Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-24
INTRODUCTORY.

TN N0OOSI0Hr.
The lesson today is called "A Psalm
of David" These words are in the
Hebrew, but the headings OF the
psalms are not regarded as a part of
the inspired composition; so there are
those who, for internal reasons-that
Is. some phrasings in the composition
itself-doubt If it was written by Da-
vid; yet no author is suggested with
any show of confidence. The Syriac
is quite explicit in assigning the psalm
to the period of David's old age. Some
have thought that. like the fifty first
psalm, it was written as the result of
the kings restoration to divine favor
after his sin with Bathsheba; but of
this there is no evidence. except in a
general way. as full of thanksgiving
only a conjecture. But it is quite
evident it Is a psalm of David, though
we may not know when or under what
circumstances it was written.
EXPLANATORY.
1t is not so difficult, as it seems out
of place. to attempt to explain utter
ances Of praise: yet. as we suggested
above, even in doxology there is doc
trine; and these lessons are for the
classroom rather than for the praise
room of the church. Even the tuning
of the heart to sing Gods praise is ac-
cording to rule. and there is teaching
and even admonition in psalms.
Verse 1. Bless the Lord o my soul;
And all that Is within me, bless his
holy name.
To bless" God Is an expression de-
noting the highest praise. Gods bless
ing is upon US when the good and
perfect gifts come down from above
the best that God himself can bestow;
and our blessing Is upon God when
we render to Him our very best of
thanksgiving and Of praise-wishing
to exalt Him more and more for His
goodness and the extension Of His
grace. "All thy works shall praise
thee. o Lord, and thy saints shall
bless thee" All beings, including
moral intelligence, unite in praising
God; but only holy ones bless Him, d.
rectly and positively seeking to make
His praise glorious" There are two
words by which our thankfulness to
God Is praislng' and bless
ing What Is the difference? Praise
reSpeCleIn eACellenCeS diu
blessing respecteth Gods benefits. We
may praise a man that never hath
done us good. If he be excellent and
praiseworthy; but blessing respecteth
Gods bounty and benefits" (Manton).
Only saints wish God well. and seek
to please Him. and advance His holy
cause, and exalt His holy name. These
holy ones come nearer, and render
sweeter alteration. Men have been
known to praise those whom they
hated, as we admire the prowess Of
a warrior who is our foe; but saints
lovingly praise. and therefore are said
to bless They wish well to God;
they would make Him more blessed.
if such a thing were possible; they
desire blessings upon His cause and
children, and invoke success upon His
work and warfare. None but blessed
men will bless the Lord. Only saints
or holy ones will bless the thrice holy
God" (Spurgeon). The soul is the
seat and center of personality. AS is
the SOUL so is the man. The body
may be in the attitude, and may per-
form the acts of alteration and praise
to God for what He Is and for what
He does; but this does not count I'M
less the body is thus the true ex-
preston of the soul. But when the