this is its real import. It is to Jesus that the questions in our text refer ; and he it is who gives the answer to them. Let us consider then our text,
I. In a way of solemn inquiry —
There are those who think the person spoken of was Judas Maccabeus ; because he gained a great victory over the Edomites, who were afterwards com- pelled to embrace the Jewish religion. But it is evi- dent, that the words cannot refer to him, because he could not possibly speak of himself in such terms, as are used both in our text and in the following verses b. It is to the Lord Jesus Christ alone that the words can with any propriety be applied.
The Edomites, as being the most bitter enemies of the Jews0, were types and figures of the Church's enemies, on whom God has decreed to take signal vengeance d: and it is probable that the full accom- plishment of this prophecy in its literal sense is yet to come. But in its mystical and spiritual sense it has already been fulfilled, by the triumphs of our Lord Jesus Christ over all his spiritual enemies.
He triumphed over them upon his cross —
[It seemed as if his enemies then triumphed over him : but he never triumphed more than in the hour when he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. It is true, that Satan then bruised his heel; but he bruised Satan's head, and inflicted a wound that will issue in his everlasting destruction6. Previous to this final combat he proclaimed the certain conquest f; and in it he gained the victory. He entered, as it were, into the very palace of the god of this world, and spoiled his goods s ; yea, " he spoiled all the principalities and powers of hell, triumphing over them openly on the cross h." It was by making an atonement for sin that he effected reconciliation between God
and man and thus " by his death he destroyed him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil," and delivered from their "sore bondage" the countless millions of his re- deemed1.]
He triumphed over them still more in his resur- rection and ascension —
b ver. 4. c Amos i. 11, 12. d Isai. xxxiv. 5, 6.
e Gen. hi. 15. f John xii. 31. and xvi. 11.
8 Lukexi. 21, 22. h Col. ii. 15. j Heb. ii. 14, 15.
1012.] Messiah's triumphs. 591)
[If in his death he discharged our debt, in his resurrection he was liberated from the prison of the grave, and declared to have fulfilled every thing that was necessary for man's salva- tion. Hence he is represented as a mighty Conqueror, sur- rounded by myriads of the heavenly host, and "leading captivity itself captive," dragging, as it were, at his chariot wheels, the vanquished powers of darkness k. In his death the victory was gained ; but in his resurrection and ascension the triumph was celebrated, and proclaimed. Hence to these the Apostle Peter refers us, as unquestionable evidences of his Messiahship, and as demonstrations that he is the only Saviour of the world1.]
He has carried on, and will ere long complete, his triumphs in the gathering together of his elect people from every quarter of the globe —
[On the day of Pentecost he rescued three thousand vas- sals from Satan's tyrannic sway : and from that day has he set at liberty multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles, by the opera- tion of his grace upon their hearts. Yet daily too is he still gaining more and more ground on the dominions of the wicked one ; and ere long will his triumphs be complete, when " all the kingdoms of the world" shall acknowledge him as their Sovereign, their Saviour, and their God.]
Let us now view the words of our text, II. In a way of devout reflection —