Morning
“His name shall be continued as long as the sun.”
Psalms 72
We will now read David’s Psalm for Solomon, which still more fully refers to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalms 72:1-20
David’s heart was glad at the foresight of the glories of his son Solomon, but far more did he rejoice as his prophetic eye foresaw the greater splendours of the throne of the Messiah. At the second coming of the Lord Jesus, this Psalm will have a grand fulfilment, and meanwhile it is for us by prayer and effort to extend his kingdom. If anything can warm the heart of the Christian, it is the prospect of the Redeemer’s universal reign, and reign he will despite all his foes. The Lord Jehovah’s power and faithfulness are pledged to give our Lord Jesus the heathen for his inheritance, and, therefore, we may rest fully assured that it will be done. Jesus has fought the fight and won the victory, therefore will the Lord divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong. There is no room for despondency or trembling; with a covenanted God on our side, sworn to give the victory, all danger of defeat is removed far away. David ended his prayers when he had prayed for the filling of the whole earth with Messiah’s glory; he felt that he had reached the summit of his wishes, and had nothing more to ask. With this prayer upon his lip he is content to die. He strips himself of his royalty, and becomes only “the son of Jesse,” thrice happy to subside into nothing before the crowned Messiah. Before his believing eye the reign of Jesus, like the sun, filled all around with light, and exulting therein with all his heart, the holy man felt like Simeon, when he said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” May the glory of Jesus in like manner be the one great wish of our souls.
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
For him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
Evening
“Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
Psalms 103
Before we proceed to the reign of Solomon, we must read two or three of David’s choicest Psalms, regretting that we have not time to read them all in our family worship. We must not however omit to study every one of them in private, for they are all more precious than fine gold. One of the sweetest and most notable is Psalms 103.
Psalms 103:1
Soul music is the soul of music; when we praise the Lord it should be with every faculty we possess.
Psalms 103:2
Our memories are frail towards good things: let us stir them up while we bless the Lord.
Psalms 103:3-5
The sweet singer threads a few of the choicest pearls of mercy upon the string of memory, and casts them around the neck of gratitude, to glitter there while she sings the joyful praises of her God.
Psalms 103:6
No downtrodden one shall ever appeal to him in vain. Woe to those who deal tyrannically with the poor.
Psalms 103:9
He must in very love to us chasten us at times, but his hand is soon stayed.
Psalms 103:10-12
What a glorious fact: for the east is infinitely distant from the west, and so to an infinite length is sin removed; yea, it is blotted out, made an end of, and for ever forgotten.
Psalms 103:13
At their best they want his pity, for they are poor, frail things.
Psalms 103:14
We are not iron, and not even clay, but dust held together by daily miracle.
Psalms 103:15-18
Children who forsake the Lord will derive no benefit from their parentage. It will increase their condemnation, but it cannot remove their guilt; they must remember his covenant for themselves personally, or they will have no share in it.
Psalms 103:19-22
The psalmist was so full of praise that he desired the aid of all creation to assist him in glorifying the Lord; but he did not forget that still the main matter is for our own soul to adore the Lord. He concludes on his keynote, as good composers do; let it be our motto all the day, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
O bless the Lord, my soul!
Let all within me join,
And aid my tongue to bless his name,
Whose favours are divine.
O bless the Lord, my soul,
Nor let his mercies lie
Forgotten in unthankfulness,
And without praises die.