Ps. xxi. 1 — 7. The king shall joy in thy strength, 0 Lord; and in thy salvation hoiv 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 with the blessings of goodness ; thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation : honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most hlessed for ever : thou hast made him exceed- ing glad ivith thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the Lord; and, through the mercy of the Most High, he shall not he 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, L Explain it —
In its primary and literal sense, it expresses Da- vid's gratitude on his advancement to the throne of Israel —
[After acknowledf^ing, in general terms, God's goodness towards liim in this dispensation, he speaks of his elevation as an answer to his prayers, though in its origin it was altogether inisolicited 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 confidence, that his enemies, so far from ever being able to subvert his government, shall all be crushed before him'' —
Passing 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 on account of the blessed- 7iess vouchsafed to him, and on account of the blessedness ivhich he was noiv empowered to bestoiv on others. With respect to his own blessedness we observe, that his conflicts were now ter- minated. 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
"contmdiction of sinners againsthimself didhe endure!"
View more particularly the four last days of his life, what
■^ vex. 1 — 4. '' ver. 5, G. <^ ver. 7 — 12.