721 God, give the king your justice;
your righteousness to the royal son.
2 He will judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice. 3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people.
The hills bring the fruit of righteousness. 4 He will judge the poor of the people.
He will save the children of the needy,
and will break the oppressor in pieces. 5 They shall fear you while the sun endures;
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6 He will come down like rain on the mown grass,
as showers that water the earth. 7 In his days, the righteous shall flourish,
and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him.
His enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute.
The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him.
All nations shall serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries;
the poor, who has no helper. 13 He will have pity on the poor and needy.
He will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence.
Their blood will be precious in his sight. 15 They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba.
Men shall pray for him continually.
They shall bless him all day long. 16 There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land.
Its fruit sways like Lebanon.
Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field. 17 His name endures forever.
His name continues as long as the sun.
Men shall be blessed by him.
All nations will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and amen. 20 This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
BOOK III
731 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone.
My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant,
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no struggles in their death,
but their strength is firm. 5 They are free from burdens of men,
neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.
Violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge with fat.
Their minds pass the limits of conceit. 8 They scoff and speak with malice.
In arrogance, they threaten oppression. 9 They have set their mouth in the heavens.
Their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore their people return to them,
and they drink up waters of abundance. 11 They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked.
Being always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart,
and washed my hands in innocence, 14 For all day long have I been plagued,
and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus;”
behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 When I tried to understand this,
it was too painful for me; 17 Until I entered God’s sanctuary,
and considered their latter end. 18 Surely you set them in slippery places.
You throw them down to destruction. 19 How they are suddenly destroyed!
They are completely swept away with terrors. 20 As a dream when one wakes up,
so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my soul was grieved.
I was embittered in my heart. 22 I was so senseless and ignorant.
I was a brute beast before you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
You have held my right hand. 24 You will guide me with your counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Who do I have in heaven?
There is no one on earth who I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart fails,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you. 28 But it is good for me to come close to God.
I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
91 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel. 7 Neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children. But, “In Isaac will your seed be called.” [1] 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed. 9 For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” [2] 10 Not only so, but Rebecca also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 11 For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.” [3] 13 Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” [4]
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15 For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [5]
(Read Romans 9:1-5)
Being about to discuss the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, and to show that the whole agrees with the sovereign electing love of God, the apostle expresses strongly his affection for his people. He solemnly appeals to Christ; and his conscience, enlightened and directed by the Holy Spirit, bore witness to his sincerity. He would submit to be treated as "accursed," to be disgraced, crucified; and even for a time be in the deepest horror and distress; if he could rescue his nation from the destruction about to come upon them for their obstinate unbelief. To be insensible to the eternal condition of our fellow-creatures, is contrary both to the love required by the law, and the mercy of the gospel. They had long been professed worshippers of Jehovah. The law, and the national covenant which was grounded thereon, belonged to them. The temple worship was typical of salvation by the Messiah, and the means of communion with God. All the promises concerning Christ and his salvation were given to them. He is not only over all, as Mediator, but he is God blessed for ever.
(Read Romans 9:6-13)
The rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatenings shall be fulfilled. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God therein wrought according to the counsel of his own will. God foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born in sin, by nature children of wrath even as others. If left to themselves they would have continued in sin through life; but for wise and holy reasons, not made known to us, he purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his perverseness. This instance of Esau and Jacob throws light upon the Divine conduct to the fallen race of man. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward privileges are bestowed on many who are not the children of God. There is, however, full encouragement to diligent use of the means of grace which God has appointed.
(Read Romans 9:14-24)
Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hosea 13:9. God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind himself by his own covenant and promise, which is his revealed will. And this is, that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to Christ; but the drawing of souls in order to that coming, is an anticipating, distinguishing favour to whom he will. Why does he yet find fault? This is not an objection to be made by the creature against his Creator, by man against God. The truth, as it is in Jesus, abases man as nothing, as less than nothing, and advances God as sovereign Lord of all. Who art thou that art so foolish, so feeble, so unable to judge the Divine counsels? It becomes us to submit to him, not to reply against him. Would not men allow the infinite God the same sovereign right to manage the affairs of the creation, as the potter exercises in disposing of his clay, when of the same lump he makes one vessel to a more honourable, and one to a meaner use? God could do no wrong, however it might appear to men. God will make it appear that he hates sin. Also, he formed vessels filled with mercy. Sanctification is the preparation of the soul for glory. This is God's work. Sinners fit themselves for hell, but it is God who prepares saints for heaven; and all whom God designs for heaven hereafter, he fits for heaven now. Would we know who these vessels of mercy are? Those whom God has called; and these not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles. Surely there can be no unrighteousness in any of these Divine dispensations. Nor in God's exercising long-suffering, patience, and forbearance towards sinners under increasing guilt, before he brings utter destruction upon them. The fault is in the hardened sinner himself. As to all who love and fear God, however such truths appear beyond their reason to fathom, yet they should keep silence before him. It is the Lord alone who made us to differ; we should adore his pardoning mercy and new-creating grace, and give diligence to make our calling and election sure.
