PSALM 135. v. 5–12. Second Part. (L. M.) The Works of Creation, Providence, Redemption
of Israel, and Destruction of Enemies.
I
Great is the Lord, exalted high
Above all powers and every throne;
Whate'er he please in earth or sea,
Or heaven or hell, his hand hath done.
II
At his command the vapours rise,
The lightnings flash, the thunders roar:
He pours the rain, he brings the wind,
And tempest from his airy store.
III
'Twas he those dreadful tokens sent,
O Egypt, thro' thy stubborn land;
When all thy first-born beasts and men
Fell dead by his avenging hand.
IV
What mighty nations, mighty kings,
He slew, and their whole country gave
To Israel, whom his hand redeem'd
No more to be proud Pharaoh's slave!
V
His power the same, the same his grace,
That saves us from the hosts of hell;
And heaven he gives us to possess,
Whence those apostate angels fell.
This psalm was too long to be sung at once, yet I could not reduce
it into two parts conveniently, without transposing the verses considerably,
as in the title. The ejection of the Canaanites, and the
inheritance of their land given to Israel, is a fair figure of the
inheritance of heaven given to the saints; whence sinning angels
were ejected, as in the last stanza.
