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I. THE PRAYER.

1. The kind of blessing sought. "Thy mercy."

2. The measure of it. "Satisfy us." I never knew a scholar who had so much learning that he did not wish any more; or a rich man who was so rich, that he wanted no more wealth; or a man of the world who had had so many pleasures, that he had no desire for more; or one who was so well off, that he was in every respect thoroughly content. There is always a craving for something that we have not. We never can say, "It is enough!" There is just one thing that will fill any heart, and that is, God's mercy. When a man has got that, he can say, with Paul, "I have all, and abound."

3. The time of it. "Early" — in the morning. This is the very prayer for young people. They may be said to be in the morning of life. You can never ask or get the blessing too early — too soon.

II. THE PLEA. "That we may rejoice and be glad all our days." The reason given in support of the prayer is, that it would make those who offer it happy and glad, then and ever after. That would be no plea with a stranger, but it would be with a father. We have here the secret of true happiness. Many would put it differently — "That we may be good and holy all our days;" or, "That we may do what is right, and please Thee all our days." That is all very good, and one may pray that too, but mark this — the plea is, that we may rejoice and be glad, as if joy and gladness could not be got in any other way. The sooner you experience the mercy of God, the sooner will you be truly happy and glad.

1. It will give present joy and happiness. John Bunyan was so overjoyed when he first found mercy that he could hardly contain himself, and tells us that as he went along the road, he could have told "the very crows on the ploughed land" what God had done for him, and how glad and happy he was, now that he was a pardoned man.

2. It will give future joy and happiness. "All our days." When a child has got a new toy, at first it is everything to him; he is overjoyed about it, but soon he tires of it, and lets it fall out of sight, and seeks something else. But God's mercy makes a man glad all his days. The gladdest hour of his life may be when he first finds it, but his peace is "like a river," and flows on from day to day. And then, when the end comes, it is best of all: "all our days," — not only here, but hereafter, — and that is the great thing.

(J. H. Wilson, D.D.)

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KJV: O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

WEB: Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.