He shall choose our inheritance for us, The excellency of Jacob whom he loved.
G.o.d is gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to G.o.d, sing praises.
Sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
For G.o.d is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding.
G.o.d reigneth over the nations: G.o.d sitteth upon his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together To be the people of the G.o.d of Abraham: For the shields of the earth belong unto G.o.d; He is greatly exalted.
--_Psalm 47_.
{70}
A SONG OF MOUNT ZION
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our G.o.d, in his holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O G.o.d, In the midst of thy temple.
As is thy name, O G.o.d, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: Tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, Consider her palaces; That ye may tell it to the generation following.
For this G.o.d is our G.o.d for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
--_Psalm 48:1, 2, 9-14_.
{71}{72}
[Ill.u.s.tration]
SHEPHERD WITH HIS FLOCK.
Copyright by Underwood & Underwood and used by special permission.
This beautiful picture is typical of the Oriental country. The view is the Scamander made famous by Homer, and the country is in the vicinity of old Troy, mentioned in the New Testament and again brought to notice by the conflicts of the great European war (1916).
[End ill.u.s.tration]
{73}
THE CATTLE UPON A THOUSAND HILLS ARE HIS
G.o.d, even G.o.d, the Lord, hath spoken, And called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, G.o.d hath shined forth.
Our G.o.d shall come, and shall not keep silence: A fire shall devour before him, And it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
He shall call to the heavens above, And to the earth, that he may judge his people: Gather my saints together unto me; Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; For G.o.d is judge himself.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify unto thee: I am G.o.d, even thy G.o.d.
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; And thy burnt offerings are continually before me.
I will take no bullock out of thy house, Nor he-goats out of thy folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills. {74} I know all the fowls of the mountains: And the wild beasts of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?
Offer unto G.o.d the sacrifice of thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the Most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
--_Psalm 50:1-15_.
{75}
A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Have mercy upon me, O G.o.d, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the mult.i.tude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight: That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O G.o.d; And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: And uphold me with a free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee. {76} O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of G.o.d are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O G.o.d, thou wilt not despise.
--_Psalm 51:1-17_.
{77}
BE THOU EXALTED, O G.o.d, ABOVE THE HEAVENS
Be merciful unto me, O G.o.d, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until these calamities be overpast.
I will cry unto G.o.d Most High; Unto G.o.d that performeth all things for me.
He shall send from heaven, and save me, When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; G.o.d shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
Be thou exalted, O G.o.d, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves.
My heart is fixed, O G.o.d, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early. {78} I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies.
Be thou exalted, O G.o.d, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
--_Psalm 57_.
{79}
THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I
Hear my cry, O G.o.d; Attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever: I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings.