Maclaren (A.), Sermons Preached in Manchester, iii. 321.
Meyer (F. B.), Christian Living, 62.
Morrison (G. H.), Flood^Tide, 282.
Price (A. C), Fifty Sermons, vii. 129.
Spurgeon (C. H.), New Park Street Pulpit, ii. No, 74.
„ „ Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, xlvii. (1901), No. 2724.
Tipple (S. A.), Days of Old, 200. Vaughan (J.), Sermons to Children, i. 132.
„ „ Sermons (Brighton Pulpit), xiv. (1884), No. 1291.
3S3
A Volunteer Army.
Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power : In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning-, Thou hast the dew of thy youth.— Ps. ex. 3.
1. This psalm was composed by some patriotic Hebrew poet on the sallying forth of the king to war, to whom he hears Jehovah promising support and success in the coming campaign, and sees in imagination Jehovah Himself accompanying the king as his chariot rolled away, driving with him, seated by his side, to the battle. Fired by this vision, he pictures him triumphantly victorious over his foes, their power shattered, and the field heaped with their dead bodies ; while he describes the enthusiasm of the people for the sovereign and his cause, the readiness with which they flock to follow him on his march to the frontier, the great multitude eager to put themselves at his disposal for the fray ; and the splendid appearance of the troops, in their glittering armour, like priests clad in sacred vestments, or victims decked for the sacrifice, innumerable and brilliant as dew-drops from the womb of morning, and fresh as dew in comprising all the fine youth, all the young blood and vigour of the land.
But in the course of time the psalm came to be read as a prophetic description of what should be achieved by the future Messiah of whom the nation dreamt ; to whom, indeed, would be the gathering of the people ; who would prove the champion of Israel's redemption, and of whose Kingdom and dominion there would be no end. His name enduring for ever. His name continu- ing as long as the sun throughout all generations.
^ This was a favourite psalm of Luther's. "The 110th," he
says, " is very fine. It describes the kingdom and priesthood of
Jesus Christ, and declares Him to be the King of all things and
the intercessor for all men ; to whom all things have been remitted
PS. xxv.-cxix. — 23
354 A VOLUNTEER ARMY
by His Father, and who has compassion on us all. 'Tis a noble psalm ; if I were well, I would endeavour to make a Commentary upon it." ^
2. In accordance with the warlike tone of the whole psalm, the subjects of the monarch are described as an army. The military metaphor comes out more clearly when we attach the true meaning to the words, " in the day of thy power " : Calvin translates, " at the time of the assembling of their army " — " au jour des montres," " in the day of the review." And the meaning is, " Thy subjects shall be ready in the day when thou dost muster thy forces, and set them in array for the war."
I.
Patriots.
"Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power."
1. The subjects of the King are true patriots. There are no mercenaries in these ranks, no pressed men. The soldiers are all volunteers.
There are two kinds of submission and service. There is sub- mission because you cannot help it, and there is submission be- cause you like it. There is a sullen bowing down beneath the weight of a hand which you are too feeble to resist, and there is a glad surrender to a love which it would be a pain not to obey. Some of us feel that we are shut in by immense and sovereign power which we cannot oppose. And yet, like some raging rebel in a dungeon, or some fluttering bird in a cage, we beat ourselves all bruised and bloody against the bars in vain attempts at liberty, alternating with fits of cowed apathy as we slink into a corner of our cell. Some of us, however, feel that we are en- closed on every side by that mighty hand which none can resist, and from which we would not stray if we could ; and we joyfully hide beneath its shelter, and gladly obey when it points. Con- strained obedience is no obedience. Unless there be the glad surrender of the will and heart, there is no surrender at alL
^ R. E. Prothero, The Psalms in Human Life, 122.
PSALM ex. 3 355
God does not want compulsory submission. He does not care to rule over people who are only crushed down by greater power. He does not count that those serve who sullenly acquiesce be- cause they dare not oppose. Christ seeks for no pressed men in His ranks. Whosoever does not enlist joyfully is not reckoned aa His.
^ An ironic historian sets side by side Frederick the Great's account of the performance of his troops in one battle and a home letter of a recruit engaged in it. " Never," says Frederick, " have my troops done such marvels in point of gallantry, never since it has been my honour to lead them." And the soldier tells his squalid story, of men driven into battle with blows from sergeants' canes, skulking, when they could, behind walls, and taking the opportunity of passing through a vineyard to desert in scores. Frederick won many battles, but he won them in spite of a detestable system, and this poet finds a promise of triumph for his King in the glad loyalty with which He inspires His soldiers.^