The final strophe (vv. 6, 7) is substantially a repetition of vv. 1, 2, with the addition that a past fact is laid as the foundation of the desires or hopes of future blessings. "The earth has yielded her increase." This may show that the psalm is a harvest hymn, but it does not necessarily imply this. The thought may have been born at any time. The singer takes the plain fact that, year by year, by mysterious quickening which he recognises as of God, the fertile earth "causes the things sown in it to bring forth and bud," as an evidence of Divine care and kindliness, which warrants the desire and the confidence that all blessings will be given. It seems a large inference from such a premise; but it is legitimate for those who recognise God as working in nature, and have eyes to read the parables amid which we live. The psalmist reminds God of His own acts, and, further, of His own name, and builds on these his petitions and his faith. Because He is "our God" He will bless us; and since the earth has, by His gift, "yielded her increase," He will give the better food which souls need. This the singer desires, not only because he and his brethren need it, but because a happy people are the best witnesses for a good King, and worshippers "satisfied with favour and full of the blessing of the Lord" proclaim most persuasively, "Taste, and see that God is good." This psalm is a truly missionary psalm, in its clear anticipation of the universal spread of the knowledge of God, in its firm grasp of the thought that the Church has its blessings in order to the evangelisation of the world, and in its intensity of longing that from all the ends of the earth a shout of praise may go up to the God who has sent some rays of His light into them all, and committed to His people the task of carrying a brighter illumination to every land. PSALM LXVIII. 1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let them who hate Him flee before Him. 2 As smoke is whirled, whirl [them] away: As wax melts before fire, May the wicked perish before God! 3 But may the righteous rejoice [and] exult before God, And be mirthful in joy. 4 Sing to God, harp [to] His name: Throw up a way for Him who rides through the deserts [In] Jah is His name; and exult ye before Him; 5 The orphans' father and the widows' advocate, God in His holy dwelling-place, 6 God, who makes the solitary to dwell in a home, Who brings out the prisoners into prosperity: Yet the rebellious inhabit a burnt-up land.