Proverbs 16:14

tween life and death, between hope and fear; being so, I. Here is the dove sent forth in prayer. The petitions are against sin and wrath ( ver. 4 ) and for mercy and grace, ver. 7 . The pleas are taken from former favours ( ver. 1-3 ) and present distresses, ver. 5, 6 . II. Here is the dove returning with an olive branch of peace and good tidings; the psalmist expects her return ( ver. 8 ) and then recounts the favours to God's Israel which by the spirit of prophecy he gave assurance of to others, and by the spirit of faith he took the assurance of to himself, ver. 9-13 . In singing this psalm we may be assisted in our prayers to God both for his church in general and for the land of our nativity in particular. The former part will be of use to direct our desires, the latter to encourage our faith and hope in those prayers. Prayer in Time of Trouble. 1 Lord , thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. 3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? 6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that t