Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

This Psalm hath much in it concerning Christ. If we read it wholly with reference to him and his church, we shall find it to be a very delightful hymn, suited to the times of the gospel.

A Psalm of David.

These military expressions are all suited to the spiritual warrior. Jesus, the great Captain of our salvation, had a personal conflict with Satan, and having been taught of Jehovah how to fight and overcome, he now is conquering him in and by all his members. Hence Christ is our shield, our fortress, our tower; and in his name we conquer: while of Jesus himself, it may and must be said, that what the Father engaged, the Father fully performed, and did beat down all his foes before his face, Psalms 89:20-23.

These verses are as a clue enabling us to apply the whole to Christ. In proof, read Psalms 8:4, explained by Hebrews 2:6, to the end. To add any other comment would be to hold a lighted taper before the sun. Blessed Spirit! help us to praise thee, that in thy glorifying of Jesus, thou hast thus, unfolded to thy church this precious scripture.

In every sense this prayer is striking, and beautiful in whatever sense it be considered; whether as the prayer of the church for the Lord to come down in the power of the Spirit, to bruise Satan, and sin, and the world, under the feet of his people; or as the earnest longing and hope of the church, for the Lord Jesus's second coming, without sin, unto salvation.

The New Testament song is the same as that sung by Old Testament saints, namely, salvation. See sweet stanzas of it, Psalms 40:3; Revelation 5:9.

Two mighty blessings are included in this short verse; one, to see the overthrow of Zion's enemies; the other, to see the prosperity of Zion's friends.

These are the blessed consequences of the reign of Jesus. His birth shall be as the dew-drops of the morning; and the Lord will give his people a name, in his house, better than of sons and daughters, Isaiah 56:5. If we translate the blessings spoken of, concerning temporal things, in reference to spiritual, then we shall have a clearer apprehension of the incalculable blessings in Jesus. Our sons, like plants, and our daughters, polished after the similitude of a palace, do not unaptly represent the children of Jesus, who are trees of the Lord's right-hand planting; and all the refreshing graces of the Holy Spirit are polished, as love, joy, peace, and every blessing of the covenant in Christ. These garners will be indeed opening an inexhaustible treasure of all that a regenerated soul in Christ can live upon. And the product of such grace in the heart will raise up everlasting revenues of praise to Jehovah, and happiness to the church, as thousands and tens of thousands of cattle figuratively set forth. Complaining will he done away, and the voice of sorrow and sin be heard no more in our streets. Oh! happy period of the church of God! Lord, hasten, it in thine own time, to thine own praise, and thy people's joy.

Moses hath a verse similar to this, Deuteronomy 33:29. Who so blessed, who so well taken care of, who so highly favored, as the Israel of God? Reader! all these blessings were types of gospel mercies, and in Jesus we see them realized. Well may every child of God cry out, Happy art thou, O believer, that art in such a case; yea, happy is that soul whose God is the Lord! Reader! is this your portion? Can you call God your Father, Jesus your Redeemer, God the Spirit your Teacher, sanctifier, and the glorifier of Jesus? Sweet testimony, when these things live in the heart, and Christ is formed there the hope of glory!

REFLECTIONS

My soul! dost thou long to war a good warfare? Look up then to the Captain of thy salvation, and behold how Jehovah armed him for the battle; and do thou go forth in his strength, making mention of his righteousness, even his only. He came forth at the call of his Father, full of zeal, when his own arm brought salvation unto him, and his righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet, of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. And while thou art thus looking up to Jesus, he is looking upon thee, and will teach thy hands to war, and thy fingers to fight. He will be to thee all thou canst need, therefore follow him and behold the salvation of God. And oh! my soul, cease not to contemplate his love. And whilst thou goest on in the wilderness road, fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold of eternal life; contemplate, as thou goest, the infinite love and grace, and condescension of Jesus; and while thou cried out as the Psalmist, Lord! what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him; con template the Man in those words, whose name is the Branch, whose name is indeed Wonderful. Yes! precious Jesus! all thoughts, all subjects, all contemplations, must be lost and swallowed up in thee, as all the rivers of the earth are in the ocean. Thou art a sea of wonders, a world of wonders, in thy person, offices, characters, relations. I will sing indeed a new song-, and thou shalt be the whole sum and substance of it: for in thee, and by thee, and from thee, all blessings flow. Our sons and our daughters shall grow up in thy grace, and all our upper and nether springs shall be marked with Jesus. Hail! thou glorious Lord of all! Mine own friend, and my Father's friend will I forget not: the fathers to the children shall make known thy praise.