November 12

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my

mountain to stand strong; thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

According to the superscription, the occasion of this Psalm was "the dedication of the house."

"We know from Deut. xx. 5 that it was customary to dedicate a house that was newly built. The private abode of a pious family is holy. But this Psalm is 'the song of the dedication of the house,' appointed for use in the public service."—J. G. Murphy.

"Throughout this Psalm there are indications that David had been greatly afflicted, both personally and relatively, after having, in his presumption, fancied himself secure. When God's children prosper one way, they are generally tried another, for few of us can bear unmingled prosperity. Even the joys of hope need to be mixed with the pains of experience, and the more surely so when comfort breeds carnal security and self-confidence. Nevertheless, pardon soon followed repentance, and God's mercy was glorified. The Psalm is a song, and not a complaint. Let it be read in the light of the last days of David, when he had numbered the people, and God had chastened him, and then in mercy had bidden the angel sheathe his sword." —C. H. Spurgeon

Closet Promise.—Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.—Psalm xxx. 5.

Man's life is but a working-day, Whose tasks are set alight; A time to work, a time to play, And then a quiet night.

And then, please God, a quiet night Where palms are green and robes are white, A long-drawn breath, a balm for sorrow, And all things lovely on the morrow. —Christina Rossetti.