Psalm C

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lauds.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we

ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to

all generations.

The Kmg and kingdom come, and holiness now swaying the sceptre of a happy world, behold the whole earth as one great congregation uttering praise, and blessing, and thanksgiving, led by Messiah, the Chief Musician!

Its title is, “A ‘psalm for thanksgiving.” The word HTI/I, the word used in Lev, vii. 12 for sacrifices of thanksgiving, when thankful men brought to the Lord fine flour, and oil, and wine, in token of their deep sense of blessings bestowed. Here, then, is Earth’s thankoffering day arrived —

“Raise the peal of melody to Jehovah!
All the earth!”

They sing, in verse 2, of his redemption, not of creation-work. They say, “He made us,” i. e., made us what we are, a people to himself; as in Psa. xcv. 5, 1 Sam. xii. 6, and Deut. xxxii. 6. It was not we that made ourselves his (comp. Ezek. xxix. 8).

“He (and not ourselves) made us Bis people, and the flock lohom he feeds.” (Ver. 3.)

And of this psalm for all nations, this thanksgiving for redemption, this utterance of every heart and lip on earth and in heaven, this song of the whole family of God, of the glorified from their place, and the saved nations on earth in theirs, the burden is that old and well-known ascription to Jehovah —

“Jehovah is good — (1 John iv. 8, ‘God is love).’
His mercy endurethfor ever,”

sung at the altar long ago, 2 Chron. v. 13, and vii. 3, and 1 Chron. xvi. 34, Ezra iii. 11, and Jer. xxxiii. IJ. To this they add —

“And his truth is from generation to generation.”

He has fulfilled all he ever spoke! He will continue for ever fulfilling all he has begun to fulfil! He who is “full of grace and truth,” is no doubt the leader of this song (Psa. xxii. 22), though He be not mentioned specially; and it is just such a burst of rapturous delight and gratitude as will respond to the invitation from the throne. Rev. xix. 5-7. We therefore call it —

2’he heartfelt thanh-igiving of the Great Congregation led by Messiah.

PSALM CI. — RULES OF HOLY GOVERNMEMT. 21)7