April 1

1 Truly my soul walketh upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly Selah. 5 My soul, wast thou only upon God: for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the

rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

In this Psalm there is not one single word throughout, "in which the prophet expresses fear or dejection, and there is also no prayer in it, although, on other occasions, when in danger, he never omits to pray." It is a splendid example of the full assurance or perfection of faith.

Athanasius says of this Psalm: "Against all attempts upon thy body, thy state, thy soul, thy fame, temptations, tribulations, machinations, defamations, say this Psalm."

From the frequent use of the word "only," this has been called by some (177)

THE ONLY PSALM. "We cannot too often hear the toll of that great bell only; let it ring the death-knell of all carnal reliances, and lead us to cast ourselves on the bare arm of God."

"They trust not God at all who trust him not alone. He that stands with one foot on a rock, and another foot upon a quicksand, will sink and perish, as certainly as he that standeth with both feet upon a quicksand. David knew this, and therefore calleth earnestly upon his soul (for his business lay most within doors) to trust only upon God."—John Trapp.

Closet Promise.—The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.—Psalm xviii. 2.

In the rifted Rock I'm resting, Safely sheltered I abide, There no foes nor storms molest me, While within the cleft I hide.

In the rifted Rock I'll hide me Till the storms of life are past, All secure in this blest refuge, Heeding not the herest blast. —Mrs. Mary D. James.