The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 344

sublime prophetic forecast.1 In doing so, however, it behoves us to take the Christiau expositor's staudpoiut, and to carry forward the dim and suggestive words here given us, to the fuller and clearer setting of New Testament unfoldings. I. HEBE IB A KING FORESEEN, UNIQUE IN HONOUR AND RENOWN. That the sacred writers were familiar with the thought of a King who should come into the world, surpassing all others, we have seen above; this is shown in the passages to which reference has already been made. But even if snch passages were fewer and less clear than they are, the amazing combination of expressions iu the psalm before us is such, that to none other than the Son of God can they possibly be applied with any semblance of reason. But as we think of him, every term falls in place. Let us take each expression in order. There are no fewer than twelve of them. 1. There is beauty. (Ver. 2.) A beauty beyond that of the sons of men. This points to one who is above the race. And verily the beauty of the Lord Jesus is one of his unnumbered charms. He is the "chief among ten thousand, the altogether lovely." 2. Grace is poured into his lips (ver. 2). How true. was this of Jesus (Luke iv. 22; John i. 14)! Grace was also ever pouring outfrom his lips. 3. The fullest blessings descend con- tinually upon him (ver. 2; cf. John iii. 34). 4. There are the glory and majesty of royal state (ver. 3). For "with" read "even 11 (' Variorum Bible'). The swonl to be girded on his thigh as for war (see Delitzsch) is his glory and his majestic statt. With these he will go forth, conquering and to conquer. 5. His cause is that of truth, meekness, and righteo'U,Sness. (Ver. 4.) No other king ever combined these in perfection, nor even at all. "Meekness II is about the very last thought associr1ted with earthly kings (but see Matt. xi. 20). 6. His progress would be marked by terror as well as by meekness (ver. 4; Ps. !xv.. 5; Rom. xi. 22; 2 Cor. v. 11; Rev. i. 7). 7. His arrows WO'U,ld be sharp in the hearts of his enemies (ver. 5), and the peoples (plural, Revised Version) would fall beneath him. He should have universal sway, and not over Israel only. 8. He should be God, and yet be anointed by God. (V ers. 6, 7.) How enigmatical before fulfilment! How fully realized in our Immanuel, in him who is at once God and man, David's Son, yet David's Lord I 9. His throne should be eternal. (Ver. 6.) "Thy throne,1 0 God, is for ever and ever" (cf. Heh. i. 8, 0). 10. His sceptre should be a sceptre of righteousness. (Vers. 6, 7.) This is pre- eminently true; so much so that even those who acknowledge him as Lord, and who have yet been destitute of righteousness, will be rejected (Matt. vii. 22, 23). 11. H., would receive a higher anointing than that of others (ver. 7; Acts iv. 27; x. 38; Luke iv. 18). 12. Associated with his coming would be fragrance, music, and joy (ver. 8, Revised Version). Surely the gladness and song that gather round this King surpasii all other gladness and all other songs that earth has ever known. No widow's wail, no orphan's sigh, attend on the couquests of this Kin a. He conquers but to 1 save. .And tho joy I oh, how great I Joy among the saved ( Pet. i. 8). Joy among the saints (1 John i. 4). Joy among the angels (Luke xx. 10). Joy in the heart of the Father and the Son (Luke xv. 32). Joy for ever and ever (Isa. xxxv. 10). What a magnificent forecast, hundreds of years beforehand I Who dares to deny tho supernatural with such a fact beforo him ? 3 . . , II. HERE IS THE KING'S BRIDE. (Ver. 9.) What can the psalmist mean 'by the bride of s'UCh a King, but the Church of his love (see Epb. v. 23-32)? The following features, if worked out, would greatly exceed the space at our command. 1. She forsakes her Father's house, to be joined to this King, and leaves all her old associates behind her (ver. 10). 2. She is wedded to him (ver. 11, "He is thy Lord"). 3. She is devoted to him (ver. 11). 4. She is decorated with finest gold (ver. 9), and is at the 1 On the prophetic character of this psalm, the words of Dr. J. Pye Smith, 'Scripture Testimony to the Messiah,' vol. i. p. 209, are invaluable. Perowne'e, Walford'e, Hengsten- berg's, and Delitzsch's words may also be studied with great advantage. David Dioksou's remarks are very sensible throughout, specially his six rna.sons for rego.rdiug the psalm as Messianic. 1 See Dr. J. Pye Smith's note hereon; nnd a magnificent pe.eso.ge on the Messianic psalms in Canon Liddon's 'Bampton Lectureij,' ii. p. 121 (best editiou); also hi~ notes from Kennioott, the Targum, and Dr. Pusey, pp. 122-124. • Probably Cheyne would have bis answer ready, and se.y, "Psychology will not allow of any such thing I" No, but an inspired pncumatology will! 356 TIIE BOOK OF PSALMS. [I'S, ;tLV, 1-17,