sets before his mind individual cases and particular facts. He appears to
look upon this picture of the future as we do upon a grand historical
painting of the past. It seems natural to gaze with silent admiration on
the picture as a whole, then to fix the attention on particular groups, and
testify our sense of the general excellence, by expatiating on the truth and
beauty of the several parts.
John Stevenson.
Verse 30. "A seed shall serve him." This figurative expression
signifies Christ and his people, who yield true obedience to God—they
are called by this name in a spiritual and figurative, but most appropriate
sense. The idea is taken from the operations of the husbandman who
carefully reserves every year a portion of his grain for seed. Though it be
small, compared with all the produce of his harvest, yet he prizes it very
highly and estimates it by the value of that crop which it may yield in the
succeeding autumn. Nor does he look only to the quantity, he pays
particular regard to the quality of the seed. He reserves only the best,
nay, he will put away his own if spoiled, that he may procure better. The
very smallest quantity of really good seed, is, to him, an object of great
desire, and if by grievous failure of crops, he should not be able to
procure more than a single grain, yet would he accept it thankfully,
preserve it carefully, and plant it in the most favourable soil. Such is
the source from which the metaphor is taken.
John Stevenson.
Verse 31. "And shall declare his righteousness." The occupation of the
seed is to "declare," to testify from their own experience, from their own
knowledge and convictions, that grand subject, theme, or lesson, which they
have learned. . . . They will declare the righteousness of God the Holy
Ghost in his convictions of sin, in his reproofs of conscience, in his
forsaking of the impenitent, and in his abiding with the believer. And in a
special manner, they will declare the righteousness of God the Son, during
his human life, in his sufferings, and death, as man's surety, by which he
"magnified the law, and made it honourable" (Isaiah 42:21), and on account
of which they are able to address him by this name, "The Lord our
Righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:6.)
John Stevenson.
Verse 31. "A people that shall be born." What is this? What people is
there that is not born? According to my apprehensions I think this is said
for this reason—because the people of other kings are formed by laws, by
customs, and by manners; by which, however, you can never move a man to true
righteousness: it is only a fable of righteousness, and a mere theatrical
scene or representation. For even the law of Moses could form the people of
the Jews unto nothing but unto hypocrisy. But the people of this King are
not formed by laws to make up an external appearance, but they are begotten
by water and by the Spirit unto a new creature of truth.
Martin Luther.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
Whole Psalm. The volume entitled "Christ on the Cross," by Rev. J.
Stevenson, has a sermon upon every verse. We give the headings, they are
suggestive. Verse 1. The Cry. 2. The Complaint. 3. The
Acknowledgment. 4-6. The Contrast. 6. The Reproach. 7. The Mockery.
8. The Taunt. 9, 10. The Appeal. 11. The Entreaty. 12, 13. The
Assault. 14. The Faintness. 15. The Exhaustion. 16. The Piercing. 17.
The Emaciation. 17. The Insulting Gaze. 18. The Partition of the
Garments and Casting Lots. 19-21. The Importunity. 21. The
Deliverance. 22. The Gratitude. 23. The Invitation. 24. The Testimony.
25. The Vow. 26. The Satisfaction of the Meek; the Seekers of the Lord
Praising Him; the Eternal Life. 27. The Conversion of the World. 28. The
Enthronement. 29. The Author of the Faith. 30. The Seed. 31. The
Everlasting Theme and Occupation. The Finish of the Faith.
Verse 1. The Saviour's dying cry.
Verse 2. Unanswered prayer. Enquire the reason for it; encourage our
hope concerning it; urge to continue in importunity.
Verse 3. Whatever God may do, we must settle it in our minds that he is
holy and to be praised.
Verse 4. God's faithfulness in past ages a plea for the present.
Verses 4, 5. Ancient saints.
I. Their life. "They trusted."
II. Their practice. "They cried."
III. Their experience. "Were not confounded."
IV. Their voice to us.
Verses 6-18. Full of striking sentences upon our Lord's suffering.
Verse 11. A saint's troubles, his arguments in prayer.
Verse 20. "My darling." A man's soul to be very dear to him.
Verse 21 ( first clause ). "Lion's mouth." Men of cruelty. The devil.
Sin. Death. Hell.
Verse 22. Christ as a brother, a preacher, and a precentor.
Verse 22. A sweet subject, a glorious preacher, a loving relationship, a
heavenly exercise.
Verse 23. A threefold duty , "praise him, "glorify him;" "fear him;"
towards one object, "the Lord;" for three characters, "ye that fear him,
seed of Jacob, seed of Israel," which are but one person.
Verse 23. Glory to God the fruit of the tree on which Jesus died.
Verse 24. A consoling fact in history attested by universal experience.
Verse 24. ( first clause ). A common fear dispelled.
Verse 25. Public praise.
I. A delightful exercise—"praise."
II. A personal participation—"My praise."
III. A fitting object—"of thee."
IV. A special source—"from thee."
V. An appropriate place—"in the great congregation."
Verse 25. ( second clause ). Vows. What vows to make, when and how to
make them, and the importance of paying them.
Verse 26. Spiritual feasting. The guests, the food, the host, and the
satisfaction.
Verse 26. ( second clause ). Seekers who shall be singers. Who they
are? What they shall do? When? and what is the reason for expecting that
they shall?
Verse 27. ( last clause ). Life everlasting. What lives? Source of
life. Manner of life. Why for ever? What occupation? What comfort to be
derived from it?
Verse 27. Nature of true conversion, and extent of it under the reign of
the Messiah.
Andrew Fuller.
Verse 27. The universal triumph of Christianity certain.
Verse 27. The order of conversion. See the Exposition.
Verse 28. The empire of the King of kings as it is, and as it shall be.
Verse 29. Grace for the rich, grace for the poor, but all lost without
it.
Verse 29 ( last clause ). A weighty text upon the vanity of
self-confidence.
Verse 30. The perpetuity of the church.
Verse 30 ( last clause ). Church history, the marrow of all history.
Verse 31. Future prospects for the church.
I. Conversions certain.
II. Preachers promised.
III. Succeeding generations blest.
IV. Gospel published.
V. Christ exalted.
WORK UPON THE TWENTY-SECOND PSALM
Christ on the Cross: An Exposition of the Twenty-second Psalm. By
the Rev. JOHN STEVENSON, Perpetual Curate of Curry and Gunwalloe, Cornwall.
1842.