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There is such a thing as national piety. I mean the aggregation of genuine godly thought, sympathy and aspiration, whether found in the breast of paupers or princes. Here we have it represented —

I. As ACKNOWLEDGING GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL KINDNESS TO THE NATION IN THE PAST (Vers. 1-8).

1. The certain assurance of it. We have heard it as an historical fact — heard it from our own fathers, who would not deceive us, and who told it to us in love. God's merciful interpositions on behalf of the Hebrew people are recorded, not only in the annals of the chosen people, but in the progress of the human race, not only in documents and monuments, but through an institution as divine as nature, as old as the race, viz. parental teaching.

2. The striking manifestations of it. "How Thou didst drive out the heathen," etc. It is not our armies and navies that have saved us and made us what we are, but God.

3. The practical influence of it.

(1)  Loyalty towards God.

(2)  Confidence in God.

II. AS DEPLORING GOD'S PRESENT APPARENT DISPLEASURE TOWARD THE NATION (vers. 9-16). He saw his country —

1. Defeated. "But Thou hast cast off," etc. We struggle, but succeed not; there is no victory for us; we are foiled in all our efforts.

2. Victimized. "They which hate us," etc. We are made use of by our enemies.

3. Enslaved. "Thou sellest Thy people for nought," etc.

4. Confounded. "My confusion is continually before me," etc. I am ashamed and bewildered. We have lost our dignity and self-command.

5. Scorned. "Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours," etc.

III. As AVOWING FIDELITY TO GOD NOTWITHSTANDING THE CALAMITIES OF THE COUNTRY.

I. A consciousness of fidelity to Heaven. "All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten Thee," etc.

2. Persecution on account of their fidelity. "For Thy sake are we killed," etc.

(1)  Genuine piety may co-exist with great suffering. Abraham, David, Job, Paul.

(2)  Genuine piety may be stimulated by great suffering.

(3)  Genuine piety enables one to bear great suffering.

IV. As INVOKING GOD'S INTERPOSITION IN ORDER TO RESTORE PAST PRIVILEGES.

1. A humanification of Deity. "Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord?" No creature can have a complete conception of the Absolute.

2. Utter prostration of being. "Our soul is bowed down to the dust," etc. What stronger expression could there be of depression and degradation than this? In a moral sense all men are thus debased and crushed by sin.

3. Entire dependence on sovereign mercy. "Arise for our help," etc. We cannot redeem ourselves, nor can we plead our own merits or excellences as a reason for Thy interposition.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: {To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.} We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

WEB: We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old.