Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
OJ Christ's Kingdom, PSALMS CX, CXI. The People Incited to Praise God.
Thy people . . . wllllnj»—ii'i.. Thy people (are) free-will clilklren fall in want, so that his posterity shall utterly offerings; for such is the proper rendering of tlie word "willing," which is a plural noun, and not an adjective fail. 13. posterity— end, as Psalm 87. 3S, or, what comes after, i. e., reward, or success, or its expectation, (cf. Exodus 25. 2; Psalm 54. 6), also a similar form (Judges of which posteritj' was to a Jew a prominent part. 14, 15. AcUled to the terrible overthrow following his own sin,
5. 2-9). in the day of thy power—thy people freely otler themselves (Romans 12. 1) in tliy service, enlisting under thy banner, in the beauties of holiness— either as Psalm 29. 2, the loveliness of a spiritual worship, of which the temple .service, in all its material splendours, was but a type; or more probably, the appearance of the worshippers, who, in this spiritual kingdom, are a nation of kings and priests (1 Peter 2. 9; Revelation 1.5), attending this Priest and King, clothed in those eminent graces which let there be the imputation of his parents' guilt, that it may now come before God, for His meting out its full consequences, in cutting olt'the memory of lliemd'.e., the paients) from the earth (Psalm 3t. 10). 16. Let God remember guilt, because be (the wicked) did not remember mercy, poor and needy . . . broken In heart—t. e., pious sutlerer (Psalm 3i. 18; 35. 10; 40. 17). 17-19. Let his loved sin, cursing, come upon him in punishment (Psalm
85. Sj, thoroughly till him as %vater and oil, permeating to overy part of his systeni (cf. Numbers 5. 22-27), and become a garment and a girdle for a perpetual dress, ao. Let tlie beautiful vestments of the Aarouic priests (Leviticus
10. 4) typified. The last very obscure clause—from the womb . . . youth—may, according to this view, be thus explained : The word youth denotes a period of life distinguislied for strength and activity (cf. Ecclesiastes 11. 9) the deiv is a constant emblem of whatever is refreshing and strengthening (Proverbs 19. 12; Hosea 14.5). The Messiah, then, as leading His people, is represented as continually in the vigour of youth, refreshed and strengthened by the early dew of God's grace and Spirit. Thus this . . . reward—or, wages, pay for labour, the fruit of the enemy's wickedness, from tUe Lord—as His judicial act. ai, 24. do . . . for me— i. e., kindness, wounded— lit., pierced (Psalm 69. 13, 29). 23. like tUe sUadow—(Cf. Psalm 102. 11.) tossed np and down—or, driven (Exodus
10. 19;. i44, '-ij. Taunts and reproaches aggravate his afflicted and feeble state (Psalm 22. 6, 7). 26, 27. Let my deliverance glorify thee (cf. Psalm 59. 13). 28-31. In contlie phrase corresponds as a member of a parallelism with "the day of thy pou'er" in the first clause. "In tlir beauty fidence that God's blessing would come on him, and confusion and shame on his enemies (Psalm 73. 13), he ceases of holiness'' belongs to this latter clause, corresponding to " Thy people" in the first, and the colon after "morning" to regard their curses, and anticipates a season of joyful and public thanksgiving; for God is near to protect (Psalm 10.8; 34. 0) tlie poor from all unrighteous judges who may condemn him. is omitted. Others prefer: Thy youth, or youthful vigour, or body, shall be constantly refreshed by successive accessions of people as dew from the early morning; and this accords with the New Testament idea that the Ciuirch is PSALM CX.
C:hrist's body (cf. Micah 5. 7). 4. The perpetuity of the priestliood, here asserted on God's oath, corresponds with that of the kingly office just explained, after the order —(Hebrews 7. 15) after the similitude of Melchisedek, is fully expounded by Paul, to denote not only perpetuity, appointment of God, and a royal priesthood, but also the absence of priestly descent and succession, and superior-
Ver. 1-7. The explicit application of this Psalm to our Saviour, by Him (JIatthew 22. 42-45) and by the apostles (Acts 2. 34; 1 Corinthians 15. 25 ; Hebrews 1. 13), and their frequent reference to its language and purport (Ephesians
1. 20-22; Pliilemon 2.9-11; Hebrews 10.12. 13), leave no doubt of its purely prophetic character. Not only was ity to the Aarouic order. 5. at thy right hand—as Psalm tliere notliing in the position or character, personal or
109. 31, upholding and aiding, which is not inconsistent with )). 1, wliere the figure denotes participation of power, for here He is presented in another aspect, as a warrior going against enemies, and sustained by God. strike through—smite or crush, kings—not common men, but their rulers, and so all under them (Psalm 2. 2, 10). 0. Tho person is again changed. The Messiah's conquests are described, tliough His work and God's are the same. A8 after a battle, whose field is strewn with corpses, tlie conqueror ascends the seat of empire, so shall He judge or rule among many nations, and subdue the head for (as used collectively for many) tho heads] over many lands, woundsmite, or crush (cf. v. 5). 7. As a conqueror, " faint, yet pursuing," He shall be refreshed by " tlie brook In the way," and pursue to completion His divine and glorious triumplis. official, of David or any other descendant, to justify -J, reference to either, but the utter severance from the royal of Hce of all priestly functions (so clearly assigned the subject of this Psalm) positively forbids such a reference.
Tlie Psalm celebrates the exaltation of Christ to thtlnone of an eternal and increasing kingdom, and a perpetual priesthood (Zechariah 6. 13), involving the subjugation of His enemies and the multiplication of His subjects, and rendered infallibly certain by the word and oath of Almiglity God.
1. TUe Lord said—lit., A saying of the Lord (cf. Psa lm 30.
1), a formula, used in prophetic or other solemn or express declarations, my lord—That the .Tews understooil this term to denote the Messiah their traditions show, and Christ's mode of arguing on such an assumpllon (Matthew 22. 44) also proves. To sit at the riyltl hand was not only a mark of honour (1 Kings 2. 19), but also implied participation of power (Psalm 45.9; Mark 10. 19; EpheBians 1. 20). Sit—as a king (P.salm 29. 10), tliough the posi-
PSALM CXI.
Ver. 1-10. The Psalmist celebrates God's gracious dealings with His people, of which a summary statement Is given. tion ratlier tlian posture is intima Uul (cf. Acts 7. 55, 50). until I make, etc.—The dominion of Clirist over His enemies, as commissioned by God, and entrusted with all power ( JIatllicw 2K. 18) for their sulijugation, will assu-
1. Praise ye the Lord—or, Ilallchijah (Psalm 104. 35).
Tliis seems to .serve as a title to those of the later Psalms, wliicli, like tills, set forth God's gracious government and redly be estaljlished (1 Corinthians 15. 24-28). This is neitlier His government as God, nor that wliich, as the incarnate Saviour, He exercises over His people, of whom He will ever be Head, tliinc enemies thy footstool—an expres-
Its ble.ssiid fruits. This praise claims the whole heart (Psalm KO. 12), and Is rendered publicly, upright-a title of the true Israel (I'salm 1!2. 11). 2. His worlds, i. e., of providence and grace, are Houglit—or, carelully sludled, by all desiring to know them. 3, 4. hououralde and glorlouH— ///., honour and ina,iesly, which illustrate His glorious perfect Ions. righteou Huess—(Psalm 7. 17; 81. 1), which He has made memorable by wonders of love and mercy, in supplying the wants of His people according to covenant eiigiigemeiits. 6-S. His power was shown espesion tak<!n from the custom of JOastern conquerors (cf. Josliua 10.21; .Iiidges 1.7) to signify a complete sul)Jection. 2. tlie rod of thy utrengtii-the roil of correction (Isaiah 9. 4; 10. 15; Jeremiah 48. 12), by whi(^h thy strength will l)e known. Tills is His Word of truth (Isaiah 2. 3; 11.
4), converting some and confounding others (cf. 2 Tliessalonians 2. 8). out of ZIon—or, the Cliurch, in whicli Gr)d dwells by Ills Spirit, as once by a vlsll>le symbol in tlie cially In giving t hem tlu> ))romised laiul.aud His faithfulness and justice thus illsplayed are, like His jireceiits, rellabUi and of permanent obligat ion, tt. The. deli verance He provided accorded to His established covenant. Tliu* He manifested Himself In the sum of His perfoollona taljernacle on Zion (cf. Psalm 2. 0). rule thou, etc.—over enemies now conquered. In their midttt—once s('t upon, as by ferocious l)easts (Psalm 22. 10), now liumbly, tliough reluctantly, confessed as Lord (PhlUppians '2. 10, 11). 3.