July 13

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; because his mercy endureth for ever

2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and let me in a large place.

6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me; therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about; but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them

13 Thou hast thrust soze at me that I might fall; but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in

the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doth valiantly.

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doth valiantly.

17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD

18 The LORD hath chastened me sore; but he hath not given me over unto death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter

21 I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed by be that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD

27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with coeds, even unto the horns of the altar

28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee

29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.

This Psalm is a song of thanksgiving to God for His kindness, faithfulness, valor, and wisdom.

"In the three exhortations, to Israel, to the house of Aaron, and to them that fear the Lord, there is a repetition of the exhortation to say, 'That His mercy endureth forever.' We are not only to believe, but to declare the goodness of God; truth is not to be hushed up, but proclaimed."—C. H. Spurgeon.

"Now, now, now, saith David, there be three nows, and all to teach us that for aught we know, it is now or never, to-day or not at all; we must praise God while the heart is hot, else our iron will cool. Satan hath little hope to prevail unless he can persuade us to omit our duties when the clock strikes, and therefore his skill is to urge us to put it off till another time as fitter or better."—Richard Capel.

"This is my psalm, my chosen psalm. I love them all; I love all holy Scripture, which is my consolation and my life. But this psalm is nearest my heart, and I have a peculiar right to call it mine. It has saved me from many a pressing danger, from which nor emperor, nor kings, nor sages, nor saints, could have saved me. It is my friend; dearer to me than all the honors and power of the earth. . . . But it may be objected, that this psalm is common to all; no one has a right to call it his own. Yes, but Christ is also common to all, and yet Christ is mine. I am not jealous of my property; I would divide it with the whole world. . . . And would to God that all men would claim this psalm as especially theirs! It would be the most touching quarrel, the most agreeable to God—a quarrel of union and perfect charity."—Martin Luther.

Closet Promise.—It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High: to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.—Psalm xcii. 1.

In studying the account of the manna sent to the Israelite host in the wilderness, the scholars of Rabbi ben Jochai once asked him "Why did not the Lord furnish enough manna to Israel for a year, all at one time?" Then the teacher said: "I will answer you with a parable. Once there was a king who had a son to whom he gave a yearly allowance, paying him the entire sum on a fixed day. It soon happened that the day on which the allowance was due was the only day in the year when the father ever saw his son. So the king changed his plan, and gave his son day by day that which sufficed for the day. And now the son visited his father every morning. Thus God dealt with Israel."