March 15

1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed; let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy trust and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will be teach sinners in the way.

9 The meek will be guide in judgment: and the meek will be teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man to be that feareth the LORD? him shall be teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear hasty, and he will shew them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou see out of my distresses.

18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

This is the second of the seven Penitential Psalms. "It is the mark of a true saint that his sorrows remind him of his sins, and his sorrow for sin drives him to his God."

Our eyes instinctively fix themselves upon that familiar 14th verse—"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."

"Some read it 'the friendship' it signifies familiar intercourse, confidential intimacy, and select fellowship. This is a great secret. Carnal minds cannot guess what is intended by it, and even believers cannot explain it in words, for it must be felt to be known."—C H Spurgeon.

"The truth and sincerity of God to his people appears in the openness and planness of his heart to them. A friend that is close and reserved, deservedly comes under a cloud in the thoughts of his friend; but he who carries, as it were, a window of crystal in his breast, through which his friend may read what thoughts are writ in his very heart, delivers himself from the least suspicion of unfaithfulness. Truly, thus open-hearted is God to his saints." —William Gurnall.

Closet Promise.—He ever liveth to make intercession for them.— Heb. vii. 25.

Jesus is always near us, and we may always lift our hearts to Him in prayer, and He will plead for us before our Father. Wonderful compassion! the Son of God pleading our feeble petitions! Through Him alone can we hope to secure an answer to our prayers, but if we only ask believing, all things shall be given unto us