The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 32

thr0ne, and then in Heb. vii. The record in Genesis is but brief, but the recurrence of the name lea?s to the inquiry as to the meaning and significance of that early record. The Epistle to the Hebrews supplies the answer. Note- . I. THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH MELCHIZEDEK, He is mentioned in the account of Abraham's intervention on behalf of the inhabitants of the district in which Abraham's nephew Lot lived. He was probably a Canaanitish chief, lived at Salem-that is, Jerusalem ; was evidently a man of much distinction. He wao "great" because of the combined high office he held; he was both priest and king. But yet more from his character-peaceful, righteous. II. His RELATIONSIIIP TO CnRIST. From this psalm and from Heb. vii. we learn that he did bear such relationship. He was a type of Christ: 1. In the mystery of his person. We read of no predecessor or progenitor, nor of any successor. Human records are silent on all these points. .And so with our Lord-" areat is the mystery of godliness." 2, In his prie,sthood. It is to this that the ;riter of the Epistle to the Hebrews mainly refers, and argnes from Christ being a Priest after the order of ~elchizedek, that the~efore bis Priesthood was far superior to that of Aaron; !"or Melcb1zedek was )ike Chris~,. and. greater. than .Aaron in antiquity, catholicity, mdependence, perpetmty, and spmtnahty of his priesthood. 3. In his kingly character, No king could be a priest, no priest a king, in the Jewish dispensation; but Melchizedek • and Christ were both. 4. Jn the effects of his administration. Riuhteousneas 0 and peace. 5. In his ministry of blessing. CoNCLUSION. .Abraham shows us our duty to Christ, in self-dedication; this the meaning of the tithe offering.-S. C. Ver. 7.-" The brook by the way." This psalm tells of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, but all that it tel10 of has not yet been fulfilled. But the Church is still con- fidently assisting the glory of the Lord. Our text is difficult of completely satisfactory explanation. Threa chief interpretations have been given. I. TRAT IT TELLS OF oua Loan's BEING MADE A 0URSE FOB us. The wrath of God running in the channel of the curse of the Law was" the brook by the way" of which our Saviour drank, and concerning which he said, "The cup which my Father bath given me shall I not drink it?" Calvin, Hengstenberg, and Matthew Henry thus explain this verse. .And then the glorious triumphs of the cross of Christ, past, present, and yet to come, are the lifting up of the head which is said to result. IL THAT IT DENOTES HIS INTENTNESS AND EAGERNESS rn THE PURSUIT OF ms GREAT END, which was the destruction of the works of the devil. He would not turn aside for refreshment or rtst, but like Gideon (Judg. vii.), though faint, he kept pursuiog. Like as the chosen soldiers of Gideon were known by their eager lappiog of the water as distinguished from the mere leisurely lying down to drink of the rest, so our Lord was intent on his work, and nothing could stay his pursuit (of. Luke xii. 50). Be would drink of the brook by the way, and then on again. III. THAT IT BETS FORTH THE BUMll,IATION OP CHRIST, in that he placed himself on a level with us by stooping to need and to partake of those spiritual refreshments which in this life God provides for us. He humbled himself to need and share these with men. This is the interpretation which we prefer. What, then, for our Lord, were these brooks? They were such as these-prayer; fellowship with kindred minds; affection and sympathy from those who loved him; the "joy set before him ; " the Holy Scriptures. IV. 'l'Hus UNDERSTOOD, TilE TEXT APPLIES TO C1rn1aTIANB NOW. For brooks by the way are provided for us by means of which we shall be, as was our Lord, strengthened and refreshed. .And ours are as his, even as his were as ours.-S. O. Ver. 1.- War-figure, applied to Messiah. It is remar~able that the prev~i~ing political and national association~ ~!ways co.lour both the hter11:ture an? the rehg1oua sentiments of an age, Our assoc1at1ons provide our figures and 1llustrat1ona, and these vary and change according to the altering of associations•. This may be shown by comparing the age of Cromwell with this latter half of the nmeteenth cen~ury. War associations prevailed then ; peace associations prevail now. The_ sterner views of ~od prevailed the11; the milder vi~we of God prevail now. Uedempt10Q. was then mainly  PS, OX, 1-7,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 33