IV. NEW ANSWERS TO PBAYER INSPIRED NEW HOPE, (Ver. 7.) "Through the loving- kindness of the Most High he shall not be moved" (cf. P:!S. xxiii. 6; !xiii. 7). He who proves himself to be our Refuge to-day, thereby proves himself our Refuge for every day, V, THE PROVIDENTIAL INTERPOSITIONS IN ANSWER TO PRAYER AFFORDED NEW ILLUS· TRATIONS OF Goo's WORKS AND WAYS, (Vers. 8-13.) God is what he is. He remains "the same, yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." But he cannot seem the same to hiJI enemies as to his friends; the same events which fulfil the hopes of his friends are the terror and dread of his foes. This general principle is always true: it must be (ver. 10); and side by side with the Divine provision for the continuance of good, there is the Divine provision for shortening the entail of evil (see Exod. xx. 6, Revised Version margin; and Deut. vii. 9). But we are not bound in our devotions to single out others as the enemies in whose overthrow and destruction we could rejoice. At the same time, it is but just to the Hebrews to remember that they were the chosen people of God, and from their point of view, and with their measure of light, they regarded their enemies as God's enemies (see Ps. cn:xix. 22). The way David sometimes treated his foes can by no means be justified.1 The views of truth which God's people hold arc often sadly discoloured by the conventionalisrus of their time; and David was no exception thereto. We may pray for the time when Zion's King "shall have put all enemies under his feet," and even praise him for telling us that it will be so. But we may surely leave all details absolutely with him. VI. THE EVER-UNFOLDING DISCLOSURES OF WHAT Goo IS MAY WELL CALL FORTS SHOUTS OF JOYOUS BONG. (Ver. 13.) When we have such repeated illustrations of God's loving-kindness, mercy, and grace, we can feel unfeigned delight in singing of his power. What rapturous delight may we have in the thought that- " The voice whioh rolls the stars along Speaks all the promises; " that the same Being who is most terrible to sin, is infinitely gracions to the sinner, and that to all who trust him he is their" exceeding Joy" !-C. Vers. 1-13.-" Lee the children of Zion befoyful in their King." This psalm concel'Illl the king. But the question is which king? It may have been David. 'fhere is much that might apply to him. Perhaps on his recovery from some sickness, or on bis return· from some signal victory over bis enemies, or on the occnsion of hie birthday or some great anniversary, David e.nd his people may have rejoiced before the Lord with the voice of joy and praise. But a greater than David is here. If the psalm in part is true of David, it finds its highest and most complete fulfilment in David's Son and Lord,and in the glorious salvation which he bas accomplished/or liis people. We know that Jesus is a King. As a King he was announced by Gabriel (Luke i. 32); as n King µe was worshipped in his crndle by the Wise Men (Matt. ii. 11); M n King he was rejected by the Jews, persecuted by the chief priests, o.nd crucified by Pilate (John xix. 19). And as e. King he rose from the dead, was received up into glory, and now rules in power in heaven and upon earth (1 Tim. vi. 15). To this day and every- where Jesus receives royal honours-his people say as with one voice and one henrt, in the words of the ancient hymn, "Thou e.rt the King of glory, 0 Christ I" The burden ;:if this psalm may be said to be, "Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King." I. BECAUSE OF HIS FAVOUR WITH Goo. (Vers. 1-3.) Other kings have been honoured of GuJ, but none like Jes11s. From the crndlo to the cross we find continual proof and token of the favour of God towards him (Luke ii. 62; ix. 35; John iii. 35; viii. 29). The secret was in the perfect accord between the Father and the Son, and the absolute and complete surrender of the Son to do his Father's will. What was said of the land of Israel, and still more tenderly of the house of the Lord, is true in the higher sense of God's dear Son, " Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually" (Deu t. xi. l'.l; 1 Kings ix. 3). II. BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SALVATION WllICH llE HAB ACCOMPLISIIED. (Vere. 1, 6.) 1. This salvation was very ciear to him. It was "his heart's desire." 2. This • E.g. the Ammonites (2 Sam. xii. 81). He then sadly tarnished his golden erown. 150 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, XXI. 1-13,
salvation was obtained by a stupendous sllcrifice. "Life" (vcr. 4). We may take tha scene in the Garden of Gdhsemane as the true interpretation of this passacre (Matt, xxvii. 38-44). There we sec Jesus in an agony. There wo see him "asking life," thrice, with strong crying and tears. And there we see him submitting, with the truest faith and love, to the holy will of God, which decreed that he should die that sinners ruiglit be saved (Matt. xxvii. 53, 54; John x. 17, 18; Heb. ii. 14, 15). 3. This salvation has secured inestimable benefits to mankind. (Ver. 6; 2 Cor. v. 14 15 • Eph. i. 7; ii. 4-6.) ' ' III. B~CAUSE OF THE s_u~E TRIU~IPil OF HIS CAUSE ANI;) KINGDOM. (Vers. 7-13.) 1. Certain. (Ver. 8.) M1gllt here 1s right. God's word is pledged, and what he has promised he is able to perform. The King's strength is still in God, and throucrh him all opposition shall be overthrown. 2. Complete. (Vers. 9-12.) The same" power that is able to crush and confound the foe is arrayed in defence of God's people. The end is as the beginning-praise. It is like an anticipation of the song of Moses and the Lamb of the Apocalypse (Rev. xv. 3).-W F.