Bible Commentaries

OPENED CITY GATES

‘Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?’

Psalms 108:10

I. The strong city built on the rock, even man’s hardened heart, stronger and more stony than the tomb, He has conquered and overcome; and in Him and His might are His people to carry on His warfare, casting down all the strongholds of human pride and stubbornness and unrepentance.

II. There is another application of these words which should not be overlooked.—According to Jewish tradition, Edom typifies Rome. Rome means ‘strength,’ and as the ‘great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth,’ it is regarded by many as having been the most formidable antagonist to God’s Word and God’s people. Even to-day, ‘the strong city’ of Romanism is the chief opponent of the Gospel on the Continent of Europe, and the soul zealous for the spread of God’s truth has still to cry, ‘Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?’ and to add, if entrance for the Gospel is to be obtained, ‘Vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly.’

Illustrations

(1) ‘We cannot find it in our heart to dismiss this psalm (as most of the commentators have done) by merely referring the reader first to Psalms 57:7-11, and then to Psalms 60:5-12, though it will be at once seen that these two portions of Scripture are almost identical with the verses before us. The Holy Spirit is not so short of expressions that He needs to repeat Himself. There must be some intention in the arrangement of two former Divine utterances in a new connection.’

(2) ‘Let it be noted how over against God’s “strong city” stands another “strong city” in the 108th psalm, and how in the later strains of prophecy down to the Apocalypse, the destruction of a “strong city” is one great theme of joy.’