The Psalmist now addressing himself to the Mes- siah, proclaims to him the success that should attend him in the execution of,
II. His offices —
The second and third verses may undoubtedly be applied to his regal office, because they speak of his " ruling in the midst of his enemies :" but, if we con- sider how his victories are gained, namely, by his word and Spirit, and that it is by the illumination of men's minds that he subdues their hearts, we shall see that this part of the psalm may properly be understood as relating to his prophetic character. Accordingly we behold him here represented as,
1. A Prophet —
[The word is " the rod of his strength," by which he works all the wonders of his grace. In itself it is as weak and ineffi- cient as the rod of Moses, whereby he wrought all his miracles in Egypt ; but, as applied by the Spirit of God to the souls of men, it is " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," and " is mighty to the pulling down of all the strong- holds" of sin and Satan : " it is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe1." It " came forth from Zion, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem k," when it was published by the holy Apostles ; who delivered it, as they were commanded, to Jerusalem first, and then to other parts of the world. And there is this remarkable difference between the victories gained by it, and those gained by any carnal weapon : by the latter, men are brought to a reluctant submission; by the former, they are " made willing," truly and cordially willing, to take Christ's yoke upon them. Whenever the Lord's time, the " day of his power," is come, they, like the rams of Nebaioth, present themselves as voluntary sacrifices at God's altar, and give up themselves unreservedly to the Lord1.
Nor is deliverance from death and hell the only object of their pursuit : they feel, that they can be happy only in the way of holiness; and therefore " in the beauties of holiness" they come unto him : their dispositions and habits are all changed : they abstain from sin, because they hate it ; and obey the law, because they love it : and, could they obtain the desire of their hearts, they would be " holy as God is holy," and " perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect."
1 Rom. i. 16. k Isai. ii. 3.
1 Compare that beautiful passage Isai. lx. 4 — 8. with Rom. xii. 1. and 2 Cor. viii. 5.