Ps. ii. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye ])erishfrom the ivay, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
TO so great a degree do the Psalms abound with prophecies relating to Christ, that all the most important circumstances of his life and death, his resurrection and glory, might be narrated from them with almost as much precision as in the Gospels themselves. The psalm before us has but a partial reference to David. It may be considered indeed as a triumphant proclamation of his establishment on his throne, notwithstanding all the opposition that
49().J IlEGARD TO CHRIST ENFORCED. 1 1
had been made to him by Saul and by the Jews them- selves. But it principally points to the exaltation of Jesus to his throne of glory : and it concludes with an address to all the monarchs of the earth to submit themselves to his government.
In considering the words of the text, we shall call your attention to,
I. The injunction —
Who " the Son" is, we are at no loss to determine ; since an inspired commentator has expressly declared him to be Christ ^ By " kissing" him, we are to understand,
1. Submission to his authority —
[Samuel having anointed Saul to be king of Israel, kissed him, in token of his submission to the power that was now vested in him''. Now Jesus is " seated as King upon God's holy hill in Zion'^:" and he demands that all should acknow- ledge him as their supreme Lord and only Saviour ^. His yoke in every view is hateful to us by nature ; but most of all are we averse to " submit to his righteousness^." But this we must do, renouncing every other ground of dependence^, and trusting in him as " The Lord our Righteousness s."]
2. Love to his person —
[When Mary desired to express her love to Jesus, she " kissed his feet^:" and we also must feel in our hearts, and express, in every possible way, a fervent attachment to him. The characteristic mark of his disciples is, to " love him in sincerity'." Destitute of this mark, we have nothing to expect but speedy and everlasting destruction'^. We must therefore account him precious to our souls', yea, " fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely." We must delight ourselves in contemplating his beauty, and maintaining fellowship with him™.]
3. Devotion to his service —
[Idolaters used, in worshipping their gods, to kiss their images", or to kiss their hands in token of their devout regard to them°. In this sense also we are to " kiss the Son,"
^ Compare ver. 7. with Heb. i. 5. ^ \ Sam. x. 1. "^ ver. 6.
d Compare Isai, xlv. 23, 24. with Rom. xiv. 11.
^ Rom. X. 3. ^ Pbil. iii- 9. ^ Jcr. xxiii. 6.
'^ Luke vii. 38. ' Eph. vi. 24. ^ i Cor. xvi. 22.
' 1 Pet. ii. 7. ™ 1 John i. 3.
" Hos. xiii. 2. 1 Kings xix. 18. « Job xxxi. '2.0. 27.