20 He brought me forth also into a large place: He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have "kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright before him, And have kept myself from mine iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me According to my righteousness; 26 According to my cleanness 'in his eyesight. W With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, And with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure, And with the froward thou wilt "show thyself un savoury. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, That thou mayest bring them down. 29 For thou art my "lamp, O LORD; And the LORD will lighten my darkness. 30 For by thee I have "run through a troop: By my God have I leaped over a wall. a 31 As for God, his way is perfect; The word of the LORD is "tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 2 8am. 15. 26. t1 Sam. 26. 23. 1 Kin. 8. 82. Psa. 7. 8. u Gen. 18. 19. Psa. 119. 8. Deut. 7. 12. Psa. 119. 30, 102. Heb. before his eyes. w Mat. 5. 7. Lev. 26. 23, 24, 27, 28. z Job 40. 11, 12. Isa. 2. 11. 12. 17. Dan. 4. 37. 11 Or, candle. Job 29. 3. Psa. 27. 1, 12 Or, broken a troop. a Deut. 82. 4. Dan. 4. 87. Rev. 15. 8. b Psa. 12. 6. Prov. 80. 5. 19 Or, refined. 32 For who is God, save the LORD ? And who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power; And he "maketh my way perfect. 34 He "maketh my feet like hinds' feet; And fsetteth me upon my high places. 35 He teacheth my hands "to war; So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath "made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; So that my "feet did not slip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; And turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, And wounded them, that they could not arise: 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: Them that rose up against me hast thou "subdued under me. h 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, That I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked-but there was none to save; Even unto the LORD--but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them 'as the mire of the street, And did spread them abroad. 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, • Exod. 15. 2. Psa. 27. 1. Isa. 12. 2. 14 Heb. riddeth, or, looseth. Heb. 13. 21. 4 Deut. 18. 13. Job 22. 3. Psa. 101. 2, 6. 15 Heb. equalleth. * Hab. 8. 19. f Deut. 82. 18. Isa. 88, 16. 18 Heb. ankles. 19 Heb. caused to bow. h Gen. 49. 8. Exod. 23. 27. i Job 27. 9. Prov. 1.28. Isa. 1. 15. Micah 3. 4. k 2 Kin. 18. 7. Psa. 35. 5. Dan. 2. 35. 1 Isa. 10. 6. Micah 7. 10. Zec. 10. 5. m 2 Sam. 8. 1; 5. 1. Thou hast kept me to be "head of the heathen: A people which I knew not shall serve me. 45 20 Strangers shall "submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46 Strangers shall fade away, 47 And they shall be afraid P out of their close places. The LORD liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation! 48 It is God that "avengeth me, And that bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, And I will sing praises unto thy name. Deut. 28. 13. 2 Sam. 8. 1-14. 21 Or, yield feigned obedience. 22 Heb. giveth avengement for me. 1 Sam. 25. 89. q Rom. 15. 9. 2. Sam. 7. 12, 13. Psa. 89. 29. PSALM CI. ON DAVID'S COMING TO THE KINGDOM. David maketh a vow, and describeth the manner of his court, and of his household. TA Psalm of David. 1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: Unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will a behave myself wisely in a perfect way. a 1 Sam. 18. 14. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no 'wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; It shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: e Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me: He that walketh 'in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; He that telleth lies shall not 'tarry in my sight. 8 I will fearly destroy all the wicked of the land; That I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. The death of Saul, as has been seen, did not remove all impediment to the peaceful accession of David to the throne of Israel. An heir and competitor of the crown still survived, in the person of Ishbosheth, Saul's son, of sufficient pretensions to keep alive the elements of discord, and divide the forces of the nation. This prince, though himself weak and inefficient, was invested with the regal authority and title by Abner, the powerful general of Saul's army, who had the ability to keep all the tribes excepting Judah, during his lifetime, in nominal allegiance to the house of Saul. For several years, therefore, a state of civil war existed between Judah and the other tribes, conducted by Abner for the house of Saul, and Joab for the house of David. The war was not, indeed, at all times prosecuted with equal zeal and severity; still many sanguinary conflicts were had, and many bloody scenes enacted, which the enemies of David were ever active in imputing to his own vengeful and relentless ambition. Nor was it easy for the young king to make his innocence, in every instance, appear. His general, Joab, a brave soldier, a skilful officer, and a profound, though unprincipled politician, often adopted a policy, or perpetrated deeds, shocking to the king, while the unsettled state of government left him with no power to correct or punish the wrong. It is certain that the reputation of David suffered from this source, during these long years of unnatural rivalry and feud. At length the murder of Abner, followed soon after by the assassination of Ishbosheth, put an end to the war, and removed the last obstruction to David's advancement to the supreme power of the nation. All the tribes now send their deputies and their men of war to David, in Hebron, to tender their submission, and to confirm him in the kingdom. At the same time numerous caravans arrive from most of the tribes, pouring along from all quarters into the beautiful valley of Hebron, with immense stores of provisions, to subsist the army and the visitors during the days of the coronation and the rejoicing consequent upon the occasion. More than three hundred thousand troops, besides innumerable citizens of distinction, were assembled, who continued feasting three days with the king at Hebron. David had now reached the pinnacle of power in the Hebrew nation, with none to dispute his claim; but while he was impressed with a sense of that Divine power and goodness which had brought him into existence, delivered him from innumerable perils, and raised him to that honour, and while he celebrated in song the faithful mercies of God, and |