, 
 of the family of Saul. This man, being protected by a 
 deep ravine, threw stones at the king, and cursed him in 
 language so opprobrious that Abishai begged permission 
 to cross over and slay him. David, however, refused, 
 saying that he whose life was in danger from his own son 
 might well bear the curses of a stranger. But neither 
 Shimei's curses nor even Absalom's rebellion appear to 
 have weighed down the heart of the persecuted king so 
 much as the feeling expressed in the text above that they 
 were but instruments in the hands of his offended God. 
 
 The following " Psalm of David," which only in a 
 figurative sense describes his own sufferings, whilst it 
 literally applies to Him Who bore our griefs, has been by 
 some Commentators assigned to the period of David's 
 exile, and this climax of woe appears the most fitting 
 place for its introduction. 
 
 The latter portion, which refers to sacrifices of thanks- 
 giving for deliverance, was probably composed after the 
 restoration, and I have on that account placed it there. 
 
y 
 
 THE DARKEST HOUR. 285 
 
 Psalm xxii. i — 21. 
 
 Y God, my God, in this my grief 
 O why hast Thou forsaken me ? 
 Why art Thou far from my relief 
 When I in anguish cry to Thee ? 
 
 2 My God, I cry to Thee by day, 
 
 But Thou dost not incline Thine ear; 
 Nor, when at night to Thee I pray 
 And am not silent, dost Thou hear. 
 
 3 But Thou art holy, Thou art just ; 
 
 *Thee Israel praiseth throned on high ; 
 
 4 In Thee our fathers put their trust ; 
 
 They trusted — Thou to save wast nigh. 
 
 5 They cried to Thee when trouble came ; 
 
 By Thee was their deliverance wrought ; 
 They trusted in Thy holy Name, 
 And were not to confusion brought. 
 
 6 But as for me, abhorred by all, 
 
 No man, a very worm, am I ; 
 Scorn and reproaches on me fall, 
 Despised by all the passers-by. 
 
 7 All they that see me mock my woe, 
 
 Derision in their laugh is heard ; 
 They shoot the lip their scorn to show, 
 And shake the head with jeering word — 
 
 8 " His trust he on Jehovah laid, 
 
 " That He to save would show His might ; 
 " Now be that might to save displayed, 
 " Seeing in him is His delight." 
 
286 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 9 But Thou art He that didst me take 
 From out the womb on Thee to rest, 
 And Thou did'st hope in me awake 
 When yet upon my mother's breast. 
 
 10 I from the womb was cast on Thee ; 
 
 E'en from my birth my God Thou art ; 
 
 1 1 Trouble is near, O leave not me, 
 
 For none there is to help impart. 
 
 12 Bulls compass me on every side, 
 
 Bashan's strong bulls beset my way ; 
 
 13 Their gaping mouths are open wide, 
 
 As lions roaring for their prey. 
 
 14 Poured out like water in my woe 
 
 Am I, my bones asunder start ; 
 Within my body sinking low, 
 
 Like wax that melteth, is my heart 
 
 1 5 My strength is like a potsherd dry, 
 
 And to my jaws my tongue doth cleave ; 
 E'en in the dust of death to lie, 
 
 My God, Thou dost Thy servant leave. 
 
 16 For many are the dogs unclean 
 
 On every side that round me wait ; 
 A throng of wicked men is seen 
 Enclosing me with looks of hate. 
 
 They pierced my feet, they pierced my hands, 
 
 17 Each tortured bone I can descry ; 
 A staring crowd around me stands 
 
 To gaze upon mine agony. 
 
THE DARKEST HOUR. 287 
 
 Yea, mine affliction they deride, 
 My pain and anguish pitying not ; 
 
 18 Behold, my garments they divide, 
 
 And on my vesture cast the lot. 
 
 19 But do not Thou far off remain, 
 
 Let not Thy succour be delayed ; 
 Let me not cry to Thee in vain ; 
 My Strength Jehovah, haste to aid. 
 
 20 My soul deliver from the grave, 
 
 Yea, from the sword my life defend ; 
 Mine only one, Jehovah, save, 
 
 Let not the dog my darling rend. 
 
 21 O save me from the lion's jaw ; 
 
 *The horns of unicorns are nigh ; 
 *Save me, for closer yet they draw ; 
 *0 save me — Thou hast heard my cry. 
 
288 II IK LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 ^ong cxxxti 
 
 11 // may be that the LORD will look on mijie affliction, and that the 
 L ORD will requite me good for his cursing this day." — v. 1 2. 
 
 Many Commentators have supposed that Cush, the 
 Benjamite, against whom Psalm vii. is directed by the 
 Hebrew title, is another name for Shimei, no doubt on 
 account of the suitableness of the first portion of the 
 Psalm to his unprovoked malice and enmity, the 
 remainder appearing to refer to all David's enemies. 
 
 Psalm vii. 
 
 EHOVAH, O my God, to Thee 
 *For shelter do I fly ; 
 Save me from them that trouble me, 
 O be to save me nisrh : 
 
 2 Lest he my soul in pieces rend, 
 
 And like a lion tear, 
 While none is near me help to lend, 
 None saving help to bear. 
 
 3 Jehovah, O my God, if I 
 
 This wickedness have wrought, 
 If I have done iniquity, 
 If I have mischief sought, 
 
 4 If evil I did e'er repay 
 
 To him that was my friend 
 (Yea, rather I unharmed away 
 Mine enemy did send), 
 
THE WORDS OF THE BENJAMITE. 289 
 
 5 Then let my persecuting foe 
 
 My soul pursue and take, 
 
 Yea, let him lay my glory low, 
 
 My life dishonoured make. 
 
 6 Jehovah, in Thy wrath arise 
 
 My foemen's rage to still ; 
 Awake, upon mine enemies 
 Thy just decree fulfil. 
 
 7 ^Gather the peoples to Thy feet ; 
 
 *Call the assembly nigh ; 
 *And o'er the nations to Thy Seat 
 Return again on high. 
 
 8 Jehovah judgment shall dispense ; 
 
 Men shall His justice see ; 
 According to mine innocence, 
 Jehovah, judge Thou me. 
 
 9 Let sinners' schemes in ruin lie ; 
 
 Strength to the just impart; 
 For God, the righteous God, doth try 
 The very reins and heart. 
 
 10 God is my Shield, in Whom I trust, 
 
 Of upright hearts the Stay ; 
 
 1 1 God is a righteous Judge and just, 
 
 Provoked every day. 
 
 1 2 Unless the sinner will repent, 
 
 He sharpeneth His sword ; 
 
 His bow He hath already bent, 
 
 His arrows wait the word. 
 
 u 
 
29O THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 13 The deadly weapons are arrayed, 
 He hath prepared the dart ; 
 The arrow swift is ready made 
 To pierce the oppressor's heart. 
 
 14 He mischief hath within his mind 
 
 Conceived, and brought forth sin ; 
 
 15 A pit for others he designed, 
 
 And he hath fallen therein. 
 
 16 His mischief and malicious toil 
 
 Shall on himself be brought ; 
 And on his own head shall recoil 
 The evil he hath wrought. 
 
 17 I for Jehovah's righteousness 
 
 To Him my song will raise, 
 The Name of the Most High will bless, 
 And sing Jehovah's praise. 
 
 
EVENING COMMUNINGS. 291 
 
 80119 cxxxiii 
 
 u The king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and 
 refresh ed themselves. " — v. 1 4. 
 
 Leaving the ill conduct of Shimei unpunished, the 
 exiles passed on to the valley of the Jordan, and rested 
 at the ford, or bridge, of the river. There they refreshed 
 themselves with Ziba ; s present, and waited for tidings 
 from Jerusalem. 
 
 The Selah Psalm iv. is a beautiful Song, very suitable for 
 the close of this day of anxiety. It is evidently a com- 
 panion Song to Ps. iii. which by its Hebrew title is asso- 
 ciated with Absalom's rebellion, and in the first verse there 
 seems to be an allusion to the escape which had just 
 been effected. The appeal of the king to his misguided 
 and rebellious subjects, the admonition to his faint- 
 hearted friends, and the expressions of joy and trust in 
 the loving protection of his God, are all too evidently 
 appropriate to need further remark. 
 
 Psalm iv. 
 
 OD of my righteousness, my petitions hear ; 
 *Thou in my straitness hast made room 
 for me ; 
 
 O let Thy tender mercies now be near, 
 *And let my supplications answered be. 
 
 Ye sons of men, ye who pervert the right, 
 How long will ye my glory turn to shame ? 
 
 How long will ye in vanity delight, 
 
 *A lie pursue, and seek an empty name ? 
 U 2 
 
292 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 Know that the man in godliness who lives 
 
 Jehovah for Himself hath set apart; 
 Jehovah hears me and an answer gives, 
 
 Whene'er to Him in prayer I lift my heart. 
 
 4 Stand ye in awe, lest paths of sin ye tread ; 
 
 Be still, and be each sin to memory brought; 
 Yea, commune with your heart upon your bed ; 
 Search out your spirit, try each secret thought. 
 
 5 Offer an acceptable sacrifice, 
 
 Bring righteousness, the tribute of the just ; 
 And, while to Him your supplications rise, 
 Put in Jehovah your unfailing trust. 
 
 6 Many there be with faithless hearts that say, 
 
 " Where shall we find who good to us will 
 show ?" 
 Jehovah, now to us Thy grace display, 
 
 And of Thy countenance the light bestow. 
 
 7 Thou hast caused joy within my heart to spring, 
 
 Yea, greater joy, more gladness, there is found 
 Than when the fields a plenteous harvest bring, 
 And when the stores with corn and wine abound. 
 
 8 Now will I lay me down to rest in peace, 
 
 Now will I close my weary eyes in sleep ; 
 For Thou to watch, Jehovah, wilt not cease, 
 Thy care alone doth me in safety keep. 
 
ahithophel's baseness. 293 
 
 §cng cxxxib. 
 
 c ' The counsel of A hithophel. ' ' — v. 2 3. 
 
 Ahithophel's character for wisdom was so fully esta- 
 blished that his advice was regarded as oracular; and, 
 vile and hateful as was that given by him to Absalom 
 on their first arrival in Jerusalem, it was certainly fully 
 calculated to attain the object which both had in view, 
 viz. an open and irreconcilable breach between the father 
 and son. 
 
 "The counsel of Ahithophel " was probably the cause 
 of the composition of the following Psalm, which con- 
 tains such terrible maledictions as were on no other 
 occasion elicited from David even by the most deadly 
 attempts on his life or power • indeed his patient en- 
 durance of cruel insults had lately been fully proved in 
 the case of Shimei. 
 
 Probably the once loved but ungrateful friends, 
 alluded to in vv. 4 and 5, were Amasa and other mem- 
 bers of the royal court and family, as well as Ahithophel, 
 to whom the Psalmist then turns (changing from the 
 plural to the singular number) with the torrent of curses 
 alluded to above. 
 
 This would be an explanation of the Psalm on the 
 assumption that it is one continuous poem, and I have 
 applied it accordingly. It is, however, possible that 
 verses 6 — 20, containing the imprecations, may be an 
 interpolation, the subject being complete without them, 
 and the position of the Psalm in the Psalter indicating, 
 
294 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 perhaps, that such interpolation may have been made 
 during the captivity in Babylon. 
 
 In regard to the contrast between this Psalm and 
 Ps. lv., see Song cxxvii. 
 
 Psalm cix. 
 First Voice, 
 
 OD of my praise, hold not Thy peace ; 
 2 Deceitful tongues my ruin seek ; 
 The wicked 'gainst me will not cease 
 False words with open mouths to speak. 
 
 3 Yea, my destruction they have sought, 
 
 With words of hate have compassed me, 
 Without a cause against me fought, 
 Intent mine overthrow to see. 
 
 4 My love doth enmity create, 
 
 But I in prayer implore Thine aid ; 
 
 5 My love they have returned with hate, 
 
 My good with evil have repaid. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 6 Cause him a tyrant's rule to fear ; 
 
 Be Satan at his right hand nigh ; 
 
 7 Let him when judged his sentence hear, 
 
 His prayer become iniquity. 
 
 8 Few be his days, cut off by Thee ; 
 
 His office let another take ; 
 g O let his children orphans be ; 
 
 His wife do Thou a widow make. 
 
ahithophel's baseness. 295 
 
 10 Let all his children begging bread 
 
 *Far from their ruined houses stray ; 
 
 1 1 Let strangers by his toil be fed, 
 
 His goods become the oppressor's prey. 
 
 12 Let none to help him stretch the hand, 
 
 None to his orphans favour show ; 
 
 13 Root thou his seed from out the land, 
 
 That none his children's name may know. 
 
 14 O let Jehovah ne'er forget 
 
 His father's guilt, his mother's sin, 
 
 15 Nor from His book efface the debt, 
 
 But from the earth cut off his kin. 
 
 16 For mercy he remembered not, 
 
 But pierced the heart oppress'd with woe ; 
 
 17 Make Thou the curse he loved his lot, 
 
 The blessing scorned ne'er let him know. 
 
 18 He wrapped himself in cursing round, 
 
 As with a garment o'er him laid ; 
 Oil in his bones it shall be found, 
 As water in his veins be made. 
 
 19 E'en like the cloak around him cast, 
 
 Let him by it be covered o'er ; 
 And as a girdle holdeth fast, 
 So let it gird him evermore. 
 
 20 Thus let Jehovah's righteous Hand 
 
 The malice of my foes control, 
 And thus reward the wicked band 
 Who evil speak against my soul. 
 
296 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 21 But thou, O God, the mighty Lord, 
 
 My Helper for Thy Name's sake be ; 
 Haste Thee deliverance to afford ; 
 Good is Thy mercy, save Thou me. 
 
 22 For I am poor ; in need I stray ; 
 
 Within me wounded is my heart ; 
 
 23 E'en as the locust driven away, 
 
 Yea, like a shadow I depart. 
 
 24 My knees through fasting long are weak, 
 
 My body wastes, my flesh is dry ; 
 
 25 My foes reproaches 'gainst me speak, 
 
 And shake their heads in mockery. 
 
 26 My God Jehovah, near me stand, 
 
 O be Thy saving mercy shown, 
 
 27 That all in this may know Thine Hand, 
 
 That Thou hast done it, Thou alone. 
 
 28 Yea, let them curse, but bless Thou still ; 
 
 When they arise with boastful voice, 
 Their hearts with shame and terror fill, 
 But let Thy servant's soul rejoice. 
 
 29 Clad with disgrace, with blighted name, 
 
 Be all mine adversaries found ; 
 And let them clothe themselves with shame, 
 As with a mantle wrapped around. 
 
ahithophel's baseness. 
 
 297 
 
 Both Voices. 
 
 30 But I a loud and joyful song 
 
 Will to Jehovah's glory raise ; 
 My mouth amid the assembled throng 
 His greatness and His love shall praise. 
 
 31 For He beside the poor shall stand, 
 
 When to the judgment he is brought ; 
 Yea, He shall save him from their hand 
 Who to condemn his soul have sought. 
 
2g8 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel xvii. 
 
 Song cxxxb. 
 
 " Ahithophd said unto Absalom .... I will arise and pursue after 
 David this night : and I will come upon him while he is weary 
 and weak-handed^ .... and I will smite the king " — vv. 1,2. 
 
 This plan would probably have been successful, had 
 it not been defeated by the counter influence of Hushai, 
 who recommended delay until a large army should be 
 collected, and then privately sent word to the king of all 
 that had passed. 
 
 We may imagine David's indignation at the proposal 
 of Ahithophel, his once trusted friend, and his stern pro- 
 phecy that the destruction intended for another should 
 ere long fall on the traitor's own head. 
 
 Psalm lii. 4 — 5. 
 
 EVOURING words are thy delight, 
 Tongue of deceit ; 
 5 God likewise shall thy sin requite, 
 Thy schemes defeat, 
 
 Pluck thee away, thy dwelling empty make, 
 And from the living thy remembrance take. 
 
PRAYER BEFORE DAWN. 299 
 
 Song txxxbx. 
 
 " 77^« David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they 
 passed over Jordan." — v. 22. 
 
 The message of Hushai, alluded to with reference to 
 the last Song, was accompanied by an entreaty that the 
 king would cross the river that very night, as the slightest 
 delay might prove fatal. The messengers, Jonathan and 
 Ahimaaz, encountered considerable dangers in executing 
 their mission, and could hardly have reached the encamp- 
 ment till the night was nearly past. After receiving their 
 alarming tidings David at once acted on the advice of 
 Hushai, and before daylight the whole army had crossed 
 over Jordan. 
 
 Psalm v. may express David's sentiments as he watched 
 his followers crossing the stream at the first dawn of the 
 morning before the sun had yet risen. 
 
 The Hebrew word in the second clause of v. 3, ren- 
 dered in the English Bible " direct my prayer," was used 
 for laying in order the wood and victim for the sacrifice ; 
 the clause should therefore be translated, " In the morn- 
 ing I will set in order for Thee and watch." Hence 
 Bishop Horsley concludes that this Psalm was an appro- 
 priate prayer for the Levite whose duty it was to arrange 
 the altar for the morning sacrifice. 
 
 1 
 Psalm v. 
 
 EHOVAH, to my words give ear, 
 
 Consider Thou mine every thought ; 
 2 My King, my God, my crying hear, 
 When unto Thee my prayer is brought. 
 
300 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 Jehovah, Thou shalt hear my prayer 
 
 When first the dawn of morn I see ; 
 With morning light I will prepare, 
 *In order set, and watch for Thee. 
 
 4 For Thou art not a God, full well 
 
 I know, that hath in sin delight, 
 Neither with Thee shall evil dwell ; 
 
 5 Fools shall not tarry in Thy sight. 
 
 Thou hatest all whom sins defile ; 
 
 6 Destruction liars doth await ; 
 The bloodthirsty and man of guile, 
 
 On these Jehovah looks with hate. 
 
 7 But in Thy boundless mercy I 
 
 Shall in Thy sacred courts appear, 
 Draw to Thy holy Temple nigh, 
 
 And worship Thee in humble fear. 
 
 8 O lead me in Thy righteousness, 
 
 Jehovah, lead me with Thy grace ; 
 Mine enemies are numberless, 
 
 Make straight Thy way before my face. 
 
 9 Their mouth is but a mouth of sin, 
 
 Their throat a grave that open lies ; 
 Yea, they are wickedness within ; 
 
 * Their tongue doth pour out flatteries. 
 
 io O God, do Thou destroy them all, 
 
 Their countless sins their ruin make, 
 By their own counsels let them fall, 
 
 For they have dared Thy laws to break. 
 
PRAYER BEFORE DAWN. 30 1 
 
 1 1 But let all those who trust in Thee 
 
 In shouts of gladness lift their voice, 
 For Thou wilt their Defender be ; 
 
 Let those who love Thy Name rejoice. 
 
 12 To him that righteous paths doth tread, 
 
 Jehovah, Thou wilt blessings send ; 
 Thy favour Thou wilt round him shed, 
 And wilt, as with a shield, defend. 
 
;02 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song ocxxbii. 
 
 "By the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone 
 oyer Jordan." — v. 22. 
 
 The Selah Psalm iil, which is entitled " A Psalm of 
 David, when he fled from Absalom his son," is generally 
 supposed to have been David's prayer on this morning. 
 Beginning with a cry of trouble caused by the growing 
 strength of the insurrection, he turns to thankfulness for 
 the protecting care which had averted the night attack 
 proposed by Ahithophel. This opportunity having been 
 lost, the power of the enemy had been crushed, and the 
 Psalm, therefore, ends with a confident prayer that the 
 blessing of Jehovah may again rest upon His people. 
 
 Psalm hi. 
 
 EHOVAH, see mine enemies, 
 How fast their numbers grow ; 
 See how in countless hosts they rise, 
 And seek mine overthrow; 
 
 2 Many there are that say of me, 
 " God will to him no Helper be." 
 
 3 But Thou my Shield, Jehovah, art, 
 A Covering o'er me spread, 
 
 My Glory, Strengthener of my heart, 
 And Lifter of my head. 
 
 4 I to Jehovah cried to save ; 
 From Zion He an answer gave. 
 
THE MORNING PRAYER. 303 
 
 5 I laid me on my bed and slept — 
 
 Again I woke from sleep — 
 Jehovah me had safely kept ; 
 He still is nigh to keep ; 
 
 6 I will not fear, although my foes 
 
 In tens of thousands round me close. 
 
 7 Arise, Jehovah, O my God, 
 
 Stretch forth Thy saving Arm ; 
 My foes are smitten by Thy rod, 
 Crushed is their power to harm. 
 
 8 Salvation is Jehovah's own ; 
 
 To Israel be Thy blessing shown. 
 
304 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxxbm. 
 
 " When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled 
 his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and 
 put his household i7i order, and hanged himself." — v. 23. 
 
 Ahithophel foresaw the failure of the rebellion when 
 his advice was rejected, and, as he could hope for no 
 mercy at the hands of David, he in despair put an end to 
 his own life. 
 
 The last portion of Psalm lii. seems forcibly to express 
 David's righteous exultation, tempered with awe, at the 
 miserable end of a man, high in honour, and great in 
 wisdom, who made not God his strength, but trusted in 
 his wickedness. 
 
 Psalm lii. 6 — 9. 
 
 ITH fear the righteous this shall see, 
 
 And o'er him shall rejoice, 
 Yea, they shall laugh at him exultingly, 
 And lift their voice ; 
 
 " See him who made not God his might, 
 
 " But trust in riches laid, 
 " The man who wickedness his soul's delight 
 " And strength hath made." 
 
 But I am like an olive-tree 
 
 In God's own House that grows ; 
 My trust shall alway in the mercy be 
 From God that flows. 
 
THE DEATH OF AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 9 Thy praise I ever will proclaim, 
 
 Who thus Thy might hast shown, 
 And I will wait upon Thy holy Name, 
 Dear to Thine own. 
 
 305 
 
 Mf 
 
306 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Song cxxxtx. 
 
 • " . ind {AhitJwphel) died, and was buried in the setulchre of his 
 father" — v. 23. 
 
 Psalm xlix. also appears very suitable to the death of 
 Ahithophel, although, as it is a Selah Psalm and has not 
 been assigned to David, it is probable that some part 
 of it was supposed by the Compiler not to have been 
 composed by him. (See Introduction, page xxi.) 
 
 Psalm xlix. 
 
 EARKEN, all ye peoples, hear, 
 Dwellers in the world, give ear, 
 2 Men of low and high estate, 
 Poor together with the great ; 
 
 3 Wisdom shall my words impart, 
 Knowledge dwells within my heart ; 
 
 4 To dark words mine ears I bring, 
 Parables with harp will sing. 
 
 5 Wherefore should I evil fear 
 When calamities are near ? 
 Malice compasseth my heels, 
 Yet my heart no trouble feels. 
 
 6 They in riches who confide, 
 Making heaps of gold their pride, 
 
 7 None to God, that he may live, 
 Can his brother's ransom give 
 
 8 *(Souls are precious ; for their price 
 Never can his wealth suffice), 
 
THE DEATH OF AHITHOPHEL. 307 
 
 9 None his brother's life may save, 
 
 None preserve him from the grave ; 
 TO Nay, he seeth that the wise, 
 Like the foolish person, dies ; 
 Others shall the wealth receive 
 Which both wise and foolish leave. 
 
 1 1 Long they think their homes shall last, 
 Through all ages standing fast ; 
 Hoping to prolong their fame, 
 
 From themselves their lands they name. 
 
 12 Yet in pomp man bideth not ; 
 Like the beasts is death his lot ; 
 
 13 Folly is in these their ways, 
 Yet posterity them praise. 
 
 14 *In the world unseen like sheep 
 *Death their shepherd shall them keep ; 
 O'er them, when that morn they see, 
 Shall the just triumphant be. 
 Though their form shall waste away 
 
 In the grave, of death the prey, 
 
 15 Me my God, His own to make, 
 From the grave redeemed shall take. 
 
 16 What though one be wealthy made, 
 Let thine heart be not afraid ; 
 Though his glory should increase, 
 Let not this disturb thy peace ; 
 
 17 When he lieth still in death, 
 
 When hath ceased his fleeting breath, 
 He shall carry nought away, 
 Nought of all his vain display. 
 
 18 Though a man rejoice in wealth 
 While remain his life and health 
 
 x 2 
 
308 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 *(If thou dost successful live, 
 Men to thee will honour give), 
 
 19 He shall follow them of old 
 Who no more shall light behold ; 
 
 20 Man in pomp, that knoweth not, 
 Hath of beasts that die the lot. 
 
FRIENDS IN NEED— BARZILLAI. 309 
 
 Song cxl. 
 
 " Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim brought beds, and basons, and 
 earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, a?id flour, and parched 
 corn, and beans, and I entiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and 
 butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the 
 people that were with him." — vv. 27 — 29. 
 
 After crossing the Jordan David occupied the fortress 
 of Mahanaim, where he would soon have been reduced 
 to want but for the liberality of Barzillai and two other 
 great men of the neighbourhood. 
 
 If Barzillai were indeed the father of Adriel, men- 
 tioned in 2 Sam. xxi. 8, and if, as has been supposed, 
 the famine recorded in that Chapter had already taken 
 place, then five of the victims delivered by David to the 
 vengeance of the Gibeonites had been grandsons of this 
 aged chieftain. In this case the magnanimity of his 
 conduct would be a thousandfold increased, and it 
 could not but have excited the warmest feelings of 
 gratitude in the king, who in Psalm xli. appears to 
 contrast it with the treacherous hatred of Ahithophel. 
 The allusions to sickness probably refer to some illness 
 from which David had been recently suffering, and which 
 may have encouraged Absalom and his followers to 
 rebel. 
 
 The last verse is the doxology with which the first 
 Book of the Psalter concludes, and, as it does not 
 properly belong to the Psalm, I have omitted it. 
 
jIO THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm xli. 
 First Voice. 
 
 LEST be he whose thoughtful care 
 
 The distressed and needy share, 
 !l For Jehovah will bestow 
 Help on him in time of woe ; 
 
 2 He will keep his soul alive 
 Blest within the land to thrive. 
 
 Second Voice, 
 
 Thou wilt not to suffer ill 
 Give him to his foemen's will. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 3 When in sickness he doth lie 
 Then Jehovah will be nigh. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 All his anguish Thou wilt soothe, 
 Make his bed, his pillow smoothe. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 4 Thus I said — " Jehovah, hear, 
 " O in mercy lend Thine ear, 
 " Great against Thee is my sin, 
 " Heal, O heal my soul within." 
 
FRIENDS IN NEED— BARZILLAI. 3 I I 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 5 Those who my destruction seek 
 Thus against me evil speak, 
 " When shall he to death descend ? 
 " When his name and honour end ? " 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 6 If he come my state to spy, 
 All he speaks is vanity ; 
 Falsehood in his heart doth dwell ; 
 Lies he goeth forth to tell 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 7 All that hate me, whispering low, 
 Seek my speedy overthrow ; 
 
 All together counsel take 
 How my ruin sure to make, 
 
 8 " Sickness to him fast doth cleave, 
 
 " Nought (say they) shall him relieve 
 " On the bed of death he lies, 
 " Never thence shall he arise." 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, 
 Upon whom I did depend, 
 Ate my bread his faith to seal, 
 Then against me raised his heel. 
 
(12 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 io Look, Jehovah, on my grief, 
 In Thy mercy send relief; 
 Raise me up from my distress 
 To requite their wickedness. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 1 1 This a certain sign is made 
 Of Thy favour on me laid, 
 That my fierce and cruel foe 
 Doth not triumph in my woe. 
 
 Both Voices. 
 
 12 As for me, Thou art my Stay 
 In the true and perfect way ; 
 Yea, for evermore Thy grace 
 Setteth me before Thy Face. 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS. 313 
 
 Song exit 
 
 "Hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness." — v. 29. 
 
 Some Commentators consider that the following Psalm, 
 which is entitled " A Psalm of David, when he was in 
 the wilderness of Judah," was composed at an earlier 
 period of his history, viz., while he was at enmity with 
 Saul, but the reference in v. 11 to himself as " the king " 
 seems to be a sufficient refutation of this theory, and 
 the feelings of the distressed fugitives on the arrival of 
 the provisions, supplied by Barzillai and his companions, 
 may probably have suggested the allusions in the Psalm 
 to spiritual hunger and thirst and full satisfaction in God. 
 
 Psalm lxiii. 
 
 GOD, my God Thou ever art ; 
 
 I seek Thee at the break of day ; 
 For Thee doth thirst my fainting heart, 
 
 To Thee with longing soul I pray 
 Within this dry and thirsty land, 
 Where no fresh pools of water stand ; 
 
 \ As in Thine House Thou dost unfold 
 To me the brightness of Thy light, 
 I long Thy glory to behold, 
 
 And praise Thy majesty and might, 
 ; Because to me more precious far 
 Than life itself Thy mercies are. 
 
314 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 Thus will I bless Thee while I live, 
 
 And lift my hands to Thee in prayer ; 
 
 5 To me Thy blessing Thou shalt give, 
 
 And fill my soul with richest fare ; 
 While I with joyful lips proclaim 
 That great and glorious is Thy Name. 
 
 6 Do I not think of Thee by night 
 
 When sleepless on my bed I lie ? 
 And wakeful do I not delight 
 
 To feel that Thou art alway nigh ? 
 
 7 To me Thy Presence safety brings, 
 I love the shadow of Thy wings. 
 
 8 Upholden by Thy strong right Arm, 
 
 My yearning soul doth follow Thee ; 
 
 9 But they who seek to do me harm 
 
 O'erwhelmed in Earth's abyss shall be 
 io Yea, let the sword the godless slay, 
 Their flesh to foxes be a prey. 
 
 1 1 But he who sits on Israel's throne 
 
 With joy in God shall lift his voice ; 
 And all who swear by Him alone 
 Shall greatly glory and rejoice ; 
 While they upon whose tongue are lies 
 Shall perish in their blasphemies. 
 
IN THE FORTRESS OF MAHANAIM. 315 
 
 2 Samuel xviii. 
 §ang txlxx. 
 
 u It is better that thou succour us out of the city." — v. 3. 
 
 Absalom, having collected a large army which he 
 placed under the command of his cousin Amasa, crossed 
 the Jordan, and encamped in the land of Gilead. David 
 also at Mahanaim was making preparations for the 
 struggle. He reviewed his troops, proposing to lead 
 them to battle in person. The people, however, would 
 not hear of this ; they answered, " Thou shalt not go 
 forth ; . . . thou art worth ten thousand of us ; . . . 
 it is better that thou succour us out of the city." In 
 what way this succour was to be given is not clear, but 
 we may be quite sure that David would not neglect to 
 ask for God's blessing on their arms. 
 
 Psalm xxv. is well adapted to this point in the history. 
 It commences with an entreaty for preservation from 
 enemies, and concludes with a petition that Israel may 
 be delivered out of all his troubles • while in the greater 
 portion of the poem David pours out his soul to God, 
 and gives utterance to thoughts very natural at a time 
 when he was remaining against his will inactive in the 
 fortress. 
 
 Psalm xxv. 
 
 Y GOD, I lift my soul to Thee ; 
 
 2 I trust, Jehovah, in Thy Name ; 
 Let not my foes triumphant be, 
 And let me not be put to shame. 
 
3*6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 On none of those who on Thee wait 
 
 And seek Thine help let shame be laid, 
 But let confusion be their fate 
 
 *\Vho have without a cause betrayed. 
 
 4 To me Thy paths, Jehovah, show, 
 
 That I may safe in them abide ; 
 Make me Thine holy ways to know, 
 And still therein my footsteps guide. 
 
 5 O lead Thou in Thy truth my heart, 
 
 And teach me, teach me to obey ; 
 Thou God of my salvation art ; 
 On Thee, my God, I wait all day. 
 
 6 Thy loving-kindnesses and grace, 
 
 Jehovah, in remembrance hold, 
 Thy tender mercies to our race, 
 For they have ever been of old. 
 
 7 My youthful sins remember not, 
 
 Nor let my faults Thy wrath awake ; 
 In mercy them from memory blot, 
 Jehovah, for Thy goodness' sake. 
 
 8 Just is Jehovah, gracious, kind, 
 
 To teach them He doth sinners seek, 
 
 9 In judgment lead the humble mind, 
 
 His ways He teacheth to the meek. 
 
 io Mercy are all Jehovah's ways, 
 
 And all His paths are truth ; they guide 
 Him who His covenant obeys, 
 Those in His statutes who abide. 
 
IN THE FORTRESS OF MAHANAIM. 317 
 
 1 1 Jehovah, let me mercy win, 
 
 Let not Thy vengeance on me wait ; 
 For Thy Name's sake forgive my sin, 
 O pardon it, for it is great. 
 
 12 Who fears Jehovah ? He shall lead 
 
 That man in pathways of His choice; 
 
 13 His soul shall dwell at ease ; his seed 
 
 Shall in their heritage rejoice. 
 
 14 To them Jehovah's Name who fear 
 
 His secret purpose shall be known ; 
 To them His mercy shall be near, 
 To them His covenant be shown. 
 
 15 Mine eyes, towards Jehovah set, 
 
 Shall ever fixed and steadfast be ; 
 He plucks my feet from out the net, 
 And from the snare will make me free. 
 
 16 Turn Thou, nor let Thy mercy cease, 
 
 For I am sad, in loneliness ; 
 The troubles of my heart increase, 
 O bring me out of my distress. 
 
 18 Look on my trouble, let Thine eye 
 
 Behold the grief my heart within ; 
 Forgive Thou mine iniquity, 
 
 And blot out all my grievous sin. 
 
 19 Behold my foes, their rage control, 
 
 Many with hate have compassed me ; 
 
 20 Keep me, and save from shame my soul, 
 
 For I have put my trust in Thee. 
 
3 18 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 21 Let righteousness on me attend, 
 
 Integrity preserve my heart ; 
 On Thee I wait, on Thee depend, 
 
 My trust from Thee shall ne'er depart. 
 
 22 Redeem, O God, Thy chosen race, 
 
 To Israel Thy salvation show, 
 On Jacob cause to shine Thy Face, 
 And save him out of all his woe. 
 
IN THE FORTRESS OF MAHANAIM. 319 
 
 §onq cxlxii 
 
 " So the people went out into the field against Israel." — v. 6. 
 
 It was doubtless with a heavy heart that David 
 waited for news from his faithful soldiers who had gone 
 out to fight against their brethren. Shame as well as 
 sorrow must have filled his mind as he felt that this 
 unnatural civil war might have arisen in a measure as a 
 punishment for his own evil conduct, and he must have 
 looked back regretfully on those days of old when, 
 though an exile as now, he had a light heart and a clear 
 conscience. But the remembrance of past mercies would 
 encourage him to pray earnestly for pardon, deliverance, 
 and guidance, in such strains as those contained in the 
 following (Selah) Psalm, which the Septuagint assigns to 
 this part of David's history. 
 
 Psalm cxliii. 
 
 EAR, O Jehovah, hear my cry, 
 
 To my petitions give Thine ear ; 
 O hearken from thy Throne on high, 
 And all my supplications hear ; 
 In faithfulness an answer send, 
 And in Thy righteousness attend. 
 
 With pity on Thy servant look, 
 And into judgment enter not ; 
 
 All my transgressions from Thy book, 
 Jehovah, in Thy mercy blot; 
 
 For in Thy sight, when he is tried, 
 
 No living man is justified. 
 
320 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 For, lo, my persecuting foe 
 
 My life hath smitten to the ground; 
 In darkness he hath laid me low, 
 
 As those who in the grave are found ; 
 
 4 My soul is bowed by sorrow's weight, 
 My heart within is desolate. 
 
 5 I call to mind the days of old, 
 
 And muse upon Thy mighty deeds, 
 The wonders that Thine Hands unfold, 
 Thy goodness which all thought exceeds. 
 
 6 For thee I long with outstretched hands, 
 As pine for rain the thirsty lands. 
 
 7 Hear me, Jehovah, haste to hear ; 
 
 Behold, my spirit waxeth faint ; 
 Hide not Thy Face, O still be near 
 
 To hearken to my sad complaint, 
 Lest, if Thou hasten not to save, 
 I sink untimely to the grave, 
 
 8 Cause me Thy tender love to know 
 
 When in the morn from sleep I rise ; 
 Cause me within Thy way to go, 
 
 For on Thy strength my soul relies ; 
 My Guide within Thy pathway be, 
 For I uplift my soul to Thee. 
 
 9 Save me, Jehovah, from my foe ; 
 
 O hide me, for to Thee I flee ; 
 io Make me Thine holy will to know ; 
 
 Thou art my God, my Teacher be ; 
 *In even pathways, straight and wide, 
 Let Thy good Spirit be my Guide. 
 
IN THE FORTRESS OF MAHANATM. 32 1 
 
 11 O quicken me for Thy Name's sake ; 
 
 Bring forth my soul from its distress ; 
 
 12 My foes let ruin overtake, 
 
 And save me in Thy righteousness ; 
 Destroy all those who vex my heart, 
 For I am Thine, my God Thou art. 
 
322 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 8009 cxlib. 
 
 11 The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber oi'cr the 
 gate, and wept." — v. 33. 
 
 The melancholy story of the death of Absalom by the 
 hand of Joab is too well-known to need repetition. For 
 a time the grief of the father outweighed the triumph 
 of the king, and David could only lift up his voice in 
 the following bitter cry, to omit which would render this 
 attempt to pourtray his character by his own words most 
 incomplete. 
 
 2 Samuel xviii. 33. 
 
 Y son, my son ! O woe is me ! 
 O Absalom, my dearest one ! 
 Would God that I had died for thee, 
 O Absalom, my son, my son ! 
 
OUT OF THE DEPTHS. 323 
 
 2 Samuel xix. 
 
 Song icxlb. 
 
 "Arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants." — v. 7. 
 
 The first part of Psalm cxxx. (a Song of degrees) may 
 allude to " the depths " of woe from which David was 
 aroused by the expostulations of Joab. The change to 
 expressions of hope and reliance upon God, followed, at 
 the conclusion of the Song, by a charge to Israel to put 
 their trust in Him, seems very appropriate to the com- 
 fortable words which the king exerted himself to speak to 
 his people. 
 
 Psalm cxxx. 
 
 First Voice. 
 
 UT of the lowest depths to Thee, 
 Jehovah, do my cries ascend ; 
 2 Lord, hear my voice, give ear to me, 
 And to my mournful prayer attend. 
 
 If Thou should'st mark iniquities, 
 
 Who in the judgment shall be cleared ? 
 
 But, Lord, with Thee forgiveness lies, 
 That Thou by all men may'st be feared. 
 Y 2 
 
324 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Second Voice. 
 
 5 I to Jehovah lift mine eye, 
 
 My soul still waiteth for His grace, 
 Upon His word do I rely, 
 
 And on His truth my hope I place ; 
 
 6 As watchers for the dawning day, 
 
 My longing eyes are waxen dim ; 
 Than watchers for the morning ray 
 My soul more longing waits for Him. 
 
 Both Voices. 
 
 7 Let Israel trust Jehovah's love ; 
 
 His mercy in a plenteous stream, 
 
 8 His saving mercy from above, 
 
 Shall Israel from his sins redeem. 
 
THE RECAL1 
 
 325 
 
 king cxlbi 
 
 " Return l/iou, and all thy servants.' 
 
 14. 
 
 The death of Absalom and the defeat of his army put 
 an end to the enthusiasm with which his charms of per- 
 son and manner had inspired the nation, and feelings of 
 loyalty to their rightful sovereign revived in all except 
 the jealous and offended tribe of Judah. Wounded by 
 this unkindness on the part of his own " brethren,'' David 
 sent them an affecting remonstrance, which completely 
 subdued their resentment, and his soul was gladdened 
 by the unanimous invitation quoted above. As in all 
 his affliction one of his greatest trials seems to have 
 been his banishment from the Sanctuary, so one of the 
 first joyful feelings of his heart would be the prospect of 
 returning to it ; and we can imagine no more probable 
 time for the composition of the following " Song of 
 degrees of David, " than that at which we have now 
 arrived. 
 
 Psalm cxxii. 
 
 WAS glad and joyful 
 
 When I heard the cry, 
 " Let us seek Jehovah, 
 
 To His House draw nigh." 
 
 2 Soon our feet rejoicing 
 Salem's gates shall throng ; 
 
 3 Salem is a city 
 Firmly built and strong. 
 
326 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 There Jehovah's people 
 
 *By His precept meet ; 
 There His tribes thanksgivings 
 Lay before His feet. 
 
 5 There the thrones of judgment 
 
 Set in order stand, 
 There the house of David 
 Governeth the land. 
 
 6 Let the peace of Salem 
 
 Ever be your prayer ; 
 All who love thee, Salem, 
 Shall thy blessings share. 
 
 7 Peace be in thy city, 
 
 Ever to remain ; 
 Happiness and plenty 
 In thy houses reign. 
 
 8 For my dear companions', 
 
 For my brethren's, sake, 
 I will say, " Within thee 
 " Peace her dwelling make." 
 
 9 For Jehovah's Temple 
 
 I thy praise will speak ; 
 For His House most holy 
 I thy good will seek. 
 
 
RETURNING TO JERUSALEM. 327 
 
 Song cxfoih 
 
 ' ' So the king returned. ' ' — v. 15. 
 
 The yearning, which would naturally be increased as 
 the cherished object of desire was brought nearer within 
 reach, seems to be beautifully expressed in the Selah 
 Psalm lxxxiv. The Compiler may have thought that ver. 3 
 referred to the numerous birds which frequented the trees 
 in the quadrangle of Solomon's Temple, and therefore that 
 the first portion of the Psalm must have been composed 
 at a later date. This may account for its not being as- 
 signed to David (see Introduction, page xxi.), of whom, 
 however, it is throughout extremely characteristic. 
 
 Psalm lxxxiv. i — 4. 
 
 EHOVAH, Lord of Hosts, Thine House 
 How fair and dear to me ! 
 2 My heart doth long, my soul doth faint 
 Jehovah's courts to see ; 
 My heart and flesh lift up on high 
 To God, the living God, their cry. 
 
 3 The sparrow there hath found a house, 
 The swallow built a nest ; 
 About Thine holy Altar laid 
 
 Her young ones safely rest ; 
 E'en to Thine Altar doth she cling, 
 O Lord of Hosts, my God and King. 
 

 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 4 How blest, how surely blest, are they, 
 Within Thy courts who dwell, 
 Who there with joy before Thee serve, 
 
 And of Thy glory tell ! 
 They day and night their voices raise 
 To sing Thy majesty and praise. 
 
RETURNING TO JERUSALEM. 329 
 
 Sang cxlbiii. 
 
 " So the king returned " — v. 15. 
 
 The incidents of the return journey (the submission 
 and pardon of Shimei, the meeting with Barzillai, and the 
 excuses of Mephibosheth) do not appear to have been 
 recorded in song like those of the flight. Perhaps 
 David's thoughts continued to dwell chiefly on his nearer 
 approach to the Sanctuary, and we may imagine him 
 pouring out his heart, as he went along, in such strains 
 as the following. 
 
 Psalm lxxxiv. 9 — 12. 
 
 EHOLD, O God, our Shield, 
 And let Thy saving grace 
 Descend on Thine anointed one ; 
 Look down upon his face : 
 10 For one day in Thy courts to dwell 
 A thousand days doth far excel. 
 
 Yea, I would rather choose 
 
 On thee to humbly wait, 
 And in Thy holy Temple stand, 
 
 A keeper of the gate, 
 Than in the tents my home to make 
 Of wicked men who Thee forsake. 
 
330 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 1 1 For God is Sun and Shield ; 
 
 He grace and glory gives ; 
 Jehovah no good thing withholds 
 From him who godly lives. 
 
 12 Jehovah, Lord of Hosts, how blest 
 
 The man whose trust on Thee doth rest ! 
 
 •)JL^\J^ 
 
RETURNING TO JERUSALEM. 33 I 
 
 Song txlxx. 
 
 " Then the king 7oent on to Gilgal." ' — V. 40. 
 
 The site of Gilgal cannot now be traced. It appears 
 to have been in the midst of the hot and depressed 
 district which lay between Jericho and the Jordan. To 
 this place the repentant chiefs of Judah accompanied the 
 king, after welcoming him at the river bank on his land- 
 ing. We may imagine that David in the following Song 
 applied the word " Baca," which signifies " weeping," 
 to this dreary region. It had indeed been a vale of 
 weeping to him in his flight from Absalom, but the 
 blessing of Jehovah had now made it appear like a re- 
 freshing well. As the triumphant procession advanced, 
 it grew stronger and stronger in numbers, as well as in 
 the joyful hope of appearing with songs of praise before 
 God in Zion. 
 
 Psalm lxxxiv. 5 — 8. 
 
 LEST is the man whose strength is stayed 
 Alone on Thee, 
 Whose heart Thy ways hath ever made 
 Its joy to be. 
 
 6 Who, passing through the weeping vale, 
 Makes it a well, 
 Where plenteous showers never fail 
 The pools to swell. 
 
5-2 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 7 The\- onward go from strength to strength, 
 
 A joyful band, 
 
 Till all before their God at length 
 
 In Zion stand. 
 
 8 O God of Hosts, to Thee I cry ; 
 
 Jehovah, hear ; 
 O God of Jacob, be Thou nigh 
 To give Thine ear. 
 
THE INSURRECTION OF SHEBA. 333 
 
 2 Samuel xx. 
 
 §crng rt. 
 
 " Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite .... blew a trumpet > and 
 said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in 
 the son of Jesse : every man to his tents, Israel" — v. 1. 
 
 In the enthusiasm of their newly restored loyalty a 
 contention arose between the men of Israel and Judah, 
 assembled at Gilgal, for the leading place in bringing 
 back the king. Sheba, a Benjamite, and apparently a 
 powerful adherent of the house of Saul, availed him- 
 self of the jealousy of the Northern tribes to sound 
 the usual cry of rebellion, and to create anew the 
 miseries of civil war. 
 
 To this " man of Belial " David may not improbably 
 have referred in Ps. xxxvi., in which at the same time he 
 expresses his firm trust in God's infinite mercy and good- 
 ness, whilst in the last verse he perhaps alludes to the 
 suppression of the late revolt. 
 
 Psalm xxxvi. 
 
 HE wicked in his heart doth hear 
 ^Transgression's tempting cries ; 
 There is of God no holy fear 
 Before his eyes. 
 
334 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 *It flatters him before his sight, 
 
 *It blinds his heart within, 
 *Nor lets him hate and bring to light 
 His grievous sin. 
 
 3 Deceit from out his mouth proceeds, 
 
 Upon his lips are lies ; 
 No longer righteous are his deeds, 
 No longer wise. 
 
 4 His heart deviseth on his bed 
 
 How he may mischief do ; 
 In ways of good he doth not tread, 
 Nor sin eschew. 
 
 5 Jehovah, even to the sky 
 
 Thy mercy doth extend ; 
 Thy truth above the clouds on high 
 Doth far ascend. 
 
 6 Thy righteousness unmoved doth stand 
 
 Firm as Thy mountains steep ; 
 Great are the judgments of Thine Hand, 
 A mighty deep. 
 
 The sons of men beneath Thy care, 
 
 Jehovah, safely rest ; 
 Both man and beast Thy bounty share, 
 By Thee are blest. 
 
 7 O God, how precious is Thy grace ! 
 
 Thy love, what joy it brings ! 
 Their trust the sons of men shall place 
 Beneath Thy wings. 
 
THE INSURRECTION OF SHEBA. 335 
 
 8 Thy plenteous stores Thou dost employ 
 
 Their souls to satisfy, 
 And from the river of Thy joy 
 
 Their drink supply. 
 
 9 For, lo, the well of life is Thine, 
 
 Its fountain is with Thee ; 
 And, when Thy light doth on us shine, 
 Light do we see. 
 
 10 To them who know Thee still disclose 
 
 Thy love, Thy grace impart, 
 Thy perfect righteousness to those 
 Of upright heart. 
 
 1 1 Let not the foot of pride be strong 
 
 My weakness to assail ; 
 Nor let the hand that doeth wrong 
 O'er me prevail. 
 
 12 There are they fallen before mine eyes 
 
 Who work iniquity ; 
 Cast down are they, no more to rise 
 Behold them lie. 
 
6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 JJ 
 
 §mtg ctL 
 
 " The men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan rueti to 
 Jerusalem." — v. 2. 
 
 Escorted by the men of his own tribe, whose loyalty 
 seems to have been strengthened by the disaffection of 
 their rivals, David returned to his capital. 
 
 We may imagine the royal poet pouring forth the fol- 
 lowing beautiful Psalm when his eyes were gladdened by 
 the sight of Zion with its surrounding hills. Recog- 
 nizing in them an emblem of Jehovah's protecting care 
 of His people, he goes on apparently to invoke a blessing 
 on his faithful followers, whom he describes as the 
 upright, and then to foretell the discomfiture of the 
 rebels. 
 
 Psalm cxxv. 
 
 HEY whose trust is in Jehovah 
 Shall be like our Zion's hill ; 
 Zion cannot be removed, 
 Firmly it abideth still. 
 
 2 Round our Salem stand the mountains, 
 
 So Jehovah round us is, 
 He from henceforth and for ever 
 Guards the people who are His. 
 
 3 For the rod of the ungodly 
 
 Shall not rest our lot within, 
 Lest the righteous be transgressors, 
 Putting forth their hands to sin. 
 
in view of zion. 337 
 
 4 O Jehovah, to the righteous 
 
 All things good do Thou impart ; 
 Look with favour on the upright, 
 Bless the good and true of heart. 
 
 5 Those, to crooked pathways turning, 
 
 Who delight in sin to dwell 
 *He shall drive away with sinners. 
 Peace be on our Israel. 
 
333 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 fcmg clii 
 
 1 ' Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But 
 Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joatfs hand ; so he 
 smote him therewith." — vv. 9, 10. 
 
 On his first prospect of restoration to the throne 
 David had sent a message of pardon to Amasa and 
 promised him the command of the army in the room of 
 Joab. To Amasa, therefore, the first order had been 
 given to assemble the men of Judah against Sheba, but 
 for some unknown cause he exceeded the appointed 
 time of three days, and the king, fearing the conse- 
 quences of this delay, directed Abishai to take the body- 
 guard and at once pursue the insurgents. Joab, very 
 indignant at his treatment, followed with his band, and, 
 on his meeting with Amasa near the great stone in Gibeon, 
 there ensued a murder even more treacherous than that 
 of Abner related in 2 Samuel iii. 
 
 The following fragment may express David's horror of 
 the crime and that dread of the unscrupulous sons of 
 Zeruiah which he had before shown after the death of 
 Abner. 
 
 Psalm lv. 19 — 23. 
 
 NVEXED by grief, by change untried, 
 Unchastened by the rod, 
 Their hearts are lifted up with pride ; 
 They fear not God. 
 
THE MURDER OF AMASA. 339 
 
 20 On him at peace with him he laid 
 
 His hand ; the word he spake, 
 The covenant that he had made, 
 He dared to break. 
 
 2 1 As butter all his words were smooth. 
 
 But war beneath them lay ; 
 Though softer than is oil to soothe, 
 Yet swords were they. 
 
 22 Thy burden on Jehovah cast, 
 
 And He will thee sustain ; 
 By Him the righteous holden fast 
 Unmoved remain. 
 
 23 But those who walk in falsehood's ways. 
 
 O God, destroyed shall be ; 
 These shall not live out half their days ; 
 I trust in Thee. 
 
 2 2 
 
34-0 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Smtg diii. 
 
 k ' They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to 
 Joab .... A?id Joab i-eturned to Jerusalem unto the king ." — 
 v. 22. 
 
 His rival being slain, Joab at once reassumed the com- 
 mand of the army and besieged Abel, of which place 
 Sheba had taken possession. Its inhabitants gave a new 
 proof of the prudence for which they had always been 
 celebrated by satisfying the demands of the besiegers in 
 the manner described above. David could not refuse to 
 confirm the conqueror in his post, and the remaining 
 verses of the Chapter enumerate the various appoint- 
 ments in the re-established kingdom. 
 
 There can be little doubt that David celebrated this 
 termination of the civil war by a public thanksgiving, and, 
 as has been already said (Song cxxxi.), the concluding 
 part of Ps. xxii. appears to have been composed for that 
 occasion. 
 
 The two portions were probably joined together by 
 David at some subsequent period, and the description of 
 the typical feast on the sacrifices, to which the great ones 
 of the land and those ready to perish from want were 
 alike invited, was most appropriately added to the re- 
 markable prophecy of the one great Sacrifice contained in 
 the first part of the Psalm. 
 
 Psalm xxii. 22 — 31. 
 
 MONG my brethren I will raise 
 
 My voice to magnify Thy Name, 
 And in the congregation praise 
 Thy majesty, Thy might proclaim. 
 
THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE. 341 
 
 23 All ye Jehovah's Name who fear, 
 
 The praises of His glory tell ; 
 With praise, ye Jacob's seed, draw near , 
 Fear Him, ye seed of Israel. 
 
 24 For He did not the mournful lot 
 
 Of the afflicted one despise ; 
 From him His Face he turned not, 
 But bent His ear unto his cries. 
 
 25 *From Thee doth come the praise I sing 
 
 When I to all Thy praise display ; 
 Before His servants gifts I bring, 
 
 And in their sight my vows will pay. 
 
 26 Then food shall satisfy the meek ; 
 
 They shall in praises lift their voice ; 
 Ye who Jehovah's favour seek, 
 *For ever let your heart rejoice. 
 
 27 Jehovah's Name shall every land 
 
 Remember, and to Him return ; 
 All kindreds shall before Thee stand, 
 To worship Thee all nations learn. 
 
 28 For to Jehovah doth belong 
 
 The kingdom, and the power is His ; 
 He Governor, He Ruler strong, 
 He King among the nations is. 
 
 29 The great shall eat and on Him call, 
 
 And all who in the dust have lain 
 
 Before His Throne shall prostrate fall ; 
 
 For none his own life can sustain. 
 
342 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 30 A seed shall serve Him, yea, a seed 
 
 Accounted to the Lord His own ; 
 
 31 His righteousness and this His deed 
 
 They shall from age to age make known. 
 
 
 ' M 
 
 S»« 
 
THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE. 343 
 
 gvong dib. 
 
 " And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king \" — v. 22. 
 
 It has been already observed (Song cxxx.) that the 
 latter portion of Ps. lxix. also appears to have formed 
 part of a service of thanksgiving for the re-establishment 
 of peace and order. Peculiarly appropriate to such an 
 occasion would be the blessing in vv. 35, 36, pronounced, 
 in connexion with Zion, on the cities of Judah, the tribe 
 which alone had restored their king to his capital. 
 
 Psalm lxix. 30 — 36. 
 
 HE praise of God I will proclaim, 
 
 My lips shall of His greatness sing, 
 And I will magnify His Name 
 
 With thanksgiving. 
 
 31 This better in Jehovah's sight 
 Than ox with horns and hoofs shall be, 
 
 Yea, this He will with more delight 
 And favour see. 
 
 32 This shall the humble and the meek 
 Behold, and lift with joy their voice, 
 
 *And let your hearts, ye God who seek, 
 In Him rejoice. 
 
 33 For to the poor and needy's cries 
 Jehovah's ear is alway nigh ; 
 
 His prisoners He doth not despise, 
 In bonds who lie. 
 
 rl 
 
344- THE LIFE 0F DAVID. 
 
 34 O let the heavens His praises sound, 
 
 The earth and seas their tribute bring, 
 And all things that therein are found 
 His glory sing. 
 
 35 For God will Zion's hill sustain, 
 
 And Judah's cities He will bless, 
 That there His people may remain, 
 And them possess. 
 
 36 His servant's seed the land shall share 
 
 And for their heritage shall claim ; 
 And they shall dwell in safety there 
 Who love His Name. 
 
THE PESTILENCE. 345 
 
 i Chronicles xxi. 
 
 Seng ctb. 
 
 " The LORD sent pestilence upon Israel : and there fell of Israel 
 seventy thousand men" — v. 14. 
 
 It will now be convenient to turn to the First Book of 
 Chronicles, where, in Chapter xxi., another melancholy 
 ^episode in the life of David is recorded for our instruc- 
 tion. Elated by the increasing wealth and number of 
 his subjects, he insisted on having a census taken, in 
 spite of the remonstrances of Joab and the captains of 
 the host. The pride evinced by this step was punished 
 by a pestilence, the fearful result of which is related 
 above. 
 
 Psalm lxxxviii. is a wail of misery, such as must have 
 arisen in many a home in Israel during this calamity. 
 Heman the Ezrahite, to whom the poem is ascribed, was 
 probably the person mentioned in 1 Chron. xxv., 5, as 
 being David's " seer in the words of God, to lift up the 
 horn." 
 
 For my view respecting the component parts of the 
 Psalm see Introduction, pages xiv. and xv. 
 
 Psalm lxxxviii. 
 
 GOD of my salvation, I have cried 
 
 Before Thee night and day ; 
 2 Thine ear, Jehovah, turn not Thou aside, 
 But hearken when I pray. 
 
34^ THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 My soul is full of woe, my life draws nigh 
 
 Unto the silent dead ; 
 
 4 Counted as those within the tomb am I, 
 
 A man whose strength hath fled, 
 
 5 *Cast with the dead away, and like the slain, 
 
 Within the grave who lie, 
 In Thy remembrance who no more remain, 
 Cut off by Thee to die ; 
 
 6 Laid in the lowest pit am I by Thee, 
 
 In darkness, in the deep ; 
 
 7 Thine indignation lieth hard on me, 
 
 Thy tempests o'er me sweep. 
 
 8 Thou puttest mine acquaintance far away 
 
 From me in this my woe ; 
 Abhorrence of my state their looks display ; 
 No more I forth can go. 
 
 9 Mine eye doth mourn by reason of my grief ; 
 
 Jehovah, I have prayed 
 With outstretched hands to Thee to send relief, 
 I cries have daily made. 
 
 io Shall all Thy wonders to the dead be shown ? 
 Shall they to praise Thee rise ? 
 
 1 1 Shall in the grave Thy love and truth be known ? 
 
 And where destruction lies ? 
 
 1 2 Wilt Thou disclose the wonders of Thine Hand 
 
 Where there is darkness deep ? 
 Thy righteousness discover in the land 
 Where all forgotten sleep ? 
 
THE PESTILENCE. 347 
 
 13 But, O Jehovah, these my daily cries 
 
 Have unto Thee been made ; 
 And in the morning shall my prayer arise, 
 And be before Thee laid. 
 
 14 Jehovah, why dost Thou cast off my soul ? 
 
 Thy Face from me why hide ? 
 
 15 E'en from my youth afflictions round me roll, 
 
 Death hovers by my side. 
 
 My mind is sorely troubled while I see 
 Thy terrors to be near ; 
 
 16 Thy fierce displeasure goeth over me ; 
 
 I am cut off by fear. 
 
 17 Like water did Thy terrors day by day 
 
 Encompass me with dread ; 
 
 18 All mine acquaintance Thou hast put away ; 
 
 Lovers and friends have fled. 
 
34$ THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Smug dbi 
 
 " David built there an a/tar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offer- 
 ings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD: and he 
 answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offer- 
 ing. 
 
 " And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sward 
 again into the sheath thereof." — vv. 26, 27. 
 
 The interesting interview between David and Oman 
 (or Araunah), supposed to be the dethroned Jebusite 
 king of Jerusalem, is too well-known to need description. 
 Beside the threshing-floor of this generous chieftain stood 
 the terrible apparition of the destroying angel, whose 
 sword was sheathed by the command of God, in answer 
 to the sacrifices and prayers of his repentant servant. 
 
 Psalm xxxii. i — 4. 
 
 LEST is the man whose pardoned sin 
 Jehovah's mercy covers o'er ; 
 The stains of guilt his heart within 
 Are seen no more. 
 
 2 The sentence of iniquity 
 
 Doth on his soul no longer rest ; 
 Xo guile there meets Jehovah's eye ; 
 That man is blest. 
 
 3 Jehovah, when I silence kept, 
 
 And on my bed in sorrow lay, 
 My bones waxed old as then I wept 
 The livelong day. 
 
THE ACCEPTED SACRIFICE. 349 
 
 4 For day and night was heavily 
 
 Upon me laid Thy chastening Hand, 
 As drought beneath the summer's sky 
 Consumes the land. 
 
350 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Chronicles xxii. 
 
 ^ong cMi. 
 
 " Then David said, This is the house, of the LORD God, and this is 
 the altar of burnt offering for Israel." — v. I . 
 
 In grateful remembrance of the pardon which had 
 been there vouchsafed to him, David selected the thresh- 
 ing-floor of Araunah as the site of the Temple, for which 
 he then began to make preparations. Psalm xxx., of 
 which the Hebrew title is "A Psalm and Song at the 
 dedication of the house of David," and which contains 
 an account of the presumption caused by his prosperity, 
 its fatal results, his penitence, pardon, and restoration to 
 joy, appears very appropriate to the circumstances con- 
 nected with this selection of a site for the House of 
 God. 
 
 Psalm xxx. 
 
 HEE, O Jehovah, I will praise, 
 
 For Thou hast set me up on high, 
 Nor let my foes in triumph raise 
 O'er me their cry. 
 
 2 I prayed, and health Thou didst bestow, 
 
 And from the tomb my soul didst save ; 
 
 3 Thou keepedst me lest I should go 
 
 Down to the grave. 
 
PREPARATION FOR THE TEMPLE. 35 I 
 
 4 O sing unto Jehovah, sing, 
 
 Ye saints of His, Jehovah bless ; 
 Remember, as your thanks ye bring, 
 His holiness. 
 
 5 His wrath doth but a moment last, 
 
 His favour is of life the spring ; 
 In weeping though the night be past, 
 
 Morn joy shall bring. 
 
 6 I said in my prosperity 
 
 " I shall not be removed, Thine Hand, 
 
 7 " Jehovah, makes so strong, so high, 
 
 " My hill to stand." 
 
 Then Thou from me Thy Face didst hide, 
 And I was troubled, sore afraid ; 
 
 8 Jehovah, then to Thee I cried, 
 
 To Thee I prayed — 
 
 9 " How shall my blood show forth Thy praise 
 
 " When down into the grave I go ? 
 " Shall dust its thankful voice upraise 
 
 " Thy truth to show ? 
 
 10 " Jehovah, hearken to my cry, 
 
 " Vouchsafe Thy mercy to accord, 
 " Jehovah, in my need be nigh, 
 
 "And help afford." 
 
 1 1 My mourning Thou hast dancing made, 
 
 Thou hast put off my garment sad, 
 And me in robes of joy arrayed, 
 
 With gladness clad. 
 
552 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 12 So that my glory Thee may praise, 
 
 Jehovah, and not silent be : 
 
 I ever thankful songs will raise, 
 
 My God, to Thee. 
 
PREPARATION FOR THE TEMPLE. 
 
 6 ;• J 
 
 Sang dbixx. 
 
 * ' The house that is to be builded for the L ORD must be exceeding 
 magnificat, of fame and of glory throughout all countries." — v. 5. 
 
 Having been graciously guided in his choice of a site 
 for the House of God, David threw his whole soul into 
 the work of collecting and preparing materials with a 
 pious enthusiasm expressed in the verse quoted above, to 
 which the following Song seems well adapted. 
 
 Psalm lxxxvii. i — 3. 
 
 IS foundations firmly rest 
 
 On the holy mountain's crest ; 
 
 2 Blessing upon Zion's gates 
 More than on all Jacob waits ; 
 
 Israel's dwellings far above, 
 Zion shares Jehovah's love ; 
 
 3 Glorious things are said of Thee, 
 City where God loves to be. 
 
 -fe^N 
 
 xajD^ 
 
 A a 
 
554 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 i Chronicles xxviii. 
 
 <§ottg clix. 
 
 ' ' God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, 
 because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood." — 
 
 v. 3- 
 
 " Solomon thy son, he shall build my house.'" — v. 6. 
 
 Some time must have been occupied in collecting 
 materials for the new Temple. When the magnificent 
 preparations were completed, David, now " old and full 
 of days," assembled the great men of Israel, and explained 
 to them that it had been his desire to build a House for 
 the Almighty, but that God had been pleased to commit 
 the privilege of carrying out his purpose to Solomon 
 rather than to himself. 
 
 Commentators differ in regard to the occasion for which 
 Ps. lxv. was composed. By some it is associated with 
 the rich harvest which followed the overthrow of Sen- 
 nacherib's army; but its Hebrew title is, I think, suffi- 
 cient authority for assigning it to David, and it appears 
 to me very appropriate to this assembly, which may not 
 improbably have taken place at a time of unusual plenty, 
 such as is described in the latter part of the Psalm. 
 
 The opening verses mark it as especially suitable to 
 this occasion. The people of God were waiting with 
 longing hearts to present their praises to Him in the 
 Temple, soon to rise in beauty on Mount Zion, in 
 which all should joyfully assemble; and their king, while 
 lamenting the obstacles which his past life presented 
 to his being himself permitted to perform his vow, re- 
 joices in the greater blessedness vouchsafed to his son. 
 
THE GREAT ASSEMBLY. 355 
 
 Psalm lxv. 
 
 People. 
 
 RAISE on the hill of Zion, 
 O God, doth wait for Thee, 
 And unto Thee in Salem 
 The vow performed shall be. 
 
 David. 
 
 O Thou Whose ears are open 
 Whene'er Thy servants pray, 
 
 All flesh shall seek Thy footstool, 
 Their wants before Thee lay. 
 
 Iniquities prevailing 
 
 Have strong against me been, 
 But Thou shalt our transgressions 
 
 Efface and make us clean. 
 
 People 
 
 Blest is the man Thou choosest, 
 And causest to draw near, 
 
 To make Thy courts his dwelling 
 And w T orship there in fear ; 
 
 For of Thy House the goodness 
 Shall all our need supply ; 
 
 The pleasures of Thy Temple 
 Our souls shall satisfy. 
 
 By fearful things in judgment 
 To us on earth who live, 
 
 O God of our salvation, 
 
 Wilt Thou an answer give ; 
 A a 2 
 
35 6 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 The earth's most distant nations 
 Put all their trust in Thee, 
 
 Protector of the wanderers 
 Far off upon the sea. 
 
 David. 
 Whose strength sets fast the mountains 
 Who girded is with might, 
 
 7 Who stills the roar of Ocean, 
 
 Of men the tumult's height. 
 
 8 In distant lands Thy tokens 
 
 They see and are afraid ; 
 From East to West the nations 
 By Thee are joyful made, 
 
 People. 
 
 9 The fount of God o'erflowing 
 
 With riches fills the land, 
 And thus are plenteous harvests 
 Provided by Thine Hand. 
 
 io Thou waterest the ridges, 
 
 Low are the furrows pressed ; 
 Made soft by plenteous showers 
 Earth's springing up is blessed. 
 
 1 1 Thou crown'st the year with goodness ; 
 
 Thy paths drop fatness down ; 
 
 12 *Each lonely pasture droppeth ; 
 
 The hills doth gladness crown. 
 
 13 With flocks are clothed the meadows ; 
 
 The fields rich harvests bring ; 
 Corn overspreads the valleys ; 
 For joy they shout and sing. 
 
THE BLESSING OF SOLOMON. 357 
 
 i Chronicles xxix. 
 §onq dx. 
 
 " Give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy command- 
 ments" — v. 19. 
 
 After the dedication, in the presence of the great 
 assembly, of the treasures collected for the Temple, David 
 gave an exhortation to Solomon, who was apparently at 
 this time (as well as during the rebellion of Adonijah) 
 publicly proclaimed the successor to the throne, and then 
 offered up the beautiful prayer, a portion of which is 
 quoted above. 
 
 Psalm lxxii., entitled " For Solomon," seems to com- 
 memorate this occasion. It is placed at the end of 
 the second Book of the Psalter, and concludes with a 
 Doxology ; but, as the Doxology was evidently added by 
 the Compiler, according to the usual practice at the ter- 
 mination of each Book, and as the Psalm is complete 
 without it, it is omitted in the following Song. 
 
 Psalm lxxii. 
 
 GOD, grant Thine anointed 
 Thy judgments to obtain, 
 The son of Thine anointed 
 In righteousness to reign. 
 
 Then shall he judge Thy people 
 With truth and righteousness, 
 
 And save the poor with judgment 
 From such as would oppress. 
 
35§ THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 3 The mountains to the people 
 
 Shall bring the fruits of peace, 
 The little hills by justice ; 
 For violence shall cease. 
 
 4 For he shall judge the people, 
 
 Protect the needy's right, 
 Shall save the poor man's children, 
 And crush oppressors' might. 
 
 : 
 
 Throughout all generations 
 His people Thee shall fear, 
 
 While sun in heaven endureth 
 And moon doth there appear. 
 
 6 He shall be like the raindrops 
 
 Upon the new mown field, 
 And as the showers, which falling 
 Make earth her increase yield. 
 
 7 Throughout his days the righteous 
 
 Shall flourish and increase ; 
 Long as the moon endureth 
 Shall be abundant peace. 
 
 8 To him shall be dominion 
 
 And rule from sea to sea ; 
 His kingdom from the river 
 To earth's far ends shall be. 
 
 g The dwellers in the desert 
 To him shall homage pay ; 
 And those who rise against him 
 He in the dust shall lay. 
 
THE BLESSING OF SOLOMON. 359 
 
 10 From Tarshish and the islands 
 
 Their kings shall presents bring, 
 The ruler of Arabia, 
 And Ethiopia's king. 
 
 1 1 Yea, kings of every people 
 
 Shall bow before his throne, 
 All nations do him service, 
 And him their ruler own. 
 
 12 For he shall save the needy 
 
 That lifteth up his cry ; 
 The poor he shall deliver 
 That hath no helper nigh. 
 
 13 The needy he shall pity, 
 
 The humble he shall spare, 
 
 And save their souls in danger ; 
 
 The poor shall be his care. 
 
 14 From violence and falsehood 
 
 Their souls he shall redeem ; 
 The blood of those in trouble 
 He precious shall esteem. 
 
 15 *So shall they live and presents 
 
 Of gold from Sheba bring ; 
 And, praying for him daily, 
 His praises they shall sing. 
 
 16 Corn waving on the mountains 
 
 Like Lebanon shall stand, 
 The citizens be countless 
 As grass upon the land. 
 
36o 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 17 His name shall last for ever, 
 As lasts the sun his days ; 
 In him shall all be blessed, 
 Him all shall bless and praise. 
 
THE REBELLION OF ADONIJAII. 36 1 
 
 i Kings i. 
 Song clxi 
 
 "Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be 
 king." — v. 5. 
 
 The Book of Kings contains an account of the insur- 
 rection of Adonijah, which is not mentioned in the Books 
 of Samuel or Chronicles. 
 
 It is uncertain whether this rebellion occurred before 
 or after the great assembly referred to in the last two 
 Songs. Both events must have taken place very shortly 
 before the close of David's life, and I have thought it 
 desirable to conclude the account of the preparations 
 for the Temple, recorded in the Book of Chronicles, 
 before turning to a different subject in another Book. 
 
 It would seem that a sickness of David in his old age, 
 either his last fatal illness or one from which he may 
 have recovered, encouraged Adonijah, his eldest sur- 
 viving son, to attempt to obtain the crown which he well 
 knew that David intended to bequeath to Solomon. 
 
 Psalm xxxviii., which is entitled "A Psalm of David, 
 to bring to remembrance/' being the mournful complaint 
 of a sick man lamenting over his sins and grieved by the 
 treachery of those who took advantage of his helpless 
 state to rebel against him, may not improbably have been 
 composed at this period. 
 
THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm xxxviii. 
 
 EASE, O Jehovah, from Thine anger fierce, 
 O chasten me no more ; 
 2 Deeper and deeper do Thine arrows 
 pierce, 
 Thine Hand doth press me sore. 
 
 3 Xo soundness hath Thine anger in me left, 
 
 No health my flesh within ; 
 Of rest from pain are all my bones bereft 
 By reason of my sin. 
 
 4 For mine iniquities and sins are great, 
 
 And o'er my head they roll ; 
 E'en as a heavy burden is their weight, 
 Too heavy for my soul. 
 
 5 My putrid wounds my grievous folly show ; 
 
 Woes compass me around ; 
 
 6 And all day long I sad and mourning go, 
 
 Bowed down unto the ground. 
 
 7 8 My loins are smitten with a foul disease ; 
 In pain and grief I moan ; 
 Worn is my flesh, and feeble are my knees ; 
 With troubled heart I groan. 
 
 9 But my desires Thou, Lord, dost surely know, 
 
 Thou hearest all my sighs ; 
 io My strength hath failed, my heart doth pant 
 with woe, 
 The light hath left mine eyes. 
 
THE REBELLION OF ADONIJAH. 363 
 
 1 1 Far off my lovers are and friends of old. 
 
 They stand aloof in fear ; 
 And e'en my nearest kinsmen's hearts are cold, 
 Not one will venture near. 
 
 12 They too who seek to take my life away 
 
 Lay snares to catch my feet ; 
 Mine enemies speak evil all the day, 
 Imagining deceit. . 
 
 13 But I am like one deaf to every sound, 
 
 Like one who doth not hear ; 
 
 14 Like one with whom are no reproaches found, 
 
 Speechless do I appear. 
 
 15 Jehovah, all my trust is in Thy word, 
 
 My hope is fixed on Thee ; 
 For Thou wilt surely hear, O God my Lord, 
 *Wilt hear and speak for me. 
 
 16 "O hearken to me, lend Thine ear," I cried, 
 
 "Lest o'er me they rejoice ; 
 " O hearken, lest, whene'er my footsteps slide, 
 " Triumphant be their voice." 
 
 17 I alway tread with halting steps and slow, 
 
 While sorrows on me press ; 
 
 18 I mine iniquities to Thee will show, 
 
 And mourn my wickedness. 
 
 19 Behold, all these mine enemies are strong, 
 
 And they with bitter hate 
 Who will not rest but strive to do me wrong 
 In number now are crreat. 
 
364 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 20 They also ever have against me stood 
 
 , \Yho good with ill requite, 
 
 Because I follow after what is good 
 
 And strive to do the right. 
 
 21 Jehovah, leave me not ; O God, be nigh 
 
 Thy succour to impart ; 
 
 22 Haste Thee, O Lord, to help me when I cry, 
 
 Who my Salvation art. 
 
THE REBELLION OF ADONIJAII. 365 
 
 §tm% dxxl 
 
 Behold, Adonijah reigneth ; and now, my Lord the king, thou 
 kn owest it 'not" — v . 18. 
 
 Solomon was probably the eldest surviving son born 
 after David had been made king over Israel, and was 
 therefore, according to an opinion common in the East, 
 the rightful heir to the throne, and the natural person to 
 act for his father during his sickness. It was, however, 
 not unusual in those days for an elder son, born before 
 his father's accession, to dispute his younger brother's 
 title, and we can hardly be surprised that Adonijah 
 should have felt jealous of the preference given to 
 Solomon. But it was a very different thing for him to 
 tread in the footsteps of his brother Absalom (2 Sam. 
 xv. 1), to assume the ensigns of royalty without his 
 father's sanction, and to proclaim himself king without 
 his knowledge ; and his crime would be the more repre- 
 hensible if (as was probably the case) he were aware 
 that Solomon had been selected by God Himself as the 
 successor to the throne. 
 
 The ease and rapidity with which this insurrection was 
 subdued proved it to be an act no less of madness and 
 folly than of wickedness on the part of Adonijah, such as 
 may have been rebuked in the following Song, which is 
 assigned to Asaph. 
 
;66 'I HE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 Psalm lxxv. 4 — 10. 
 
 SAID unto the foolish man, 
 Deal not so foolishly ; 
 And to the wicked thus I cried, 
 Lift not the horn so high ; 
 
 5 O lift not up on high your horn, 
 
 And speak not proudly words of scorn. 
 
 6 Promotion comes not from the East, 
 
 Nor from the South, nor West ; 
 
 7 God is. the Judge, and He will do 
 
 What seemeth to Him best ; 
 He maketh one in dust to lie, 
 And sets another up on high. 
 
 8 A cup is in Jehovah's Hand, 
 
 The wine therein is red, 
 Behold, it is of mixture full, 
 
 Poured out in anger dread ; 
 The wicked of the Earth shall drain 
 The dregs that in that cup remain. 
 
 9 But I for ever will declare, 
 
 And Jacob's God will praise ; 
 10 I also will smite down the horns 
 Which sinners proudly raise ; 
 The righteous shall in honour be, 
 Their horn set up triumphantly. 
 
APPROACHING DEATH. 367 
 
 i Kings ii. 
 
 §onq dxiil 
 
 " Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die." — v. I. 
 
 The insurrection of Adonijah was speedily quelled 
 by the prompt measures of David in favour of Solo- 
 mon ; but the days of the aged king must have been 
 darkened by doubt and suspicion. Psalm xxxix. may 
 perhaps express the thoughts which were uppermost in 
 his mind at this period. Surrounded by many disloyal 
 and rebellious subjects, he may have felt compelled to 
 put a bridle upon his words, lest he should be tempted 
 to speak unadvisedly or with bitterness. To God alone 
 could he pour forth the fulness of his heart, and, aware 
 of his own failing strength, and anxious to see Solomon 
 fairly established as his successor, he would naturally 
 adopt some such prayer as the following, in which he asks 
 for forgiveness of his sins, and entreats that his life may 
 yet a little longer be spared. 
 
 Psalm xxxix. 
 
 SAID, " I will observe my way, 
 
 "Lest with my tongue I err from right, 
 "A bridle on my mouth will lay 
 
 "While wicked men are in my sight." 
 
3 I THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 In silence dumb I long remained, 
 
 My words I laboured to control, 
 A' ., e'en from good my lips refrained. 
 But it was anguish to my soul. 
 
 3 My heart within me hotly burned, 
 
 The fire was kindled while I mused ; 
 At length my mouth the bridle spurned, 
 And all restraint my tongue refused — 
 
 '• Mine end, Jehovah, make me know, 
 
 " The measure of my days rev 
 81 The term of life yet left me show ; 
 
 " that I may my frailty feel ! " 
 
 5 Lo, Thou hast made my days a span, 
 
 Mine age as nothing before Thee ; 
 *Only a breath is every man ; 
 
 "^Though firm he stand, a breath is he. 
 
 6 Man walketh in a shadow vain, 
 
 *For but a breath is vexed with care; 
 He labours riches to obtain, 
 
 : . knows not who his wealth shall share. 
 
 7 And now what wait I for, O Lord ? 
 
 My hope in Thee alone doth rest ; 
 
 8 Cleanse me from sins of deed and word, 
 
 Lest I become of fools the jest. 
 
 9 I spake not, for the deed was Thine ; 
 
 Xo more Thy stroke upon me lay ; 
 io Beneath Thy heavy Hand I pine, 
 I am consumed, and waste away. 
 
APPROACHING DEATH. 369 
 
 1 1 When Thou dost chasten man for sin, 
 
 His beauty is to ruin brought, 
 As moth a garment frets within ; 
 
 *A breath are all men — surely nought. 
 
 12 Jehovah, hearken to my cry, 
 
 Let my petition reach Thine ears ; 
 Hold not Thy peace when thus I sigh, 
 be not silent to my tears ; 
 
 For I a stranger am with Thee, 
 
 As Israel was in days of yore ; 
 Here I a sojourner must be, 
 
 As all my fathers were before. 
 
 13 A little while Thine Hand refrain, 
 
 Until my strength restored hath been ; 
 Spare me, my vigour to regain, 
 Ere I go hence and be not seen. 
 
 B b 
 
3;o THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 2 Samuel xxtii. 
 
 Smtij tlxib. 
 
 " *\ 'aw these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, 
 and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God 
 of Jacob, and the S7veet psalmist of Israel, said"— x. I. 
 
 We have now gone through the chief events recorded 
 in the life of David. Whether he recovered from the ill- 
 ness from which he was suffering at the time of Adonijah's 
 rebellion is uncertain, as is the exact period in his history 
 at which that insurrection took place. It seems probable, 
 however, that he was for a time restored to health and 
 prosperity, for we are told that he died "in a good old 
 age, full of days, riches, and honour." (i Chronicles 
 xxix. 28.) 
 
 Other events in David's history are recorded in the 
 Second Book of Samuel in Chapters subsequent to that 
 in which his " last words " are found, and some Commen- 
 tators suppose that these words were not spoken on his 
 death-bed. However this may have been, they appear to 
 sum up in beautiful language the guiding principles and 
 firm faith of him who was emphatically called, "The 
 man after God's own heart " 
 
 2 Sam. xxiii. 2 — 7. 
 
 me Jehovah's Spirit spake, 
 
 And on my tongue was laid His word ; 
 I The God of Israel silence brake, 
 
 The Rock of Israel thus was heard, — 
 "*The Just One holds the Ruler's rod, 
 "*He ruleth by the fear of God. 
 
THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID. 37 1 
 
 4 " ^Jehovah as the morning light, 
 
 " E'en as the glorious sun, doth rise, 
 14 Yea, as the morning clear and bright, 
 
 " When no dark clouds o'erspread the skies, 
 " As tender grass that springs again 
 " Blest by clear sunshine after rain/' 
 
 5 *Truly with God my house shall be 
 
 *E'en thus unstained found and pure, 
 Who hath a covenant made with me, 
 
 Eternal, fixed, in all things sure ; 
 *A11 my Salvation Him I know, 
 *A11 my desire to Him doth flow. 
 
 6 *But Belial's sons shall fade away, 
 
 And rooted up like thorns appear, 
 
 7 On whom none dareth hands to lay 
 
 Unfenced by steel and staff of spear ; 
 These shall by fire be quickly burned 
 *And in their homes to ruin turned. 
 
 I cannot resist the temptation to end this volume with 
 the beautiful remarks of Dean Stanley on these " Last 
 Words of David." 
 
 Alluding to the last verse, he says : — " It is a melan- 
 choly strain to close a song which begins so full of bright- 
 ness and joy. But it is a true picture of the chequered 
 life of David, and of the chequered fortunes of the ruler 
 amongst men. It is a true picture of the ' broken lights ' 
 of the human heart, whether in Judea or in England, 
 whether of king or peasant. If there be any part of 
 Scripture which betrays the movements of the human 
 individual soul, it is this precious fragment of David's 
 B b 2 
 
3/2 
 
 THE LIFE OF DAVID. 
 
 life. If there be any part which claims for itself, and 
 which gives evidence of, the breathing of the Spirit of 
 God, it is this also. Such a rugged two-edged monu- 
 ment is the fitting memorial of the man who was at once 
 the King and the Prophet, the Penitent and the Saint, of 
 the ancient Church.'' 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Psalm. 
 
 K fo V. 
 
 
 Chap. 
 
 Verse, 
 
 , Seng. 
 
 Page. 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 no 
 
 236 
 
 3 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 137 
 
 302 
 
 3 
 
 I, 2 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 55 
 
 115 
 
 3 
 
 3, 4 
 
 ) > 
 
 19 
 
 7 
 
 16 
 
 36 
 
 4 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 133 
 
 291 
 
 4 
 
 I, 2 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 19 
 
 18 
 
 23 
 
 49 
 
 4 
 
 3, 4 
 
 „ 
 
 26 
 
 9 
 
 56 
 
 116 
 
 5 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 136 
 
 299 
 
 6 
 
 
 5) 
 
 15 
 
 13 
 
 122 
 
 260 
 
 7 
 
 
 i 5 
 
 16 
 
 12 
 
 132 
 
 288 
 
 7 
 
 i-5 
 
 I Samuel. 
 
 24 
 
 9, 12 
 
 50 
 
 107 
 
 8 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 16 
 
 !3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 8 
 
 1, 2 
 
 97 
 
 204 
 
 9 
 
 17—20 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 23 
 
 1, 2 
 
 37 
 
 81 
 
 IO 
 
 
 „ 
 
 23 
 
 21,23 
 
 44 
 
 95 
 
 ii 
 
 
 j » 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 45 
 
 99 
 
 12 
 
 
 » > 
 
 23 
 
 12 
 
 39 
 
 83 
 
 13 
 
 
 5 > 
 
 23 
 
 13 
 
 40 
 
 85 
 
 H 
 
 
 » ? 
 
 25 
 
 25 
 
 5i 
 
 108 
 
 15 
 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 15 
 
 29 
 
 86 
 
 178 
 
 16 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 23 
 
 16 
 
 42 
 
 92 
 
 17 
 
 
 j > 
 
 19 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 37 
 
 18 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 109 
 
 228 
 
 19 
 
 1-6 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 19 
 
 7—14 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 103 
 
 217 
 
 20 
 
 
 > » 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 ii5 
 
 245 
 
 20 
 
 i-3 
 
 ., 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 98 
 
 208 
 
 21 
 
 
 5> 
 
 12 
 
 30 
 
 121 
 
 256 
 
 21 
 
 1, 2 
 
 ,, 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 99 
 
 209 
 
 22 
 
 1 — 21 
 
 >> 
 
 16 
 
 11 
 
 131 
 
 284 
 
 22 
 
 22—31 
 
 >) 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 153 
 
 340 
 
 23 
 
 
 5) 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 93 
 
 x 93 
 
 24 
 
 1—6 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 15 
 
 28 
 
 83 
 
 x 73 
 
 24 
 
 7—10 
 
 H 
 
 15 
 
 29 
 
 85 
 
 176 
 
 315 
 274 
 
 25 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 142 
 
 26 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 15 
 
 32 
 
 [28 
 
374 
 
 [NDEX. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 Chap. 
 
 
 
 
 27 
 
 
 muel. 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 66 
 
 136 
 
 28 
 
 
 5) 
 
 15 
 
 32 
 
 129 
 
 276 
 
 29 
 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 75 
 
 154 
 
 30 
 
 
 5 1 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 157 
 
 35o 
 
 31 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 23 
 
 14 
 
 41 
 
 87 
 
 32 
 
 1—4 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 21 
 
 26, 27 
 
 156 
 
 348 
 
 32 
 
 5 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 117 
 
 251 
 
 i 2 - 
 
 
 M 
 
 21 
 
 H 
 
 10S 
 
 227 
 
 33 
 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 13 
 
 s 
 
 74 
 
 150 
 
 34 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 3i 
 
 70 
 
 35 
 
 
 )> 
 
 19 
 
 18 
 
 24 
 
 50 
 
 36 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 20 
 
 1 
 
 150 
 
 333 
 
 37 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 25 
 
 55 
 
 38 
 
 
 1 Kings. 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 161 
 
 361 
 
 39 
 
 
 >> 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 163 
 
 367 
 
 39 
 
 1—5 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 21 
 
 12 
 
 29 
 
 66 
 
 39 
 
 6— 11 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 12 
 
 15, 16 
 
 118 
 
 252 
 
 39 
 
 12, 13 
 
 ?> 
 
 15 
 
 20 
 
 124 
 
 265 
 
 41 
 
 
 5> 
 
 17 
 
 27 — 29 
 
 1 40 
 
 309 
 
 44 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 I 
 
 1, 2,4 
 
 61 
 
 123 
 
 44 
 
 1—8 
 
 I Samuel. 
 
 17 
 
 52 
 
 7 
 
 19 
 
 46 
 
 i-3 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 IO 
 
 12 
 
 in 
 
 239 
 
 46 
 
 8— 11 
 
 ? ? 
 
 IO 
 
 19 
 
 113 
 
 241 
 
 47 
 
 1—4 
 
 5» 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 68 
 
 142 
 
 47 
 
 5-9 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 16 
 
 43 
 
 92 
 
 192 
 
 48 
 
 9-14 
 
 „ 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 79 
 
 166 
 
 49 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 17 
 
 23 
 
 J 39 
 
 306 
 
 49 
 
 16 — 20 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 25 
 
 2,38 
 
 52 
 
 in 
 
 5i 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 12 
 
 J 3 
 
 116 
 
 248 
 
 52 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 22 
 
 9 
 
 34 
 
 77 
 
 52 
 
 i-3 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 15 
 
 3i 
 
 126 
 
 268 
 
 52 
 
 4, 5 
 
 > ? 
 
 17 
 
 i, 2 
 
 135 
 
 298 
 
 52 
 
 6-9 
 
 ,, 
 
 17 
 
 23 
 
 138 
 
 304 
 
 54 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 23 
 
 26, 27 
 
 46 
 
 101 
 
 54 
 
 1—3 
 
 > > 
 
 23 
 
 19 
 
 43 
 
 94 
 
 55 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 15 
 
 31 
 
 127 
 
 269 
 
 55 
 
 1—7 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 18 
 
 29 
 
 H 
 
 52 
 
 55 
 
 19—23 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 20 
 
 9, 10 
 
 152 
 
 338 
 
 56 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 21 
 
 13 
 
 30 
 
 68 
 
 57 
 
 i-3 
 
 5) 
 
 24 
 
 I, 2 
 
 47 
 
 103 
 
 57 
 
 3-6 
 
 ,, 
 
 24 
 
 3 
 
 48 
 
 104 
 
 57 
 
 7— 11 
 
 5 5 
 
 24 
 
 4 
 
 49 
 
 106 
 
 53 
 
 
 ?> 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 34 
 
 59 
 
 i-5 
 
 • J 
 
 19 
 
 11 
 
 20 
 
 44 
 
 59 
 
 6-13 
 
 r • 
 
 19 
 
 11 
 
 21 
 
 46 
 
 59 
 
 14—17 
 
 3 5 
 
 19 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 48 
 
INDEX. 
 
 375 
 
 Psalm. 
 
 V. to V. 
 
 1—4 
 
 5-12 
 
 1-4 
 
 5-8 
 
 5-8 
 
 9 — 12 
 
 1—4 
 
 5—7 
 
 8-15 
 
 16—20 
 
 1 
 
 2—4 
 
 5—7 
 
 1-6 
 
 7—19 
 
 20—32 
 
 33-35 
 1—29 
 
 30-3S 
 
 4 — 10 
 
 4-9 
 1—4 
 5-8 
 9—12 
 
 I, 2 
 
 1—3 
 
 1—7 
 
 1—4 
 
 5—37 
 46—48 
 49—51 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 I Samuel. 
 
 I Chronicle?. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 1 Kings. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 21 
 
 27 
 5 
 
 15 
 10 
 
 25 
 17 
 18 
 28 
 14 
 19 
 2 
 
 26 
 15 
 15 
 16 
 
 13 
 16 
 16 
 15 
 15 
 20 
 21 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 21 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 15 
 
 13 
 
 18 
 
 22 
 
 21 
 
 21 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 30 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 8 
 16 
 
 Verse. 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 14 
 
 7 
 10 
 
 17 
 17 
 
 39 
 
 29 
 8,9 
 3,6 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 23 
 25 
 26 
 
 3 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 43 
 28 
 
 37 
 
 22 
 
 10, 11 
 
 19 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 40 
 
 15 
 
 12, 13 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 5 
 
 14 
 10 
 
 4 
 14 — 16 
 
 3 
 30 
 15 
 23 
 15 
 13 
 23 
 
 Song, 
 
 Page. 
 
 100 
 
 210 
 
 101 
 
 212 
 
 107 
 
 225 
 
 59 
 
 120 
 
 69 
 
 143 
 
 123 
 
 263 
 
 112 
 
 240 
 
 53 
 
 112 
 
 141 
 
 313 
 
 11 
 
 26 
 
 159 
 
 354 
 
 77 
 
 160 
 
 18 
 
 40 
 
 63 
 
 130 
 
 57 
 
 117 
 
 81 
 
 171 
 
 82 
 
 172 
 
 88 
 
 183 
 
 73 
 
 148 
 
 87 
 
 180 
 
 9i 
 
 189 
 
 84 
 
 175 
 
 130 
 
 279 
 
 154 
 
 343 
 
 28 
 
 64 
 
 160 
 
 357 
 
 162 
 
 365 
 
 105 
 
 221 
 
 147 
 
 327 
 
 149 
 
 33i 
 
 148 
 
 329 
 
 80 
 
 168 
 
 72 
 
 147 
 
 12 
 
 28 
 
 158 
 
 353 
 
 155 
 
 345 
 
 106 
 
 223 
 
 94 
 
 195 
 
 95 
 
 197 
 
 60 
 
 121 
 
 125 
 
 266 
 
 104 
 
 219 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 102 
 
 214 
 
 '34 
 
 293 
 
J/ 
 
 76 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 
 
 
 Chap. 
 
 ^rj<?. 
 
 So;ig. 
 
 Page. 
 
 no 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 7 
 
 29 
 
 96 
 
 202 
 
 115 
 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 76 
 
 157 
 
 121 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 20 
 
 13,42 
 
 27 
 
 62 
 
 122 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 19 
 
 14 
 
 146 
 
 325 
 
 124 
 
 
 »? 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 114 
 
 243 
 
 i-5 
 
 
 55 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 151 
 
 336 
 
 126 
 
 
 I Chronicles. 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 71 
 
 H5 
 
 127 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 12 
 
 24 
 
 120 
 
 255 
 
 128 
 
 
 )> 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 
 70 
 
 144 
 
 130 
 
 
 >> 
 
 19 
 
 7 
 
 145 
 
 323 
 
 131 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 18 
 
 23 
 
 13 
 
 3i 
 
 133 
 
 
 55 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 23 
 
 134 
 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 16 
 
 37 
 
 90 
 
 188 
 
 138 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 64 
 
 132 
 
 139 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 140 
 
 
 55 
 
 19 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 41 
 
 140 
 
 1—3 
 
 5 5 
 
 22 
 
 18 
 
 35 
 
 79 
 
 140 
 
 4, 5 
 
 55 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 36 
 
 80 
 
 140 
 
 6—8 
 
 55 
 
 23 
 
 7 
 
 38 
 
 82 
 
 140 
 
 9—13 
 
 55 
 
 26 
 
 1 
 
 54 
 
 113 
 
 141 
 
 
 55 
 
 27 
 
 3 
 
 58 
 
 118 
 
 142 
 
 
 55 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 32 
 
 73 
 
 143 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 143 
 
 319 
 
 143 
 
 1—6 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 22 
 
 5 
 
 33 
 
 75 
 
 H3 
 
 7—12 
 
 ,, 
 
 20 
 
 19, 24 
 
 26 
 
 60 
 
 144 
 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 78 
 
 162 
 
 145 
 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 67 
 
 139 
 
 151 
 
 
 1 Samuel. 
 
 17 
 
 54 
 
 8 
 
 21 
 
 1 Sam. 
 
 ii. 1 — 10. 
 
 55 
 
 17 
 
 5o 
 
 6 
 
 17 
 
 1 Sam. 
 
 xviii. 7. 
 
 55 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 25 
 
 2 Sam. 
 
 L 19—27. 
 
 2 Samuel. 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 62 
 
 128 
 
 2 Sam. 
 
 ui. 33> 34- 
 
 „ 
 
 3 
 
 33 
 
 65 
 
 J 34 
 
 2 Sam. 3 
 
 cii. 22, 23. 
 
 55 
 
 12 
 
 21 
 
 119 
 
 254 
 
 2 Sam. 
 
 xvu. 33. 
 
 55 
 
 18 
 
 33 
 
 144 
 
 322 
 
 2 Sam. 
 
 xxiii. 2-7. 
 
 ,, 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 164 
 
 370 
 
 iChron 
 
 xvi.8-36. 
 
 1 Chronicles. 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 89 
 
 184 
 
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List of Publications. 17 
 
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