On occasion of any great public success, a signal victory, or any other joyful event, it was usual for the women to gather together, and with music, dances, and songs, to publish and celebrate the happy news. Thus after the passage of the Red Sea, Miriam, and all the women, with timbrels in their hands, formed a chorus, and joined the men in their triumphant song, dancing, and throwing in alternately the refrain or burden of the song:- "Sing ye to JEHOVAH, for he is greatly exalted; The horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea." Exod. xv. 20, 21.

So Jephthah's daughter collected a chorus or virgins, and with dances and songs came out to meet her father, and to celebrate his victory, Judg. xi. 34. After David's conquest of Goliath, "all the women came out of the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music; " and, forming themselves into two choruses, they sang alternately:- "Saul has slain his thousands: And David his ten thousands." 1 Sam. xviii. 6, 7.

And this gives us the true sense of a passage in the sixty- eighth Psalm, which has frequently been misunderstood:- "JEHOVAH gave the word, (that is, the joyful news,) The women, who published the glad tidings, were a great company; The kings of mighty armies did flee, did flee: And even the matron, who stayed at home, shared the spoil." The word signifying the publishers of glad tidings is the same, and expressed in the same form by the feminine participle, as in this place, and the last distich is the song which they sang. So in this place, JEHOVAH having given the word by his prophet, the joyful tidings of the restoration of Zion, and of God's returning to Jerusalem, (see chap. lii. 8,) the women are exhorted by the prophet to publish the joyful news with a loud voice from eminences, whence they might best be heard all over the country; and the matter and burden of their song was to be, "Behold your God! " See on Psa. lxviii. 11.

Is. 40:1-11 All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the mos so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned. In the great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is exercised to the glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of the Lord's han double for all their sins; for the satisfaction Christ made by his death was of infinite value. The prophet had some reference to the return of the Jews from Babylon. But this is a small event, compare with that pointed out by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament, when Joh the Baptist proclaimed the approach of Christ. When eastern prince marched through desert countries, ways were prepared for them, an hinderances removed. And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high an proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked an rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderanc removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower thereof! And what wil all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leav him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, whic all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for youn converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By his wor he requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no mor trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd' voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.

Is. 40:12-17 All created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with the Creator. When the Lord, by his Spirit, made the world, non directed his Spirit, or gave advice what to do, or how to do it. The nations, in comparison of him, are as a drop which remains in the bucket, compared with the vast ocean; or as the small dust in the balance, which does not turn it, compared with all the earth. Thi magnifies God's love to the world, that, though it is of such smal account and value with him, yet, for the redemption of it, he gave his only-begotten Son, John 3:16. The services of the church can make n addition to him. Our souls must have perished for ever, if the only So of the Father had not given himself for us.

Is. 40:18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more tha God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make image or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely a sacrific to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own. They spared no cos upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all ages an nations. Those who are ignorant of this, are willingly ignorant. God has the command of all creatures, and of all created things. The prophet directs us to use our reason as well as our senses; to conside who created the hosts of heaven, and to pay our homage to Him. Not on fails to fulfil his will. And let us not forget, that He spake all the promises, and engaged to perform them.

Is. 40:27-31 The people of God are reproved for their unbelief an distrust of God. Let them remember they took the names Jacob an Israel, from one who found God faithful to him in all his straits. An they bore these names as a people in covenant with Him. Many foolis frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before inquiry into the causes It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to tur them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, wa sufficient to silence all these fears and distrusts. Where God ha begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascen above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandment cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carrie above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of ou high calling in Christ Jesus __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew