The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 34

Yer. 3.-Thepower ofrec-O!Jnizing power. "The:people shall be willing in the day of thy power." Power to submit, power to accept, power to respond, power to offer allegiance, come to the people when they recognize Messiah's power. Illustrated on the Day of Pentecost, when Messiah's power was so conviucingly displayed. "They then that received Pcter's words were baptized; and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.'' In common history and common life the principle is seen working. As soon as a man is successful, as soon as his pow'er is manifest, the crowd will flock to him. This is put into the motto, "Nothina succeeds like success." An illustration may be found in the time of the Judges. When the people were convinced of the power of Deborah and Barak, "they willingly offered themselves for the avenging of Israel" (Judg. v. 2). L RECOGNIZING POWER. There is much power that is unrecognized; and there are many persons unable to recognize power. 1. Power may be undeveloped, and so not efficiently showing itself. The most we can see is the promise of what is yet to be. We do not feel the impulse of power that is only in its unfolding. 2. Power may take forms that surprise. As it does when we expect material power, and that presented to our view is spiritual power. This was the case with Messiah's power. 3. Power may cross our power, and then our pride may prevent recognition, as in the case of the Pharisees of our Lord's time. Certain moral conditions must be attained before moral power can be rightly valued. There ill a spiritual vision which alone enables us to discern moral power. II. THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF HAVING RECOGNIZED POWER. " 'lbe people offer themselves willingly." This point may be illustrated by the effects of our Lord's word on certain sufferers. A man was before him who had a withered hand. Jesus &aid, "Stretch forth thy hand." The man recognized his power; that gave him power, and he did stretch it forth, and it was made whole. So in Bethesda Jesus saw a helpless cripple, and said, "Take up thy bed, and walk." 'l'he man felt our Lord's power; it exerted a mighty influence on him; he took up his bed and walked. In the higher regions of the spiritual life this truth finds further illustration. It is a matter of experience that it was the discernment of Christ's power to save which brought us conscious power over sin, which persuaded us to yield ourselves to him. It i8 every fresh apprehension of his power to sanctify that brings us power to wrestle with evil. -R.T. Ver. 4.-The priesthoods of David and Mes.1iah. It cannot be safely asserted that this psalm belougs exclusively to Messiah. Every Messianic reference in the Old Testament probably bas a first and local application. This psalm refers, then, to David, and through him to Messiah. If this be so, the application of the Melchizedek type of priest to David may help us in tracing the application of the same type to Messiah. The points dwelt on by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (vii. 1- 22) are not prominent in this psalm. The point here is, that the Aaronic priesthood was only a priesthood; but the priesthood of Melchizedek was a royal pri-esthood. I. DAVID'S PRIESTHOOD WAS OF M!!:LCillZEDEK's KIND. Priesthood is but ministry; only it is mini.btry in sacred and Divine thiugs, The essential idea of a priest is ouo who represents God on earth in some particular sphere. So a king who is loyal to Jehovah, and represents him in the political and national spheres, is properly a priest; just as the man who represents Jehovah in the moral and religious spheres is called 11. priest. Evidently Melcbizedek was the Divine representative for his day and his country, just as Abraham was for his tribe; and so he is called a king-priest. It is noticed that David, and perhaps all the kings of Israel, assumed certain priestly functions. "David himself, as at the bringing up of the ark, and Solomon, as at the consecration of the temple, ha.J some i;badow of the priestly office." IL MEBSlill's PRIESTHOOD WAS OF MELCHIZEDEK's KIND. It was united with king- ship, as it was in the case of Melchizedek; and we only regard Messiah aright when we fully recognize his authority to atone, and his authority to rule; his relntion to the whole sphere of our worship, and his relation to our entire c~mmonplace lifo ancl relations. 1. See the likenesses between Melchizedek and Messiah as priests, or as Divi.Ile peacemakers, ministrants of Divine reconciliation (2 Cor. v. 18-21). Of Jesus it is said, "He is our Peace," 2. See the likenesses between Melchizedek and Messiah rs. en. 1-10.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 35