The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 33

regarded as a vindication; redemption is now regarded mainly as a moral force. It is quite natural that the conceptions of the promised and coming Medsiah should vary at different times, according to the varying conditions of the Jewish people. In Moses' days be was thought of as a " Prophet" like Moses, an inspired Teacher, Revealer, and Leader. In David's days we find both the earlier warlike associations, and the later suffering associations, colouring the anticipations of Messiah. In the prophets the suffering idea ie prominent, and Messiah is thought of, largely, as a" Servant of the Lord," who succeeds no better than the prophets did. The Book of Daniel, and more especially the careers of the patriotic Maccabees, bring back strongly the war asso- ciations and king-figures. I. THE WAR-FIGURES ARE SUGGESTIVE AND HELPFUL. We should be weak in our conceptions of Messiah if we had not these war-figures. Loving peace as we do, it is astonishing how interesting to everybody the associations of war a.re. Everybody is excited when a. regiment comes into a town. The "Salvation Army" appeal to a sentiment which seems universal in human nature. To young and old the literature of war is fascinating. And war-figures may be used in connection with Messiah, because sin is properly conceived of as an active hostile force, which man has to oppose, but i8 helpless to overcome. Messiah is well thought of as the Champion that undertakes man's cause, and leads man in the fight. Those two ideas, of Champion and Captain, suggest the two important sides of Messiah's work. He acts/or us. He acts with us. II. THE WAR-FIGURES BLEND WITH OTHER FIGURES. So much mistake bas been made by taking them exclusively: then a one-sided theological sy~tem is .:onstructeu. 'l'hey must always be treated as giving only a portion of the Messianic representation, and illustrating only certain sides and aspects of the Redeemer's work. He is the King, and be is the Lamb, and he is the Teacher. Blended figures alone bring apprehensions of the full truth.-R. T. Ver. 2.-God in world-success. Messiah does but illustrate universal human experi- ence. He is successful, but it is God who gives him his success. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion," This inmost truth of things is too often disregarded. The pious soul fully recognizes it and rejoices in it. His refrain in all life's toils and successes is this, "The Lord.of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge." I. WORLD-SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO GOOD FORTUNE. Some men seem born to succeed. We can find no reason, in either their ability or their character, why they should succeed when others fail. We speak of their" good luck." Take any depart- ment of life, business, or profession, and we plainly see that some are the children of fortune. They seem born favourites, and they are the world's favourites as long as they live. This may, indeed, be an incorrect view to take; we only note that it is the common and usual view. There may be reasons, in character and in entrusted mission, which are simply beyond our discernment and appraisement. Now men may look on the success of Messiah, and say of it, "It is only a piece of good fortune. He just happened to fit to the needs of his age." II. WORLD-SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO ENERGY. Many a man, by the force of his own vitality, and by the concentration of his powers, bas mastered disabilities and difficulties, and gained for himself a place. The energy that is quick-witted to seize opportunities, skilful to use opportunities, and persistent in carrying out resolves, seldom fails to win world-succe,s. And it may be said of the success of Messiah-It is sufficiently explained by the vital force that was in him, by his energy and enter- prise. The boas~ of Nebuchadnezzar bas many and many a time been repeated since his day, "Is not this great Babylon which 1 have builded 1" Ill. WORLD-SUCCl!:BB 1B REALLY DUE TO DIVINE PERMISSION, ABBAN0EMENT, AND AID, But tho discernment of this comes only to those whose eyes have been spiritually opened. The success of Messiah really has this explanation, "The Lord sends the rod of his strenglh out of Zion." 1. There is no such thing as good fortune. Everything stands in Divine adjustment. A man's "destiny" is the arrangement of infinite wisdom. 2. Back of a man's energy is the Divine vitalizing. A man's bodily health and mental power are absolutely in God's hands, and are God's providings. Mau plans, but he must lean on God for power to execute his plans. God may say, "This night shall thy soul be required of thee,"-R. T. PSALMS-III, D  34 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. OX. 1-7,