Is~. liii., yet as being as distinctly and clearly, yea, as v~ndcrfully, Messianic as oven that celebrated chapter of the evangelical prophet. Hetce we regard it as affording ne clear a proof of the guidance of a foreseeing Spirit, and of the facts of inspiration and of revelation, as arc the starry heavens of the glory of God. For we know, as matters of fact., (1) that this psalm finds it.s fulfilment in Christ; (il) that it has been fulfilled in no one else; (3) that hundreds of years intervened between prophecy and event; and (1) that there are here not merely general statements, but numerous minute details which no human eye could possibly he.ve discerned beforehand; so that we are shut up, by a severely intellectual process, to the conclusion that the author of this psalm is none otlwr than he who sees the end from the beginning. This will, we trust, appear as we proceed to examine and expound it. 1 I. HERE IS AN ANOINTED OJ:-."E FORESEEN. (Ver. 2.) "His Anointed." Who is this Anointed One? Let us see. Anointing was chiefly for purposes of consecration and inauguration. It signified the setting apart of the anointed one for God's service, and symbolized those heavenly gifts which were needed in its discharge. Priests, prophets, and kings were anointed (cf. Lev. iv. 3, 5, 1G; vii. 35; 1 Kings xix. 16; 1 Sam. xvi. 12, 13; 1 Kings i. 39). There is in this psalm One referred to as the Anointed One. The Hebrew word for the Anointed is "Messiah." The Greek word, in its Anglicized form is "Christ." Thu; Anointed One is the Son of God (see ver. 7). He is King (vcr. 6). He has the nations for his possession (vcr. 8). He is One before whom kings arc to bow (vers 10-12). This cannot possibly be any other than the King of kings. 'l'o no one can the words of the psalm possibly apply but to him who is Lord of the whole earth, i.e. to the Lord Jesus Cb.rist (cf. P$, cxxxii. 17; Dan. ix. 25, 26; Acts xviL 3). II. RESISTANCE TO GoD, A.ND TO lIIS ANOINTED ONE, FORETOLD. This resistance comes (1) from the nations, and also from (2) kings and rulers. Five forms of resist- ance are indicated. I. Raging. Tumultuous agitation, as when waves of ocean are lashed to fury. 2. Imagining. Meditating (same word as in Ps. i. 2). Turning over and over in the mind some plan of opposition. 3. Setting themselves. The result of the meditation in a resolution. 4. Taking counsel together. For combined action. 5. Saying, etc. Meditation, resolution, and concerted action taking effect in a verbal utterance: "Let us break their bands asunder," etc. (For the fulfilment of all this, see l\fatt. xxi. 33-44; xxiii. 31-35; John v. 16-18; vii. 1, 30, 45; viii. 40-59; x. 39; xi. 53, 57; xii. 10; xviii. 3; xix. 15, 16, 30; Acts iv. 24, 27.) III. RESISTANCE TO THE ANOINTED ONE IS FOLLY. (Ver. 1.) Why do the nations rage? Vers. 4--6 foretell the utter discomfiture of the opponents, in four respects. 1. The ,tttcr impotence of tl,e assault would be matter for infinite ridicule and scorn. (Ver. 4.) It were as easy for a spider to remove Mont Blanc from its base as for puny man to injure the Lord's Anointed One. 2. The displeasure of God should trouble the opposers. (Ver. 5; cf. Matt. xxiii. 37, 38.) Note how fearfully the imprecation in Matt. xxvii. 25 was fulfilled. Read the account in Josephus of the miseries that came on the Jews at the destruction of their city (cf. Acts xii. 1, 2, 23). 3. The power of God would effect a mi_qhty restraint, and even a complete destruction. (Ver. 9.) See Spurgeon's 'Treasury of David,' vol. i. p. 29, for some admirable remarks on ver. 9; Dr. Geikie, in his 'Holy Land and the Bible,' vol. ii. p. 50 et seq., for some strik.ingly instructive remarks on the pottery of the East; and also Dr. Plummer's extraordinary collection of historic facts on the miseries which have befallen the persecutors of the Church (in Spurgeon's 'Treasury of David,' vol. i. pp. 17, 18). 4. The .Anointed One would be enthroned in spite of all. (V~rs. 6, 7.) The seat of Christ's throne is called "my holy hill of Zion," in allusion to Zion as the cily of David. Christ is the Son and Lord of David, and hence David's throne is the type of Christ's. Christ is now reigning in heaven. He is at once our Prophet, Priest, aud King (see AcLs ii. 22-36; iii. 13-15; iv. 10-12; Heb. x. 12, 13; 1 Cor. xv. 25). IV. \VHA.TEVER MAY DE THE DJJ:CilEES OF EAilTH, TIIEilE 18 A DE0ilEE 1::-t BEA.VEN, 1 See Fausset's 'Studies in the CL. Psalms,' lect. viii. 2nd edit., 1885; 'The Psalms,' by
Dr. W. Binnie, new edit., 1886, pp. 339, MO; also Kirkpatrick's introduction to the Second realm in ' The Cambridge Bible,' 1891. I'S. IJ, 1-12.] 'l'IIE IlOOK OF PSALMS. 15