events took place according to this prediction ^ But beyond a doubt a greater than David is here. There are several expressions in this psalm which are not at all applicable to the typical David, and which can pertain to none but the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Not even the highest angel could have that said of him, " Thou art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee'':" and, as that august title was inapplicable to David, so it could never be said of him, that he had " the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." Moreover, when it is considered, that the expression, " Kiss the Son," imported an act of divine worship ; and that to " trust in" David would have been to give to a man the honour which was due to the Most High God alone '^ ; it will be clear, that the psalm was intended to describe, not earthly, but heavenly things, even the reign of Messiah himself, " the Lord's Anointed." And of him the Jews, before the coming of Christ, interpreted this psalm ; as the modern Jews are constrained to acknowledge. In- deed it is manifest, that the Apostles understood it in this sense ; not only because immediately after the day of Pentecost they so interpret it**, but because in their controversy with the Jews they quote it in this sense, and argue upon it as accomplished in Christ's victory over death and the grave ^ In refer- ence to Christ, then, we will explain it, and shew,
L The opposition that is made to him —
Christ is still, as formerly, opposed by all ranks and orders of men —
[No sooner was he born into the world than Herod sought to destroy hirn. During his ministry upon earth the attempts made upon his life were very numerous ; and it was only by repeated miracles that he was saved. When the time for his being dehvered into the hand of sinners drew nigh, the whole Jewish nation, as it were, rose up against him, to put him to death. His resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, were calculated to rectify the mistaken apprehensions of his enemies, and to disarm their malice : but
a 2 Sam. V. 6, 7, 17. and 2 Sam. viii, 1—15. ^ Heb. i. 5.
'^ Jer. xvii. 5. d Acts iv. 25—27 ^ Acts xiii. 32, 33.