The divine meaning of Christ's sacrifice. Atoning suffering, the drinking of the cup of wrath:every other element of sorrow entering in, only to be contrasted with God's forsaking. As the result, grace flows out to men in ever-widening circles:(i)the remnant of Israel owned as brethren; (2) the "great congregation" of all Israel; (3) all the ends of the world; and Jehovah's righteousness in the cross is declared to the generations following.

To the chief musician, upon Aijeleth Shahar. A psalm of David.

My God*, My God*, why hast Thou forsaken Me? – far [art Thou] from saving Me, [from] the words of My roaring !

2. My God, I cry in the day-time, and Thou answerest not! and by night, and cannot be silent!

3. But Thou art holy, dwelling amid the praises of Israel.

4. Our fathers trusted in Thee:trusted, and Thou didst deliver them.

5. They cried unto Thee, and were delivered; they trusted in Thee, and were not ashamed.

6. But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7. All they that see Me mock Me:they thrust out the lip, they wag the head, [saying]:

8. "He trusted in Jehovah,-He will deliver Him; He will rescue Him, for He delighted in Him."

9. But Thou art He who brought Me out of the womb; giving Me confidence upon My mother's breasts.

10. I have been cast upon Thee from the womb; Thou art My God* from My mother's belly.

11. Be not far from Me, for distress is near, but there is none to help.

12. Many bullocks have compassed Me about; strong ones of Bashan have beset me round.

13. They opened wide their mouth upon Me, as a lion tearing and roaring.

14. Like water am I poured out, and My bones are all disjointed; my heart is become like wax,- it is melted in the midst of My bowels.

15. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and Thou hast laid Me in the dust of death.

16. For dogs have compassed Me; the assembly of evil-doers have inclosed Me, piercing My hands and My feet.
17. I may number all My bones:they gaze, they look upon Me.

18. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.

19. But Thou, Jehovah, be not far from Me; O My Strength, haste quickly to My help!

20. Rescue My soul from the sword,-My only one from the paw of the dog!

21. Save Me from the lion's mouth! yea, from the horns of the aurochs Thou hast answered Me.

22. I will declare Thy name unto My brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.

23. Ye who fear Jehovah, praise Him; all ye seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and reverence Him, all ye seed of Israel.

24. For He hath not slighted nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted one; nor hath He hid His face from Him, but when He cried unto Him He heard.

25. Of Thee shall be My praise in the great congregation; I will make good My vows in the presence of them that fear Him.

26. The humble shall eat and be full; they shall praise Jehovah that fear Him; your heart shall live for aye.

27. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Jehovah; and all the families of the Gentiles shall worship before Thee.

28. For the kingdom shall be Jehovah's, and He shall be Ruler among the Gentiles.

29. All the fat upon earth have eaten, and worship :all those going down to the dust shall kneel before Him, and he who cannot keep his soul alive.

30. A seed shall serve Him:it shall be counted to the Lord for a generation.

31. They shall come and declare His righteousness to a people that shall be born, in that He hath done [this].

Text.-Title :"Aijeleth Shahar "-" Hind of the dawn," the first morning beams being compared to the horns of a hind. This is so beautiful a significance when applied to that work in which the darkness in which man had got (the face of God being hidden from him,) was put away, and the true light broke forth upon him, that it is needless even to allude to other proposed meanings.

(8) Perhaps more literally, " Rolling [it, or Himself] on Jehovah, He will deliver Him."

Remarks.-This psalm gives unmistakably the sin-offering aspect of the work of the cross. It divides evidently into two parts, of which the twenty-one verses of the first part give the work itself, the last ten the results. This number 21 is surely significant, especially when we compare it with the thirty-six verses of the trespass-offering psalm (Ixix). 36 is the number of the books of the Old Testament or law, and give, as 3 plus 12 (the divine and the governmental numbers), " God in government." Here, the 21 is 3 plus 7, the last, as in the days of creation, the expression of accomplished, perfect work. In the sin-offering it is the divine nature that is in question; in the trespass-offering, the divine government, as the requirement of restitution shows, a precise estimate of the injury being made.

What is emphasized and put in contrast with all else is the forsaking of God ; and this is what the holiness of His nature implies with One who, though He knew no sin, was made sin for us. The fourth verse shows that was no mere being left in the hands of His enemies, for the fathers had not always escaped these :it was a real desertion of soul, which the three hours' darkness symbolized, the light withdrawn, and God is light. To this, on the light breaking forth again out of this darkness, the title, as I have said already, points.