1 . What obligations do we owe to God for the mercies we have now received" (
2. What shall not they receive who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ ? —
' 1 Kin. XX. 23. ^ Ps. xxxiii. 17. ' Isai, xxxi. 1,3. ' Jer. xvii. 5, 6. e 2 Chron, xiv. 11, 12.
'• 2 Chron. xx. 12, 15, 20. ' 2 Chron. xxxii. 7, 21.
'' ver. 8. ' Ps. xxxiv. 22. & cxxv. 1, 2.
*" Here bring forward the particular circumstances for which the Thanksgiving is appointed.
Ps. xxi. 1 — 7. The King shall joy in thy strength, 0 Lord ; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice ! Thou hast given him. his heart's desire^ and hast not withholden the request of his lips. For thou preventest him luith the blessings of goodness ; thou set test a crown oj' pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days Jor ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation : honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast. made him most blessed for ever : thou hast made him exceed- ing glad with thy countenance. For the King irnsteth in the Lord ; and, through the mercy of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
THIS psalm is appointed by the Church to be read on the day of our Lord's Ascension : and on a close examination, it will appear to be well suited to that occasion. We will,
1. Explain
I. Explain it —
In its primary and literal sense, it expresses Da- vid's gratitude on his advancement to the throne of Israel —
[After acknowledging, in general terms, God's goodness towards him in this dispensation, he speaks of his elevation as an answer to his prayers, though in its origin it was altogether un- solicited and unsought for*. Impressed with the greatness of the honour conferred upon him, he exults in it, especially as affording him an opportunity of benefiting others''; and declares his con^- fidence, that his enemies, so far from ever being able to subvert his government, shall all be crushed before him '^ —
Parsing over this view of the psalm, we proceed to observe, that]
It is yet more applicable to Christ, as expressing his feelings on his ascension to the throne of glory —
[David was a type of Christ, as David's kingdom was of Christ's kingdom : and Christ, on his ascension to heaven, may be considered as addressing his Father in the words of this psalm. He declares his joy and gratitude ow accoinit of the blessedness vouchsafed to him, and on account of the blessedness which he was nouf empowered to bestow on others. With respect to his own biessediiess we observe, that his conflicts were now termi- nated. These had been numerous and severe. From his first entrance into the world to the instant of his departure from it, he " was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." View him especially during the three years of his Ministry, what " con- tradiction of sinners against himself did he endure!"
View more particularly the four last days of his life, what grievous and accumulated wrongs did he sustain ! Con- sider his conflicts also with the powers of darkness, and the
terrors of his Father's wrath O what reason had he to
rejoice in the termination of such sufferings, and to magnify his Father who had brought him in safety through them ! For this he had prayed; and God had given him the fullest answer to his prayers'*. Now also he was restored lo glory. He had "a glory with the Father before the worlds were made * :" and of that glory he had divested himself when he assumed our nature ^ But now he was restored to it : and what a contrast did it form with that state, from which he had been delivered ! A few days ago he had not where to lay his head : now he is received into his Father's house, his Father's bosom. Lately he was derided, mocked, insulted, spit upon, buffeted, and scourged by the vilesfc of the human race ; and now he is seated on his throne of