mill, side to tlie clealinge of God with hie tout with fear. Go on from frnr to love, human crenturos. St. Paul notes in the and so to joy. Gone, men II rojoice in God. same verso both the "severity" and tho al way" (Phil. iv. 4). Dut such rejoicing '' goodness" of God (Rom. xi. 22). Christ, must be with tremb1ing; or, with reverenca though "tbo Prince of Pee.co," "came to (Prayer-book Version), since no service is send a sword upon the earth" (Matt. x. 34). acceptable to God but such us ie rendered As the appointed Judge of men, he take3 "with reverence and godly four" (Heh. venge1rnce on the wicked, while he rewards xii. 28). the righteous (Luke iii. 17; Matt. xxv. 46). Ver. 12.-Kiss the Son. It is cert11inly Nay, St. John, in the Apocalypse, declares remarkable that we hnve hero a different that "out of bis mouth goeth a sharp sword, word for "Son " from that employed in that with it he should smite the nations, ver. 7, and ordino.rilv in tho Hebrew Bible. nnd he shall rule them ,mth a rod of iron" Still, there is other evidence th11t the word (Rev. xix. 15; comp. ii. 27; xii. 5). So, here used, bar, existed in the Hebrew no with respect to the other clause of the verso less than in tl.10 Araml\io, viz. Prov. xxxi. -Thou shalt dash them iD. pieoes like a pot• 2, where it is repeated thrice. It was pro• ter's vassel-it is to be noted that there ie bo.hly au o.rchaio and poetic word, like our a similar threRt made by tbe Lord of hosts "sire" for II father," rarely used, but, when agoinst Jerusalem in the Book of Jeremiah used, intencled to murk some special dignity. (xix. 11), and that nncler the new covenant Hengstenbcrg suggests that tho writer's the same is threatened in the Revelation motive in prefering bar to be11 in this place (ii. 27). In truth, both covenants are alike was to avoid the cacophony which would in denouncing the extreme of God's wrath have arisen from the juxtaposition of ben 011 impenitent sinners, such as those here o.nd pen (J!)); and this is quite possible, but spoken of. as n eecondo.rvrathcr tho.n as the main reason. - Ver. 10.-Be wise now therefore, 0 ye By" l,iss the Son" we must understo.nd "pay kings. The rcmninder of the psalru con- him homl\ge," so.lute him o.e King in the tains the advice of the psalmist to the rebels customary way (see I Sam. x. 1). Lest ho of vers. 1-3, and to all who may be inclined be angry. Tho omission of a customo.ry to imitate them. "_Be wise," he says," be token of respect is o.n insult which natu- prudent. For your own sakes desist from rally augers the object of it (Esth. iii. 5). attempts at rebellion. Jehovah and Messiah And ye perish from the way; or, as to aro irresistible. Ye will find it ' hard to tlie way.'' To anger the Son is to bring kick against the pricks.' " Be instructed, destruction on our "WAY," or course in lif"o. ye judges of the earth. "Be taught," i.e., When his wrath is kindled but a· little; " by expcrie!lce, if ye are not wise enough rather, for soon his wrath may be 1'indl.ed to know beforehand, that opposition to God (see the Revised Version). Blessed o.re is futile." Comps.re the advice of Go.maliel all they that put their trust in him. The (Acts v. 38, 39). writer ends with words of blessing, to Ver. 11.-Serve the Lord with fear. "If relieve the general severity of the psalm ye will uot serve him (i.e. honour 11.nd obey (comp. Pse. iii. 8; v. 12; xxviii. 9; xli. IS, him) frow love, do it from fear;" "The etc.). ( On the blessedness of trusting in fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" God, see Pss, xxxi v. 8; xl. 4; lxui v. 12, (Ps. c~i. 10). And rejoice. Do not be con- etc.)
HOMILETICS. Ver. B.-171e kingdom and glory of Christ. "Ask," etc. We have the highest authority for regarding this psalm as a prophecy of the kingdom and glory of Christ. Interpreters labour in vain to fix on some occasion in Israel's J,istory to account for it5 composition. No adequate explanation can be imagined of its scope and langnage Lut that given in Acts iv. 25 (comp. xiii. 33; Heb. i. 5). Vers. 10-12 woulcl be Llasphemous arrogance if spoken by and of a mere earthly king. Here is a declaration and a cor.dition. I. THE DECLARATION. 1. The voice or supreme authority. A grant or ubsolute dominion over the whole human race. This must be a Divine promise; else it wcro meaninglesP, impious (Ps. xxii. 28). Subordination is impliccl, as in 1 Cor. xv. 27; and iu our Saviour's own declarations (John vi. 38; xv. 1). Dut not inferior nature. 1f it were-if Jesus were human only-then the gospel would have immeasurably lowcrrd our position towards God; rut us further away, instead of bringing us nigh. For nuder the old covenant, Jehovah himself was King and Shepherd of Israel. On the I'S. II, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 13